Strategy games have always been a big part of gaming culture, even back when board games had a monopoly over the industry. They are still relevant in our current online era. What is their appeal? And why do they continue to be so popular?
How online communities foster growth
The widespread uptake of the internet has allowed for the growth of many different online gaming communities and forum pages. This has allowed the industry to keep growing for several different reasons, especially for the strategy game niche.
For example, this level of interactivity has allowed word of mouth to have a much wider reach. People in these communities can easily learn about a new game they may want to try, or maybe hear of a new tactic they want to try in an existing game. Forum boards can also be very useful if a player needs advice on a certain game.
These communities can also be particularly useful for finding active player bases for online games, especially those strategy games that may require a larger, more dedicated player base.
What other types of games have gained popularity?
Many other types of games have gained popularity within the modern, internet-driven era of gaming. For example, online sweepstakes casinos in the US have gained a lot of popularity over the past few years, due to them being widely accessible from almost all states, allowing gamers to have the freedom to play where and when they like. Sweepstakes casinos are great for those who prefer an experience where they won’t have to worry about their bankroll, as you can generally play for free and pay for extra spins only if you want to. These platforms can also be legal in states where real-money casinos are not, further expanding their popularity.
As well as this, there has been a big industry push for live service games, such as Fortnite, Call of Duty or EA’s newly released Skate. These kinds of games are an exciting development within gaming culture as they are mutually beneficial for both gamers and gaming providers, offering a constant stream of new content that players can engage with, along with elements like battle passes to generate income. This symbiotic relationship has proved to be popular among wider gaming communities.
What are some risks that come with this shift to online gaming?
Although the shift to online gaming has been almost all positive, it has allowed gamers much more freedom to choose where and when they want to play. But some risks accompany this shift, especially in relation to personal security. But fear not, there are things you can do to create a safer space for you to game online.
Checking whether a site has an HTTPS connection is hugely important when looking for a platform to engage with. What this technology does is encrypt all data transmissions to and from said site, making it much harder for someone to intercept your precious personal data. This is a very easy check to make; all you have to do is look for the HTTPS at the beginning of any site’s URL.
I know we’ve all ignored them in the past, but reading the terms and conditions of a site you want to engage with can be a very important part of staying safe online. Making sure that you are comfortable that your data is being handled the way you want it to be is vital.
Making use of a VPN, or virtual private network, can be really effective in protecting yourself further, especially if you usually access private information or make payments while connected to public Wi-Fi networks. What a VPN does is hide your true IP address and mask it with a virtual IP address, and it will also encrypt your data, making it much harder to intercept and use.
Lastly, it can be a good idea to enable two-factor authentication where and when possible, which will require you to verify every time you make a payment or log in to your account. This verification can be through a third-party authentication app or a code sent via email or text message. This acts as a great last line of defense, because even if someone gets your login details, they still won’t be able to access your account.
What does the future hold for strategy gaming?
We are currently in a golden age of gaming and technology, and we are starting to see some true innovations within the industry. Virtual reality technology is on the cusp of a breakthrough, with games like Half-Life: Alyx making huge waves across the internet. This tech will no doubt be implemented into most strategy games, one way or another.
We may also see a rise in massively multiplayer strategy games where hundreds of gamers can all play on the same map. The infrastructure and player base are certainly there, so this should only be a matter of time.
