The Ways Gaming Has Changed In 30 Years

Summary

• Virtual Boy was the 1st VR console, sparking attempts before Oculus Rift’s success in 2017.
• Nintendo 64 introduced groundbreaking games like Super Mario 64 and Zelda – shaping future inspirations.
• Dreamcast enabled online gaming with SegaNet, paving the way for internet-driven gameplay.

The gaming industry, by definition, is an ever-changing stream of plot lines, character creation, and franchises that forever alter the brain chemistry of the players who experience them. Then add to that the enhancement of graphics over decades plus game consoles that are dynamically re-engineered every few years, and thus, a new era of gaming is born. Anyone who has been witness to the advancements over the last 30 years has been present for some monumental moments, many of which changed the course of the gaming industry forever.

By Christmas of 1995, kids were finding the very first PlayStation the world had ever seen under their trees. Exactly 20 years later, Unreal Engine 4 was being used in Daylight, successfully transporting players to a hyper-realistic gaming environment. However, that’s not all the last three decades have brought gamers in terms of changing for the better.

10

The Virtual Boy Was Nintendo’s First Crack At VR Gaming

1995: It Was The First Console To Allow Players To See Games In 3D

While the Virtual Boy wasn’t the first virtual reality headset to be created (that honor goes to the “Sword of Damocles” in 1968), it was the first to set off a string of attempts to create a viable VR gaming system. This wasn’t achieved until the Oculus Rift in 2017, which was the first successful VR headset that was widely accepted by the gaming community.

Players went from Nintendo’s black-and-red world to a fully immersive, full-color, three-dimensional environment. Despite its early flaws, this system did support popular games such as Space Invaders: Virtual Collection, Mario Clash, and Galactic Pinball.

9

Nintendo 64 Made History With Super Mario 64 And Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

1996: Two Juggernaut Games Were Released For The Nintendo 64

Few millennials will say that they are unfamiliar with Super Mario 64 or Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and this is because both were revolutionary in terms of future game inspiration. The Super Mario franchise gave way to the rise of advanced platformers such as those in the style of Metroidvania, while Legend of Zelda gave way to hundreds, if not thousands, of similar fantasy RPG titles.

Today, Legend of Zelda is one of the highest-grossing series in the game industry, with the franchise worth more than 3.4 billion in 2023.

8

Dreamcast Paved The Way For Online Gaming

1999: Sega Dreamcast Enabled Online Play With A Dial-Up Connection

While SegaNet was discontinued in 2003, it still holds the title as one of the first successful online gaming platforms the last 30 years. While the list of games compatible with SegaNet is not a long one, gamers still could connect to the internet and experience a whole new means of gameplay with Dreamcast. This was achieved in one of two ways: either with a dial-up connection or through a broadband adapter, the latter of which was only compatible with a few Dreamcast games.

High-speed internet has helped gamers forget that, at one point, their landline was tied up for the sake of playing Phantasy Star Online, which was far ahead of its time.

7

Microsoft Threw Their Hat In The Ring (And Gained Player Support)

2001: The First Xbox Gave Way To A New Generation Of Gamers

When Microsoft decided to enter the gaming world with its own console, they committed – and the Xbox was born out of their efforts. Competition breeds success, and both PlayStation and Nintendo reaped the benefits from Xbox becoming the hottest new thing to hit the market in the early 2000s. This also gave rise to Xbox-only exclusive games, such as Halo and Gears of War, furthering the drive for all console brands to continuously release updated systems for fans.

While the original was widely successful, the Xbox 360 was Microsoft’s problem child and cost them over one billion dollars in repair costs for gamers who fell victim to the “red ring of death.” Thankfully, this problem was solved with the release of the Xbox One in 2013.

6

Steam Is Born And Brought With It A New Generation Of PC Gamers

2003: The Storefront Allowed Millions Of Players To Access A New Catalog Of Titles

The announcement of the Steam storefront was one that would forever shape the outlook of gaming for PC gamers, specifically. Steam brought with it access to a plethora of titles that could now be played on PC, while simultaneously offering a platform for developers to launch games outside consoles-only.

Since its creation, the Steam store has been able to offer a catalog of 101,035 games as of 2024. This number is only likely to increase as new developers take to the stage, and more fans make the switch from console to PC gaming in favor of more exclusive titles.

5

The Rise Of MMORPGs Brought Communities Together Worldwide

2004: Games Like World Of Warcraft Were More Popular Than After-School Clubs

As of 2024, World of Warcraft has over seven million players worldwide since its launch exactly two decades ago in 2014 as one of the first major MMORPGs. While World of Warcraft is by far one of the most popular MMORPGs ever created, its release has paved the way for many more, and there are now thousands of MMORPGs that players can choose from.

Each one offers a unique community to be part of, as well as unique storylines, character builds, and environments, which have only continued to outshine the competition in recent years. Today, Final Fantasy 14 gives World of Warcraft stiff competition, with an online player base of three million.

4

eSports Brings In Billions For Virtual Competitive Sports

2010: Players Traded Sports On The Field For Sports Behind A Screen

The first official eSports tournament, the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics, was held in 1972; however, it wasn’t until 2006 when the first e-sports tournament was played on national television. Fans gathered around their TVs to watch Halo 2 as it was broadcast on USA, and it became a historic moment for eSports reaching a global audience.

The tradition of broadcasting eSports has only increased given Twitch’s unlimited streaming capabilities, and the rise of eSports leagues, which compete annually for the title of best virtual gaming league.

3

Twitch Gave Steamers A Voice And Grew An Audience

2011: Streaming Was No Longer Just For Fun And Became A Full-Time Career For Many

Streaming has allowed gamers to bridge the gap between gaming being a solitary activity, versus it being one shared with a community. When the spin-off of Justin.tv was created in 2011, it garnered the attention of many gamers who took to the platform to share their own expertise with the world. Since then, what started out as a 24/7 stream by Justin Kan has grown to a user fan base of more than three million visitors monthly.

Each streamer or vlogger showcases a unique set of skills or relatable content, having found followers who share the same passion for their hobbies or lifestyle, thus broadening the reach of gaming even further.

2

Indie Games Steal The Spotlight, With Rise To Conventions Like PAX

2010: Small Developers Connected With Players On An Emotional And Artistic Level

One of the most popular examples of early indie games is Minecraft, which is now considered a triple-A game but was originally an indie title. The mid-2000s shared the industry spotlight with indie games, with developers finding that storefronts like Steam could give them a means to getting their games into the hands of eager fans. Since then, indie games have even won a place in awards shows such as The Game Awards, competing for best soundtrack, gameplay, and immersive storyline.

Gaming conventions such as PAX, which held its first event in 2004, also offer easy access to early titles and one-on-one panels with indie developers. In recent years, “cozy games” have ruled the world of indies, something which the genre is not only good at, but absolutely excels in.

1

Reboots And Remakes Entice New Gamers While Catering To The Old

Now: Remakes Out-Perform New Titles As The Classics Are Once Again At The Forefront Of Gaming

Soulsborne fans rejoiced when Demon’s Souls became a PS5 exclusive in 2020, but it was the Resident Evil 2 remake before that which had horror fans clamoring to see updated graphics and an improved mainline game. Since then, it seems like remakes have quickly become part of gaming headlines each year, with classics and old favorites finding new life thanks to Unreal Engine and next-gen consoles.

The most recent horror remake, Silent Hill 2, was one of the most anticipated titles of 2024, bringing with it an old world returned anew to inspire future horrors.