If you’re a gamer, you’ll know just how fun, immersive, and downright exciting the whole experience is. But have you ever stopped to consider what’s lacking? Because, you see, even in 2024, gaming hasn’t hit its peak playability. And we’re about to tell you why…
Technology
Gaming’s evolution has often been tied to technological advancements, with the belief that better hardware directly translates to better games.
However, this generation’s hardware reveals a more complex reality.
Increased hardware power demands larger budgets. This leads to a paradox: bigger budgets, while seemingly necessary, cause less diverse games as investors prioritize minimizing risks associated with high development costs. This misconception highlights how focusing on technological prowess can lead to visually stunning but ultimately dull games.
The root issue lies between technological advancements and game mechanics. Game mechanics (you could think of it like the narrative in literature, as an example) shouldn’t be dictated by the technical capabilities of the platform. And yet, due to gaming’s history, the two have become intertwined.
This misconception has led to the rise and fall of AAA games. While initially successful, escalating budgets eventually exceeded market sustainability. This led to studio closures and the (incorrect) assumption that console gaming was on its way out. Console sales proved this theory to be very, very wrong.
Freedom
No one likes being told what to do, but casino games, by design, often have inherent limits aimed at managing risk and ensuring the house is the one that profits. Betting limits are a fundamental constraint that dictates the minimum and maximum wagers allowed on various games.
These limits can be frustrating for high rollers seeking the adrenaline rush of enormous bets, but they do have the benefit of preventing catastrophic losses. However, there are some online casinos where you can game with the freedom to wager as much as you’d like.
As expert Sergio Zammit explains, these casinos also come with some surprising advantages, like a bigger variety of gaming options, enhanced, round-the-clock customer service, and the option to pay deposits with cryptocurrency.
Accessibility
Gaming can present various barriers for individuals with difficulties.
For those with visual impairments, many games rely heavily on visual cues, making navigation and understanding difficult. Similarly, those with auditory impairments may struggle with games that depend on audio cues like dialogue or sound effects.
Traditional controllers and button layouts can prove to be a challenge for gamers with motor impairments, limiting their ability to participate. Complex game mechanics and interfaces may overwhelm players with cognitive impairments, which, unsurprisingly means their engagement will likely drop.
Then, there’s often the lack of customization options in many games. This makes it difficult, or sometimes impossible, for players to adjust controls, visuals, and audio to their specific needs.
And then, there’s, of course, the financial burden of adaptive gaming equipment and assistive technologies, meaning many are automatically locked out of certain aspects of gaming.
Diversity
While the representation of minorities in video game characters has improved over the years, there’s still a long way to go. While some games feature diverse casts and nuanced portrayals, minorities are often underrepresented or simply cast in stereotypical roles.
Studies have shown that people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals are not proportionally represented compared to their real-world demographics.
This lack of representation can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and limit players’ ability to connect with characters who reflect their own identities. It’s also just downright saddening to see.
Design
The game design itself imposes constraints. Virtual worlds, no matter how expansive, are ultimately bound by the code that creates them. Players may encounter invisible walls, scripted events, or resource limitations that can curb their sense of agency and freedom.
