Videogames

Chapter 11: Video games: Connect to A New Generation of Gaming

Then:
**I thought that the first video game was Pong, but apparently it's not.

Even before the World Wide Web (1989) was introduced there was a system called PLATO which later evolved into an online community for emailing, forums, messaging, chatting and multiplayer gaming.  PLATO originated in the 1960s at the Urbana campus at the University of Illinois. The PLATO time sharing system began in the early 1970s when networking was introduced and packet switching started to evolve. In the late 60s Rick Blomme created the first two player game that was played using one network in PLATO.
As ARPANET and JANET (a private UK organization) began taking
over the network scene online multiplayer games started coming out. Some of the first online games that were introduced were Airfight (1974) and MUD (1975) which was a text-based Sci Fi game.

In 1987 Compuserve created Island of Kesmai which was the first commercial online RPG that seated 100 players in the same network.

Games started becoming popular in the mid 70s. Granted not all consoles were online; actually few gaming systems were online through the 70s and 80s. Games like PONG were on the fronts. The PONG arcade game was actually so popular that Atari decided to make a PONG home gaming console in 1975. Following Atari were other companies trying to get in on the gaming action Magnavox, RCA and Celeco all started making there own consoles through the 70s. There were a slew of gaming consoles that were being pumped out through the 70s and 80s with only minor modifications in each new system. A few brands that set themselves apart from the pack were Nintendo, Sega, and Playstation (1994).

*Through the evolution of gaming many concepts and styles of playability were introduced from text-based to RPG to platformers. With some online connectivity PC games could be played over a network, but online multiplayer gaming didn't become hot until a new generation of gaming.

**Most of the old school consoles that I played in the day (still do) like the Nintendo NES (1983), Sega Genesis (1988) and the Playstation.


**Game Consoles From A to Z



Now: 
Gaming has became revolutionary in just the past 10 years. The "Next Gen" of gaming

started with the release of the Xbox 360 in 2005 and the Playstation 3 in 2006. These consoles set new standards to the world of gaming.

Players were now able to do much more than play HD video games. Now consumers can download music right to their systems, watch Youtube and Netflix via internet (wired or wireless) connection, use their consoles as a Blu Ray player and play over an online network with millions of other people. These capabilities set the foundation for future game consoles.

Connectivity drives the gaming industry. Being connected with friends, family and a world of players alike creates for an ultimate gaming experience and this is the bigger picture for today's gaming industries.

Playstaion 4 and Xbox One systems still allow users to control their gaming experience by letting them to purchase and download games, movies and music right from their home. But now people can use their systems with more connectivity and multitasking through other media devices.  For example now the Xbox One provides Fox, Comedy Central, ESPN and Live TV experiences that allow users to view programs on demand even while playing games.

As for Playstation, they have developed the Playstation TV. Playstation TV allows players to stream PS, PS2, PS3 and Playstation 4 games using the Playstation Now streaming service powered by Gaikai. This small device (not much bigger than a deck of cards) is a stand alone gaming system that can also act as a second console when connected to a Playstation 4 via the Remote Play feature.

*Connecting and sharing experiences gives players more by allowing them to engage with a bigger community. Next Gen consoles allow users to play games and instantly share their gameplay with friends with the touch of a button.




Later:
With streaming services already hitting the market (Playstation TV) it can be expected that this is the direction gaming is going.  Eventually gaming will be mostly if not all streaming. Television programing has already made it there with services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime. The next gaming experience may be a subscription based service like these or a buy-and-stream of individual games. The newest consoles like the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One require an internet connection to get the full gaming experience, making players to connect to the rest of the gaming community.

*Offline gaming is slowly fading. A lot of games today are completely based around the online experience.

As for the consoles themselves, virtual reality is becoming reality. Jan Goetgeluk is the founder of a new virtual reality gaming system called Virtuix Omni.This system enables players to use a goggle-like headset and a stationary platform to play games. Games are brought to life by incorporating every action a person takes and integrating it in the game. When the player turns their head the game character turns their head. When the player side-steps, the character side-steps.

*I believe the future of gaming is on the horizon. With virtual reality already in the works and the gaming experience developing around the online experience eventually all gaming will be for the connectivity. Every player connected to one another in one community.

** It may even come down to one supersystem. And Google will probably be the ones who make it.

*Theme Concept
**Personal Thoughts