Video games have been an ever-evolving frontier since Atari first released Pong for global entertainment in 1972. In the 70’s we were standing on the precipice of the exciting possibilities and future applications of video gaming. Now, so many decades later, we are still only standing on the edge of what is possible for this multimillion-dollar industry. The next frontier is mobile gaming.
Console Gaming
The console was developed as a way to play video games at home. Since the creation of the first Atari home gaming system, you have been able to play games in the comfort of your own space instead of having to go to the local arcade. Thanks to the groundwork and early consoles by Atari, manufacturers like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have been at the forefront of the video gaming industry.
Console Versus PC
The personal computer is an incredible innovation. PC’s let you perform all kinds of tasks from practically anywhere that could previously only be done from behind a massive desktop. PC gaming opened up another vast industry of technological advancement, but it isn’t without its drawbacks.
While PC gaming opens up an entirely new industry of highly specialized equipment like graphics cards, sound cards, and increased capacity storage solutions, all of this means that the average PC is not suitable for hardcore gaming. You essentially need to spend a lot more money building up a gaming system from a standard desktop or laptop.
Consoles allow you to play most games without tweaking or changing your gaming system’s hardware or software. Games built to work on PlayStation 5 will work on all PS5’s, provided you have enough storage available. Consoles are therefore also a lot cheaper than specialized gaming computer setups and offer more standardized compatibility.
The Game Changer
The Sony PlayStation 2 took gaming to an entirely new level in popularity. The PS2 took the best of the original PlayStation and improved tenfold, introducing innovations like a built-in DVD player and backward compatibility. Backward compatibility was a feature with Atari gaming systems, but they never reached the level of renown that the PS2 did.
Sony did something with the PlayStation 2 that consoles today haven’t managed to replicate; they made the PS2 matter to gamers and non-gamers alike. The inclusion of a fully operational DVD player set the PS2 apart. Suddenly families were buying PS2’s not for Ratchet and Clank or Need for Speed Undercover but watching movies. Comparatively, the PS2 was cheaper than most home theater systems. This skyrocketed the PS2’s sales and set it in a class of its own; a gaming console that doubled as a home theater system.
The Modern Console
The consoles of today are significant upgrades on the classic Atari Systems or even the PlayStation 2. Most games sold now are completely diskless, requiring you to activate an account with providers like Electronic Arts or Origin to download games you buy digitally. Today’s consoles, such as the PlayStation 4/ 5 and Microsoft’s XBox Series X, launch with much more onboard memory to accommodate a new class of super-realistic games.
The Next Frontier
Mobile phones have become so much more than just communication devices. You could say they are sci-fi made real. You can now stream movies, access news, watch live streaming sports, pick your favourite mobile casino and participate in mobile gaming which represents the next frontier in personal and professional gaming. This is just a small selection of activities a phone can be used for other than calling, texting and sending messages via WhatsApp and other apps. Where PCs fail in cost, portability, and standardized compatibility, the mobile phone triumphs.
A generic mobile device from Samsung, Huawei, Apple, or even Oppo can play almost any game available on the Google Playstore and Apple iStore. While these devices are not purpose-built for gaming like a console is, their hardware fully supports most mobile gaming titles.
The Great Migration
PC and console gaming giants like Electronic Arts are branching more and more into mobile gaming, firmly rooting themselves in the industry and leaders and trailblazers. EA has launched mobile versions of their top titles, like Need for Speed, The Sims, and SimCity. This effectively allows companies to introduce their offerings to a new generation of gamers; the mobile gamer.
Future Investment
The next phase of Sony’s existence is a massive investment in mobile gaming. Sony has noted that global relevance mobile gaming has developed and that it is the most popular gaming platform in the world right now. Job postings online have confirmed that Sony is headed to Android and iOS. They are searching, in earnest, for developers to bridge the gap between mobile gaming and console gaming.
Final Word
Mobile gaming is the next big thing for the gaming world. Where PCs and consoles fall short, mobile phones take the next significant steps in gaming evolution. In-app purchases, bonus features, and paid advertisements in mobile gaming create a new revenue stream for console companies. With more people worldwide owning mobile phones than consoles and PCs, bridging the gap between the platforms is integral for the gaming industry.
