Around the globe, gaming has been a social pastime for millennia. We have evidence of Ancient Egyptian board games including a painting of Queen Nefetari playing senet and pieces uncovered from an archaeological site. The classic playing cards we use today have a history of over 1,000 years, dating back to 10th-century China.
Games remain a great way to connect, with friends and family but also across different cultures and social circles. Their ability to bring people together means that games have often been a lifeline in difficult times. A prime example is the bingo halls that bolstered women in Britain following WWII. Today it’s online gaming.
Online gaming and socialising
It wasn’t long after the introduction of the computer in the 1950s that video games began to be developed. Engineer Ralph Baer connected the computer with television sets to invent the immersive visual experience we’re all familiar with today. Video game consoles were also introduced, shrinking in size from arcade machines to handheld devices in just a couple of decades.
Since its inception, there has been a stigma around video gaming being an anti-social activity. However, the invention of the internet took these games online and reignited their power to unite. To this day, players can use online gaming to connect with anyone at any time anywhere in the world.
The ability of games to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries means that online gaming champions a sense of community on an international scale. Likeminded individuals from all walks of life can come together through games and utilise features like live chat boxes to communicate.
Social games to play online
Many social games are available to play online so you’re sure to find at least one that you love.
You can visit an online casino for a range of classic games at your fingertips and the chance to interact with other players in chatrooms. Familiar playing card favourites like poker and blackjack sit alongside tests of fortune like bingo and the roulette wheel.
Video gaming is an increasingly popular pastime that gives you the chance to connect with others. These games give you the option of playing in communal challenges, either against other groups of players or against the computer, with microphones and messaging enabling coordination during campaigns.
Online gaming platforms such as Steam give you access to a wide range of revamped computer games and old-school video games. You can even find digitalised versions of your favourite board games through which you can relive a familiar social experience in an online setting.
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