For years I kept thinking of computer games as a futile
pastime for grown-ups who really had nothing better to do, and for teenagers
unable to play real life games or enjoy outdoors sports. With time this vision
has naturally evolved, and I came to take these games more seriously,
recognizing their importance and their value, even though I am still
unattracted and not ready to participate myself in the global phenomenon.
اضافة اعلان
Figures about gaming are well beyond my personal and humble
change of mind. They are almost unbelievable. According to finance.yahoo.com,
“the global gaming market was valued at $173.7 billion in 2020, and it is
expected to reach $314.4 billion by 2026”. This is seven times more than the
recorded music industry itself! For, according to statista.com, “in 2020, the
total revenue of the recorded music industry amounted to $23.1 billion”.
On January 18, news.microsoft.com said: “With three billion
people actively playing games today, and fueled by a new generation steeped in
the joys of interactive entertainment, gaming is now the largest and
fastest-growing form of entertainment.”
Several facts are here to confirm and illustrate the size
and the global impact of the gaming world.
Earlier this year, Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard,
the company specializing in gaming and known, among others, for the popular
game Candy Crush, for $68 billion. This alone speaks a lot about what may come
ahead.
Whether playing on a computer or with a dedicated console
such as Microsoft’s Xbox or Sony’s PlayStation, playing alone or competing with
others, locally or online, for pure pleasure or for money, gaming is
everywhere. The phenomenon has reached astonishing proportions. Young and less
young people are hooked on trending games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft
Auto (GTA for the aficionados). Contrary to what one many think, age has never
been a criterion anyway.
Stepping in a computer retail shop in Amman or checking
their catalog online reveals the importance of the hardware for gaming. These
are, for instance, large screens with very high refresh rate for smooth viewing
of fast action games, expensive video cards that alone would set you back
between JD400 and JD1,500, controls like joysticks and others. Yes, gaming is
expensive.
A computer geared up for powerful gaming costs two to four
times more than one good enough to conduct simple business or run standard
applications for personal use. Most of the time, gaming enthusiasts opt for the
desktop computer format and not for a laptop. Indeed, adding optional hardware,
increasing disk storage and memory size, and installing advanced video cards is
easier with a desktop. In some extreme cases, it is the only possible choice.
The attraction is understandable. Microsoft entices one to
use its celebrated Flight Simulator with this invite: “Travel the world and
experience over 2 million cities.” It is hard to resist. The recent releases of
Flight Simulator have brought unparalleled realism to the game.
And what about Oculus Quest 2, the gaming experience
enhanced with a stunning 3D virtual reality (VR) vision that is a special form
of gaming and requires dedicated hardware? Put on the VR viewing mask and go
for an exhilarating balloon ascension or enjoy practicing target shooting. My
teenage grandchild introduced me to Oculus Quest 2 last month, and I must say
it was an unforgettable experience.
Gaming gear like Oculus Quest 2 goes beyond simple fun.
Architects, among other professionals, use the device to take a virtual 3D walk
inside the construction models they design, and even let their clients join in
the virtual visit before moving to the real construction phase.
Gaming does not only involve action games with expensive
equipment and software. Online competitions between people at two different
ends of the world include a large variety of card and other kinds of mind
games. Some do it casually, reasonably, whereas for others it is a real
addiction.
In the end one understands how and why the global gaming
market weighs hundreds of billions of dollars.
To correct a little what I wrote at the beginning of this
article about my lack of interest in playing computer games myself, I must
confess that Microsoft Flight Simulator and Oculus Quest are two exceptions.
Every now and then I give in, and I play, but it is in no way an addiction,
like it is for countless people I know.
I started playing Flight Simulator in the late 1980s, with
the first releases of the game, which had little to do with the current
versions in terms of realism and thrill. But the fun and the learning were
there from the beginning.
Some would argue that Flight Simulator is not really a game.
It may be a valid viewpoint, but people in general would look at this kind of
applications as a game. An example: there is a professional driving simulator
at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan, installed to a train car and truck
drivers. It is a large and expensive system, with a powerful computer,
dedicated high-end software designed in France, a real driving seat, and an
immense display area measuring 90cm x 350cm. Still, when visitors come to see
the system for the first time they often say, “it is a big Atari,” referring to
the name of the well-known, old gaming console!
As for Oculus Quest, it is hard not to be attracted by the
immersive VR experience. It truly takes you away to another world and makes
gaming worth the effort, the money, and the time.
The writer is a computer engineer and a classically
trained pianist and guitarist. He has been regularly writing IT articles,
reviewing music albums, and covering concerts for more than 30 years.
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