There are a lot of brand new games and a lot blur the lines between video games and different kinds of activities.
Everyone wantsus to play, or to remain in one place. It`s true. Peloton, Netflix, Zoom, TikTok, Amazon, Apple and Google are all either experimenting or expanding their efforts into video games.
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What`s the matter?
In the world, players spend an enormous amount of time playing video games. Established companies in the game industry and newcomers are seeking interactive digital experiments to increase their share of this time and money.
Though I`m not an avid gamerI think this is an excellent improvement. It`s as if we`re reimagining the concept of “video games” and what online idle moments can be. Perhaps it`ll be more engaging and socialwith less doomscrolling. Or maybe I`m reading too often. It could be a matter of money.
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Whatever the reasons, games may soon feel unavoidable. The new features available on Zoom — yesthe word Zoom includes poker, trivia and mystery games. Pelotonmanufactures exercise bikes, which cost $2,500, has released a game that lets people use their pedal power to control a virtual wheel. Netflix has confirmed that it will add video games to its entertainment platform. Facebook, TikTok and Amazon along with Google are all promoting video games to us or selling subscriptions to games. (The New York Times is looking to expand into puzzles and digital gamesalso.)
Video games are a huge business that increased when the coronavirus outbreak hit, so it`s not surprising that more companies are eager to get a part in the game. Accenture recently revealed that games have a global market share that is greater than combined revenues from music and movies. These figures cover traditional video games for consoles and smartphones, as well as advertising within games. Video games have a significant cultural impactwhich the Olympic organizers have demonstrated this week through the use of game music at the ceremony opening.
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Because many of the digital games differ from the games we thought of as video games for instance, the cinematic realms of Xbox or PlayStation 2, it may be essential to redefine our definition of video games.
Smartphones gave us easy games that took advantage of unique features such as gyroscopes, on-the-go internet connectivityand a host of other social interactions. Many newer games blur the distinction between video games and different forms of gaming. While Fortnite, Pokemon Go and Among Us may be video games, they also can be used as hangouts social media platforms and even as opportunities to plan political and pop culture events.
A lot of the most recent game experiments are exciting because they mark a shift beyond a phase where the media on smartphones and online often are a mirror image of what was previously the case when podcasts were like radio talk shows, Netflix like TV, and online news outlets like newspapers.
Although games aren`t always able to provide stimulation for social interactionhowever, they do provide a sense that something is taking place. More of us are mingling together to come up with innovative digital formats that emphasise interaction rather than passive reading, watching or listening.
There will be more advanced gamesand technology-based products. This will enable us to come up with new challenges for our bodies, minds, and social interactions. It`s all exciting to me.