Video games have come a long way since the early days of Spacewar! and Pac-man. Today, we have the opportunity to play games with 3D graphics from the comfort of our home, accepting the small and subtle improvements made to consoles.
In a way, the aggressive competition between console companies is a significant factor in getting us to the excellent quality we see today.
The most known gaming platforms
Currently, there are many game platform options for players to choose from. Whether you’re gaming on a PC, console, or mobile, there are multiple platforms to choose from.
Gaming platforms can be divided into two general categories: portable and non-portable platforms. Non-portable platforms are PC and similar platforms that you usually need to use in a particular place, while portable devices represent handheld computers and mobile devices. PC, Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox are the most popular video game systems.
Consoles
For years, video game consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have been leading gaming platforms. A 2018 study shows that 84% of teens have a game console at home. Game consoles are a little more comfortable than PCs because console games are usually played with controllers. While many companies are developing next-gen consoles, Sony and Nintendo have begun to reinvigorate consoles in miniature forms, such as the NES Classic.
Of course, considering the consoles, we should not forget the special games. On the one hand, Sony has series such as God of War, Uncharted, Spider-Man, while on the Nintendo side there are series such as The Legend of Zelda, Xenoblade Chronicles. Since these are not available on any other platform, fans of the games tend to buy the next generation consoles. Of course, we should not forget the portability that consoles such as Nintendo Switch provide to the user.
Computer
Computer games are one of the best and oldest ways to experience video games. Playing on PC has many advantages, including higher quality visuals and greater versatility. Often, game visuals are superior on a PC than on a game console; PC games provide more customization options through various accessories and opportunities that can enhance your experience. In addition to using a keyboard and mouse to play games, it also gives you options like connecting a game controller. The PC platform also gives you a more comprehensive range of games through programs like Steam. Certain competitive games such as World of Warcraft and League of Legends are only available on PCs.
It is not possible to play competitive and fast games such as Valorant CS: GO on the console in a professional way because the output platforms of these games are determined as PC only. In addition, you need to play competitive games with a keyboard and mouse to have high skills. Besides, you can experience high-demand games only with high-end PC hardware at the best quality. Even the best console cannot provide 4K/60FPS support at today’s standards.
Mobile
We can say that the newest platform for games is mobile phones and tablets. Most people nowadays carry a smartphone with features that can play games. This has led to the game industry being flooded with popular games like Clash of Clans, Fortnite, and Angry Birds lately. In recent years, interactive games like Pokémon Go and the newly released Pikmin Bloom have also used augmented reality.
With the development of today’s technology, mobile platforms seem to be one step ahead. Games with high-end graphics and high dimensions are already becoming widespread. With this return, phones began to evolve and become more game-oriented. With the development of the cloud system in the coming years, it is possible to see the portable gaming experience moved from consoles to phones.
Cloud gaming
Cloud system, which is still a new and exciting concept, allows you to play games that you have not installed via remote connection. In a normal situation, you need to download the games to play; but Google and Nvidia are taking a Netflix-style approach to games with their cloud gaming services. Instead of hosting all the games on a single platform, Stadia and Geforce Now broadcast games in high quality, allowing you to play games on many platforms. These systems also aim to make gaming more accessible than ever before and will enable you to play wherever you want with a monthly subscription system.
TV
An often overlooked way to play video games is through television. You can download games and play them without a console if you have a smart TV. Although every smart TV is different, most of them offer an app store to download games thanks to their Android infrastructure. You may need to connect a game controller to play these games, but you can enjoy some pretty good fun on a more affordable TV screen than buying a console.
Virtual reality
Along with all other platforms, the game industry takes virtual reality forward by making great strides. VR puts you in the middle of a virtual world and lets you experience one of the most immersive gaming experiences currently available. VR requires you to wear a headset that enables you to see the virtual world; Oculus, Sony, HTC, Samsung, and more brands have offered many different VR headsets to users. It would help if you also used controllers to “roam” the virtual world. VR is a gaming platform with much more potential beyond gaming. You can be sure that we will continue to see his progress in the years to come.
