If you were to ask a range of people what games they like to play, the answers would vary wildly. Some of the variables will be based on preferences, such as those who like driving games versus those who prefer combat games; others will enjoy sporting simulation games while another group may suggest strategic games instead - building castles, kingdoms, cities, or so many other things. With the vast expanse of online and console games now available, it is not surprising that there is so much variety in people’s favorites.
Beyond these naturally expected differences, however, the answers you receive may well be generational. For those of us who are old enough to remember when gaming was done on massive machines at the amusement arcade and, after that, on low-graphic home computers such as the Commodore 64 or Spectrum 48k, things were very different.
Those games are often now seen as “classics.” These days, of course, you can play console games with people from around the world, enjoying stunning graphics and gameplay.
Among the other points I am raising, I am happy to suggest that there is room for all kinds of games. From the classics to the contemporary, people love console and iGaming and it is a global industry that is not only growing, but is doing so exponentially as technology allows more and more superior options in terms of hardware and software.
But as games evolve, how are the old classics still maintaining such immense popularity, even while the new and contemporary games also make their mark? When it comes to games, it’s a complicated picture, so let’s take a deeper dive into the questions.
The world of gaming and gambling has undergone significant transformations in recent years, with online casinos emerging as a convenient alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar establishments.
That is to say, nowadays, you can enjoy online casinos, where you’ll find all the classics at your fingertips without having to dress up or leave your home. The innovation doesn’t stop there, either - the payment options have diversified too. For example, you can play slots with crypto on pretty much any continent, and different casinos cater to a large range of different cryptocurrencies. However, all of the available coins apply to the same types of games, which include classic three-reel slots reminiscent of traditional casino machines, as well as more complex multi-line video slots with advanced graphics and bonus features.
The variety ensures that players can find crypto slot games that suit their preferences, whether they enjoy simple, nostalgic experiences or more immersive and modern gameplay. Ultimately, this is just one - particularly pertinent - example of how gaming has expanded and changed, combining the classic version with contemporary advantages.
Some games have genuinely obtained the status of being classics. These are the games that have entered the gaming pantheon as gems that have managed to stand the test of time even in the face of so many new games that, let’s be honest, offer more in terms of experiences, game-playing options, and overall gameplay evolution.
Even with these superior graphics, exponentially improved technology in software and hardware, and the almost incomparable gaming experiences consoles and online platforms now deliver, some games remain popular despite - or perhaps because of - their general simplicity and playability.
When I was younger, the range of games was far more limited, as was the ability to play them. In those days, now consigned to the realm of the classics, the range was simply known as arcade games.
These included the ever-present Pac-Man, Frogger, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Paperboy, Mario, and Donkey Kong, along with many others. The striking thing is, even in the world of Grand Theft Auto, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Minecraft, Resident Evil, and all the games that have many millions of players around the world, these classics are still played, and played by more than just those enjoying them for the sake of gaming nostalgia.
With every technological evolution and advancement, games become more sophisticated, more immersive, more graphically impressive and, put simply, more of an experience for gamers. Even so, there is something about the classics that keeps them going in the face of the contemporary.
For gamers such as me, they offer not just memories, but also a chance to enjoy games that are simple in terms of concept, relatively straightforward when it comes to gameplay, and blissfully easy when it comes to winning and losing, or getting the highest score, or reaching the next level. New games are undeniably superb, but sometimes, I just need a simple game for some simple gaming pleasure.
Few things stay the same for long, but few things change as quickly and as constantly as the gaming industry. Whether it is the next big console upgrade or the greatest new game iteration, the drive to deliver gamers better experiences and an ever-improving gaming world is never-ending. Among the game creators, the competition is nothing short of febrile, much as it is with companies making the hardware and accessories that games are played on and with.
Part of the reason for this ongoing drive to deliver more to players and gamers is the fact that there is competition. In a multi-billion-dollar market such as the video game industry, being the best can be worth a lot to any commercial venture.
Whether it is attracting more players, achieving more in-game purchases, or simply being the best-selling game on the global market, the gaming industry statistics show that it is all about getting bigger and better, and ensuring that gamers get more and more for their money and entertainment.
Returning to my original point, it is fair to say that I am an example of someone who loves the new games, the new technology that powers and enables them, but also one who enjoys the simple classics that still bring pleasure after so many years of playing them. I suspect I am not alone and, even as games evolve without inertia, the old games are great just as much as the contemporary ones are superb.
