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August 1st, 2017 
Awake Goy 
Interconnectivity is one of the founding principles of the Internet. Naturally, when showcasing the benefits of interconnectivity, one cannot disregard the largest online communities out there – gamers.
Slowly, but steadily, and thanks to the most recent discoveries in networking, cross-platforming has become a reality, one that entertains millions of players from all around the globe.
This article will detail how the concept of cross-platforming has influenced the online gaming and will attempt to paint, as vividly as possible, what this scenery looks like in 2017.
From Silence to White Noise
As you very well know, before the Internet became an accessible commodity, the gaming scenery was mostly ruled by single-player games which offered colorful story-driven campaigns.
ISPs such as HughesNet made interconnectivity possible, by taking advantage of the already existing desire to have around the clock access to information.Of course, things couldn’t stay the same indefinitely; and so, the genre of MMOG (massive multiplayer online games) has emerged, giving players the chance of sharing a great gaming experience with others.
From utter silence to unbearable racket, the scenery has shifted, trends emerge and, with them, countless of new and exciting possibilities are revealed. We can now truly say that an online game’s measure is not given by its graphics or by the developers’ attempt to revolutionize the genre, but by the sum of stories woven from the threads of each user’s experience.
Naturally, for each type of sub genre, be it medieval fantasy, retro-future, or modern, there’s a game out there and a community to join. And with so many titles offering free membership, one can easily see the allure of such an experience.
As we’ve mentioned before, another important aspect of interconnectivity is the cross-platforming concept. Modern-day online gaming development strategies are no longer focusing on segregating players based on platforms.
For example, PC and PlayStation 4 users are now able to play the same game, on the same server, even though the platforms they’re using are completely different. This is one of many examples which illustrate the idea that there are virtually no boundaries when it comes to ingenuity and, of course, the genuine desire to bring more people together.
Online Gaming in 2017
Now, after this sleep-inducing attempt at sketching the outlines of how the online gaming environment evolved, let us be on our way to more entertaining matters. When talking about these online marvels, probably the first things that come to mind is the name League of Legends and all those jokes about how toxic such communities can become.
It’s true that LoL has recently become synonymous with online gaming, because of its popularity, or, better yet, in some cases, it managed to substitute the term entirely, but it’s not the only contender on our list, nor the only variable that defines this grand equation.
So, the question remains: what are the best online games to play in 2017? Or, better by whom is the interconnectivity/cross-platforming scenery ruled this year?
Overwatch
Built on the team-based combat system proposed by titles such as Team Fortress, Unreal Tournament, and Quake 3 Team Arena, Overwatch delivers fast-paced action, astonishing science-fiction arsenals, and, not to mention, a chance to truly put those skills to the test.
A recent popularity survey placed Overwatch among the most sought-after online games of all times, with a community of over 30 million players.
DOTA 2
Of course, a list of outstanding MMOs cannot be complete if we fail to mention DOTA 2, the offspring of Warcraft III. DOTA 2 incorporates RTS-based mechanics combined with MOBA elements. The result is a competitive and free-to-play multiplayer game, one that has brought together over 10 million people.
World of Warcraft
Ever since its launch in 2004, World of Warcraft somehow managed to stay fresh to this very day. And it’s no wonder that the game enjoys this kind of popularity, considering that Blizzard has released six separate expansion packs for it.
Even though its history was sometimes riddled with spicy international happenings, WoW has amassed quite a rowdy crowd, with over 10 million players pitted against each other in a never-ending quest for finding legendary items and bashing the living daylight out of each other in jaw-dropping events.
Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds
One of the least-known titles that feature in our list of online game is Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds. Defined as being an open-world massive multiplayer battle royal shooter, the goal of this game is made clear right from the start – to survive. Featuring a post-apocalyptic setting and a last-man-standing-like gameplay, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, albeit younger, compared to its competitors, managed to attract approximately 400,000 players, according to the latest Steam charts.
Conclusion
As chemistry teaches us, nothing is lost, nothing is won, and everything we witness is the result of countless transformations – so is the fate of online gaming. From tedious single-player games to massive, worldwide battles, the gaming scene is constantly shifting, always attempting to incorporate new elements. Today we log into our Overwatch accounts but, who knows what tomorrow has in tow for us?
Source Article from http://www.hangthebankers.com/cross-platforming-and-online-gaming-in-2017/
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