Let’s face it, some computer games are more entertaining than most movies.  The technology allows the gamer to be in the action. In essence, be the character!  This ability to be the focus of the story makes movies seem like an old form of entertainment, right? Or do movies offer a different type of immersive experience that allows viewers to get lost for a few hours.  In fact, having better technology in a movie really has no bearing on the story and how the actors portray their characters.  It sure makes fighting the Empire seem much closer and clearer, but it can’t create a feeling or mood.

It seems to me that in this age of Google and high-tech gaming, that people are going back to games like Dungeons and Dragons.  I like that the idea of sitting around a table with a group of friends is gaining traction. 2018 was not a good year for the video gaming industry, but it was a record setting year for board games and RPGs.  The sales data shows that worldwide people are moving away from standard game consoles and moving towards simple games. 

In 2018, the best-selling games included: Chess, Checkers, Scrabble, Monopoly, Othello, and Trivial Pursuit.  The data tells the story about peoples’ gaming habits.  The worlds of high-tech games and movies are boring!  The reliance on technology has made them miss the simple idea of connecting with your audience and your fellow human being.  It seems that the video gaming industry has forgotten about the “Every Gamer” and is focused on the “Dedicated Gamer.”  The idea of watching other people play X-box against other gamers seems dull to me, but as an entertainment form, it’s growing.

If Google has taught us anything it’s that technology does get better.  And the gaming devices are getting better, that you can’t argue with.  Even my phone is better than most of the game consoles that I’ve owned.  The future for gaming is bright, but somehow, board games and cards games are just more popular as they stand the test of time.