3 Reasons Why 2015 is Set to Change the Face of the Gaming Industry
Being avid gamers, we have all watched in awe as the industry we love has grown to epic proportions over the past few decades. Most of us are still entranced by the look and feel of video games today, and at each and every E3, we marvel at the games we can and will be playing in the future.
Looking at the Timeline of Video Game History, it’s amazing how far we’ve come since Edward U. Condon’s Nim computer. Every year we continue to see innovation in all aspects of gaming – from the very hardware we play our games on to the kind of games we’re playing – but some experts have claimed that 2015 is the year that changes everything. Let’s explore the reasons why…
1. Virtual Reality Has Become, Well… Reality
We all had fantasies of being plunged into the worlds of the games we played as we grew up, and while some people have grown to accept that they’re never going to be Zidane riding a chocobo or Leon exploring a fallen Raccoon City (thank goodness!), others have risen to the challenge, and now, virtual reality has become the next big thing. The Oculus Rift comes to mind almost immediately when speaking about virtual reality, but it’s not the only VR ware around. Even portable games can now be made for VR thanks to Samsung’s Gear VR. Casual gaming is never going to be the same! On that note…
2. Casual Gaming is Never Going to Be the Same
While our ancestors had been content to play a few (hundred thousand) rounds of Pong, we now seek more from our games – even if they’re just games we play to pass the time while waiting for buses or trains. Casual games are no longer casual, and 2015 will see them reach their full potential. The gambling industry hasn’t been left behind in this, as some operators are trying to appeal to younger generations raised on video games with skill-based slot machines. Spin Genie has also integrated the usual slot machine mechanics with an adventure-RPG sort of feel, allowing players to explore parts of a map and unfold a story as they win at slot games.
3. The World is Going Digital
Much as we despise the DLC culture that’s emerged in the industry today, it seems this will soon be the norm as market research reveals that consumers are opting for free business models, spending much less on completed video games and more on free video games that offer in-app purchases. Developers may soon have to adjust to this trend, and we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw even gaming giant Square Enix release DLCs for some of the dozens of games they’re going to be releasing and porting in 2015.
What are some of your predictions for the gaming industry in 2015? Let us know in the comments!