Multiplayer games like Counter-Strike and online Rummy have come a long way since the inception of the Internet. From playing practice matches offline to the rise of local area networks or LAN, it was a transformative journey.
Nowadays, most people can play card games online on websites that use cloud servers to host these matches. So, the only obstacle these players face is a poor network connection. But how did all this begin?
That’s what we’ll talk about in the sections below. So do continue reading to learn more!
The LAN Era – The Birth of Multiplayer Gaming
Today, playing online Rummy against opponents in a different country is no issue. But back in the day, things were hardly so simple.
When the defence network ARPANET switched to the Internet Protocol or Transition Control Protocol, gaming companies started thinking about introducing games where people could play together.
However, since the Internet as we know it today was still in its infancy, gamers at the time depended on LAN or Local Area Networks.
An organisation named XEROX Parc developed Ethernet Networks to boost the usage of LAN between the 1970s and 1980s. Its main objective had been to facilitate its employees’ communication.
Nonetheless, as the years went by, many other homes started to use Ethernet cable connections, leading to the rise in LAN gaming. Players would carry their computer devices and modem cables to connect their devices to the same network.
After that, they would play games like Counter-Strike, Doom and Quake. These sessions would eventually become a part of that generation’s 1990’s culture and gaming lore. Indeed, many gamers would do this every week, turning gaming sessions into sleepovers.
Sometimes, these matches would become quite competitive, especially in the case of Counter-Strike and Doom.
However, using LAN for gaming had its limitations. One such limitation was that you could not use LAN to play games with somebody else in the house next door, and so on.
Why LAN Became Less Popular
This meant that not everyone could join these LAN parties, as they had to play in the same space and not everybody had big enough houses or basements. Apart from that, since multiple devices were sharing the same network, it would lead to a laggy network.
However, the rise in Internet speeds due to better routers and the launch of games like Diablo gradually contributed toward the downfall of LAN.
Other reasons included the mushrooming of internet cafes where players could enjoy LAN-like gaming setups without the hassle of setting up cables and connecting computers.
Despite all these factors, players continue to use LAN to play games, though not as frequently as before.
The Internet Era – The Rise of Online Multiplayer
With the rise in dial-up modem connections, gamers started to switch to online gaming services like Battle.net and MSN Gaming Zone.
Battle.Net was developed by Blizzard for its flagship game Diablo as a response to the rise of online gaming platforms Kali, Ten, mPlayter and Westwood Chat. These gaming platforms are completely safe and secure provided you are not playing from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland.
That was because the VP of Blizzard had observed how players gravitated to these platforms since they let players compete with each other and interact in-game. This was why they came up with this platform. Not to mention, these websites also help the players improve their gaming skills.
It took off because, unlike AOL, it was free to use. Similarly, Microsoft developed MSN Gaming Zone as a way to let players enjoy online matchmaking with each other.
However, Microsoft shut down the online matchmaking facility on 19th June 2006 for economic and operational reasons.
Later on, other gaming corporations introduced MMOs or Massive Multiplayer Online games like Eve Online, Anarchy Online, Ultima Online and Call of Duty 1. Players could now compete against peers worldwide in multiplayer competitions.
Soon, other innovations like console gaming on PlayStation and Xbox took over, inspiring a new generation of gamers. These mediums supported card games online like Gin Rummy, so card players didn’t feel left out.
In 2017, the online gaming industry introduced the free-to-play, cloud-based online game Player’s Unknown Battle Grounds, which players could play on their PCs, mobile phones or consoles.
This sparked another revolution.
The Cloud Era – The Future of Multiplayer Gaming
Cloud-based games became popular for several reasons. One included seasonal content, which referred to festival or occasion-specific inclusions like Halloween maps.
Other reasons included special passes, which you had to purchase in-game, allowing you to get costumes or kits and other gear to optimize your gaming experience.
Furthermore, players embraced these games, since they didn’t have to own high-end PCs but a strong network connection and other facilities like graphic cards and video drivers to play them.
Over time, game developers also incorporated AI into iGames such as online Rummy, wherein AI promoted natural card sorting and a more authentic experience.
Also, with the introduction of cryptocurrency, Blockchain and NFTs, players could now purchase in-game items with the help of these inclusions. This further enhanced the online gaming experience.
Wrapping Up
Looking towards the future, online gaming is expected to continue evolving, with AI set to make a definite impact. For instance, if you look at online Rummy, then websites use AI to generate player tokens, sort cards, and detect cheating.
Some games also have AI dealers, which “interact” with players like real human dealers would. This leads to a more authentic experience.
So, if you’re excited to dive into the world of online gaming, why not start by downloading the Rummy game apk from a reputable website? Good luck with your journey!
