Computer Science and Gaming
As computer science has progressed, so has the design of games. With the advancement of technology, game designers created both virtual and augmented reality elements into their games. The most notable example is that of Oculus Rift. It started from an experiment from Palmer Luckey, who worked for the University of Southern California.
Luckey explains that technology influences the gaming experience and he wanted to change video game graphics, and some people told him his idea was too crazy. This shows how big of an impact computer science has had on gamers today.
Not only did it create virtual reality, but many aspects of augmented reality were designed with computers in mind. For instance, Microsoft HoloLens is a technology used by different corporations such as NASA to communicate better while having all information at their disposal. Another great example is game design software like Unity 3D or Unreal Engine, which allows programmers to create games similar to what’s seen in the modern-day gaming industry (here’s how to become a game developer).
Unity 3D or Unreal Engine put everything together into one piece creating a more seamless transition between levels and within the game itself. What else?
On-demand games and cloud-based games
There are also on-demand and cloud-based games which are becoming increasingly popular as people can access their favorite video games anytime and anywhere they want. This means that the designers of such games have to develop unique ways to engage gamers, making them more interactive than ever before.
Designers have to be careful not to overdo it, so they don’t lose their players too quickly or longer than necessary. It’s a fine line between boredom and engagement.
Gaming technology has made it possible by using the technology to make advancements in multiplayer games.
Now one person can play with many other people, and by using cloud-based game servers, there are no issues or lag at all. Gamers can play their favorite multiplayer games 24/7 as long as the network they’re playing on is available since everything happens online. What separates this from its predecessors is better visuals and more interactive gameplay, which wasn’t possible until recently because of technological limitations.
Multiplayer Games
Enhanced multiplayer games were created with computer science in mind, allowing multiple users to interact through online servers rather than physical locations like arcades. These days the term “multiplayer” means much more than that.
It could be playing with anyone in the world, or it can even mean multiple players are working together to accomplish a goal within the game. For instance, in games like Fortnite, two teams have the quests they have to complete before being allowed to go up against each other. Each person has their role, and once they work together, they can win the game.
Gesture Control Gaming
Computer scientists recently introduced gesture control gaming, and it has quickly become one of the most popular ways to play games over the past five years. This technology allows users to use and interact with their games in a more immersive way than ever before, as they can play using only their hands as controllers.
For example, if someone wants to shoot or throw an object within a game, they simply need to make the right gesture with their hand, which triggers those actions on screen. One such example is PlayStation VR for PlayStation 4, as players don’t necessarily have to move around much physically since everything happens virtually through simulation and interpretation of body movement rather than seeing the operation unfold right in front of them.
Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming was also affected by this technology which made life easier for people on the go. It allowed them to continue enjoying their favorite games no matter where they were, with better graphics along the way.
Even virtual reality for mobile gaming is becoming more and more popular as people can now experience a new world right from their phone that takes them into a whole other dimension, almost literally.
Mobile gaming has also been improved dramatically due to computer science advancing even further. Many different uses of mobile devices came about, such as streaming services like Netflix becoming popular, and computers could create virtual worlds inside Minecraft (video game).
Now it’s possible to game on the go. One popular mobile game is Pokemon Go, which allows users to capture different virtual Pokemons and battle opponents worldwide.
Voice recognition and wearable gaming devices
The commonplace use of technology such as Seri or Alexa by Amazon is also becoming more popular in gaming. People can now control their consoles using only their voices which is the result of computer science.
For instance, voice recognition technology allows its users to operate through simple commands like with Siri on Apple devices.
The use of wearable gaming devices such as virtual reality headsets or equipment will become increasingly common in the future, too, because they allow players to immerse themselves entirely into the game itself rather than just playing it on a screen.
The future, according to Facebook, is called Metaverse. Metaverse is marketed as a complete immersion into the virtual world. The possibility to use technology such as the Oculus Rift for playing games with friends and family members all over the world through virtual reality was considered by Facebook back in 2012.
However, the idea was postponed until 2016 when Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to invest an additional $250 million into VR gaming. The outcome of this investment is the ‘Metaverse’, Facebook’s reinvented identity that intends to become completely immersive with the help of computer science.
Since 2016 a lot has happened…
Cloud-Based and On-Demand Games
As you know by now, cloud-based gaming means never having to worry about no longer being able to play your favorite games because everything happens online, not locally, unlike traditional gaming that utilizes physical discs/cassettes.
Traditionally, once a game is released, players have to wait for the physical disc/cassette to arrive or possibly not even play it until that time.
Now, just as with movies and music, people don’t have to deal with those issues anymore as they can simply pay a monthly subscription fee from anywhere in the world and continue with their favorite titles without having to worry about purchasing or downloading anything locally.
The most famous cloud-based gaming service is called PlayStation Now, which allows users who own Sony consoles such as PS3 or PS4 but do not own any of those games to play those they never had the chance of playing before.
In addition, people can also download games from the PlayStation store digitally and stream them from this service without paying a monthly fee, which distinguishes it from others, such as Steam.
This is an improvement on PC gaming where users have to worry about downloads and updates on their own rather than everything being taken care of online for them, which many people find more convenient.
On-demand gaming works similarly to cloud-based, meaning you only need a connection on any device ranging from phones to PCs and consoles to access your library of previously purchased titles over the internet without even needing physical disks/cassettes or accessories.
Future possibilities
There are limitless possibilities for designers who bring their ideas to life using computer science since technology advances so much at a fast pace. Still, many obstacles have had to be overcome for us gamers today to experience these advancements. The biggest obstacle is the time needed to create such technologies and facing the skepticism from those around them.
Computer science has brought about a new age of gaming and other virtual reality, augmented reality, and even artificial intelligence. What’s left to be seen is how much further technology will advance in the future and what kind of games we can expect to see from all these incredible technological advancements.
