Pixels and arcades: the birth of video games

Video games began their existence in the 70s, when the first arcade machines began to appear in public places. Simple games like Pong and Space Invaders attracted attention with their innovative approach and simple pixel graphics. These games were easy to control but extremely addictive, which led to their huge popularity.

A major milestone in the development of video games was the creation of the first home consoles, such as the Atari 2600, which allowed people to play video games right in their own homes. Games on such platforms, despite the limited graphics and technology, were still able to provide players with a new experience, and many of these early games are still considered iconic.

Arcade games dominated the gaming culture of the 70s and 80s, their mechanics were rudimentary but always enticing. For example, Pac-Man became a symbol of an entire era, allowing players to control a character who ate dots on the screen, avoiding the ghosts that pursued him. The simplicity of such games did not prevent them from being deeply entertaining, which explains their phenomenal popularity.

3D and next-gen consoles

The late 80s and early 90s were a time of revolution in the world of video games. At this time, the first 3D games began to appear, and gaming consoles began to move to a new level. Advancements in technology allowed for significant improvements in graphics and expanded gaming capabilities.

Games such as Super Mario 64 and Tomb Raider brought full 3D worlds to the gaming industry for the first time, giving players a new experience of interacting with virtual reality. Next-generation consoles such as the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64 changed the standards, setting new requirements for developers and opening up new horizons for game creation.

Significant improvements were also achieved in the field of sound design. If in arcade games of the 80s, the soundtrack was limited to simple effects and melodies, then in the 90s, game studios began using complex musical compositions and dynamic sound effects that immersed players in the atmosphere of the game.

3D graphics technology not only expanded the possibilities for creating new worlds, but also opened the door to creating deeper stories. At this time, game studios began to develop games in which not only mechanics and graphics were important, but also stories that involved players. Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid became shining examples of such games in which the story played a key role.

Virtual reality and new horizons

At the turn of the 21st century, new technologies emerged that began to significantly change the concept of video games. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have become important stages in the evolution of the gaming industry. Modern devices such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR allow players to do more than just look at the screen, but to fully immerse themselves in the game world.

Virtual reality has offered players unique opportunities: from exploring huge open worlds to participating in sports games where every control has a real physical embodiment. In turn, augmented reality opens up new possibilities for games that can be integrated with the real environment, as is the case with popular games such as Pokémon Go.

Virtual reality technology continues to improve. In recent years, new types of glasses and sensors have been developed that give players the opportunity to interact with virtual objects in real time. In VR games, players can move around in 3D spaces, control characters using hand and body movements, and interact with objects in the games using specially designed controllers.

Conclusion

The video game industry is not standing still, and we are currently witnessing the emergence of new technologies that can radically change the very foundations of gameplay. Artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks are beginning to be actively introduced into the game development process, allowing for the creation of even more complex and realistic game mechanics.

The evolution of video games is a journey from simple pixels to complex virtual worlds. Technologies are constantly evolving, opening up new horizons for players and developers. Modern games provide not only entertainment, but also the opportunity to immerse themselves in new, incredible worlds. The future of video games promises to be even more exciting, and we can expect the emergence of new technologies that will further change the perception and interaction with virtual worlds.

Julia Moreno, gaming technology expert

The post Evolution of video games: from pixels to VR worlds appeared first on We-The-Revolution.

And many people agree that learning should be fun. Take computer games, for example. Scientific data shows that they develop mental abilities and allow you to preserve them until old age.

In other words, computer games make us smarter and more successful. And here’s why:

Losing is the key to success

Ask anyone who has managed to achieve something if they have ever failed. The answer will be an affirmative “Yes!”. Absolutely everyone has failed at least once in their lives. In many ways, this is the key to success.

In many video games, you initially have more than one “life”. This immediately tells you that there is nothing wrong with losing. A lot of the time in the game, you’re going for a goal, but you fail. This makes you more persistent and stubborn. You do not give up and do not lose heart, even if you lose. This is a very important quality for life.

Computer games help to cope with problems better

Evidence shows that role-playing video games are a great workout for the brain. Games such as the incredibly popular Call of Duty improve cognitive abilities more than games specifically designed for this purpose.

Jane McGonigal, a world-renowned video game creator and PhD in engineering, recommends playing video games for 20 minutes three times a week. You will train your brain and have fun.

The fact is that the most popular video games require problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This promotes adaptation and cognitive flexibility, which are very important skills for solving any problem.

Games make your brain work

As sad as it may sound, over time we start to fall behind mentally and physically. Going to the gym or having regular sex will help prevent (or at least slow down) physical losses. But to prevent a mental decline, you need to keep your brain active: solve crossword puzzles, sudoku, play games of wits or video games (if they are not meaningless).

Gamers are better at visual tasks

Scientists agree that gamers are better at many visual tasks than non-gamers. Studies show that gamers concentrate on an object better, are able to hold attention on two objects at the same time, filter out unnecessary information better, switch from one task to another, detect visual changes, and represent objects in three-dimensional space.

Games increase the speed of information processing

The ability to process information quickly in different situations is critical. Motorists have to process a lot of information, which is also changing rapidly. And they often need to make the right decision quickly to avoid an unfortunate incident. But the speed of decision-making often harms the quality, and vice versa. In other words, hasty decisions often lead to mistakes.

Computer games are known for requiring fast processing of sensory information and quick actions. Indecision or delays are often penalized. Therefore, players are highly motivated to reduce reaction time. And several studies have shown that gamers are faster than non-gamers.

Gamers have a good memory

A team of neuroscientists from the University of California found that 3D computer games improve memory.

They compared two groups of people: some played 2D games for half an hour every day for two weeks, and others played the same amount of 3D games. Before and after the experiment, all participants took a memory test. Those who played 2D games did not improve their memory at all, but those who played 3D games improved it by as much as 12%. It may seem like a trifle, but the memory of a person aged 45 to 70 deteriorates by about 12%.

Video games help to solve several tasks simultaneously

Daphne Bevellier, a professor of cognitive science who has conducted more than 20 studies on video games, said: “Action video games are far from meaningless.” Her research shows that gamers improve their attention span, cognitive abilities, visual skills, and ability to solve multiple tasks simultaneously.

The post 7 reasons to play video games appeared first on We-The-Revolution.

Competence

We like to feel that we are better at something, especially when other people recognize it. Video games give us the opportunity to feel progress and achievement of goals in a short time, which positively affects our self-confidence and increases self-esteem. The more difficult the game is, the more fun we will have in the end.

Autonomy and independence

It is important for us to feel a sense of control over our actions and situations. However, in real life, this is not always easy. Many things can happen beyond our control, and this can be frustrating.

Games are a space where players are free from the influence or direction of others. Children who are always being controlled seek out games to feel independent. Adults may gravitate toward video entertainment if they feel they have no control over their work or home life.

For example, free-moving games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a PlayStation 5 console exclusive, are particularly good because the player can largely move around independently in the game. For those who don’t feel independent in the physical world, video games are a great place to go.

Intimacy

This is the third psychological need that games appeal to. We like to feel that we matter to other people, and multiplayer games, especially massively multiplayer online games, directly provide this connection. In order to understand how to create multiplayer games in a way that creates close relationships and even friendships between players, a study was conducted in 2016. In it, experienced game designers shared the key elements that a game should have to promote friendship during the game: closeness, similarity, reciprocity, and openness. Thus, the researchers came to the conclusion that games are uniquely suited to creating close relationships.

A safe place to fail

Video games also give you the opportunity to fail. You can safely take as many risks as you want. If you lose while trying to defeat a boss, you just start over. If you do not win a competitive match, you will play another one. It is much safer for gamers to fail online than in the physical world. Games teach us that failure is not the end. We can give up, or we can learn from our mistakes and improve. Failure is part of our human experience. Starting over after defeats to become better is a great skill that games teach us.

Relaxation

Many video games are dynamic and intense, but there are also a lot of quiet ones designed for relaxation and unwinding. When the world around us is chaotic and full of stress, it’s nice to immerse yourself in an exciting video game for a while and relax.

Games like Ghost of Tsushima, No Man’s Sky, and ABZÛ help you relax, reduce stress, and explore the open world. Therefore, if you are looking for a way to relax and unwind, video games will be a great option.

The post Why do we like playing video games? appeared first on We-The-Revolution.

The online game Elden Ring by FromSoftware is a role-playing action game in the world of dark fantasy. In fact, this video game is the successor to the Dark Souls series and was created with the participation of the author of Game of Thrones, George Martin. The focus is on a dying world that warriors are trying to bring back to life. There will be a lot of weapons, magic, and more control over the characters than in the previous games of the developer.

The game’s plot is not just a fantasy. There is a lot of philosophy, reflections on the eternal, friendship and betrayal, there is a place for joy and sadness, so the game turned out to be deep and multifaceted.

Unlike previous FromSoftware projects (where players could only explore a certain area before defeating a boss and moving on), Elden Ring has a huge open world available for exploration. This gives players more space to follow the story.

Horizon Forbidden West

This game is a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. In the new product, Ella remains the main character. The action takes place in the United States of the post-apocalyptic period. The heroine travels to the unexplored lands of the West to find the source and stop the disease that destroys all life on the planet.

The new version of the game is similar to the previous one, but game developers give players much more freedom to explore the world. For example, there are now many new tools in the arsenal: a device that allows you to breathe underwater, a cat hook with a glider, a shield to protect you from enemies and glide in the air, new weapons, and new tricks. There will also be plenty of new enemies: dinosaur-like machines, enemies resembling alligators and elephants, and even tribes that have learned to train these animals.

Stray

This is probably the cutest game by Annapurna Interactive. The video game became a social media phenomenon and quickly entered the top games. The main character is a cat that walks by itself. It can meow, scratch its back, claw, play, run around on the keyboard, or just sleep.

Most of the time, the cat moves around a dystopian cyberpunk city at night, inhabited only by anthropomorphic robots with screens instead of faces and monsters. With the former, the cat can interact and communicate thanks to a smart drone B-12 that accompanies him on his journey. But the cat will have to run away from the monsters. Its task is to return home, and players will find many puzzles and action scenes.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Another computer game about a post-apocalyptic world where parkour becomes the main means of survival. The hero – Pilgrim – travels between the surviving cities, in one of which the story will unfold. Nothing is known about it in advance, because the game is based on a system that changes depending on the player’s choice.

The post What to play this weekend appeared first on We-The-Revolution.