PC Gaming: How It Shaped the Present World.
For many gamers, neither science nor fiction can offer the same escapism as first-person shooter games or strategy titles – playing on a PC or console can become a fully immersive world that they become a part of. Ever since the mediums of gaming first began, the PC has been the platform of choice for die-hard gaming fans. This article will take a look at how PC gaming has changed the way people play and interact since it first became part of our modern culture.
The Beginning of PC Gaming
At the start of the computer age, game developers were limited by the low levels of computing power available in the 1970s and 1980s, meaning that the technological graphics we have now simply weren’t possible. PCs began to gain traction as gaming platforms when companies released hardware specifically designed for the purpose, such as the Commodore 64. In some cases, games could be developed for a home PC with a few hours of programming, unlike the vast networks of code now used by game designers.
In the early days of gaming, the most popular genre of games on the PC was the ‘arcade’. Many of the early quintessentially classic arcade games like Pong and Space Invaders were very primitive in their design and only had basic 8 or 16-bit graphics. Although, with graphics that were more pixelated than those of the later release of Super Mario Bros., these games defined the start of PC gaming and were hugely popular during their prime.
The Evolution of PC Gaming
Throughout the eighties and nineties the popularity of arcade titles grew. As computers became more affordable, and more powerful, people of all ages had the opportunity to own their own computers and this sparked an influx of game developers to create titles for the PC. Companies such as id Software created a series of games that set a previously unimaginable benchmark for 3D graphics, sound and game mechanics. These pioneering titles of Wolfenstein 3D and Doom showed PC gamers that the medium of gaming had the potential to be much more than simply playing a basic game, and the genre of first-person shooters and the world of gaming has never looked back since.
By the mid to late nineties, the emergence of Internet access on the home PC presented new opportunities for game developers and gamers alike. Gamer’s could now play with friends or opponents from all around the world – a revolutionary prospect at the time. The Internet also allowed online gaming communities to be formed, allowing like-minded gamers to connect and share experiences, as well as swapping tips, cheats, mods and more.
The 2000s saw the rapid maturity of PC gaming. Companies such as Valve and Blizzard released games that are still some of the most iconic titles of all time – namely, the ‘Half-Life’ and ‘World of Warcraft’ series respectively. Both franchises were hugely popular and used revolutionary technology and story-telling techniques. As a result, PC gaming grew even more in popularity, proving itself as a much more capable platform for advanced levels of graphics, AI and story-telling than was previously thought possible.
At the same time, the gaming industry was being unified as game platforms merged together. Companies such as Steam and GOG launched digital marketplaces that allowed the plethora of games from the past decade to be accessed and enjoyed by the wider gaming public. Valve’s Steam platform became extremely popular, offering gamers both free and paid games that could be purchased directly from the store and played immediately.
PC Gaming in the Present
Today, the PC is still the platform of choice for gaming enthusiasts. It offers a massive gamut of graphical capability that cannot be equalled elsewhere, as well as unprecedented gaming mechanics, story-telling and software deals. Fans of almost any genre of gaming are catered for and can find their perfect experience on the PC, be it, first person shooters, real-time strategy, RPGs, or anything else you can think of.
The modern PC offers unbelievable levels of performance, with many users now able to build custom gaming PCs which allow them to crank up their video settings to ensure the most supremely immersive gaming experiences. The hardware being released today can cope with a plethora of game types and genres, and many of the most popular titles, such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Apex Legends, have been developed for PC, before console versions were released.
The Future for PC Gaming
The future for PC gaming looks bright. As progress with computing power continues, both experienced and more casual PC gamers will be treated with more and more realistic gaming experiences. Games such as the upcoming Cloud Gaming and Nvidia RTX are said to be revolutionising the way we play – providing real-life physics and lighting in addition to groundbreaking textures and graphics. These developments will allow the PC to remain the platform of choice and the experiences that are made possible reflected in the games and genres we can expect to see in the future.
Conclusion
The development of PC gaming has been extraordinary in terms of graphics, story-telling and gaming mechanics. From the first primitive titles to the realistic virtual reality experiences that are now being created, PC gamers have experienced the full gamut of gaming enjoyment. The PC appears to still reign as the platform of choice for gaming fans and, with the continuing development of hardware, gaming will only get bigger and better from here.