The modern gamer has many choices at their disposal
Gaming is now more widespread than ever before, with the number of worldwide participants expected to rise to approximately 3.07 billion by 2023, meaning a 5.6% annual growth forecast.
People from near and far are choosing the hobby of gaming over other leisure and entertainment activities. Whether they interact using a mobile phone, tablet, or PC computer, there is no stopping the growing number of users.
But why is the gaming craze expanding at such a rapid rate everywhere? Of course, developing technologies and innovations are one reason, but other than this, what attracts the modern-day gamer to participate?
Here we delve into four reasons that explain the phenomenon.
Accessibility and Variety
There’s no question that the first reason why the gaming population is exploding is because of accessibility. Gamers can now choose to play from a variety of technological mediums, wherever they may find themselves. On the way home from work with their mobile phones or in the car on a road trip with their tablet, the possibilities are endless.
Additionally, the massive selection of gaming genres at one’s disposal is highly attractive. From puzzle games to first-person shooter titles, sports simulations, and action-adventure entertainment, the list goes on and on.
Even people who love playing classic games of strategy such as poker are met with an entire library of fun variants that have been fully developed online.
For example, Live 3 Card Brag is one of these, a poker variant that works a bit differently from standard Texas Hold’em in terms of hand rankings, offering players a cool twist on the well-loved card game.
This is all to say that games are constantly being revamped with new options that cater to the ever-present need for variety.
Extensive Gameplay Options
It’s not just the pool of gaming options that are big, but also the ways in which to play them! Nowadays, gaming is much less of a solo activity and has transformed into something incredibly social.
For example, groups of friends will often get together on a Friday night (online) to play Call of Duty because they can chat with each other through a mic whilst interacting with opponents on the virtual battlefield.
Therefore, the myth that gaming causes people to be socially disconnected is actually false.
When you have someone to share the pastime with, you can not only gain valuable strategic tactics from their gameplay but also get the opportunity to hang out and have fun with friends and engage in conversation that isn’t always related to the game at hand.
Affordability
Consoles are some of the most expensive pieces of gaming equipment out there. Despite this, many online games or those made for PCs can be bought and used without the presence of a console. In fact, some even have the option to play for free before deciding to invest.
While purchasing consoles and other expensive gaming devices is possible for some, many prefer to download the online games that they can afford and then update them for new gameplay options or modes once the time comes.
As the gaming scene becomes more competitive, developers and creators will attempt to provide more affordable options for their audiences.
For all these reasons and more, it’s easy to see why so many people are playing online games nowadays
Gaming Creates Community
As discussed before, there’s no doubt that gaming is an opportunity to foster social communication.
But platforms like Twitch and Reddit make this even easier, as both give gamers and streamers the chance to find like-minded players in the world wide web that they can share tips and tricks with, chat with, or just become friends with.
This could even lead to the gamers meeting outside of the virtual space one day to continue their relationship offline. One thing’s for certain – the opportunity to forge valuable friendships is a big motivator for gamers everywhere.