There is a child inside everyone — one that jumps at every opportunity to have fun. No wonder games have evolved over time to not just target kids, but teens and adults as well. Indeed, gaming has evolved to such an extent that there is a whole, humungous industry that caters to avid gamers across the world. Having started with humble roots where games either involved physical activity or revolved around boards, games today have extended to the video and online media, and are as sophisticated as they can get. And everyone s buying into the gaming scene. Think about it. Almost every household has kids who own stacks of computer games and at least one video gaming console, such as the Wii, PlayStation or Xbox.
Games date back in history to the ancient times. They have always been a shared interest among humans, and an important part of societies. Dice games have been in use in Asia since time immemorial, even before any kind of documentation took place. A set of dice that was discovered in Iran dates back 3,000 years and is believed to be the oldest known set. Several dice games that evolved from the fourteenth century onwards have either retained their popularity to this day or have been modified over time to be replaced by versions more relevant to the times. Board games, too, have been in use for long — archaeologists have discovered several extinct as well as ancient ones that are still in use.
Today, the new media culture has given rise to the video gaming culture. With online, computer and video games having gained unbelievable popularity over the past few decades, they have also obtained the power to influence popular culture. Video games have been responsible for initiating several trends that have caught on and stayed. The impact of these games can be seen and felt in movies, music, television and even politics. Not only that, video gamers relate to each other across all age brackets — meaning that ironically, a pastime normally regarded as being responsible for encouraging self-centeredness and reclusive behavior could actually be helping bring people closer.
A recent study pegs the average age of a video gamer at 37, and this age is only expected to rise as children taking to the first computer, console or arcade game now continue to work the updated models as they grow older. With the promise of engaging, all-round entertainment complete with rich graphics and sound effects, are we complaining? Heck, no.