Computer gaming came into its own in the mid-1990s, and has become both a popular pastime and a consuming desire for many people since that time. Back in the day no one could have dreamed we'd have the amazing technology and graphics that are available now. Over the last 20 years computer games have gone from rudimentary isometric 2D games to games with a fully realized 3D environment. Employment in the field of gaming is as rewarding on a purely enjoyment level as it is on a financial scale.
An interesting fact is that computer gaming software advances more rapidly than the technology for the systems on which the games are played. This is largely the result of many engineers in the gaming world taking their "art work" very seriously as they strive to produce their masterpiece. Sometimes an idea isn't possible until new technology arrives, and that happens faster and faster these days. So, with requirements for stronger computers, pushing for production of better, faster CPU's and GPU's is a never-ending task. But games aren't solely for the purpose of entertainment.
There are a wide variety of educational games available on the market. These types of games can help younger audiences in learning to use their computer. Others are teaching aids for many different subjects, including reading, math, history and science, among others. But for numerous others, computer gaming is still simply an absorbing pastime that is still growing in popularity. Some gamers prefer Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games where they build empires and direct armies, others like it more up close and personal with First-Person Shooters (FPS) where you play a single soldier in a war, and then those who like longer games with sweeping epic plots there are the Role-Playing Games (RPG).
Those are only a small sampling of the numerous categories and subcategories available for play. And of course the computers used to play these games are wildly different as well. One common drawback to computer gaming is having to update one's hardware every time a new game comes out. Powerful hardware is expensive and each person's computer is configured differently. There are top-grade computers used for gaming and there are also the low-end ones with integrated graphics. But no matter the quality of the machine, gaming has a compelling attraction and continues to draw players, both new and old.
Now, the even the presentation of games is undergoing some new and exciting changes. Advancements in monitor technology is essential to this end. The concept of a visor for your gaming experience is nothing new, although new efforts are still being made. More recently, a motion control monitor is being considered as an improvement upon the visor. What this means is the monitor will have sensors that can change the position of the in-game camera at just the turn of your head.
Motion control is still in the initial stages of development. So with all these new technological breakthroughs still in the works, computer gamers still resort to the old "standby" of keyboard and mouse. It's interesting to observe that as computer gaming progresses... so do we. Gaming is no longer just a hobby, but it has also become a way to educate, to tell stories, and to entertain. And with technology developing faster and faster next year who knows what's on the horizon in the world of gaming. For the hobbyists out there nothing could be more exciting!