Online entertainment has come a long way in recent years, with new technology allowing us to consume our favourite types of content in ways that suit our lifestyles. What are some of the key changes that you should be aware of?
Hybrid Games and Crossovers Are Growing in Popularity
The fact that a huge number of games have gone online has opened up endless new possibilities for us. From playing chess against opponents from the other side of the world to testing your skill at Scrabble against computer-generated rivals, the changes have given us new ways of playing. In addition, they’ve also made it easier for game creators to merge diverse elements of popular culture in hybrid games and crossovers.
An example comes from the Slingo selection on the Paddy Power site. When we look at the real money Slingo games at Paddy’s, we can see that this type of game is a cross between slots and bingo, with versions including Slingo Space Invaders, Slingo Money Train and Slingo Shark Week. By adding themes such as sports, TV shows and hobbies, the appeal of these games has been expanded. Hybrid games such as Monopoly Scrabble and Eternal Kings have also appeared on the scene, with the latter bringing chess and card games together.
AI-Generated Content Causes Excitement and Concern
It isn’t yet clear how far artificial intelligence (AI) will reach into the entertainment industry. For the moment, you’ve probably seen this technology at work even if you haven’t realised it. As well as powering computer opponents in online board games, it’s been reported by Techopedia that AI has already been used in Hollywood to create new movie scripts and to produce visual effects. The most recent Indian Jones movie created a younger, AI version of the hero for flashback sequences by analysing and comparing current footage of Harrison Ford to older images.
This subject was investigated by the Pew Research Center, as they wanted to know what people think about the way that AI will change our lives by 2035. They discovered that key concerns include the rise of misinformation and the potential weaponisation of social media. This was reflected in the fact that over 40% of the experts they surveyed are equally concerned and excited by this technology and its possible impact.
Improved Access to Varied Entertainment
Perhaps the biggest change of all has been the ease with which such a large percentage of the global population can now access online entertainment of one type or another. By mid-2023, an estimated 5.1 billion people had internet access. According to Statista, Saudi Arabia, Norway and the United Arab Emirates are the countries closest to 100% coverage, while North Korea has the lowest percentage of internet users.
The huge number of people who can now go online means that the entertainment on offer for them is sure to continue to grow and diversify. This will create new genres and impulse the introduction of new technology, meaning that online entertainment is likely to continue to change in different ways.
