It all started with a small dot colliding between two paddles on a small screen. In 1958, physicist William Higinbotham had a revolutionary idea which would go on to change the way we view reality, forever. Needless to say video games have come a long way since Pong, now making the experiences even more immersive with virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Parallel Communities
The gaming industry has not only entertained billions of people around the globe, but has also cultivated communities and cultures. Gaming has become a way for us to connect in a way that is more meaningful to us. People who are introverts and who usually do not get along with the social system have actively connected with other people, are having conversations and sharing emotions.
Fortnite is one game that has gained quite a following since its release. It comes in 3 forms:
- Fortnite: Save the world, which is designed as a player v/s environment game where 4 players work together. You, along with other players, defend against zombie-like creatures called as “Husks” that attack the survivors, and collect equipment to gather data.
- Fortnite Creative is more of a sand-box style game mode where you have the freedom to do literally anything you want.
- Fortnite Battle Royale – more information: In this mode you can either work with each other and build squads or play solo to fight and remain the last one standing at the end of the match. The players are spawned into a safe area where they have to find items to play the game. The safe area keeps reducing in size forcing you to play up close and personal with your opponents.
The popularity of the game can be credited to the fact that you can play all the game modes for free. Although, as of 2019, the “Save the world” mode requires a purchase for early access, both “Creative” and “Battle Royale” are monetized by using in-game currency called as V-Bucks. V-Bucks can buy items within the game such as character models, weapons and similar items. Games like Fortnite give us the opportunity to connect and share with people from all over the world. While this process of communicating with others has already become seamless because of the internet, gaming gives us common ground and acts as an icebreaker. Unlike reality, in virtual reality everything would seem to have a purpose, because you are rewarded for what you put in. This immersive experience is what draws in millions of people each year.