Many of our colleagues have written extensively about the impact big data is having on the gaming industry. They have said that big data technology is probably the biggest game changer in the industry.
Kevin Rands of CIO is one of the experts to discuss the state of big data in the gaming industry. He said big data analysis gives companies a long-term strategy that helps them gain the strongest competitive edge.
Hicks Crawford, a Marketing Specialist for Links2Leads, has made similar statements in his post on HackerMoon. He points out that the gaming industry will be worth $90 billion in the coming years, largely due to big data creating a stronger competitive edge.
How Big Data Creates a Strong Advantage for Gaming Companies
Competition is the basis of capitalism. It is one of the reasons technology is advancing so rapidly. Competition breeds ingenuity and innovation and there are few industries as internally competitive as the gaming industry. In particular, at the software development level, that competition is fierce. Developers want their games, platforms and software solutions to be licensed by the top online gaming platforms.
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Some of the things these developers do is plain for all to see, whereas other stuff is a bit more subtle. Regardless, they are driving major technological developments in the digital gaming industry. They are moving towards a future that is going to consist of VR, skill gaming and other exciting innovations.
Big data is at the core of these new technological developments. Big data has led to the proliferation of AI and machine learning, which is making these games run more efficiently, creating a better customer experience and making the platforms more cost-effective.
Digital games aren’t for everyone, of course, but these uses of tech should be lauded. Big data will continue to lead to new breakthroughs in digital gaming technology. Some of the developments are listed below.
Console Technology
Live dealer games have acted like a breath of fresh air at online gaming platforms. Real games are set up in vast studios, with the action streamed to players’ computers and smartphones. However, the really extraordinary part is the use of console technology. That’s the process of touching your computer screen to place a bet and the real-time registering of that bet in a studio potentially 100s of miles away. There is almost no lag, with everything settled as quickly as it would be in a real gaming establishment. Without this seamless transition facilitated by console technology, live games simply would not be popular.
Connected Jackpots
We mentioned earlier that software developers create the games and then license them out to online casinos. That’s an important consideration for jackpots, namely progressive jackpots. Games like Gladiator and Jackpot Giant which can be viewed at SlotsHeaven often have multi-million-pound jackpots. But those prizes aren’t paid by a single alone, the games are connected across many gaming platforms and different countries, with the payout managed by the software developer. Each spin pays a tiny amount into the prize; and, by way of economies of scale, it can grow to massive amounts.
Data Progress Recording
One of the biggest benefits of machine learning with digital gaming is that the simulations can track individual players over time. They can see what types of games a player enjoys and what they are looking for with their user experience. This enables the platforms to customize the game for every player to keep them coming back for more.
If you were to walk onto the gaming floor in, say, the Caesars Palace Resort in Las Vegas, had a spin on a machine, then walked across the road to Harrah’s Casino and played another spin on the same brand of machine, neither machine will recognize you as having played the other. It can be different online, with games like Avalon II, Immortal Romance and Thunderstruck II all recording your progress over time. For instance, Avalon II, an adventure game based on Arthurian myth, has an interactive bonus map, with new features unlocked over time. It’s a bit like getting updates on video games like World of Warcraft.
Geolocation
Not really something to worry about if you are in the United Kingdom. But in somewhere like the United States where betting and gaming is being decided on a state by state basis after the Supreme Court ruling last year, it’s become very important. New Jersey is the best example of the roll out of this tech, often in partnership with top geolocation companies like GeoComply. It’s been surprisingly smooth, giving players access to their accounts within state boundaries, and locking out the betting stuff when out of state.
Big Data is the Key to a Thriving Digital Gaming Sector
The online gaming industry is going through new growing pains. Big data is playing a huge role. Big data is giving these companies are huge advantage, which makes them more competitive.