Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

The Changing Face of Gaming – Part 3

This is the final article in our “The Changing Face of Gaming” series. In the two previous articles, I discussed the ongoing changes to how video games are created, distributed, and played. I wrote about the impact of these changes on retailers and collectors, and today I’m writing about the potential impact on the “disconnected gamer”.

First a quick recap of what’s happening to the gaming industry. Aside from improvements in graphics and the introduction of new novel controllers, the changes that will have the biggest long-term impact are the expansion of the market (to “non-gamers”) and the wide availabilty of high-speed internet connections. These two things will bring about phenomenal change! So what do they mean to the disconnected gamer?

What Is A Disconnected Gamer?

Wait a second, what is a “disconnected gamer”?! Well, I’m using this this one term to refer to two types of gamers:

1) The gamer without a broadband internet connection. (If you’re on dialup and wanting to play online games, you might as well be offline.)

2) The “creepy” gamer stereotype. The socially disconnected young male who shuns others in preference of beating that high score or unlocking that extra level.

Now let’s look at why these two types of gamers may soon be a thing of the past…

Everyone’s Coming To The Online Party!

High-speed internet access is creating demand for a long list of features, and game developers are trying to satisfy consumer demand. We’re seeing online distribution of games and content and an increasing focus on connectivity in games. Clearly, multiplayer and massively multiplayer online gaming is becoming more and more popular, but even single-player games are getting network features tacked on. Consider the inclusion of item trading and world-wide rankings in otherwise offline games. To use an industry buzzword, the gaming world is becoming increasingly “network-centric”. Where is all this headed? Games that you can only play online? Games that you can only get online?

I remember when Quake 3 Arena was released and some people (myself included) thought id had gone crazy when they announced that the game was to be based entirely on multiplayer gameplay (with bots only really included for “training”). Today, many games are released with the single-player experience a distant second to multi-player; a fill-in for when you can’t find a server. We’ve seen MMOGs go from an expensive novelty to a virtual lifestyle. Finally, we see more and more downloadable content and patches. How long before most games are distributed or verified online, and what does this mean for the (network) disconnected gamer?

Bottom line: It’s not too hard to imagine that a console without an internet connection will soon be as useless as a computer without an internet connection is today.

The Gamer Stereotype

Now that the obvious stuff is out of the way, what about the more considered example: the stereotypical “hardcore” gamer disconnected from society, normal sleeping hours, and financial rationality (ie. shelling out for a PS3 at launch). Is this disconnected gamer also soon to become a thing of the past? In a sense, some already have. With the focus on “network-centric” gaming, gamers have become a social bunch. Hoards team up in online games to defeat bigger enemies and bring home bigger bounties. Even obstensibly offline games have item trading and community rankings. If you’re not online… well… you’re not really current and “hardcore”.

Looking at the bigger picture, the image of this disconnected gamer might slowly start to fade away. Nintendo keeps talking about expanding the gaming market. Will a broader demographic finally dispell the image of the gaming introvert? If gaming really does become “mainstream” will angsty teens do something else to assert their individuality? (I suggest looking sullen and wearing makeup). Maybe games becoming mainstream will be a boon for the independent game development scene. We have vibrant music and movie indie scenes that offer an alternative to pop music and Hollywood films. Maybe gaming going mainstream and the fact that “The Man” will control the gaming networks will lead to a disconnected gamers’ counter-culture where indie gamers run their own servers and play their own games. (Stick it to the man!)

Bottom line: If gaming really does go mainstream (like movies or music), the disconnected gamer stereotype will surely fade away.

And That’s A Wrap!

So those are my thoughts on the changing face of gaming. Thanks to everyone who left feedback on the previous articles. It’s always good to know what our readers are thinking. If you have any other comments please let us know!

Images from Quake 3 Arena and Emo (slang) pages in Wikipedia. Modified by me.