Combat Gaming

There’s no way around it: The gaming industry market has exploded in recent years. Long gone are the images of kids, in their bedroom or basement,  playing Super Mario Bros and Street Fighter. Video games have gone mainstream, and everyone from athletes to tech trailblazers are playing - on consoles, computers or, now more and more, from mobile devices and tablets. The sector has become bigger, and better! Developers are releasing new content all the time, and keeping the gaming future alive with possibilities.

Video games have become so popular, that they’re statistically the most popular (and most profitable) form of entertainment. In 2017, the gaming industry generated a huge revenue of $116 billion. In comparison, TV as well as TV streaming services made $105 billion, the movie industry made $41 billion and music made $17 billion. Think if this: historically, films were adapted into games, but now the tables have turned and games are now being adapted for film! Some examples are Assassin’s Creed and Angry Birds. 

Although the roots of multiplayer mode go back decades, online multiplayer games have been taking the world by storm.

For a long time, video game sales were straightforward. A game was released and overall profits were tied to the number of individual copies that were sold. That changed with the introduction of live service and microtransactions.

So, what’s a live service game? It’s a game that is always online, almost exclusively multiplayer-focused and designed to keep people playing for as long as possible.

There are of course variations in genre, style of play and visuals across video games, but one of the biggest choices players make when it comes to selecting a game has to be between single and multiplayer options. These are two varying styles of play with unique advantages and disadvantages to each. 

Here are some of the similarities and differences between both types of games.

The multiplayer vs. single-player experience

The main difference between multiplayer and single-player games is quite obvious. Multiplayer games are played online, and live with other people, while single-player games are played alone. For fans of either, there’s endless options , while many games are available to play in single or multiplayer modes. One thing a player needs to consider when making a choice between multiplayer and single-player games is this: What kind of gaming experience do I want to have.

Multiplayer games offer an awesome social experience for players. There’s nothing like being able to sign into a game at any time of day or night, and play with friends – some you know in person and others you’ve met through the experience of online gaming. These people can live in any country around the world, and you are connecting with them through your console. Most multiplayer games offer live chatting options through a headset, which means you can talk to other gamers during gameplay. 

Gaming with others also increases the level of excitement and competition. While you are faced with challenges, including quests and battles against avatars (depending on the game), there’s nothing like knowing you’ve won against a real life player, or alternatively, tackling a task with the help of your online friends.

There are many advantages that come with choosing to play single-player games too. These days, many single-player games are built as a full story experience similar to a more ‘immersive film experience’. With this experience it lacks a social element when playing and therefore developers need to consider the storyline, characters and overall gaming experience. Many people enjoy being able to immerse themselves in a well-crafted story and complete missions and enjoy interacting with other characters in their own time. 

There is a bright future for both types of gaming, with constant developments and great new ways for players to interact.