Video games have been around for decades, but it was the 1980s video game craze that changed the gaming industry. The first widely played video games were electronic versions of ping pong. The game played the same way as the classic table tennis game, except that the player moved a bar up and down to deflect the ball away from their opponent’s side. As technology improved and the Internet became available to the public, video games became more complex and added features. Today, there are many types of video games available, including those with full-motion video, enhanced graphics, and even some that are designed for offline play.
While many people perceive gamers as nerds, the truth is that most gamers are more social than you might think. Gaming has become a popular pastime for a wide range of people, from kids to older adults. Although gamers are more likely to be lonely than others, most of them are more likely to have a social life. They are not straight-A students in school, nor are they completely morons. Gaming involves a high level of mental concentration and skill, so it is not for the faint of heart.
Since the introduction of smartphones and app stores in the market, gaming has exploded and entered mainstream pop culture. Today, many games have an online component that not only improves the gameplay experience but also increases interactivity. The online component often supersedes the game’s offline objectives. According to the ESA Computer and Video Games Industry Association, there are about 3.2 billion people worldwide who use the internet. The gaming industry continues to expand and improve. The latest generation of video games seems to blow the old ones out of the water.