There was a time, very long ago, in which interactive entertainment exclusives were essentially the status-quo. While you might end up with ports of some major games to different systems, these systems were often so wildly different that games would be nearly unrecognizable from each other. Today, however, true multiplatform support is a common and widely loved part of software development. As illustrated by online bingo, this move has been great for players, with the only question being how far the multiplatform arena could evolve.
Online Bingo Games are Multiplatform?
As with most forms of interactive entertainment, online bingo was originally platform-dependent. Specifically, it was built on Macromedia’s Flash which, while portable to some systems, was not widely so. As the backing software evolved, these early shackles would be cast off. Today, online bingo and jackpot games like Past the Post and Lucha Rumble are accessible from practically any HTML5 compatible device.
This means desktops, mobiles, smart-TVs, and even more esoteric online devices can all run bingo titles without much effort. While the primary goal of this development was to draw in bigger audiences, the implications of such a change are much deeper.
Different Strokes
While having access to the internet was once such an effort that we’d be happy to engage any way we could, the same can’t be said today. Today, our options are so myriad that getting involved is more about selecting what means of access is right for you. This can be a highly subjective and personal decision, where there are no perfect right or wrong answers.
Consider what could be the desirable way to play for many different bingo enthusiasts. Some players might be perfectly happy with traditional access, in which case playing a computer is just fine. Others might want to link their phones to their TVs, so they can play sitting back while engaged on a big screen. Still, more players could have dexterity or visual concerns, where play on larger tablets could be the best way to go. There are infinite possibilities and complexities from real life that can modify how we want to engage, and this is where the true advantages of multiplatform support raise their heads. From this point of view, the ability to play from different machines and settings becomes less of a luxury, and more of a potential necessity. After all, our environments have an enormous effect on both our mental states and our general comfort, so getting the most out of an experience can depend largely on the systems we use.
Making the Effort
If you’re a traditionalist, the type of person who adopts an ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ attitude, then we’d suggest you might be doing your enjoyment a disservice. Rather than being locked onto a platform you already use, try branching out. It doesn’t have to be permanent, just long enough to overcome the learning curve that comes with adopting a new platform.
It might seem silly, but a simple change of input and viewing angle can be worth more than the sum of their parts. Whether in bingo, or any other type of interactive entertainment, this is a factor that is only going to get more pronounced, and it never hurts to be ahead of the curve.