A lot has changed since gaming began several decades ago: from simple graphics of 8-bit games to the current realism-focused gameplay. In this post, I discuss the evolution of games from the 1990s to the gaming consoles.
My earliest memories from gaming was Road Rash. I loved that game because there was some much in it. It not only fulfilled the fun factor but made it immensely enjoyable.
During the 90s, gaming was simple. The graphics were not superior, and the sound quality was merely average—electronic-sounding and quite dated. Games did not have any cheat codes. You played and re-played. You observed how badly you played and replayed that level from the beginning. There was no option to auto-save the game during gameplay. Re-trying was hard and repetitive. Becoming frustrated with the constant repetition was not an option.
What gaming offered at that time was replayability. We could play for hours on end, stopping and replaying the entire level. My friends and I would take turns sitting in one of our houses to see how it went. Advice, suggestions, and different hands retrying it. It would work and then it wouldn’t.
Whether it was discovering secrets in early games or competing in modern online matches, gaming continues to bring people together in ways few other forms of entertainment can.
Back then, there was no YouTube, and the internet was still in its infancy. So, all we could do was ask our friends in school and wish they had a video game. Not everyone did, and yes, gaming was still in its infancy. It hadn’t grown into what it is today.
At that time, we were discovering things ourselves. Even when we would get stuck at levels, self-discovery, at times, was accidental and fun at the same time. Those were the days!
The mid-90s saw the dawn of the gaming consoles and gaming PCs. Doom, Quake, and Duke Nukem 3D dominated the FPS genre. My school friend then introduced me to GTA 1, the top-down game and RTS.
RTS was my turning point, and the game was none other than Age of Empires 2. Rise of Nations followed the Total War series, which combined turn-based and tactical strategy in one game.
Gaming platforms have become increasingly powerful over time. Improved graphics, enhanced sound, auto-save features, and the option for manual saves. It grew from a simple entertainment to lived experiences and competitions. Competitive gaming, now referred to as eSports, has experienced significant growth since the 1970s.
It wasn’t long before the computing power improved, and so did the gaming revolution. Games became portable, landing in handheld devices that can be played when on the go.
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, portable grew in the form of mobile phones. Smartphones took the lead in introducing casual gaming, furthering it to the masses. It became accessible. Anyone could be a casual, serious or hardcore gamer. The game they played defined who they were.
The new devices brought a new business model. The games cost between 2K and 3K. That price tag was undoubtedly a factor. That was the moment when online gamers began to accept microtransactions. Gamers who could not pay a hefty amount to own the game, paying for a specific item became the norm among most mobile games.
Seasonal content was often announced, and free crates, bonus crates, and interesting crates consistently surprised dedicated fans. Events meant you had to dedicate significant time to completing them. Completion meant basking in the glory of the reward. A reward you can flaunt on social media, much to the envy of others. But, I did not feel jealous!
Playing seasonal matches or tasks is subject to the game you play. Real Racing 3 offered newer cars. Exclusive vehicles that enticed people to play and virtually own them. These events weren’t easy to complete, but were fun.
Any mobile game you download comes with microtransactions in some form. The idea is fairly simple – you play the game for free. The game limits the user’s growth indirectly. The developers will offer a special discount for exclusive items, such as a sword or weapon with impressive hit points.
If you don’t pay, you’ll need to cross the level with what you have at your disposal. Alternatively, depending on the developers, they might make it available to you at later levels. Some of them even choose microtransactions to buy in-game currencies. Microtransactions are another level of marketing altogether, which I will not get into.
The engagement system is very obvious. You come across an obstacle the game makes it almost impossible to overcome. Paying a small amount to get over that is the key. In other words, developers focusing on pay-to-win abuse the system.
Modern games today often follow what is known as a live service model. Instead of releasing a complete game once and moving on to the next title, developers continuously support a game for several years.
This means new content such as maps, characters, vehicles, and missions are added regularly through updates. Players keep returning to the game because there is always something new waiting for them.
While this model helps keep games fresh and communities active, it also changes how players interact with games. Instead of finishing a game and moving on, many modern games are designed to be played continuously for months or even years.
For some players this is exciting because their favourite game keeps evolving. For others, it can feel overwhelming because keeping up with constant updates and events can become time-consuming.
Great games today still capture the magic. For example, Warhammer 40K is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that combines elements of role-playing with traditional RTS gameplay.
I believe owning a game truly sets it apart from rigorous micro-transactions. While the latter is built for longevity, keeping the game fresh and an active community. Whatever you choose, they cater to a different audience.
Gaming didn’t lose its soul — it evolved. But the best games still remind us why we started playing in the first place.