Did you know that the video game industry is expected to become worth $314 billion by 2026? The industry has seen a massive boost in recent years, and gaming has become popular with people of all ages and backgrounds, partly due to the pandemic.
It is amazing to chart the progress that the video game industry has made over the years, especially when you look at the technology that has been used to improve video games. Computer science has undeniably played a key role in video games, but how?
Game Design
The most notable way that the video game industry has been changed by computer science is simply game design in itself. Those that study computer science must learn programming, which is precisely how video games are made.
Programming is a vital part of the design process and this means that those that may want to work in the design area of the video game industry could benefit from an online masters computer science degree. This area of study will give you the tools and skills that you need to start designing your own games, as well as many other valuable competencies required for the video game industry.
Enhanced Graphics
One of the most striking parts of the development of video games has been the continued improvement in graphics. Video games have been around since the 1970s in their most basic form, and gradually the graphics have improved. In fact, these days, it is often hard to tell what is real-life footage and what is a video game.
The boost in video game graphics has been facilitated by advances in technology and computer science, which equips video game designers with better tools for creating enhanced graphics. Modern-day games often feature stunning worlds that can be explored, realistic gameplay, and computer-generated characters that look like real people with incredible details, and this is all thanks to computer science.
Cloud-Based Gaming
Cloud computing has changed a lot about the world in recent years, especially during the pandemic. Cloud computing has made it much easier for people to work from home and collaborate no matter where they are – but it has also had a big impact on the video game industry. This is through the rise of cloud-based gaming, which allows people to continue the same gaming experience on multiple devices.
Previously, gamers would have just one device that they could play a game on, but thanks to cloud technology, gamers can use multiple devices without having to worry about losing their progress. Again, this is thanks to the developments in computer science in recent years that have made such modern technological gaming advancements possible.
Multiplayer Games
In recent years, a popular part of video game culture has been multiplayer gaming and the possibility of playing with friends and people from around the world online. Many gamers will remember the days of only being able to play multiplayer games on one device with another controller, but computer science has transformed the experience and made multiplayer gaming a global adventure.
People can also communicate with one another while playing these games, which has turned what has previously been considered a solo activity into one that is highly social – and this is partly why video gaming became so popular during the pandemic.
AR & VR
Augmented reality and virtual reality are two types of technologies that have steamrolled full speed ahead in recent years. You are now seeing these technologies transform a number of different industries, and they are being used in all kinds of creative ways – but it is in the gaming industry where these technologies have had perhaps the most interesting effect.
These technologies can provide gamers with a much more immersive, interactive gaming experience that can make gaming a lot more fun, engaging and memorable. There are constant improvements being made in these areas, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for AR and VR in the gaming industry.
Gesture Control Gaming
Another major development in gaming in recent times is the use of gesture control gaming. This allows gamers to control their characters by making a gesture while holding the controller as opposed to pressing buttons.
The most notable example of this kind of gaming is Wii Sports, which allows people to play various sports like tennis and bowling with the same motions that are used in real life. This can create a fun, active, semi-realistic, and engaging gaming experience, and it is all thanks to developments in computer science technology with the use of 3D cameras.
Facial Recognition & Voice Recognition
Facial recognition is another type of technology that has evolved from computer science that has impacted the gaming industry. Facial recognition allows gamers to create their own characters and avatars, which can make the gaming experience more engaging and personalized.
Voice recognition is another example, as it provides gamers with the opportunity to control their console and games with voice commands, which can make the experience more immersive, convenient, and easier overall – especially for people with disabilities that might make them unable to play games with hand controllers.
Mobile Gaming
Finally, mobile gaming has become a major trend in recent years. People now enjoy playing all kinds of different games on their smartphone devices, whether they are on the train on the way to work, on a break, at the gym, or relaxing on the sofa in the evening. This is possible due to computer science and mobile technology that can create an engaging gaming experience on a small, portable device.
As you can see, computer science has had a major impact on the video game industry over the years. The video game sector continues to grow at an astonishing rate, and it is amazing to look at the developments that have occurred over the last 50 years or so – with many of these developments happening in the previous decade. It is also interesting to look ahead to see what developments in computer science in tech lie ahead and how they will improve the gaming experience for future generations of gamers.