The Evolution of the Video Gamer
The video game industry has grown exponentially over the past few decades and, in particular, the last couple of years. From its humble beginnings as a novelty, games are now played by millions of people and players are now referred to as "gamers" worldwide.
The video game industry has grown exponentially over the past few decades and, in particular, the last couple of years. From its humble beginnings as a novelty, games are now played by millions of people and players are now referred to as "gamers" worldwide.
As technology progresses, so does the quality of games that are being produced. The once simple pixels are now perfected into vivid worlds with lifelike characters and soundtracks.
Innovative companies have turned video games into an art form rather than just something to pass the time with on your free days.
This blog post will outline how this video gaming industry has evolved from Pong to today's modern-day marvels!
Who is a Gamer?
Gamer demographics have changed drastically over the years. Gamer culture has been rising from its 2D roots to take its rightful place as a worldwide phenomenon. Gamer demographics now include a wide range of people across a broad age spectrum and vastly different interests.
Gamers come from all walks of life, although the traditional Gamer is still someone who grew up in the electronics boom, playing video games as soon as they could read their parents' credit card pin. In recent years this has dramatically expanded to include everyone from Athletes to Surgeons and CEO's of large corporations, also calling themselves Gamers.
Gamer motivations include competitive play, socialising and the challenge of different genres. Gamer motivation also comes down to escapism through fantasy or just having fun. Sound like you? It sounds like us!
The rise in professional gaming spurred Gamer culture into the mainstream spotlight over the past several years, leading to Gamer becoming a word that anyone can use and a title or badge many wear with honour! Generation Gamer is now the largest of all the Generations out there!
Critical Aspects of Gamer Culture
The rise in popularity of digital streaming services like TwitchTV has revolutionised the Gamer experience by providing an immersive online community that constantly changes as technology advances.
Gamers now have channels they subscribe to or follow like celebrities, enabling them to keep up to date with their favourite Gamer or gaming company.
Gamer culture has become an industry of its own and makes enormous amounts of money annually.
It does face challenges from within, with many gamers being split on gender equality in Gamer-related professions such as eSports teams and tournament coverage. Ultimately, Gamer Culture is a massive part of modern living worldwide, touching most online or offline parts of life.
What motivates Gamers?
Gamers are primarily motivated by the nature of play itself, which defines Gamer culture as it exists today. Video games are entertaining but challenging and competitive, drawing people who like games on any level.
Gamer motivations run the gamut from playing through story-based games to competing online for large sums of money, with elements of escapism always present in some manner. Gamer culture doesn't focus highly on a specific component but draws all these aspects into its own unique brand identity.
The motivations of a Gamer depend entirely on their background, personal interests and reason for becoming a Gamer. Gamer motivations can be as simple as playing video games to make friends, or they may be interested in competitive gameplay and wish to become professional Gamers.
Gamer motivation also stems from financial gain – with online live streaming services like Twitch connecting viewers directly with Gamers, donations and sponsorships can provide significant income for those who perform well enough to consistently entertain an audience.
Professional gamers use sponsorship opportunities to market themselves and/or earn revenue from their fame.
In what ways have games been marketed to different demographics?
Games have been made differently so that they appeal to different age groups and genders. Gamer demographics tend to be male, with some overlap from women.
An increase in female gamers has led to the market becoming more diverse as developers try and develop things that will appeal to both sexes – such as mobile games or RPGs – rather than just making shooters, which tend to favour the young male audience.
The rise of competitive play has also increased engagement from a younger audience who are more likely to play games in teams or with friends.
What are the most popular video games of 2021?
The most popular video games are constantly changing. Mobile games have made significant gains in the user base since smartphones became a staple of everyday life. In 2021, the top three mobile games were Candy Crush Saga, Clash Royale and Minecraft – with hundreds of millions of players each month.
The multiplayer online battle arena genre (commonly shortened to MOBA) has become the industry's leading force, with many MOBAs such as League of Legends and DOTA 2 becoming some of the most played video games on a global scale.
What is eSports?
eSports, or electronic sports, is a term used to describe competitive play primarily through digital mediums rather than physical ones. Tournaments range from small-scale events between smaller Gamer teams all the way up to massive international competitions drawing crowds of thousands for live broadcasts. There are even televised tournaments for Gamer teams to compete in.
ESports is the competitive play element of Gamer culture. Gamer culture has its roots in traditional sports, but Gamer competitions are not structured around physical abilities – they are dependent on mental acuity and quick reaction times.
Gamer culture is continually evolving thanks to eSports as it draws more people into Gamer communities every day through competition, streaming and online gaming.
Some Gamer players even choose to specialise in one particular game or type that they enjoy the most instead of taking part in multiple games for fun or financial reasons.
What are the most popular eSports leagues?
The Gamer League has been around since 2005 and continues to have consistent viewership even though it does not support as many games as other organisations do – due to its focus on providing a safe environment for Gamer players.
The Gamer League caters primarily to individual Gamer players rather than gaming teams. Other popular organisations for competitive play include Garena League of Legends Arena, World Cyber Games and E-Sports Entertainment Association.
What is the market size of the video game industry?
The video game industry is massive, with annual revenue exceeding $100 billion in 2016. Much of this revenue comes from the Gamer demographic – which has dominated for much of gaming's history. Gaming tends to be a young person's hobby, with many Gamer players reporting that they started playing at an early age and continue to play games through their teenage years and into adulthood.
While Gamer culture continues to be dominated by youth, the rise of professional Gamer players has led to increased revenue from older Gamer demographics that never used to exist.
Is there money to be made as a Gamer?
There are multiple ways Gamer players can make money. Gamer competition is now viral since eSports has evolved so much in recent years. Streaming services like Twitch allow Gamers to monetise their gameplay by building up followers who donate or subscribe to them directly through their channels (similar to YouTube). Many professional Gamer teams work under the umbrella of larger businesses and organisations.
Where to next for the Gamer Generation?
Gamer culture is constantly evolving as society changes and technology advances.
Gamer motivations can be simple or complex depending on the Gamer, with financial gain being a significant motivator for many professional Gamers. The industry only continues to grow further every year, revealing no signs of slowing down or stopping in its pursuit to maintain Gamer culture's place at the forefront of entertainment everywhere.