Introduction
The gaming industry has been significantly impacted by globalization. Globalization, especially in regard to innovations in technology, has resulted in better access to games and increased convenience in playing automated games. It has resulted in new opportunities and challenges among game players. A key thing to note is that it has resulted in a new gaming culture. The exploration of the meaning of the term gaming explains the events that occur in video games and the behaviors of the people who play. It helps map characters, events, or items between games. It helps in the development of a better understanding of the players’ behavior. Globalization and industrialization have had significant impacts on different industries. It has led to many organizations reaching customers in distant markets and the distribution of products. Globalization has resulted in increased use of computer games by individuals in many parts of the world. It has also resulted in increased diversity in the design of video games. In particular, it is essential to note that there has been an increased prevalence of the production of video games with the theme of violence in society (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2019). The surge in globalization driven by technological advancement and progress has transformed the gaming industry profoundly, generating massive opportunities and challenges for players and consumers alike while paving the way for the emergence of new gaming cultures.
Globalization and the Gaming Industry
Globalization has played an important role in creating opportunities for individuals to play games. It has also adversely affected people in the gaming industry as more people spend their time gaming, resulting in addiction. According to Blumberg et al. (2019), a study of 4000 households indicated that 64% of the households had at least one person who engages in playing video games. Globalization and increased access to video games have resulted in people starting to play games early in life. The increased access to technology has resulted in more people accessing computer games. According to Von der Heiden et al. (2019), increased access to technology has resulted in more than 2 million individuals across the globe accessing gaming platforms and engaging in those games. According to Bavelier and Green (2019), the gaming industry has significantly improved, and players tend to have more freedom nowadays than in the past. Newer generation videos also mix multiple genres, making them more appealing to the players. Gaming has emerged as a new global culture as more and more people spend a lot of time gaming. The new culture has had both new opportunities and challenges. People can spend their leisure time gaming, thus creating an opportunity to relax and relieve stress. Nevertheless, it has also increased the risk of addiction. Video games are emerging as a global phenomenon evident in society and are currently emerging as a worldwide culture, pervading society irrespective of gender and age. The video games are produced based on concepts from diverse cultures yet consumed internationally. The industry is fast growing, with many individuals across the globe participating in video games at one point or another. The growth of the gaming market has been driven by increased globalization and technological development. Better designs of video games have been established, and the distribution level of such video games has been enhanced across the globe. Video games are made in diverse locations globally and distributed to diverse markets globally.
Evolution of the Gaming Industry
Globalization has significantly impacted game development and design. Globalization has come with enhanced computer technology, which has allowed players in the industry to create new innovative games. Game development and design have been undergoing rapid development and innovations (Blumberg et al., 2019). There has been an increase in research conducted to find the best ways to design computer games. Today, media use has become pervasive throughout children’s development. Many organizations have established multiple forms of games providing players with a wide array of games to choose from. The increased development of technology has resulted in enhanced creativity in game development. There has been an increase in the level of creativity and innovation in regard to software development across the globe. Advancement in skills in the design and manufacturing of software has resulted in the development of high-quality, easy-to-use, and interactive games. Innovation in e-commerce has also led to better distribution and payment for computer games.
Today, many people are engaging in mobile gaming. Mobile gaming has played an important role in ensuring that individuals can access games wherever they are. According to Willings (2022), “Games we know and love have transformed into staggeringly beautiful works of art.” The evolution of the gaming industry has played an important role in ensuring people have access to games, even indoors. Today, many consumers are acquiring smartphones to use them in gaming. Gamers and game developers have turned to smartphones to deliver games to consumers and as gadgets that enable consumers to access games online. Mobile gaming has expanded significantly in recent years, reaching more than half of the gaming industry. In the past, many game developers focused on working on console games. The focus on mobile phones to access games has provided financial incentives that were unavailable when using a console. The price of games is far much lower when they are delivered or accessed through mobile phones. For many years, mobile phone games have been in existence. Mobile games come in a wide variety, thus very appealing to consumers. Equally, many people are available to play mobile phone games at any given time since people carry their devices everywhere. Mobile games also offer various opportunities, such as access to discounted and affordable games. It is also essential to note that mobile phone gaming supports the technological developments in the industry since many people have smartphones and can access games from the convenient locations of their choice.
Cloud gaming has significantly impacted the gaming industry. Cloud gaming is also referred to as gaming as a service. It has resulted in the ability of individuals to access and play games remotely. Cloud gaming has increased access to online games without investing highly in expensive computer hardware. Cloud gaming requires high-quality streaming. Hence, users are expected to have access to fast-speed internet. It is also essential to note that cloud computing is accessible from a wide range of devices, which includes digital media players, smartphones, and mobile devices.
Emergence of New Gaming Culture
Globalization has resulted in the emergence of a new gaming culture. More people are spending their time gaming. More people are engaging in video games to keep away from unfavorable activities. Hence, gaming can be viewed as a form of preventive therapy for individuals. It may help eliminate anxiety among individuals (Pallavicini et al., 2022). On the downside, the emergence of the gaming culture has resulted in more people living a sedentary life and hence experiencing loneliness. Many people are addicted to games and tend to lack real-life friends. Due to the increase in the prevalence of the gaming culture, there has been an increase in gaming addiction, resulting in loss of control, intolerance, and gaming withdrawal problems. According to Lopez-Fernandez et al. (2019), the gaming culture has been on the rise among women in society as opposed to the past when they were less involved. Technology-driven women’s gaming is likely to result in women demonstrating traits predominantly associated with men, such as their level of aggression. Playing games may also result in a culture where women have low self-esteem. For instance, the female avatar presentation in video games may result in some women developing the feeling that they do not have similar body shapes as the ladies presented in the games, which would result in a decline in their self-esteem. This may result in stress and depression. The gaming culture should thus be handled cautiously because, despite its many benefits, it also poses some challenges. The emergence of new gaming culture has resulted in cultural exchange as people from diverse cultures play similar games based on values from diverse cultures. Video games are nowadays developed in diverse locations across the globe. The games are based on particular cultural concepts, and cultural exchange occurs when people from diverse cultures watch the same video. It also results in the distribution of various games, creating diversity in the gaming industry.
The development of eSports has ensured that people have access to games on online platforms. eSport, which turns online gaming into spectator sports, will continue to fuel the evolution of the gaming culture. People enjoy interactive games where they can compete with each other or with a computer in various sports online. eSport will promote the demand for games that provides an opportunity for competition. There are key merits linked to eSports. They facilitate teamwork, strategy, and communication in the game. eSports also provide players with the opportunity to refine their cognitive skills. They support cognitive and social development and also help to improve hand-eye coordination. They also result in improved attention and visual acuity. The games also help individuals improve visual processes and executive functions. It is also essential to note that eSports are interactive and enhance players’ ability to solve problems. They also enable players to boost their socialization capabilities. eSport is thus emerging among the most enjoyed games in the gaming industry. Players involved in eSports improve their ability to engage in strategic thinking. This approach to gaming should thus be promoted as it has many benefits for the players. Its increasing use is expected to significantly make a contribution to the gaming industry.
Social media plays an essential role in shaping the gaming culture. Many people are sharing information regarding various games they are engaged in, increasing awareness of multiple gaming products and the ability of individuals to engage in games. Social media have also resulted in increased feedback among players regarding how better some video games are than others, resulting in increased consumer referrals for various products.
Opportunities and Challenges
Globalization in the gaming industry has resulted in significant opportunities for individuals. Pallavicini, Pepe and Mantovani (2022) state that “video games can be helpful during distressful life situations.” Playing the game keeps people busy when stressed and helps in relieving stress. According to Barr and Copeland-Stewart (2022), increased access to games due to globalization can positively affect individuals’ mental health. For instance, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a high restriction on the movement of people and assemblies in many countries across the globe. This implies that people had more time to remain alone. Playing games helped reduce the anxiety that came with isolation. Gameplay help also plays an important role in cognitive stimulation (Barr & Copeland-Stewart, 2022). Exercising the brain helps in cognitive development and well-being, according to Small et al. (2022). Research indicates that certain video games and computer programs can result in improved brain neural activity, enhanced memory, increased fluid intelligence, improved cognitive abilities, and enhanced ability to multitask. It also results in improved mood and behavior among individuals. Johannes, Vuorre and Przybylski (2021) contribute to the idea of video gaming by indicating that video games are good for people as they help boost individuals’ mental health.
Some challenges have emerged due to the globalization of the gaming industry. An example of this challenge is in the use of Loot boxes. According to Li, Mills and Nower (2019), Loot boxes are virtual items in video games that enable the players to gamble on items of chance. This can negatively affect the people engaged in these games since it is likely to lure them not only to play the games but also to engage in gambling. It is essential to note that gambling is a vice that has the potential to negatively affect individuals’ psychological and financial status. Hence, the globalization of the gaming industry, where gambling aspects are combined with gaming, might adversely affect individuals. According to Barr and Copeland-Stewart (2022), playing video games was noted to be a source of time wastage. Many people spend too much time playing games instead of engaging in more positive and productive activities. Continued playing of violent games may alter the behavior of individuals and their views regarding violence. According to Von der Heiden et al. (2019), the prevalence of video gaming behavior may adversely affect the self-esteem of individuals. This might occur when individuals fail to win in games, and the feeling of defeat may adversely affect their psychological well-being.
Various impacts have been exposed as a result of globalization on gaming. It has increased the number of people addicted to games. According to Von der Heiden et al. (2019), “Parents and professionals may be worried about their excessively playing children being “addicted.” However, problematic and potentially addictive video game use goes beyond addiction. This implies that if children’s video gaming behavior is not well monitored, it is likely to result in negative behavior and may affect the well-being of children. According to Small et al. (2022), there is increasing concern that children’s brains are sensitive to chronic exposure to smartphones, television, computers, and tablets. Hence, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents limit children’s exposure to screens, including computer screens, when playing games.
Despite this, it is clear that video games also play an important role when used as a learning aid. It enables individuals to learn the necessary skills and learn concepts in a fun and interactive environment. According to Barr and Copeland-Stewart (2022), the evolution of the gaming industry provided an opportunity for people to cope during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is clear that during this period, many people spent much of their time in isolation or indoors. Hence, access to video games was essential in minimizing their boredom and stress during the pandemic. According to Lopez-Fernandez et al. (2019), “Female gaming was also shown to improve mental well-being.” On the other hand, Small et al. (2022) inform that the continued increase in the time people spend on screen playing games has the potential to result in heightened health problems, including attention deficit symptoms. It may also result in people suffering from sleep disruptions.
Conclusion
Based on the above study, it is clear that globalization and technology have significantly improved the gaming industry. A wide diversity of people is now engaging in gaming, and the move has resulted in gaming culture. Many people start engaging in video games at a very early age. The findings indicate that video games played an important role in enabling people to avoid idleness and boredom at home during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Gaming helps people minimize stress. It boosts mental health, including engaging the brain in exercise and boosting memory among individuals. The study also indicates that video gaming has some challenges. It carries the risk of addiction and may induce individuals to gamble. It may also result in time wastage and disruption of individuals sleeping time. Based on the study, there are key emerging trends in the video gaming industry. One of the trends is that more women are engaging in video gaming nowadays compared to the past. There is also an increase in mobile video gaming and the use of social media to access information about the latest games. Equally, the development of eSports will increase the demand for gaming opportunities in the industry. Its interactive and competitive nature increases its demand among customers.
The demand for video games is likely to increase in the future as many people are accessing games through online platforms. It is also likely that the number of females engaging in video games is likely to increase. Chances are high that future games will be more customized to the needs of players. Future video games will also be made with advanced designs and will likely be more interactive. These developments will help in the improvement of the fast-growing gaming industry. Globalization is thus expected to drive future sales in the gaming industry as consumers from diverse locations worldwide can access the products. In the future, it is evident that the demand for eSports is expected to increase as people seek platforms to compete. Based on the study, it is clear that globalization has remained a key driver of changes in the gaming industry. The industry is fast growing in revenue, and a high number of people have joined the gaming culture. It is expected that the current trends in the industry will continue into the future as the new generation’s demand for computerized games continues to increase.
References
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