The internet is one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. Through the worldwide web we’ve managed to connect with new people from all over the world, and reconnect with old friends, with whom we may have lost touch. It has also helped with information gathering, knowledge preservation, and much more.
One aspect that often doesn’t get talked about is how the internet has changed gaming. Certainly, it may not be the most important impact that the world wide web has had on society, but it is certainly one of the most noteworthy, as gaming has, recently, hit its new Golden Age. Online gaming has significantly contributed to that change, so in this article, we’d like to explore the different online gaming options.
Online Casinos
Much like gaming, gambling has also grown, rather significantly in popularity. The reason for this is that iGaming has made access to all of the big gambling games quick and easy. For those who don’t know, iGaming is a phrase often used to refer to any and all forms of online gambling. However, most associate it with online casinos.
Though iGaming is more commonly looked at as a sub-category of the gambling industry, some researchers have noticed a trend, where gamers are much more likely to visit gambling websites. Gambling websites are incredibly successful, and if you’d like, you can read more about Casino Days Ontario, and discover why the site has a large fan base of gamers and gaming enthusiasts. Referring to online casinos as a form of gaming wouldn’t be wrong.
Social Online Casinos
But, don’t make the mistake of thinking that only gambling fans can enjoy online casinos. If you are a fan of blackjack, poker, or slots, but you don’t like the idea of putting up money on the game, then you always have the option of social casinos. These websites are much closer to gaming than their real money counter-parts, as they put gameplay first and foremost.
For those who don’t know, social casinos are websites that host all your favorite gambling games, but they take the gambling out of it. In other words, you can play poker with a group of people, but none of you are wagering your real money. Instead, social casinos give out in-game currency that you can wager at no cost or risk to yourself. That is why these sites have become so popular.
Games with Multiplayer Options
Something that a lot of gamers are excited about is that most games nowadays have a multiplayer option. Certainly, some games are designed with multiplayer in mind. Examples here include fighting games, which are always a lot more fun when played between two people, rather than when played by a single person.
However, in the past ten-or-so years, game developers have begun inserting multiplayer options in single-player games as well. While the decision to do this has certainly raised some controversy, most gamers enjoy testing their skills in a game against their friends, or even against strangers online. The most prominent example here would be the various first-person shooter games, particularly CoD.
Call of Duty or CoD is a first-person shooter franchise that started as a series dealing with the horrors and hardships of the 2nd World War. However, over the years it has tackled different aspects of different wars, including Vietnam, the Gulf War, and even some fictional wars. The game franchise even has a spin-off, where soldiers battle against a never-ending zombie horde.
The gameplay is greatly enhanced when playing against and along with other people. The CoD multiplayer option allows you to form teams and battle against offline friends, online friends, or even complete strangers, formulating tactics and testing different playstyles. Some may wonder how this is different from Counter-Strike, and we will answer that question in the next section.
Multiplayer Online Games
One of the biggest markets in the gaming world is the Massive Multiplayer Online game, or simply MMO. MMOs have become a lot more popular recently, thanks to the import and localization of Japanese and Korean titles. Their incredible success shows just how important video game translation is for the success of the gaming industry.
The difference between a multiplayer game and a game with the multiplayer option is simple; one is designed specifically to be played online, while the other just gives you the option to do so. Which is what separates the Call of Duty franchise from the Counter-Strike series. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was designed to be played in multiplayer, which is why it is one of the most popular MFPS games of all time.
However, when it comes to the multiplayer category of games, there is no doubt that it is the MMORPG genre that dominates. Massive multiplayer online role playing games take all of the aspects of RPGs that gamers love, and infuse it with the interactive gameplay of Dungeons & Dragons. Players can team up, form parties, and plan raids against high-level boss monsters. Not only is it fun to do so, but it also builds a sense of camaraderie among people from different walks of life.
Finally, there is the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA). A simplistic version of the MMORPG, a MOBA game simply has two teams of players fighting for domination on the map. Players can choose from a colorful cast of characters, which they enhance with magic items and special abilities. The most popular example of a MOBA game would definitely be League of Legends.
Closing Statement
Online entertainment is one of the most popular subcategories of entertainment in 2024. When combined with video games, the final product is a blast. We hope that this article can help you better understand the world of online gaming, and you might even discover your preferred method of playing games online.
Whether that be the complexity of the MMORPG genre, the fun, fast-paced action of multiplayer shooters, or even if you just want to roll some dice for fun at online social casinos, the internet has made it possible to do all this from the comfort of your own home.