The entertainment industry is expanding at a very fast speed, and gaming is a huge part. Since the introduction of the first video game back in 1958, things have become more and more advanced. Nowadays, companies are focusing on offering a multiplayer experience to people along with high graphics and game mechanics.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve always loved engaging in online gaming and playing with other gamers from around the world in games like Call of Duty and Apex Legends. But what actually is online gaming? How does it work? And how can you start getting engaged in such titles to become a talented player on a global level?
In this comprehensive guide, I am going to discuss all of these points in detail. Let’s start.
Interesting Online Gaming Statistics and Facts
Before I begin my guide, there are some interesting online gaming statistics and facts that you should know about. I’ve listed the major ones below:
- There are around 1.1 billion people who play games online.
- The United States is the biggest market in this industry just above China and Japan.
- Xbox Live, a popular online gaming service, has around 120 million users.
- The global eSports market is estimated to be valued at $6.75 billion by 2030.
What is Online Gaming?
Online gaming is the process of playing games using internet-connected devices like PCs, consoles, or smartphones. It involves connecting with other computers and systems from around the world and playing together with other players. Even if individuals are in different physical places, it enables them to compete with one another and enjoy a virtual world. However, players should follow the online gaming safety guide to stay safe while playing.
Game development companies are trying to give gamers the fastest and smoothest possible multiplayer experience as technology advances. This industry has become so popular that big eSports tournaments are being held that involve playing games online with other participants.
What are the Types of Online Gaming?
Online gaming is a vast term. It includes different types, and each offers a different type of experience. I’ve discussed some major types below:
Massively Multiplayer Online Games:
Massively Multiplayer Online Games, as the name suggests, are massive and huge virtual worlds where people can join each other. They allow players to connect with each other and have fun. The special thing about this type is that the title’s environment keeps on evolving even when the players are offline. People who like getting involved in a huge virtual world and engaging in completing missions.
Examples: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV
Battle Royale:
Although not as huge as MMOs, Battler Royale games are my personal favorite. In this type, players have to fight and compete against each other in order to survive. This type became my favorite after spending hours on Call of Duty: Warzone.
These types of titles offer a sense of competitiveness to people. It allows them to make the best use of available items and beat every other player who is playing against them.
Examples: PUBG, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends
Real-Time Strategy:
I’ve never been a huge fan of real-time strategy games, but they are super fun for many people. This genre involves making calculated strategies in order to manage resources and units. Every play has to be strategically perfect so that the objectives can be completed in an efficient way. Sometimes, these titles require players to control multiple things simultaneously, which makes everything even more challenging and fun.
Examples: StarCraft II, Empires IV
Sports and racing:
Sports and racing are one of the most popular online gaming types. It covers one of the biggest shares in the gaming industry. As you can guess, this type allows players to get involved in different sporting and racing events. They get to compete against other players from around the world and win matches.
Examples: EAFC, eFootball, Forza Horizon 5
Top Online Gaming Technologies
The field of online gaming is becoming more and more advanced with each passing day. There are several online gaming technologies that are being introduced to offer better convenience and experience. I’ve discussed some of the top ones below:
Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial Intelligence is helping make titles more engaging and competitive for players. Companies are using AI to make games more responsive and adaptable according to players’s needs and requirements. For example, several titles are utilizing it to make NPC characters more realistic and responsive.
Virtual Reality:
Virtual Reality is now becoming a separate gaming trend. It offers a realistic experience of joining games by allowing players to engage in a virtual environment. There are many companies that are making games that are played on different VR headsets to help people enjoy games with a unique experience.
Cross-platform:
As a gamer, you know that people prefer playing games on different platforms such as consoles and PCs. these platforms offer different user experiences for each other. Now, companies are making games compatible with the cross-platform technology.
With this technology, players get to play titles online with players who are playing on a different platform. It makes enjoying together even though players play titles on different platforms.
NFTs:
Besides engaging with the game mechanics, another important factor in this industry is trading. People prefer trading different items with each other and NFTs are making these trades secure. Players can attach their assets to NFTs which helps with safe and secure selling and purchasing over a blockchain.
Getting Started in the Online Gaming World
Getting started in the online gaming world isn’t difficult at all. There are a few guidelines that you need to follow in order to do that. I’ve given their details below:
Understand your interests:
First of all, understand your interests. People have different preferences and one title can’t be loved by everyone.
So, it is important that you clearly understand what type of titles you’ll be interested in. These titles could be related to shooting, sports, or racing. The best way to understand what type of titles you’re interested in is by trying them all. If possible, try playing different games from different genres. It will help you know what type of games you’ll want to play against the other players.
Have the right setup:
Having the right gaming setup is another essential step that you need to go through. There are mainly two major types of setups that gamers prefer, and they are consoles and PCs. Both platforms have different specifications and capabilities for handling titles. They also provide somewhat of a different playing experience from each other. So, get the right setup for yourself before starting to play. It could be purchasing a PS5 with the right controller or building a high-end PC to play competitive games.
Start playing and practicing:
Once you have the right setup, it’s time to start enjoying the selected games. Spend some time to practice the basic things in order to master them. It will help you prepare for competing against other real-life opponents online. Keep in mind that you don’t have to exhaust yourself over this. These are just games, and you shouldn’t focus too much on winning. Instead, enjoy the title and have fun.
Join communities:
Joining online communities is the best thing that you can do to learn about the gaming world. It is possible to understand the basic playing styles of a game by watching a bunch of YouTube videos. However, to get a clear idea of the ins and outs of a title, you need to join communities such as Reddit and interact with other games. In this way, you’ll learn how the game works and the things you should avoid while playing online.
Join tournaments:
Joining tournaments shouldn’t be your very first priority of yours while entering the online gaming world. However, if you’ve practiced enough to compete against other players, joining tournaments could be a lot of fun.
There are several tournaments taking place around the world almost all the time. You should join these competitions and compete against other players. After winning, you’ll be able to take home some cash as well as recognition. If you lose, you’ll at least have the experience of playing at a high level.
Monetizing Online Gaming Skills
Gaming has become more than mere a source of entertainment. It’s a proper industry now that has opened the doors of earning for people. Gamers can now monetize gaming skills and make a steady living. There are different ways to do that. Here are some of the major ones:
Live streaming:
Live streaming is one of the most fundamental methods of making a living through gaming. There are many people who love watching people play titles on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. It offers them both entertainment and a way of learning skills. Online sites allow earning through streaming and you can consider this method as well.
As a gaming streamer, you will have to follow these points to start earning:
- First, pick a preferred platform to start streaming such as Twitch.
- Then, start streaming regularly and try to make it more engaging.
- Reach the basic requirements of monetization such as a number of subscribers and watch time on YouTube.
- The stream will be monetized and you’ll start earning money.
Become a coach:
People who have a deep knowledge of gaming tactics and strategies can start coaching other people. It has now become a proper gig dedicated to people who want to use their advanced skills to earn money in this field. It also offers an opportunity to contribute to the community by teaching other people how to become better players.
Monetizing skills in this way is easy and requires following these guidelines:
- Pick a title that you are an expert in.
- Market yourself as a coach on social media platforms.
- Create coaching on sites like Fiverr.
- Teach gaming and earn money.
Be a content creator:
Gamers who have a keen interest in social media can use it to monetize gaming skills. Just like every other thing, creating content about online titles helps with making money through apps like Facebook and Instagram as well.
Here’s how:
- Create a proper profile on social media platforms.
- Then, start creating valuable content such as tutorials and guides.
- Engage with the followers and reach out to influencers for promotion.
- The profile will soon be monetized and you can make money from it.
Professional gaming:
Another way to make some bucks from skills is getting involved in professional gaming. eSports tournaments are taking place now and then around the world. These tournaments pay good money to winners. So, if you’re really competitive in a famous title, joining and winning such tournaments can help make money. Some guidelines to follow are:
- Become competitive at playing a title.
- Play against expert players to test your skills.
- Then, find an eSports tournament and participate in it.
- Win the tournament and make money.
Online Gaming Tips and Strategies
As a gamer, you’re going to need some online gaming tips and strategies in order to become better. I’ve listed some important ones below:
- Focus on mastering the basics. It helps with understanding how the game works and what points you should focus on more.
- Prefer using customized settings. Each title allows users to customize settings according to their preferences and you should use it for convenience.
- To master competitive titles, try improving your reaction time. It helps with having a better aim and defending against the enemy quickly.
- Invest in having a high-quality gaming setup. It helps with playing games with better graphics and Internet speed which helps with playing competitively.
- Join online communities and engage in them regularly. It allows understand the game mechanics better and access expert insights and tactics as well.
Parents Guide for Online Gaming
I’ve discussed a lot of things from the perspective of a gamer. However, if you are a parent of a child who loves online gaming, here is a complete parents guide for online gaming to keep your kids safe while playing games online.
Understand the culture:
First, you need to understand and be familiar with the online gaming culture. It helps with understanding how things work so that you can make informed decisions for your child. It is a complex culture and keeps on evolving as the time passes. So, it is important to stay aware of the new and upcoming trends so that you can choose the right online games for kids.
Semi-monitor your child:
Monitoring a child is important whenever he’s engaging with strangers. It becomes even more important when it comes to engaging with online strangers via gaming. You need to be aware of what type of games the child is playing and what type of people he’s playing them with.
I used the word “semi-monitor” since intense monitoring won’t be ethical. So, instead of keeping an eye on the gaming activity constantly, try checking it out every now and then to stay aware.
Allow a limited screen time:
Giving freedom to play is essential. However, uncontrolled freedom can do harm to your child. It is important that you only allow limited screen time. The amount of time that you want to allow is completely up to you. However, the important thing is that it should be limited. Otherwise, the child will lose track of time and may not complete his other work properly.
Join in:
Sometimes, joining your child to play games can help with keeping an eye on them. It allows you to understand how the game works and what type of content it shows. Also, it will let you know what type of people play this game. It is also a great way to spend time with the child and make him happy.
Conclusion
To sum it up, online gaming is becoming a huge industry in itself. Billions of people from around the world are playing different tiles in order to compete against each other. People love this type of gaming since it offers a thrilling experience as well as an opportunity to test one’s competitiveness. There are different types of these games, and each offers a different experience. It is important for you to go through the discussed steps in order to get started playing games online.
FAQs
What do you mean by online gaming?
Online gaming means playing games on the Internet. It allows players from different locations to connect with each other. In this way, they can have fun together or compete against each other to grab a win.
How do I start my own online gaming?
It’s a pretty easy process. You first need to analyze what type of titles you like to play. Then, invest in having a decent setup to game on. After that, start joining communities and tournaments to gain recognition.
Do online gamers make money?
Of course. It is a proper industry in itself. It is providing an opportunity for players to earn money. These players can become content creators or join and win tournaments in order to earn cash.
What is the best gaming company?
There are several game-developing companies that are capable of securing the title of the best company. However, EA and Nintendo have been very forthcoming when it comes to making engaging titles and offering a different playing experience to users.