When we think back to the early days of the gaming industry, where titles like Arkanoid and Duck Hunt and were considered to be at the forefront of revolutionary gaming technology, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in just 30 years.
In fact, the gaming industry has always been a key arena for putting technological advances into practice. Top video game developers tend to be forward-thinking people who treat their trade like an art form. Such people are keen to evolve their craft and take our gaming experience to a whole new level whenever possible.
Perhaps one of the biggest ongoing challenges facing developers in the past five years or so is harnessing the immersive power of 3D technology. In that time, we’ve seen more and more video games adopting 3D technology across many different platforms. It’s no surprise really, considering the engaging depth perception that 3D allows for, certainly miles away from 2D technology. Let’s take a look at two of the key exponents of 3D technology in gaming, and the impact they are having on the industry. Buckle up!
Video game platforms
In recent years, Windows, PlayStation and Xbox have all invested heavily in developing 3D-ready versions of popular titles like Doom, Tomb Raider, Sonic, Gears of War and Battlefield. The latter has been tipped as one of the most engaging 3D games we’ve ever seen. But even before that, we had Nintendo’s 3DS handheld gaming device first released in 2011 – the 3DS features two screens, one of which has a stereoscopic 3D effect. It went a long way in offering a basic 3D taster to the public. According to Nintendo, the console, together with its later versions, had sold 61.57 million units by September 2016.
Many 3D-ready video games, including the ones listed above, utilise Nvidia 3D Vision, a stereoscopic gaming kit that includes shutter glasses and driver software to render the game in 3D. At the moment, this is the most widely used system on the market and seems to be going from strength to strength every year.
iGaming
Since it first started gaining popularity at the turn of the millennium, the online gambling industry has grown significantly year on year. This growth has also resulted in huge re-investment in the development of digital bookmakers, casinos and other gambling websites, all of which share the same aim to make the online gambling experience as immersive and authentic as possible.
Many online poker operators are also exploring 3D technology through offering live dealers in 3D, and the ability to customise an avatar’s movements and reactions. The impact of these features allows for a more lifelike poker experience, and is conducive to the engagement of the person playing.
What’s next?
There’s no doubt that 3D technology will continue to develop in the years to come, and that the gaming industry will be at the forefront of any research, investment and development.
Why? Because game developers are forever seeking new ways to make our gaming experience the best it can be – an all-encompassing, sensory encounter that challenges our very perception of what fun is. Oh yes, we’ve certainly come a long way since Pong.
