How Classic Video Games Gained Fame Without Reviews and the Rise of Game Reviews in the Modern Era

It has been one of the ways people escape from reality and have a few moments of entertainment for themselves. Accordingly, and like almost all life forms, gaming has also moved into the digital world.

Today, gamers can easily and conveniently discover the newest games and trends, especially with advanced technology. However, one gets curious. How did games get discovered and became popular when the internet was still in its infancy?

Below, let us discover how the classic video games that we have come to love gained fame and recognition without the review and ratings system in today’s gaming industry. Let us also explore the rise of game reviews and how it influences gamers to choose and engage with video games.

How Did Video Games Start?

Video games have existed for over 50 years. Accordingly, it can even be said that the evolution of video games is closely linked to the evolution of the computer.

Diving deep into its beginnings, the video game industry flourished in the late 1970s and 1980s, driven by the popularity of arcade culture. This culture was characterized mainly by its flashing backdrop of neon lights and 16-bit soundtracks.

Accordingly, the first game to have ever attained global success was Atari’s Pong. In this game, two players simply attempt to hit a ball over a line. Although the game was not a new one, Atari integrated the computer and a display screen into a box with a coin slot, thereby inventing the video game machine. One of the reasons given that attributed to its popularity was its ease of play and the fact that it did not require any complex skill for its players.

In these times when the Internet was still in its infancy, the most probable reason that can be given as to how Pong became popular was through word of mouth. The absence of structured reviews before made people reliant from things shared by their friends, families, and colleagues.

As computers started improving, so did the game interests of people. Consequently, around the 1990s, casino gaming rose to prominence. The first online casino was considered to be Interactive Casino, Inc. which featured 18 different casino games. Of course, just like how arcade games became popular, it is also thought that the popularity of the online version of games in traditional casinos was also due to word of mouth.

Unlike today, where finding the best casino games has been made easy through trustable online casino reviews on legitimate gaming review sites, the early versions of casino games had no organized board of recommendations where they could explore the multitude of options available to them. There was no organized list given out to gamers with the best sites with great games and bonuses. All they had to rely on were word-of-mouth recommendations and personal experiences. As gamers shared tips, tricks, and personal experiences, the popularity of certain games spread organically.

Aside from word of mouth, traditional marketing also played a crucial role in the success of a certain video game. Companies promoted their games through television and magazines. They launched promotional campaigns to create hype around game titles.

As people consume the video games marketed, gamers often rely upon ‘official’ reviews that are probably mainly conducted by one person. Additionally, it has also been said that the game reviews of before never really made an analysis of the game. Most of the time, it contains only the mechanics and nothing else.

Shift Towards Modern Gaming and Review Era

Now that technology has advanced, so has the way gamers discover video games. The introduction of the Internet has greatly ushered in a new era for video games and the way gamers access the best and the latest ones.

With this shift, the number of reviews online proliferated. If before, only one person or one accredited game reviewer provided the reviews, now, everyone can share their experience of the game. Aside from making reviews open to everyone, gaming reviews have now become detailed and do not only cover the mechanics but also the quality of the graphics, the ease-of-use of the game, and the exciting parts of it.

However, this democratization of providing reviews gave gamers too much input about a certain game. As such, gaming review sites have been created that have been given legitimacy by gamers and developers alike, resulting in a more nuanced understanding of what makes a game enjoyable. Some even put factors and categories allowing gamers to fully assess what the game offers.

While this structured review process helps gamers find new games, many believe that review sites may be biased toward certain game titles. As such, gamers remedy this by looking up reviews from legitimate gaming review sites then scour through personal reviews given by players themselves on forums and other online communities striking a balance between professional assessments and personal experiences.

Final Thoughts

As gaming continues to evolve, the role of reviews remains important. While traditional reviews still hold weight, the rise of player feedback has created a more nuanced ecosystem. Accordingly, giving reviews has really evolved, as gamers today now have easy access to a wealth of information from multiple sources, allowing them to make informed decisions based on their preferences.

With the rise of modern gaming came the emergence of structured reviews and in-depth online discussions that are now both shaping the gaming industry’s landscape. As the industry moves forward, so does giving reviews reflecting the changing dynamics of player engagement, ensuring that not only classic games are celebrated but also contemporary game titles of today.