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The gaming industry has grown a great deal over the past few decades. Moving from the popular console gaming systems that dominated throughout the 80s and majority of the 90s, to more advanced and interactive online computer gaming. The shift was subtle, but seemed to go by extremely quickly. This is simply due to the fact that technology is becoming more advanced at a seemingly exponential rate. In addition, video game designers and developers listened to the demands of the public and put forth the effort to produce more graphically enhanced games. The Nintendo Entertainment System boasted a sufficient 8-bit processor in its hay-day, which was the standard and nobody had any complaints. Years later, the coveted 16-bit systems came out: The Super Nintendo and Genesis, which quickly paved the way for the 32-bit Playstation and eventual 64-bit Nintendo 64.
As graphics became more of an emphasis for manufacturers and game developers, people began looking for other areas of gaming that they wanted improved. Among one of the more widely sought after aspects includes that of multi-player capabilities. People were wanting to experience these games with their friends in a setting that would allow for more than simply two players. Around this same time, computers were becoming a more common household item. In conjunction with computers becoming a more common household item, Internet access was becoming an equally popular commodity to supplement the computer.
Computers, and more specifically, Internet access opened a whole new area of gaming up to the public. Now, you can find all types of games online. Everything from games of bingo to games of war. With computers, people could get together and build a LAN for multi-player gaming.
Additionally, the Internet provided this concept on a much wider scale, without requiring people to leave their home in order to participate in multi-player online gaming. First person shooters were among the most popular in the multi-player genre, and introduced environments in which players could play in the same setting with 30 or more other players. These games consisted of cooperation games, or free-for-all games in which it was every man for himself. Online gaming has since become a dominant source in the industry.
