While Internet games have been around essentially since the Internet’s inception, the last few years have seen an incredible boost in the popularity of such games. These days, there is a selection of online games across all genres that seems to be virtually limitless, and there are new games being created and posted online literally every day. However, when looked at more closely, the boom in online gaming is a result of more than just general progress. There are a few factors that can clearly be highlighted as major contributors to the expansion of online gaming in recent years. Here are a few specific examples of these factors, and how they have contributed to the rise in gaming popularity in general.
Gaming Apps
Perhaps the clearest example of a specific change that has expanded and advanced Internet gaming is the introduction of gaming apps on devices like smart phones and tablets. Gaming apps can be created by individuals or game companies, which means that there is no limit to the frequency with which new games can be made. People now have the ability to download these games at the click of a button (or the touch of a screen), and play either by themselves or against real competition across the Internet. This is a major development in gaming in general, and has expanded and altered the market considerably. If you’re looking for a specific example of the impact of these sorts of games, the gaming company Rovio announced that in 2011 their popular game Angry Birds grossed $106 million!
Increased Regulation
Casino games are some of the most popular types of games on the Internet, and draw massive crowds on a consistent basis. Sites like Party Casino have enormous user bases that are constantly expanding, and it appears that the online gambling industry is going nowhere but up. This is largely due to increased regulation around the world for Internet gambling, which allows sites to operate legitimately and legally. With many people predicting that the United States will become the latest country to regulate in the near future, there is potential for this already explosive market to expand further in a very significant way. Ultimately, online gambling accounts for a major portion of the growth in Internet gaming in general.
Console Capability
Finally, it should also be noted that the implementation of Internet capability in popular gaming consoles like the Xbox, Playstation and Wii have also contributed to the expansion of online gaming. Players now have the ability to use the Internet to download new games and features to their consoles, and more importantly to join interactive gaming communities for direct competition with other players. This development has essentially brought on a new era of console gaming in connection to the Internet.