From arcade to online: the evolution of the competitive gamer

Gaming has always been one of the most popular forms of entertainment here in the USA. Online gaming, in particular, is the sector within the entertainment industry that has undergone the most extraordinary boom, evolving from a niche pastime in the 2010s to a global giant. Technological progress and especially the advent of the internet have driven the gaming industry’s evolution. Gaming sites have become sophisticated platforms that offer benefits which, in many ways, make the overall experience even more engaging than that of traditional land based venues.

Throughout its history, dating back to the early days of computer programming and arcade games, the gaming sector has seen continuous development and innovation. We have written this article in collaboration with top experts in the gaming industry to trace the evolution of the competitive gamer from arcades to eSports.

The early days

Up until about 30 years ago the videogame esperience was closely tied to arcades. These were public spaces where people would gather to challenge one another with joysticks on iconic arcade cabinets such as: 

• Pac Man; 
• Street Fighter; 
• Mortal Kombat;
• Space Invaders; 
• Donky Kong; 
• Asteroids; 
• Galaxian; 
• Defender. 

Arcades were not just gathering spots for entertainment but also social hubs where communities, friendships, rivalries and a strong sense of belonging formed around a shared passion.

The rise of consoles and PC gaming

The 1980s marked the first major revolution in the videogame entertainment sector with the advent of home gaming consoles. Nintendo, Sega, Atari, Mattel and Sony changed the way people accessed videogames. The experience was no longer necessarily tied to public venues and  shared spaces. People could enjoy videogames from the comfort of their own homes. Joysticks and controllers were designed, introduced and progressively refined, and games became increasingly complex and rich in narrative.

At the same time home computers like Apple II and IBM PC began to carve out an important role in the gaming world. PCs offered greater flexibility and enabled more advanced technical experimentation. Early PC titles such as SimCity, King’s Quest, Doom and Prince of Persia highlighted a great potential in terms of graphics and gameplay mechanics.

The advent of the internet and the birth of online gaming

The advent of the internet marked a groundbreaking turning point for the gaming world. With online connectivity, gaming was no longer a solitary activity or one limited to family or friends, but became a collective, global experience. We could compete, cooperate and communicate in real time with players literally from all over the world, something absolutely unimaginable even just a few years earlier.

Massively multiplayer online games such as World of Warcraft, Counter Strike, Ever Quest and Dark Age of Camelot represented the first major commercial successes of this new mode of play. At the same time, the first global scale online tournaments, digital communities and early digital distribution platforms like Steam began to take shape, making access to videogames faster.

Meanwhile, online gambling also began to benefit massively from new technologies. Until not long before, playing casino games meant necessarily having to visit a land based venue. With the digital era, we were also able to play online through licensed platforms. As digital platforms evolved, user engagement strategies expanded as well, with features such as loyalty tiers and promo codes for sweepstakes casinos becoming increasingly common to attract and retain players in a competitive online environment. 

This evolution contributed to the legitimization and regulation of online gambling, transforming it into an activity that is not only widely accessible but also closely monitored, with increasingly advanced security systems and high standards of player protection.

Modern times

As mentioned previously, the online gaming industry has evolved alongside technological progress. With smartphones and tablets becoming ubiquitous, mobile gaming further democratized access to videogame entertainment. Owning a console or a PC was no longer necessary. Having a smartphone was enough to play anywhere at any time. Gaming on the go achieved huge success, bringing to a mass audience games such as:

• Angry Birds;
• Candy Crush;
• Pokémon Go;
• Clash of Clans; 
• Fruit Ninja.

During the 2010s most of the features that define today’s online gaming were introduced, including: 

• high definition graphics; 
• live dealer games; 
• virtual reality (VR);
• augmented reality (AR). 

The 2010s also saw eSports emerge as a major competitive phenomenon, with professional players, teams and tournaments offering significant cash prizes. The ability to share gameplay and interact with users around the world was made possible by streaming services such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, Mixer and Facebook Gaming.

Moreover, gaming fostered the creation of social networks and communities worldwide. Online multiplayer games encouraged interaction and teamwork, while eSports earned a fully recognized place within the sports landscape. As a result, the gaming industry has moved beyond pure entertainment. With professional players, game creators and streamers, gaming has also become a genuine career path, offering great exposure.