How Social Games Evolved Over Time

When they appeared on the market for the first time, social games were quite different from the ones we play today. In fact, it took more than 50 years for gaming technology to reach its current stage. Still, avid gamers have had an opportunity to witness that all the hard work has certainly paid off. 

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Check out this article to learn more about the evolution of gaming from its origin to the present day.

First Versions of Social Games

In the past, social games didn’t include any type of technological gadgets. In other words, if you wanted to play Poker Heat, you had to do it with real cards instead of simply downloading the app.

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That’s why the first game system for personal use was such a pleasant surprise. Its name was the Brown Box, and it was launched in 1967. This gaming device had to be connected to a TV, and players would use cubes to control the action on the screen. Available games at the time were ping pong, checkers, and a few others. Additionally, a lightgun and another special attachment were added for target shooting and golf putting games.

Unfortunately, the Brown Box failed to make huge success due to poor marketing. However, it served as an inspiration for companies like Sega and Atari, which later invested in arcade gaming. Soon after, multiplayer games appeared as well, but the technology behind them was much less advanced compared to the one we use today.

Games Enter Our Homes

With the development of the first microprocessor, personal computers and consoles for mass use allowed games to enter our lives and our hearts. In 1975, the first multiplayer human-to-human combat shooter called Gunfight was launched. The game required two joysticks, one for shooting direction and another one for movement control.

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Two years later, Atari also used a microprocessor to update the Atari VCS machine and give birth to the legendary Space Invaders game. This enhanced the arcade gaming boom, as more people wanted to own a gaming console and play games from the comfort of their own homes.

After noticing the significant growth in popularity of these consoles, tech experts at the time became motivated to improve gaming devices even further. They worked on producing a new, advanced processor that would improve the characteristics of personal computers. As they succeeded, game developers had more freedom to create more engaging games and improve them in many aspects, including graphics and game features.

Thanks to computers and consoles, more realistic online gaming could be achieved. Furthermore, players could now choose among different game categories — from strategy and sports to free casino-inspired games, such as Vegas Downtown Slots.

The moment laptops appeared society thought gaming couldn’t get any better. After all, how could you possibly top a personal computer that could be carried wherever you went? Nevertheless, innovative tech experts proved us all wrong by developing games for highly popular mobile devices.

Mobile Devices and Gaming on the Go

Although laptops can be moved and carried around, you must admit this is easier said than done. These devices are a bit robust, and you may need some extra equipment, such as a separate mouse and headphones, to fully enjoy your gaming sessions. 

That’s why all the attention has started being directed toward smartphones and tablets. Nowadays, these devices can be as powerful as some PCs and laptops — plus, they are much easier to carry around. 

Game developers around the world have started focusing more on producing games for mobile devices rather than computers, and they have even made some older games optimized for mobile play. All these games have undergone big improvements, and they’ve been drastically changed for the better over the last decade. If you need an example, you can find it in this article.

Needless to say, players have welcomed the concept of mobile gaming with open arms. 

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What to Expect in the Future?

Judging by the evolution of games so far, it’s inevitable that the future will manage to bring something new to the table once again. Tech pros have already come up with games that use state-of-the-art technology, such as VR. As a result, gaming has been made even more realistic. The progress is bound to continue, and there’s no doubt that we will soon be able to play games using technology that far surpasses the limits of our own imagination.

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