The original gaming developers may have thought the industry could boom more slowly. The growth has primarily come in the last two decades due to two significant developments with all new gaming gadgets.
On the one hand, sports betting has become widely accepted and needs legalization in several states. On the other one, the gaming industry benefited from another invention.
The development of the internet opened up the market as people no longer had to gather for LAN parties to play video games and converse.
The ability for system and game developers to build quickly was facilitated by the convenience of individuals being able to connect to their gaming systems from their homes. That connectivity was a game changer as consoles could now be in each house.
So game developers then turned their attention to online gameplay. The profit margins grew and allowed for better consoles, better graphics, and better gameplay because more titles from a diverse game market began to sell.
The other significant developments were two things that coincided with each other: streaming and professional esports leagues.
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Competitive Era Ramps Up
With the ability to broadcast live gameplay, online gameplay’s competitiveness increased even more.
In the early days, the Madden Bowl featuring the National Football League was broadcast by ESPN and held in Times Square, which was a prevalent title.
Streaming online and television have caused the blooming of games. A lot of the Call of Duty League, for example, streams in their free time and allows people to interact directly. But it also allows for more excellent connectivity between the leagues and their fans.
That builds a connection and develops fans. For the fans, they get to ask about specific strategies in gameplay or tips on how to execute a particular move.
That then builds trust within the community and allows them to expand their following.
The competitive era is direct because of the internet boom and the gaming industry focusing on online gameplay.
Smoothing things out over time has allowed for more games. That means amateur gamers can get more practice and develop their skills.
Deadly Virus Sends Entertainment to Gaming
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, even major professional sports leagues, it created another boom for gaming.
Streaming was already popular but boomed as people turned to Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook communities to develop their communities.
These content creators use all sorts of gadgets to connect with others. Companies have cameras, microphones, and headsets aimed at the streaming community, far from the original LAN parties that occurred from the start and into the early 2000s.
El Gato has a great product line that allows for transitions while streaming, capturing gameplay from a console to a computer, different cameras, green screens, and far more.
But these content creators connected people and created bonds among their communities. Friends who played games also grew closer to one another because it was a way to stay safely secured.
Fortunately, the gaming industry was so far along already and already had the infrastructure to support this big community.
Where Does eSports go Next?
The competitive era brought a couple of different transitions for gamers. Those who truly wanted to compete at a high level, even in amateur tournaments and other events, were downsizing from televisions to gaming monitors.
This allowed for more explicit pictures and better colors while gaming. The smaller monitors also narrowed the area to focus on while gaming, so somebody hiding in one corner could easily be caught because of the condensed space of a monitor.
The development of gaming computers and laptops, and now game developers focusing on the latest Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5, means a potential transition in gaming eras.
The new Call of Duty has upset its consumer base because it caters to casual gamers. Are they ahead of another trend?
Our Thoughts
The entertainment industry again opened up with major concert venues and sporting events, attracting hundreds of thousands of people.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the gaming industry take a step back from the momentum it had gained because entertainment competitors are back.
