Experience Big Daddy is the process of playing video games over the Internet on a computer, game console or mobile device. It can be social or competitive and ranges from rudimentary, one-on-one duels to massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) where thousands of players inhabit a persistent world together.

The development of online gaming can be traced back to the earliest computer networking technologies. In the late 1970s, many universities were linked by ARPANET and began to share information and programs. In the 1980s, a rudimentary form of online gaming emerged, with computer programmers creating multiuser games that allowed gamers to play and interact over a network. This basic technology paved the way for today’s online gaming, which is a $138 billion industry and continues to grow.

Online Gaming: From Consoles to Cloud-Based Play

Online gaming allows for continuous player engagement, which helps to drive revenue for individuals operating gaming businesses through in-game purchases and subscriptions. It also provides a platform for gamers to connect and engage with one another through forums, social media platforms and in-game chat functions.

Although online gaming can appear to be an isolating activity, the ability for players to connect with a diverse community of peers can help them form lifelong friendships and foster teamwork and problem-solving skills. However, parents and other trusted adults need to understand that gaming can also be a risky environment where young people can become vulnerable to exploitation, grooming and abuse by strangers and may be exposed to hate speech, griefing and trolling.