The first gaming system was initially called the "Brown Box" and later released as the much more aesthetically pleasing name, the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972. The ever popular Atari followed a few months later. With the release of Atari was first the arcade gaming revolution, and then more in home gaming consoles followed. People became addicted to gaming entertainment.
The creation of the internet led to another technological revolution for the gaming industry. It meant more gaming options and the ability to play opponents from all over the world.
Overall, gaming systems and equipment have transformed a great deal since the first introduction over 40 years ago. Over the last decade alone, we've seen significant technological advances in gaming accessories.
Here are 5 of the top technological gaming equipment advances of the last decade.
1. Mobile Gaming
With increased cellular phone technology like today's smartphones which first hit the market in 2007, the gaming experience can travel out of the house and go anywhere in the palm of the gamer's hand.
No more boring train or bus rides, no more waiting in long lines at the grocery store checkout, and no more waiting hours for your number to be called at the DMV-- all with nothing to do; hello mobile gaming apps---entertainment at your fingertips!
Not only does mobile gaming provide us with unlimited entertainment anywhere we bring our smartphones, but it also sharpens our thinking skills allowing us to think more quickly and more flexibly.
2. Cloud Gaming
Another new revolutionary technology that allows gamers to game almost anywhere is Cloud Gaming. The idea of "the cloud" has been around for decades, but the internet wasn't ready until recently.
Cloud technology allows gamers to stream video games from the web from any device anywhere there is internet available. The advantages of this new technology over traditional console gaming are outstanding! Perhaps the most exciting advantage for gamers is that they can access a vast library of saved games in the cloud from any type of device.
3. High Definition Graphics
Even with mobile gaming and cloud gaming technology, there is still no place like gaming in the comfort of your own home. Gaming has come a long way from the days of basic graphics. With high definition graphics being used in gaming, gamers can now experience more realistic worlds with higher image quality and can feel like they are right inside the game, from the comfort of their own living rooms!
Today's video games have complicated textures and colors and are being created more often in three dimensions instead of two. Graphics technologies are becoming so powerful, the characters and places in the games are life-like.
4. Gaming Chair
Of course gaming with high-definition graphics, is hard to leave and many serious gamers play for hours at a time. And, let's face it, video gaming is not super active despite it being a very popular activity.
Human anatomy and biology have not adapted to allow the body to sit for hours at a time. Thus, gaming technology had to adapt to make it possible for multiple hours of gaming entertainment.
There now exists a variety of different gaming chairs from your basic more comfortable back support, to fancy chairs with speakers and cup holders!
Either way, a good gaming chair fits your posture in a way that allows for a better blood flow to your lower body, which allows more relief in your muscles and joints and provides you more time to play games.
5. Wearable Gaming Gear
Despite gaming being a sedentary activity, wearable technology has evolved gaming into much more than just sitting and playing. Wearable technologies such as virtual reality headsets, wristbands, and body suits have transformed gaming into a whole mind and body experience, taking the gamer out of his living room and right into the game itself, allowing him to live inside an interactive three-dimensional world.
Some of this new wearable technology even allows gamers to play games without looking at their screen, and allows them to keep playing even when away from the gaming device itself.
With all of these unbelievable advancements in gaming technology, when we need a break from everyday reality, we can comfortably immerse ourselves into an alternate reality from almost anywhere.
The days of gaming in only our living rooms with our two-dimensional graphics, and our uncomfortable back straining chairs are over!