So much in the gaming world has changed in a relatively short time since Atari first created Pong in 1972. This may not have been the first video game ever, but it has been credited with kickstarting the industry and helping it become the global behemoth it is today.
The technological developments in gaming in the 50 years since then have been astounding, but there are many aspects of gaming that haven’t been subjected to massive changes. Indeed, there are a few core elements of games that have prevailed through the years and will likely remain staple features within the gaming industry for many years to come.
End Game Bosses
End-of-level bosses have been a staple ingredient of video games for almost as long as this form of entertainment has existed. A boss is characterised as being a more challenging enemy than the other antagonists that players have faced leading up to it. This foe acts as the gateway to the next level, and players need to defeat it in order to progress. Games can often have a number of bosses, and each one is progressively harder. There is then usually a final boss at the end of the game, which is the most difficult of all.
It is thought that the first game to feature a boss was dnd for the PLATO system in 1975. The antagonist in the game was a high-level Gold Dragon protecting an Orb in the final dungeon. Bosses went on to become a key feature of arcade games throughout the 1980s, with many side-scrolling titles such as Namco’s Xevious including level bosses.
Bosses are still a commonly found inclusion of games to this day. Nowadays, they are often written into the storyline in a more logical way rather than simply existing as a harder challenge for the player. Some examples of memorable bosses from recent games include the Man on Fire in Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, and the Wild Hunt leader in The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.
Wild Symbols
Slot machines existed way before the gaming industry but rose to worldwide notoriety alongside arcade games during the 1980s. This was when slots went from being lever-operated to electric, and the gameplay became a lot more advanced as well. Slot games have always been about matching symbols, but at this time there were new features and side games added.
The wild symbol emerged as a prominent feature, and it has been found on almost every slot game in the decades since. Indeed, of all the various slot machine features, wild symbols could be considered the most prevalent. Some other common features include progressive jackpots, nudges, and holds, but wild symbols are the aspects known by every player. These symbols can substitute others on the reels, and they help to generate a greater number of ways to win.
Collection of In-Game Currency
Another aspect of games that most players will have encountered is the collection of certain objects. In the early console era, players had to collect coins in Super Mario and rings in Sonic the Hedgehog. Doing this served as a secondary objective to the games, alongside the main mission of making it to the end of each stage. There are usually some bonuses involved with collecting these items. For instance, in Crash Bandicoot, players have to collect Wumpa Fruit. If they manage to gather 100 of these, they gain an extra life. This gives them a reason to want to collect the exotic fruit, rather than simply ignore them.
In-game currency has continued to be a popular inclusion for game developers, within many different genres of games. It’s often used as a way to purchase new items, such as card packs. In the FIFA games from EA Sports, players can earn and purchase FIFA Coins. These are used to buy packs predominantly, but they can also be used to purchase other things within the game.
Some currency exists solely within the realms of the game, and players don’t have the option to pay real money to get more of it. In Red Dead Redemption 2, players are able to earn dollars throughout their careers. This money can then be used to purchase things in the game, such as horses. There is also the option to gamble the money on card games, meaning that players actually have something at stake. This can serve to up the excitement levels of these side games.
There are certain things that are so fundamental to games that they have managed to survive through all the technological advancements over the years. Some other aspects that have continued for decades include checkpoints, health bars, and cooperative gameplay.