Where would we all be without social media? It has become such a key part of everyday life that it is now hard to imagine being without it. You, like most people, probably have accounts on all the major channels like Twitter and Facebook.
In contrast to just under one billion users in 2010, there are now an estimated 2.62 billion social media users around the world. This looks likely to continue into the future, with over three billion being forecast for 2021.
How did social media transform gaming?
The real clue in just what a massive change social media brought to the gaming sector is in the name itself. It took gaming out of the bedrooms of those who were into it and made it a more social past time. This alone was a sea change and really helped gaming find new fans. But what other ways has social media helped gaming?
- It made it cool – It seems strange to think now, but at one time gaming wasn’t that cool. People into it would be seen as nerds or not as trendy as those playing football at the local park. Social media helped to change this by showing everyone that cool celebs played games too and that they were actually fun. This updated image of gaming has also helped the casino game sector become seen as cool and fun by gamers who otherwise might not have played them. Casino games are very popular now, and this has been influenced by its presence on social media.
- Influence on games being played – Another key impact of social media is on the games that actually end up becoming successful. Social media is unique in that it gives everyone a voice to share his or her opinions with the whole world. When you add in the celeb factor too, then a few of the right comments on social media can really help a game sell.
- Better games – A knock-on effect of the above is that it forced game developers to make better games. They know any poor release will be picked apart on social media, and this has made developers raise their game. Social media also gives you a direct link to the developer to pass on feedback and ask for any bugs to be fixed. This is much different than gaming’s past, when this kind of access was impossible.
- Useful reviews possible – Before social media, you sometimes had no clue if a game was worth the money or not. It may have told you how great it was on the box or in a magazine, but you never knew if you could fully trust those statements. With social media, this all changed, and seeing reviews directly from other players was suddenly possible. If you head over to video channels like YouTube, you can watch clips of the game in action to see if you like it before you buy it.
Social media changed the world
Although this article is looking at the effect of social media on gaming, social media has actually changed the whole way in which we live. For gaming, social media has turned it into a cool activity and made it easier than ever to not only connect with other gamers but also find out which games are worth playing.