Gaming on the Go: How Video Games Impacted Mobile Technology

The invention and evolution of the cell phone is arguably one of the most impactful technologies of the modern world. The ability to reach anyone at any time has created a society where there is no longer a need to wait to get something you need. Communication is instantaneous, and the amount of things that can be done in a relatively short amount of time would baffle and amaze our ancestors.

Computer Games

With the advent of the computer, the world of gaming took a giant leap from imagination to reality. The first computer game is largely attributed to Steve Russell when in 1962 he and a team created the game SpaceWar, which ran on a DEC mini computer. Since then, the advancements in video games and computers have often gone hand in hand. The development of the GUI, or graphical user interface, and the adaptation of the mouse allowed gaming to migrate from text-based gaming to visual representation.

Faster processors and greater memory capabilities enabled gaming developers to create bigger games with better graphics and resolution. This caused the computer industry to push for bigger and faster computers and video cards to keep up with the processing demand of newer games. And so on. It is unlikely that Russell and his fellow gaming and computer enthusiasts could have imagined the amount of detail and realism that can be achieved by today’s game developers.

Mobile Games

Cell phone technology has allowed the gaming industry to tap into all new resources. When cellular technology first arrived, it was bulky and expensive. For many years the focus was on making cell phones smaller, lighter and cheaper—a goal that was aggressively pursued and achieved. Today, you can find phones smaller than a credit card or ones that you can wear as a watch.

While small phones have their place, the current trend is phones with larger screens. Mostly this is due to the new smartphones. Many industries have seen the advantages of these phones and the wide variety of applications that can be incorporated into them—especially in the world of gaming.

The collaboration of companies across multiple fields of expertise has seen a shift in the types of phones and devices that are available. Video game companies have started working directly with many phone and software engineers to develop technologies that are specific to their gaming needs. Many games produced today are created with mobile apps, which allow you to continue gaming even when you are not in front of your computer. Many companies like T-Mobile and Google are working together to design phones that appeal to this new generation of mobile gamers.

While the cell phone technology of tomorrow will undoubtedly be influenced by scores of industries and businesses, the gaming industry will always be at the forefront of video development. As games continue to get bigger, better and more realistic, the gaming fanbase will continue to grow, enabling them to have a louder voice in the next developments.