How to choose a gaming platform. Best Gaming Platforms World's Largest Gaming Platform

Back in 1978, the commercially successful game Space Invaders strongly motivated large investors to pay attention to the gaming industry. This video game was released in Japan on a platform we know as arcade machines. The game became so popular that it caused a shortage of coins in the country, which were required in order to play it. From Japan, the game quickly spread to America, where 60,000 devices were sold in 2 years. They stood in all bars, bowling alleys and cinemas. Thanks to Space Invaders, a boom in the development of arcade machines began, which became the first step in the evolution of the gaming industry. In 1979, it was a real breakthrough: the American distributor of the game Belly Midway tripled the arcade market in the United States, bringing sales to $ 1.33 billion in a year. Many well-known computer games first appeared on gaming machines and were later ported to other platforms. For example, Pac-Man, Street Fighter, Killer Instinct. Under the cut, I bring to your attention a small excursion into the history of the evolution of platforms in the gaming industry.

Together with slot machines, games developed on the platform game consoles. And although the history of consoles began in 1972 with the release of the world's first home game console Magnavox Odyssey, a breakthrough in this direction begins in 1977, when the Atari 2600 game console goes on sale. Thanks to Atari's investment, the popularization of computers and video games reaches a new level . There are new major players who want to take a warm place in the video game market. Other than Atari, Sega, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have made history as the largest.

Exponential growth in the mid-2000s social networks which are becoming a new way of communication between people. Game developers just can't ignore the browser platform now, and within it stands out a separate subplatform and games for it, which are now called social. Then it seemed to many that this was a colossal breakthrough in the gaming industry. A huge number of developers went into social games, the annual growth rate exceeded 200%, simply because it was an innovation and the market did not even exist before. However, saturation came pretty quickly. Low-quality games produced at breakneck speed to take over the market are being replaced by high-quality games with good graphics and serious gameplay.

The next round of development of the gaming industry occurred due to the enormous growth in popularity mobile phones, which have become a new platform for people to communicate and a new platform for the distribution of games. Java games that were on mobile phones did not seriously compete with browser, client, or social games. However, since the end of the first decade of the 2000s, the emergence of smartphones, under which powerful projects could be developed, opened the mobile gaming market to the industry in all its glory. In general, the mobile platform is now implemented through two types of devices: smartphones and tablets. But since the operating systems, specifications, and ways of delivering games to the consumer on these devices are almost identical, developers rarely separate them into different platforms. It is mobile games that are currently considered by many to be a promising market that can generate maximum profits with a low entry threshold. On our program "Management of Internet Gaming Projects" most of the students make mobile games, and in second place are PC games under Steam.

It has reached unprecedented heights in our time, when many projects collect billions of dollars after the release, overtaking the highest grossing films in Hollywood. And this is just the beginning - consoles are sold in huge numbers, and components on the PC are becoming more progressive and modern. Below we will talk about the best gaming platforms that exist on the market. Well, let's go!

Personal Computer

The most popular platform in the post-Soviet space, which is why it is sometimes called "Slavic". On the objective side, the PC has both advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in more detail below. So, the advantages of computers are as follows:

• In our area, PC games are much cheaper due to the commercial system. As a rule, compared to console games, you will have to pay 30-50% less than for a similar copy on Xbox or PlayStation.
• An equally important advantage of a PC is the ability to upgrade it. The fact is that life cycle prefixes is very long - 6-8 years. Manufacturers do not modernize them, which stops the engine of progress. In turn, more powerful video cards, processors, RAM memory and other components regularly appear on the PC, which allow the owners of this platform to enjoy a much better and more detailed picture at 60 FPS, and even in higher resolutions: FullHD, QHD, 4k and so on.
• A huge number of manipulators, which are not available for set-top boxes: keyboards, mice, steering wheels, gamepads, joysticks and others.
• Exclusives. This is another advantage of the PC, which, however, is also true for consoles. Many projects go exclusively to computers: the Civilization series, Total War, XCOM 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., World of Warcraft and others.

However, there are also disadvantages, which are very sad for PC owners:

• Many developers prioritize developing games on consoles, as sales are much higher on consoles. The reason for everything is piracy, which flourishes on various torrent trackers. Of course, many manufacturers are trying to create the latest types of protection, but not always they are effective.
• Expensive upgrade. Here is the disadvantage that slowly “poured out” from the advantage for computers. Today, games are becoming more beautiful and more demanding on hardware, which is why gamers have to upgrade their PCs every 2-3 years by buying expensive components. At the same time, on consoles, the hardware remains unchanged, and the picture corresponds to the PC settings in the medium-high range, and even without annoying freezes or subsidence. Finally, the cost of the set-top box corresponds to the price of a top-end video card. Here everyone makes a choice for himself, deciding what is better for him to buy.
• Unavailability of some console exclusives. And this is not about individual exclusivity, as it was on the PC (release on one platform only), but about multiplatform. These games include Red Dead Redemption, many parts of Final Fantasy, Dragon's Dogma and others.

And be that as it may, if you compare gaming platforms, it remains one of the best of its kind.

Xbox

The game console from Microsoft is also very popular, due to excellent exclusives and relative cheapness. At the moment, 3 consoles have been released: 360 and Xbox One. The latter, unfortunately, significantly loses to the main competitor from Sony, which we will talk about later. A distinctive feature of the console is the presence of the Kinect game pad, with which any user can interact with the console without additional accessories using gestures and voice. In addition, many projects have been developed specifically for this device, which are fun to play with friends and relatives.

As for the exclusives available for Xbox, here are some of the most popular series: Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and a number of others for Kinect. The current cost of Xbox One in Russia is from 18 thousand rubles.

PlayStation

Another popular prefix that began its life journey back in 1994. The latest version of the console that came out from under the wing of Sony is the PlayStation 4. The last one has sold 40 million times since the date of sale, overtaking similar indicators from the Xbox One by almost 2 times. It is not surprising, because on the Japanese device there are better exclusives, and their number is a cut above. In addition, the PS4's hardware is also much more powerful, which is why the graphics quality on it is better than on the X1. As for exclusives, the following projects are currently the most popular: the Uncharted series, Gran Turismo, Killzone, infamous, God of War, as well as single games The Last of Us, Heavy Rain and The Order 1886. The average price in Russia is 23 thousand rubles. Comparing the best gaming platforms, many gamers around the world prefer the Japanese brainchild.

Operating systems Android and iOS

These operating systems are now installed on most smartphones available on the market. There is also a Windows Phone, but there are significantly fewer games on it. Regarding the main competitors, Android was developed Google employees and at the moment it has the highest market share - 80% versus 15% for iOS. The latter, in turn, is installed only on Apple devices.

Unlike consoles, smartphones are only gaining popularity in the video game market, which is why developers are increasingly paying attention to mobile platforms. So, on phones you can play the GTA trilogy (3, Vice Modern Combat series, Need for Speed ​​and many other titles. Previously, smartphones did not have such capacities in order to reproduce a gorgeous picture and sound, but now everything has changed, and on mobile devices toys look no worse than on a PC or "adult" consoles... This is how in recent years gaming platforms have gone beyond stationary devices like computers or set-top boxes.

Varieties of platforms on PC

Once upon a time, there were only a couple of platforms on the PC that united the community of players, and also offered to purchase licensed copies of games. The most popular was and remains Steam, developed by Valve. Steam is the distributor of games from many developers, and also provides a vast platform for gamers, boasting a system of achievements for games, numerous forums, guides, marketplaces and much more.

Some time ago, the largest publishers on the market began to release their own platforms, similar in functionality to Steam. So, Ubisoft calls the gaming platform UPlay, Origin for EA, RGSC for Rockstar Games and others. Of course, this somewhat loses gamers, who are forced to download numerous clients to install purchased games, but the market specifies its own rules.

A very interesting platform is CD Projekt's Gog Galaxy, where old games from the late 90s and early 2000s are laid out, which will provide you with proper nostalgia for old projects. After the release of The Witcher 3, attention to the Polish studio became more intense, which increased the popularity of their own platform. Today, The Witcher 3 has collected more than 300 awards, including " Best game 2015", which makes CD Projekt incredible from the side of the players.

Playtech gaming platform

In the last section, we will point out a client that is somewhat different from its predecessors. The fact is that the Playtech gaming platform is a special platform designed for playing in an online casino. Of course, there is the possibility of playing for real money, which puts it on a par with popular online platforms for gambling applications.

PlayTech is a young, aggressive software company that is also highly international in nature. So, the owners are people from Israel, developers from Estonia, and the domain is registered in the Netherlands. Entering the market in 1999, the company quickly gathered an original clientele, and even pressed its inveterate competitors. The casino itself constantly pleases its visitors with regular tournaments, bonuses and reward systems.

Finally

Gaming platforms represent an extensive list that gathers millions of fans at TV screens and monitors. Video games have long ceased to be children's entertainment. Today it is rather an art that can be safely compared with cinema. Stunning graphics quality, a strong plot for individual projects, strong-willed characters - what else is needed for a true masterpiece of art?

More than half of the population in developed countries are considered gamers, and this fact has significantly changed the way many of us spend our free time.

Today, games are an important aspect of modern culture. In fact, as stated in "Nilsen's 360 Video Game Development Report", games are the number one entertainment for people around the world, and about 10% of all free time is devoted to them. But, just as with consumer behavior in other areas, gaming preferences and trends differ across different parts world, which means that marketers need to develop specific strategies to attract the attention of buyers.

Over the past few years, an important role in the popularity of games has been played by the ability to introduce them into our daily lives through powerful mobile devices. In North America and Europe, mobile devices and game consoles are the most popular gaming platforms, and in China, mobile devices are by far the most popular platforms. In Latin America, video game consoles are the number one choice. Understanding the level of popularity of each platform by region is especially important for any manufacturer involved in the development and release of games for the whole world.

Although the popularity of different platforms varies for each market separately, the image of the modern gamer is the same everywhere. The gamer boys not only grew up, they also got their friends and families excited about the games. Today's generation of gamers includes a wide variety of people, and each of them can find something to their taste..

To date, gamers have become almost a separate group of the population of different ages and genders. Mobile is the latest and most accessible platform for both men and women of all ages. However, traditional games have changed - for example, Lara Croft has changed from a virtual pin-up model to a smart, combative and very real girl, which shows how much the target audience of games has become wider. Wherein those who prefer consoles are often a little younger, and those who play on computers are older e. The percentage of men somewhat prevails in both groups. While these trends are the same for all markets, there are some narrower trends that marketers should be aware of. For example, in Latin American gamers are younger and tallest average age gamers in Germany.

However, as in any other art, some trends go beyond the socio-cultural framework. For example, Nielsen found that when it comes to video game consoles, action-adventure, shooter, and sports games appeal to absolutely everyone because of the most successful titles in those genres. But here, too, preferences vary by region: Chinese gamers prefer role-playing games (RPGs), fighting games are popular in Latin America, and racing is one of the most popular genres in the west.

When it comes to mobile devices, the most popular genres in all countries are puzzles and arcades, although there are some differences depending on the region. For example, casino/card/table games tend to be more popular outside of Latin America.

Although the favorite genres of gamers in many countries are similar, different markets require different strategies and approaches. Good example- money preference. Different gamers want to spend their money on completely different things. Given a choice, people will always choose free games, no matter where they live. In general, this is not surprising, but it is worth noting that in different countries people prefer to pay for different things. For example, among mobile applications, gamers in China and Latin America are more likely to play free-to-play games, while players from Germany prefer paid ones.

At the end of the day, one thing is clear - love of games is a ubiquitous phenomenon, but marketers should pay attention to the specifics of each region in order to fully understand the preferences of the players.

• 1. There are no monopolies on the PC. You decide which company's hardware you buy and decide which device suits you best.
  Even games you can buy in the store that you like best.
• 2. A powerful computer doesn't cost too much. Moreover, it will serve you for many years with proper care.
• 3. Ability to overclock your system
• 4. A huge number of high-quality and gaming-oriented hardware and devices.
• 5. Ability to choose your operating system and its customization. Do you still believe that Linux gemming doesn't exist? You just haven't tried.
• 6. Ability to modify and change the insides of your PC
• 7. Ability to change the appearance of the system unit
• 8. The size of your PC is no longer a problem - there are compact format system units
• 9. Do you need something more mobile? Gaming laptops for you
• 10. And of course - everything is fine with FPS on a PC
• 11.VR on PC is more accessible than ever
• 12. PC based games are better than console based games. They have convenient controls, adequate gameplay (No shelters and rolls! No stupid QTEs!), great graphics and huge maps. "Console" games are shelters and rolls, 3rd person view, QTE and 30 fps. And of course - chopped graphics.
• 13. PC is a free platform, so we have a huge selection of niche projects. Do you like visual novels or strategy games? PC just right for you
• 14. Graphics on PC among multi-platform is always better
• 15.PC is the main platform for indie developers. Do you want something new and unusual? PC will help you
• 16. Ability to buy the game directly from the developer, from his website
• 17. A huge number of emulators - you can play games from consoles and tablets, while using additional features that the original devices simply did not have. For example - co-op via the Internet for old consoles
• 18.More than 400 popular online games with packed servers
• 19. Co-op games are most popular on PC
• 20. Many free gaming services for every taste and color. You can buy games, including top and drm free versions, as well as play games without downloading them on your PC - on cloud services.
• 21. Free multiplayer. You just need to buy the game
• 22. Free cloud storage for your saves and screenshots
• 23. Free avatars! Yes, you have to pay for them on consoles too!
• 24. Possibility of flexible customization of your game profile (not in all services).
• 25. Modern appearance and convenience of most gaming services on PC
• 26. Cross-platform game. For example between GOG and Steam users
• 27. The ability to combine all your accounts in gaming services into one. Thanks to projects like Project Ascension, this is possible.
• 28.Easy and fast installation of games and updates
• 29. Offline mode, which does not deprive you of any opportunities
• 30. Rollback of updates (not everywhere). Did the update break your favorite game? Roll back and back into the game!
• 31.Easy creation and storage of screenshots
• 33. A huge number of custom servers in various games.
• 34.Only the protests of PC players matter - there are many examples where the protests and demands of PC players were satisfied. These are Skyrim mods, these are safes in Payday 2, this is the recent case with the prices of Paradox games. And many other examples.
• 35. PC gaming holds back the onset of total copyright - if not for the PC, the use of computer games would be regulated by extremely strict rules. Some PC gamers are even becoming prominent figures in the field - for example, British rapper Dan Bull is known for his fight for user rights.
• 36. On a PC, it is easier to collect game statistics needed to adjust the balance of the game, as well as research conducted by psychologists, sociologists and marketers.
• 37. While your computer is idle, you can help the world by participating in decoding and analysis programs - you can help find a cure for cancer, find extraterrestrial life, or even decipher ancient messages. Distributed computing projects are the very future that has been about for several decades could only dream.
  For example, for one project only [email protected] came out a little less than 200 scientific works.
• 38. PC gamers support many old games that the rights holders are not interested in supporting. Therefore, we can safely play many old games in excellent quality and without installation problems.
• 39. The PC brings huge profits to developers and this is not a joke.
• 40. Anyone can become a developer on a PC - available free engines and editors allow even a schoolboy to create his own game.
• 41. PC gamers often arrange charity events. For example, the action of TF2 players Golden Charity.
• 42. On PC, it is easier to complete 100% of achievements in the game - thanks to the ability to read / watch guides, search for players for co-op, use mods, etc. at the same time as the game. Achievementhunted on PC is becoming a real treat.
• 43. A huge selection of games of various settings. Whatever setting you are a fan of, you will always have something to play on the PC
• 44. Unlimited access to free, open source and f2p games - even if you have no money, you will always have something to play
• 45. Lots of promo offers for active players - your coolness can be emphasized with exclusive items that cannot be bought
• 46. ​​A lot of services that track your game victories and merits - from achievements - to statistics
• 47. Bundles, sales and various discounts - this is what the PC is famous for
• 48. Constant free distribution of games, including AAA-class. We all remember wonderful gifts in the form of Left 4 Dead 2, Payday 2, X-Com, Mafia 2, Civilization, Shadow Warrior, Zombie Playground, the Syberia series, Dead Space, Dungeons 2 and many other great gifts from publishers.
• 49. Recognized and honest sites where users play games
• 50. Opportunities to get additional copies of the game in other services, if you have 1 purchased
• 51.Developed market for in-game items. Your inventory can help you save money on buying games more than once + Steam trading cards - the most unusual cashback
• 52. PC games are often focused on creative pastime - your child may not want to go to a sculpting and drawing club, but games can help him develop spatial thinking and imagination.
• 53. Game animation is developed on the PC - thousands of people without special education make cartoons thanks to various programs and tools, including free ones. If you dream of becoming a cartoonist, then you should get acquainted, for example, with free program Source Filmmaker, in which, thanks to the many guides available, anyone can master the creation of 3D cartoons.
• 54. In addition to PC games, there is a demo scene, a cyberculture that emerged in the late 1970s with the spread of the first home computers. The direction of computer art, the main feature of which is the construction of a plot video sequence created in real time by a computer, according to the principle of computer games. It's more interesting than kintso for 4k.
• 55. PC players create more fan art than console players. Moreover, there is an opinion that most of the art on console exclusives is created by popular artists on the wave of hype, and not at all out of love for the game.
• 56. Advanced modding - on PC it is much easier and more popular than on consoles
• 57. Creativity on PC is safer than on consoles - any attempt to install mods on consoles can lead to prosecution.
• 58. Creative contests are mainly held for PC gamers.
• 59. Huge selection of free and universally available creative materials
• 60. Your active creativity will not be left without attention - you can receive both recognition and material payments for it. For example, if your model gets into the game.
• 61. The PC is as relevant as ever. The most popular and trending games are released first on PC. And they appear on consoles with a huge delay.
• 62. Cult digital distribution service Steam. Don't you play the most popular multiplayer games in the world? What about the two-week holiday sales?
• 63. The PC has long abandoned disc editions of games. Of course, they are, but few people need them, because digital distribution is more convenient and practical.
• 64. Worried that all your digital purchases may one day be lost if the service closes? Buy DRM Free distributions and keep them for yourself. However, as practice has shown, closed services can transfer all your games to another service and you will continue to play as if nothing had happened.
• 65. The most modern and convenient gamepad is the Steam Controller. I do not like? Connect any other.
• 66. PC games are the first to receive all updates and patches. Amateur translations of games are also available only on PC.
• 67. Huge choice - on the PC you decide what to play by choosing from a huge assortment.
• 68. The most advanced graphics in games available only on PC
• 69. Together with games, digital services popularize the purchase of music and films - a blow to piracy and the formation of a culture of digital consumption
• 70. More console exclusives are getting PC editions good quality. And you don't have to look far for an example - these are Bayonetta and Vanquish from Sega, the Neptunia series, games from Microsoft and many other great releases.

Gaming religions for gamers

Warning: It is forbidden to interpret this article as blasphemy and an insult to the feelings of believers. The text is intended for gaming audiences only and for entertainment purposes only. All coincidences with real religions are accidental or far-fetched.

Christians

Outside enemies refer to them as "Billyboys" or one of the "Consoleholes". They worship the green cross and black coffins "X-boxes". They boast of their elitism and superiority over the rest of the world, although this is not justified by anything.
Christians honor their prophet, Bill. And this prophet preaches cutting off all unlicensed software. In addition, the prophet decided to lead his flock in circles in the desert for 40 years in order to raise a new generation of them who do not know the corrupt idea of ​​free software. Circular walking is confirmed by the monotonous names of the consoles: “XBox”, “Xbox 360”, “Xbox One”. The names are new each time, but always indicate the original position.

"P" right "S" glorious

Enemies call them "Sonnyboys", and also refer to the "Consoleholes" category. These believers pray to their "Play Station", affectionately calling her "Sonka". They are famous for their exclusives, although many apostates appear among the exclusives, sooner or later passing into the camp of the PC-boyars.

This religion is led by sly-eyed prophets. They interpret the Holy Scripture in their own way, put emphasis on spirituality, often forgetting about the equally important material side of life. As a result of this asceticism, the matter in their eyes turns into soap, among which the players-followers are invited to look for philosophical meaning.

Pokémon Witnesses

Numerous brethren of mobile game lovers for a long time did not have a clear name, but now it has appeared - Pokémon Witnesses. Their peculiarity is that they do not sit in their cells and temples, but freely walk around us. Their disunity is due to the fact that they do not even visit the temples of online portals. All their religiosity comes down only to purchases in the church shops Apstore and Googleplay.

The popularity of "witnesses" is largely due to the fact that they go to other people's houses and spread their religion, usually asking questions: "Hello! We are Pokémon Witnesses. Would you like to talk about the God of Random, about the expulsion of mankind from Wi-Fi, about forbidden apples and other mobile phones?

Old Believers

They worship not the modern single Framerate, but their numerous stone idols and pantheons of gods. They like to look at large pixels on rock art primitive people digital age. It would seem a useless exercise, but it is thanks to them that the history of previous generations is carefully restored and preserved. They call themselves "oldfags", "oldschoolers", "emulators". Their numbers are not as small as one might think.

Opponents of Console Religions

The abbreviated name is PeKaRi. They like to call themselves "PC-boyars". Consider themselves atheists, denying religious gods. But in fact, they worship the god Framerate, skillfully disguised as materialism. The extreme desire of the boyars for matter is manifested in the veneration of "grafonia" and "FPS", sometimes even to the detriment of the gameplay and plot. This is what causes the grins of religious fanatics.

Unbelievable, but true: the prophet Bill has more influence on the PC-boyars than on his loyal billiboys. While the religious circumcision of unlicensed software was previously unpopular among the boyars, lately they have had to do it more and more often. The reason for this is the Windows 10 Inquisitor, which burns heretical programs and computer games alive. He does this without trial or investigation, and even more so without the permission of his owner, the disenfranchised baker. A very dangerous and ruthless type. In order to gain more power, he even killed his own predecessor, Windows 9 the Unborn, so secretly that his body still cannot be found.

Among narrow-minded researchers, it is customary to believe that the PK-boyars are a strong and indivisible belief that, in which case, they are ready to act as a united front. But if we look into the story of the time years of the early 2000s, we will certainly see records of a religious split within this belief. The parishioners were divided into four branches of one church.

The conservative PC boyars remained in the minority. Stim is considered their holy city - the largest temple in all gaming world. The history of Steam began with the "second coming". And as a consequence of this, in Steam, PC-boyars from time immemorial have been waiting for the “third coming” of a half-dead person. Many prophets predicted the exact dates of this event, but they all turned out to be false. So the parishioners can only be content with modern authors, who, nevertheless, are immediately canonized as saints.

MMOMuslims

These are players who have lost faith in a single Framerate, and now worship the god of Online. The main idea of ​​their religion is grind - the constant repetition of the same type of actions. For example, they can kneel down and beat their foreheads on the floor for a long time, thereby stuffing more and more high levels and bumps on your head.
MMO Muslims are distinguished by their excessive fanaticism. During their rituals, various slogans are often shouted out: “Online akbar!”, “Online is gone!” They can perform their rituals for so long that they bring themselves to physical exhaustion. It is because of their eccentric antics that many atheists consider believers to be eccentrics and even dangerous to society.

Katkoliki

Often, the Katkoliks are mistakenly classified as MMO-Muslims, which is extremely dissatisfied with both those and others. Catholics do not grind much, their main element of religion is competition. But outsiders continue to confuse.
Katkoliks are called so because they perform special rituals "skating rinks", while especially long rituals are called "sweat rinks". They determine whose faith is stronger, and thus a clear hierarchy is built. Particularly distinguished ones receive the title of "fathers" and go to world skating rinks - "championships". And already there it is determined who will be the most important Pope - the vicar of their God on Earth.

Budnists

A very simple religion. Budnists in the world are called "casuals", "everyday", "everyday". Buddhism does not involve complex rituals or large crowds of people, only maximum relaxation. That is how he attracts his flock. Budnists are extremely ascetic in their requests, and can play something that believers of other faiths will not even touch. Another feature: although experienced adepts can fall into nirvana for several hours, the majority cannot sit at the game for even an hour, but their Gods forgive them everything.

The peculiarity of all schismatics who separated from the PC-boyars is that they stopped paying taxes and donations to the clergy and their icon painters. In return, they began to buy indulgences, freeing them from sins for a while, various blessings, and religious decorations. PC-boyars consider these religions to be mercantile and extremely unspiritual, from time to time threatening to start a Holy War, but the time for crusades has already passed.