The Royal Game of Ur is considered as being the oldest playable board game in the world, appearing in ancient Mesopotamia almost five centuries ago. The rules were written on a cuneiform tablet. The strategy of the game was quite simple, gamers had to race each other from one end of the board to the other and the two centre squares were used to tell fortunes. Another game named Senet which dates back to 3500 BC in ancient Egypt was found in royal tombs and was described in hieroglyphics is the oldest board game and it is believed that it represented the symbolic journey that everyone takes in the afterlife.
Board games have always been a popular form of entertainment and even after the digital revolution they still are very appealing to gamers who enjoy the physical elements that are part of the game such as rolling dice, moving pieces around a board and the social aspect of playing a game together with a group of like minded people.
The Transformation of Timeless Board Games Such As Monopoly
In 1903 American feminist, Lizzie Magie created a board game called the “Landlord’s Game”. The U.S. patent 748,626 was granted to her on 5 January 1904. The original objective of the game was to gain wealth but she came up with a second version that had a Monopolist side where the goal was to create monopolies and put others out of business. The other side Prosperity (designed to put monopolies out of business) and players were rewarded when wealth was created. She eventually sold the patent to Parker Brothers for $500.00 on 31 December 1935.
This iconic game was transformed into a digitised version in 2023 Called Monopoly Go by the game developer Scopely. Since its release it has become a favourite among players and has generated over $3 billion in revenue. There have been over 150 million downloads and it is one of the top ten casual games that are enjoyed by millions and over ten million people play it everyday. It has also been transformed into a live game show by Evolution Games that is featured on many online gaming platforms.
Digitised versions of other famous games such as Catan and Scrabble offer features such as automatic score tracking, enforcement of rules, and the ability to play with friends regardless of where they are physically located. This helped digital board games gain popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic when social distancing and lockdown meant that people could not gather together to enjoy traditional game play.
Once the pandemic was over, these types of game formats continued to rise in popularity and are almost selling as many copies as the original versions. Gamers that have experienced the enhanced digital version rarely make purchases of the original version. There has been an increase in virtual game nights which has further established digital board games as part of the mainstream gaming universe.
Technology Has Transformed Classic Board Games Into Live-Streamed Digital Experiences
Game developers have realised the potential that classic board games offer if they are re-imagined within the digital universe and these digitised versions are gaining traction on online gaming platforms. These digitised versions are a combination of the traditional game mechanics and modern technology which makes them easily accessible and enhances game play. It also means that gamers do not have to set time aside and find friends to play their favourite boardgames with because they can access it online and on their own.
Multiplayer versions of board games allow players to find individuals of similar skill levels which means that the experience will always be challenging and balanced. Social interactions are also an important component of online boardgames and many multiplayer versions have features such as chat, leaderboards, and social media functions which have transformed board games into interactive more connected experiences which are in turn are creating communities around the world of like minded individuals.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality have also recently been incorporated into digital versions of boardgames that have transformed the game into a massive battle field or a city and allows gamers to immerse themselves into the actual game making them feel that they are physically interacting with the pieces of the game in a digital universe transforming a game of chess into a battlefield, creating visual enhancements to game pieces in real time along with sound effects. The blending of these two technologies with the traditional mechanics of board games offers limitless possibilities.
AI is also changing digitised versions of board games by making the single version games exceptionally fun and challenging. AI opponents can simulate multiple players in a game and provide a much more exhilarating experience if playing solo as the opposing characters can adapt their strategy based on the gamer which means that no two games will ever be the same. It can also adapt the level of difficulty in response to the gamer making it smarter and offering a more interactive and personalised gaming experience.
Mobile integration of board games means that players can enjoy their favorite games wherever they are and it has made board games far more appealing to the younger generation who are very tech savvy and have less time and interest in playing physical board games. Additional features such in game tutorials, unlockable content, and rewards for achievements serve to enhance the player experience. Monetization features in these games means that game developers can earn revenue from the games through micro transactions
Explore How Live Monopoly Has Revolutionised Online Entertainment
If you are a fan of online gaming and enjoy the thrill of playing Monopoly then there is no better time to discover how live Monopoly is changing the game. Created by leading game developer Evolution, Monopoly Live is a live game show that is based on the Dreamcatcher money wheel concept and features the elements of the classic Monopoly board game. There are two parts of the game, the base game where gamers can place their bet on the 54 section wheel that is spun at the start of each round. Like in Roulette players must guess where the wheel is going to stop.The bonus game is activated if the wheel stops on the “two rolls” or “four rolls” segment. Lucky players are taken on a tour of the Monopoly board by Mr. Monopoly himself and have the opportunity to collect big multipliers during their journey.
Live Monopoly has offered a modern twist to a classic boardgame that has been such a monumental success that it has led to the creation of other show themed live games. Its mobile first optimization means that it is easily accessible across different platforms and it has become very popular on leading casino platforms that offer live game shows.
By carefully leveraging the live action studio segments through streaming in real time and beautiful high definition visuals, as well as the interactive bonus rounds, live Monopoly has successfully demonstrated how classic board games can be transformed into immersive digital online entertainment experiences and has set a new standard that other online games will need to follow if they wish to experience the same level of success.