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]]>We have found thoughtful insight and detailed analytics covering the ways the gaming industry is going to change and grow in the near future and would like to share them with you in this article.
Just like everything in the history of humankind develops gradually and consistently following the same pattern:
…the gaming industry can not avoid moments of ups and downs. Plus, there are always some key turning points, after which the pattern visibly changes. For example, the collapse of the Roman Empire marked the beginning of the Middle Ages, and World War I ended the Victorian era and the long 19th century.
The same can be transferred to video game history, according to the professional gambler we mentioned earlier. Here is what he says.
(By the way, he warns that the dates he has chosen are only a conditional distinction and are sometimes used for convenient systematization and perception of the information.)
The first turning point might have been in 1993 – 1994. It was the time when Nintendo absolutely dominated the video game market, but more and more corporations wanted a piece of the pie in that fast-growing industry. So, in the early nineties, many new companies entered the market. Nowadays, we are used to having only three main brands, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo, but in the 90-s, the picture was quite different. By 1996, the market already had Atari Jaguar, Panasonic 3DO, Sega Saturn, PC-FX, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64. The competition between them was life-or-death. And these are not just words: by the end of the 90s, most of those game developers either went bankrupt or left the market.
When there are so many players in one business sector (and especially the one that has just started growing), each company tries to stand out and release the most unusual product while the variety of offers grows.
That was the time of the first experiments with VR and different controllers. The games themselves were also changing dramatically and quickly. Whereas before they were perceived as entertainment for kids and nerds, this perception started to change. Game producers began developing video games for a more adult audience. In 1993, the great and terrible DOOM came out — with blood, demons, and a heavy metal soundtrack. The very next year releases with brutality, eroticism, and philosophical overtones poured out: Super Metroid, System Shock, Final Fantasy VI, and the first installment of The Elder Scrolls. All these games came out in the same year; and they differed greatly from the usual platformers and side-scrolling shooters of the time. In the years that followed, the number of adult and ‘serious’ games grew. So, we could call this period the ‘Age of Adulthood’.
1998 was one of the best years in the history of the gaming industry. Even though no technological breakthrough happened at that time, the fact remains: only in 1998 alone the number of games that later on were added to various ‘TOP 10 OF ALL TIMES’ lists was higher than ever. Here are the titles: StarCraft, Fallout 2, Baldur’s Gate, Metal Gear Solid, Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil 2, Half-Life, and the slightly late to the party Silent Hill, which came out in January 1999.
By this point, most developers had already gotten the hang of 3D and managed to make them look much less like a tool for visual tortures. Graphics were evolving like never before and after. Just compare the first Half-Life and Crysis: they only have a 1-year difference, but they seem like they are from different decades.
There was a tangible shift in themes as well. Topics of love and death, self-determination and life choices, politics, and satire on real life began to appear in games.
Together with the 2000s, a huge number of completely different games arrived. Shooters, Strategies, RPGs, Horror, and racing simulators: the era was generous to the diversity of genres. This decade was rich in changes, so let’s call it the ‘Age of Experimentation’.
And keeping up with the spirit of the era, the beginning of the 2000-s became a takeoff runway for mobile gaming. Video games played on mobile phones, tablets, and other handheld devices soon after the release of portable gaming consoles like the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) and the Nintendo DS.
At first, mobile games were simple adaptations of existing console and PC games. However, they quickly evolved to take advantage of the unique capabilities of mobile devices. And with the release of powerful new smartphones and tablets, mobile gaming is only getting more popular — we have been witnessing how puzzles, strategy, multiplayer games, iOS and Android mobile casinos available for free play and real money gambling have been filling up our smartphones and tablets up until now.
If any year can compete with 1998 for the title of the best in the history of the gaming industry, it’s 2007. Mass Effect, Assassin Creed, Crysis, BioShock, Modern Warfare, and Uncharted were the engines of that time.
Throughout the 2000s, the game industry grew and strengthened, attracting more and more followers and investors. Those, in turn, wanted to expand their potential audience, which led to the fossilization of many franchises. With the idea that both a housewife and a person who had never held a game controller must be able to master video games and fall in love with them, some companies decided to simplify the rules and lower the threshold of entry. Sometimes this could be done without any harm to the gameplay, but not always.
Video games began to look more like movies. The focus began to be on the story and staged cutscenes. The technology of motion capture quickly spread, and many games attracted professional actors.
The flagship of the trend was, undoubtedly, the Uncharted series: it successfully used the action-adventure genre. Uncharted borrowed many tropes from movies like Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and Armor of God. Another successful example is the Mass Effect trilogy. Many believed that the industry had never come as close to the level of Hollywood blockbusters as it did in the Captain Shepard story. We could call this time period the ‘Blockbuster Era’, as almost all of the major franchises tried to resemble the box office hits of that time.
There have always been exceptions. And our ‘Blockbuster Era’ is not an exception to this rule. In the early 2010-s, it was the Souls series that began to gain popularity even though it had almost no plot and no explanations, and instead, offered the players obscenely high complexity.
As we are getting closer to today, another shift in the industry worth mentioning was surely 2015.
Wither 3, Bloodborn, Fallout 4, Metal Gear Solid V, Dying Light, Arkham Knight — what do all these games have in common (besides the fact that they were all released in 2015)? Their gameplays are all based on the open world paradigm. Yes, this genre had appeared before, but it was 2015 when it really started thriving. So much so that until now, when we have half of the major releases with an open-world at its core.
In addition, 2015 was a very important year for the indie scene. That’s when Ori and the Blind Forest and Undertale came out. And again, there had been many cool independent projects released before them, but they hadn’t still been popular with a wide audience. Ori and the Blind Forest and Undertale won numerous prestigious awards and thus brought indie into the mainstream. So after 2015, the number of indies has multiplied: if it hadn’t been for them, we wouldn’t be seeing so many great games from small private studios now.
The same year Pillars Of Eternity appeared, which is not really indie de jure, but most of its development came from a crowdfunding company. And thus, another new trend began. The developers realized that people are not just willing to buy games but also to pay for games that don’t yet exist; all sorts of kickstarter fundraisers and early-access game releases poured in.
You may ask, why 2022? Why will this year be a watershed for the industry?
First, a number of major releases were scheduled for this year. And they are not just the usual AAA titles but extremely long-awaited projects such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and Starfield, and in 2022, we will get Breath of the Wild and a sequel to God of War. All in all, 2022 is going to be a hot year for releases, the kind of hot years that herald the beginnings of new eras.
Second, it’s Cyberpunk. Cyberpunk was released at the very end of 2020 and was probably the most anticipated game of those years. We had high hopes for it; we thought it would be the first next-gen game and set a new benchmark for the other developers. However, it turned out to be a typical sandbox title, with a faceless protagonist, one-type quests, colored loot, and towers. Negative feedback followed, which shows that players are tired of similar open worlds and soon might simply stop buying them.
Recently another important event happened. Valve announced the release of its own handheld console — the Steam Deck. And this will not be Valve’s first gaming system only. It is also the first serious competition for Xbox/PlayStation/Nintendo in years.
On top of that, it seems like new flagships of a new era have been coming up, and they have less resemblance to the typical games of the same genre released in the past couple of years. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is still more shooter than open-world, God of War, in general, is linear, well, and to realize a full open world in space would be impossible…
Anyways, we can only speculate and guess, or we can wait for a little while and see what this new era will bring. What there is no doubt about is that it is not going to be boring.
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]]>Virtual reality has come a long way since its early days. While VR was once a novelty, today it is a rapidly growing segment of the gaming industry. According to a recent report by the market research firm, SuperData, the VR gaming market was worth $1.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2023. This growth is driven by improvements in hardware and software, as well as a growing interest in VR gaming among players.
The current state of virtual reality in gaming is characterized by the release of new hardware and the development of more immersive and sophisticated games. Major tech companies such as Facebook, Sony, and HTC have released VR headset products, while independent developers are creating a range of VR games that offer a more immersive gaming experience than traditional games.
There are several trends that are shaping the future of VR gaming, including the following:
Virtual reality offers a range of benefits to both players and developers, including the following:
Virtual reality has come a long way in recent years, and the technology is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace. As VR technology improves and becomes more accessible, it has the potential to change the way we play and experience games. Here are some of the emerging trends and technologies in VR gaming that are worth paying attention to.
Emerging Trends and Technologies in VR Gaming
Wireless VR
Eye Tracking
Haptic Feedback
VR Gaming Arcades
Virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry in several ways. Here are a few examples:
Immersive Gaming Experiences
New Types of Games
Improved Accessibility
While VR technology has a lot of potential, there are also a number of challenges and obstacles that the VR gaming industry will need to overcome. Here are a few of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the VR gaming industry:
Cost
Technical Challenges
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]]>The post The importance of storytelling in game development appeared first on B_Borst.
]]>At IBstudenthelp.com, a team of experienced writers understands the importance of storytelling in gaming. This writing service can help bring your game to life by crafting a compelling story that captures the imagination of players and helps to create a memorable gaming experience. Whether you need help with world-building, character development, scriptwriting, or anything in between, team of experts is here to support you. With a deep understanding of gaming trends, genres, and platforms, we can help you create a story that resonates with your target audience and takes your game to the next level. If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced writing service to help with storytelling in the gaming niche, look no further than IBstudenthelp.com.
Storytelling in games is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to build an emotional connection between the player and the game world. When players experience a well-written story, they are more likely to become invested in the game, care about the characters, and feel emotionally invested in the outcome of the game. This emotional connection is critical to keeping players engaged and motivated to keep playing.
Secondly, storytelling can be used to convey a message or theme to the player. Whether you want to raise awareness about a social issue, explore a philosophical concept, or simply entertain players, storytelling can be an effective way to communicate these ideas. For example, games like “Papers, Please” and “This War of Mine” explore the human impact of war and political unrest, while games like “Journey” and “Abzû” encourage players to explore and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Thirdly, storytelling can help to create an immersive experience for players. When players are fully immersed in the game world, they are more likely to forget about the real world and become fully engaged in the game. Storytelling can help to create this immersive experience by allowing players to become part of the game world and experience it from a first-person perspective.
When it comes to storytelling in games, there are several key elements that can help to make a story effective. These elements include character development, plot, pacing, and atmosphere.
Firstly, character development is important in games because it allows players to connect with the characters in the game. When players understand the motivations and emotions of the characters they are playing as, they are more likely to become invested in the game. To create compelling characters, game developers should focus on creating well-rounded, relatable characters with distinct personalities and motivations.
Secondly, a strong plot is critical to keeping players engaged in the game. A good plot should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, with a series of twists and turns to keep players on their toes. Plot twists and turns can help to keep players interested and engaged, and should be used judiciously to avoid confusing or frustrating players.
Thirdly, pacing is important in games because it helps to maintain the flow of the story. Pacing refers to the speed at which events unfold in the game. Too slow and players may become bored, too fast and they may become overwhelmed. A good pace will keep players engaged and invested in the story, and will help to build suspense and tension as the game progresses.
Lastly, atmosphere is critical to creating an immersive experience for players. Atmosphere refers to the overall tone and mood of the game world, and should be carefully crafted to match the story and theme of the game. For example, a horror game should have a dark, creepy atmosphere, while a fantasy game should have a more magical, fantastical atmosphere.
The benefits of storytelling in games are numerous, and can help to make a game more engaging, memorable, and impactful. Some of the key benefits of storytelling in games include:
In conclusion, storytelling is an essential element of game development that can help to create an immersive, engaging, and memorable experience for players. By focusing on character development, plot, pacing, and atmosphere, game developers can create stories that captivate players and keep them invested in the game. Whether you’re creating an action-packed adventure, a thought-provoking puzzle game, or anything in between, storytelling is a critical component of successful game development.
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]]>The post How is esports developing in Canada? appeared first on B_Borst.
]]>The increase in viewers was not just a result of the fact that they were paying customers; it also played a significant role in the revenue expansion. Because they see the chance to engage with a sizable and engaged audience, brands are investing directly and indirectly in esports marketing. As a result, the sector’s income has grown quickly.
This expansion has only been hindered by COVID’s limitations on recent open esports events, but things seem to be returning to normal in 2022. Canada is leading the esports revolution that is sweeping the globe. Producing global revenue of $1.1 billion USD in 2021 and $1.6 billion USD higher in 2024 than in the prior year. The industry is appealing to a large number of investors and business elite members. Canada is one of the best possibilities for esports betting because the country offers fantastic betting conditions.
Profit from this fact and launch Canadian esports betting right immediately. We will help you with this by providing you with all the information you need on the country’s legal framework for esports betting. You’ll discover the criteria to consider when choosing the best esports bookies in Canada and the categories of online games that accept bets. To ensure that you are well-prepared when you select one of the esports betting Canada websites, we will also provide you with information about betting markets and bonuses, esports teams and contests, and much more.
Over the past several years, the esports industry has developed in an intriguing fashion, evolving from a tiny, devoted gaming community to a mainstream, billion-dollar industry. There might be 646 million esports viewers worldwide by 2023, and the market could be valued at more than $1.5 billion.
Within this critical worldwide trend, Canada has lately competed successfully in several high-profile championships. Canada finished second among esports teams in the 2017 Overwatch World Cup. Canadian Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn, who won the IEM championship in Pyeongchang in 2018, became the first woman to win a prominent StarCraft 2 event in 2018.
Several Canadian organizations and teams are currently engaged in international competition. Toronto Defiant and Vancouver Titans, two of the best esports organizations in the world, respectively, are represented by OverActive Media and Luminosity Gaming as Overwatch League teams. This company is investing millions of dollars on talent, events, and PR, but it took a lot of work to get here.
Some of the most popular esports games in Canada are Rocket League, Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, StarCraft II, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The game that has the most fans is League of Legends. Canada has a variety of different players in other games.
· Dota 2
· League of Legends.
· Battle royale games
· Rainbow Six: Siege
· Fortnite
· Call of Duty
· Halo
· Playersunknown’s Battlegrounds
· Valorant
The list is anticipated to grow to include more games.
Esports betting companies are trying to attract new customers despite solid market competition. Reputable services provide the most tempting betting opportunities and have the broadest assortment of esports competitions. The Canadian esports betting sites on our list will surely meet your standards. Choose one, watch a current tournament, and make predictions about the outcomes.
Have fun and become wealthy quickly! Esports betting is permitted in Canada. Online gambling businesses are given legal status by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. The commission’s decisions cannot be questioned or challenged in any other Canadian jurisdiction, according to the Canada Constitution Act of 1982. Under North American laws and regulations, Canadians may wager on esports.
One of the most popular sports in Canada that gamblers like betting on is esports. Several well-known esports organizations have their corporate offices in different Canadian provinces. Esports betting is legal throughout the country and is widely available in Canada. Pick the one that best suits your needs from our list of reputable online bookies. Start betting on esports in Canada to play your favorite games and fight for massive payouts.
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]]>The post The best games made by Canadian game developers appeared first on B_Borst.
]]>Canada is presently one of the world’s centers for the gaming industry. Canada really has the third-largest video gaming market in the world. Additionally, the sector boosts the country’s GDP by about $5.5 billion annually. The gambling industry is significant and developing quickly in Canada. The country now has 692 game production studios, a 16% rise from 2017 to 2019.
According to a study by The Entertainment Software Association of Canada, of the $5.5 billion that the sector contributes to the GDP, $3.2 billion comes from gaming directly, while an additional $1.2 billion comes from “indirect and induced repercussions” (ESA Canada). By 2021, there will be 32,300 full-time equivalents (FTEs) working in the Canadian gaming industry, an increase of 17%. Their average yearly pay is $78,600.
The COVID-19 crisis actually had little effect on Canadian business. The great majority of the 23 million Canadians who played video games during the pandemic, according to the ESAC study, stated that it helped them emotionally and mentally. The poll also showed how different these people’s ages and origins were.
Canada is the third-largest gaming market in the world, behind the US and Japan, as we have said. As a result, many of the best video games now on the market, such as:
· Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
· Spirit farer
· Unto the End
· Home world
· Fallout Shelter,
Following the release of the Quebec-based Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Ubisoft of Montreal created Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In this installment of the franchise, you participate in the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and the Templars as a Viking raider in 873 AD. Since your Viking crew sticks with you the entire time, the game includes all the hallmarks of the franchise while placing a stronger focus on friendship.
Thunder, Described by Lotus as a “cozy management game about death,” As Stella, a mermaid who explores the world in quest of lost souls and fulfills their final wishes, you are joined by her cute cat Daffodil. Although this topic may appear serious to some, we think Spiritfarer is a stunning game with likable characters and an excellent narrative.
This incredibly challenging 2D action game was made by two Canadians living in California named Sara Kitamura and Stephen Danton. Another well-produced game with a heartfelt story. You are a struggling dad who is making a last-ditch effort to rejoin his family. You must battle and outwit a variety of creatures you may encounter in various areas using just your sword, dagger, and wits.
Later, in 2004 and 2013, THQ and Sega each acquired a portion of the 1997-founded Vancouver-based business. Real-time strategy video games, like Home World, are the company’s main products. They also produced a ton of video games for Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000. Age of Empires, a timeless title from Relic, is one of its most well-known and cherished titles.
Behaviour Interactive, a company that was founded in 1992 and currently has 400 employees, is thought of as a big game creation firm. Its headquarters are in Montreal and it was once known as the Advance IT Institute. In addition, they are well-known for the particular Warhammer 40,000 video game, Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade. Their mobile apps, like the wonderful Fallout Shelter game, which allows you run your own vault and assume the position of Overseer, have also been increasingly popular in recent years.
As you can see, the gaming sector in Canada is not only among the most developed and significant in the world, but it also has a major impact on the economy of the country. Additionally, it is brimming with creative and very prolific design firms, many of which are based in Canadian cities and are the brains behind some of the most coveted video games ever created. It seems even more hopeful for Canadian video game developers in the future.
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]]>The post Music players for pop music on PC appeared first on B_Borst.
]]>If you’re still using Windows Media Player or Winamp, you’re missing out on the many features offered by more advanced programs. They make it easy to group tracks, search for them, and play them back. So here’s our guide to the best players for Windows computers. Blow the dust off the songs piled up on your hard drive!
The Plex toolkit has long been able to stream a collection of tracks to mobile apps and through a desktop browser, but it recently added new software Plexamp to its roster.
With an obvious reference to Winamp in its name, Plexamp focuses on making access to tracks as easy as possible, visualizing playlists and albums through attractive artwork and lots of nice features.
The program still has minor bugs, and you’ll need a Plex Media Server to access the songs, but if you value simplicity above all else, it’s worth seeing how the app uses search terms and auto-discovery tools instead of the standard track grid.
MusicBee includes just about every feature you need, from volume normalization and CD ripping to Last.fm scrubbing and a built-in equalizer so you can customize your sound.
The program will quickly do the job of scanning files stored on your computer, can import tracks from iTunes if necessary, and provides many ways to process files. If you find the default interface a little overwhelming, use the smart theater mode, a useful alternative layout.
Kodi is another one of those applications that you’ve probably heard of (or even used) but never considered as a music player. The program is closely related to video rather than audio, but it has very cool music management features and works on almost every mobile and computer platform.
If you trust Kodi with your collection, you’ll find that you can handle most popular formats as well as browse songs by album, artist, genre, and recently played tracks. Kodi allows you to create your own smart playlists based on custom criteria, just like iTunes does.
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]]>The post Pop music applications appeared first on B_Borst.
]]>YouTube remains one of the most popular options for listening to music. And in addition to music, you can also find video clips here. A separate app, YouTube Music, is focused on listening to music content and has an almost “endless” catalog.
There are recordings of live performances, cover versions, remixes and other unique material. There are personal recommendations. A Premium subscription will get rid of ads, give you offline mode and listening in the background.
iHeartRadio is one of the most popular music apps. This app allows you to listen to different radio stations based on your personal preferences, there are also podcasts, comedy shows and talk genres. AM and FM stations are present. iHeartRadio is a versatile app with a modern design, support for Chromecast, Android Wear and Android Auto.
Jango Radio features music from both established and independent artists. Unlike most other services, this one allows independent artists to pay to play their songs, which helps keep the service free. This app is a good way to discover new music.
The LiveXLive app is the replacement for Slacker Radio in 2019, leaving most of the functionality behind. There is listening to free music with different stations and a large set of genres. A premium version is also present. The service specializes in live music.
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