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Only a decade ago we were all enjoying the simple pixel graphics and poorly animated visuals of PC games. This was back in a time where things such as DirectX were new technologies- and operating systems had little support for video games. It’s ironic to see that today you’ll be hard pressed to find any kind of PC without some type of game on it.

But in today’s world, we are more interested in hot topics such as virtual reality. The fabled pixel graphics of the past are long gone, and likely only to return when a bit of nostalgia is in order. But how did we get to the life-like video games of today, and where are we going as a society?

The Evolution of Peripherals in PC Games

PC games and peripherals go hand-in-hand for a better gaming experience. It all started with ideas such as the “Game Glove” or the much-loved gun peripheral for “Duck Hunt”- a popular Nintendo game in video game past. PC game peripherals have been lacking over the years, but this is not to say PC gamers haven’t had their fair share of the market.

But the most common PC game peripherals are gamepads- surely not the most advanced, but the most common. Gamepads are popular for making the playing experience easier- not necessarily more lifelike. A first person shooter player may, for instance, use a gamepad to use “hot keys” to do certain commands- such as talking to teammates or changing weapons.

PC Games and Graphical Landmarks

If you compare a PC game from the past to one of today, you’ll notice a large difference. Whereas pixel graphics were popular in the past, 3D graphics are much more popular today. Where 2D graphics are still used, a new kind of graphics called 2.5D graphics are used that combine the two for a compromised result.

But today, almost everything exists in a 3D realm. Models, characters, objects, and sprites are all created with complex 3D modeling programs. The result: more realistic PC games. But as time progresses, and processors can keep up with larger amounts of pixels, the gap between reality and virtual reality might just be bridged.

The PC Game Takeover Of Society

It seems that everywhere you look there is another MMORPG or RPG PC game that is taking over countries all over the world by storm. Some such as World of Warcraft are even pulling in over 5 million users each month in online game play.

Obviously, PC games have had a large impact on society. It will be interesting to see how things pan out in the future as PC games become ever more popular in due time.

The Future of PC Games

Products are now being tested that can actually react to patterns in brain activity- meaning you could one day control items in a video game from thought alone. Foundations of virtual reality in PC games such as this are already being created.

Even more interesting is the fact that holographic technology is emerging. Soon we will be able to interact with beams of light that makeup “fake” objects. This technology is decades away from being perfected, but it is truly exciting to say the least. Perhaps in several more decades, PC games will be a completely real experience!