There’s a lot to be said for the rise of online games. They’ve transformed into virtual spaces with cinematic storylines, avatars, enhanced-reality powers, visual effects, and real-world audio-video links. They also provide a glimpse of the future of digital work.
Early computers allowed users to connect their devices with other players
The first online games were developed for early computers, and they often used network technology to connect players in different locations. A Commodore 64 game, known as “Habitat,” was a graphic example of this type of game. Users connected their devices to a central host server, which provided the game’s controls and allowed them to interact with other players.
Host-based networks
Host-based networks have played an important role in the evolution of the internet and multiplayer games. These networks use computers connected to a single host (including mainframes and client computers) to share processing power. The internet’s evolution can be traced back to 1969, when UCLA researchers first sent a message to Stanford Research Institute. The message contained the word “login” and was returned with the word “lo.” Since then, host-based networks have become a popular choice for poker online gaming.
Sega Dreamcast
The Sega Dreamcast is a classic video game console. Its diverse games library includes arcade ports, fighting games, platformers, RPGs, sandbox games, sports games, and even oddities. In addition to the games you might expect to find on a video game console, the Dreamcast was able to compete with more sophisticated systems such as the PlayStation 2. In fact, the Dreamcast had more games than either the PS2 or GameCube, and was able to compete with both the PS2 and GameCube launch libraries.
Xbox
The rise of online games on Xbox is a phenomenon which started with an ad which quickly went viral and was distributed as an email attachment. The ad sparked some complaints in the UK but was largely well received. The ad was also successful in the Nordics and the Netherlands where PCs are still the dominant platform. In the PCdominated German market, the Xbox ad was even more successful. However, it was more difficult to break into the PlayStation-leaning southern European markets.
MMORPGs
The Rise of MMORPGs is a popular trend among gamers. These massively multiplayer online games require large game worlds, and servers that connect players. Many MMORPGs have all servers connected to one another, while others have a sharded universe, such as Ultima Online.
e-xsports
E-sports are leagues of people who compete in a particular game. Some of the leagues are modelled after professional sports, with all teams supported by a single major financial sponsor. Teams compete for playoff positions and top standing, and the best ones advance to the next level. Some esports are team-based, while others are one-on-one matches.