Here is a closer examination of how social interaction has evolved over the past few years in the online gaming world.
The gaming industry has dramatically evolved over the past two decades, and the average gamer’s overall experience is now far more sociable than ever, thanks to a range of built-in socially interactive features and communication tools that most games have these days.
With that said, let’s take a quick look at how online gaming has evolved over the years from what was once deemed a solitary, somewhat lonely experience to being far more community-driven, where players can now enjoy shared digital entertainment experiences.
How has social interaction changed in the gaming industry?
In the early days of video games, the only way to have fun with other players was to invite them around to your house or go to their house to play the same game on the same console or desktop computer with two controllers. In other words, the only real multiplayer option was to play two-player games.
Today, things are completely different. The term ‘multiplayer’ these days refers to thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of players, all playing the same game simultaneously across the internet.
Early video games weren’t played online, whereas these days, most games are, and they now include a range of built-in interactive communication tools and social networking features.
Therefore, people today can enjoy playing with countless other players from almost any location on the planet and communicate with them, thanks to these socially interactive tools.
According to experts and industry leaders, the inclusion of these social networking tools enhances the overall gaming experience and significantly increases player engagement. It also means that the online gaming experience is no longer solitary, enabling people to enjoy the same shared experience.
How are these features used in the iGaming industry?
You can also find similar social networking tools on the iGaming industry’s safest sweepstakes casinos (aka social casinos). Click here to discover more about these risk-free online casino websites that are currently taking the iGaming industry by storm, especially in North America.
When you play on social casinos like this or when you play on regular online casinos, you will find that many of the games featured on these sites today also feature socially interactive features and networking communication tools.
Some gaming sites also have friends lists, party systems, leaderboards/challenges, and other social features that encourage player engagement and interaction.
In today’s most popular live dealer games from award-winning, top-tier software providers like Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, OnAir Entertainment, Pragmatic Play, Skywind Group, StakeLogic, Authentic Gaming, and BetGamesTV, to name a few, you can chat with other players (and the live dealers) in real-time using the IM (instant messaging) chat features.
Some of the most popular games to try out in the multiplayer mode, where you can always have fun and chat with other like-minded players, are the following hit titles:
- Live Sweet Bonanza Candyland
- Live Extra Chill Epic Spins Megaways
- Live Boom City
- Live Travel Fever
- Live Joker’s Wheel
Others include MONOPOLY Live, Live Buffalo Blitz, Snakes & Ladders Live, Live Jumanji – The Bonus Level, Stock Market Live, Live Lucky 6, and Live Crazy Time.
Thanks to innovative technologies, such as IM (instant messaging) chat features and the ability to chat with other players using microphones, new friendships and relationships are frequently being formed, which helps online communities grow and bridges the gap between diverse communities.
It also keeps players playing their favourite games for longer periods and makes them want to return to play in future, which, ultimately, boosts revenue for developers and operators and helps the industry grow.
Final thoughts
The way in which online gamers interact with each other will continue to evolve over the coming years, and other new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, will help push the boundaries of what is possible in this sector even further.
Nowadays, if you are looking to connect with friends or make new acquaintances, and your favourite way to unwind in your spare time is to play video games, you can now enjoy a more socially interactive experience on hundreds of world-class gaming sites with plenty of games to suit all types of players.
