What if your favorite Tomb Raider character was named something else? Or that there's some element of Sonic the Hedgehog in you? And what if the rumors are true? What if the United States Airforce does have a history with the PlayStation?
If you've never been a fan of video games, you'd have no idea how well they can, at times, blur the lines between reality and fiction. From the interesting to the simply unbelievable, how about we show you just how much you don't know about online games yet?
The History of Lara Croft
Lara Croft is the beloved protagonist of the game "Tomb Raider." While she's well known even among non-gamers, the character's origin isn't as well known. Animator Toby Gard wanted to develop a swashbuckling guy who found treasure in Egypt. However, the similarity with Indiana Jones called for an overhaul.
First, Laura Cruz was the preferred choice. However, the South American name wasn't satisfactory and tweaked to something closer to the U.K. audience. Gard's employees turned to a phonebook for an alternative, and Croft seemed like the next best thing. Who knew naming the legendary archaeologist involved so many twists and turns?
Who Knew Politics and Games Mix Well?
If you follow politics closely enough, you'll agree it is a game of wit and numbers. Still, no one would expect a political campaign to move from the radio and television and everywhere else to games. But, interestingly, the campaign team of U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama had other ideas.
The 18-34 age bracket is understandably heavy on gaming and was the target of this campaign strategy. So Obama's "Vote for Change" billboards were seen in 18 games, including "Skate" and "Burnout Paradise." That unconventional plan may have tilted the odds when he won the election months later.
Women Aren't a Minority in the Community
Traditionally, games have been dominated by the male gender. However, as time progresses, we've all noticed shifts in what is considered the norm. Interestingly, games aren't left behind too. After all, according to Statista, female gamers make up 45% of the community.
The next time you meet a female gamer, you shouldn't be surprised. The '90s are far behind us now. In addition, there's no shame in getting whopped by a girl. From every indication, they're here to get a piece of the action and are getting just as good at it, if not better.
Older Gamers? Why Not
We've already established that women aren't taking a back seat in online gaming. In another case of 'come one, come all,' older gamers aren't left out either. You'd probably imagine someone in the 50s and more senior taking up traditional hobbies. In that case, you may be out of touch with reality.
Interestingly, almost 50% of online gamers are over 50. Their foray into the gaming world takes them to the puzzle and word categories. Regardless, we know they're less lonely and boosting their mental health thanks to joining in on the fad of online gaming.
The U.S. Military Has a History with the Play Station 3
As recent as 2010, the U.S. Air force built a supercomputer with play station 3s. Yes, you read that right. Named the "Condor Cluster," the project involved using components that included around 1700 PlayStation 3s.
The result? A supercomputer used in the Air Force Research Laboratory could handle around 500 trillion calculations in a second. The computer was also no pushover in the grand scheme of things, ranking 35th in computational power globally. Not bad for a $2 million project, right?
Online Games Aid Parent-Children Bonding
It's unarguably vital for parents and children to find ways to connect. And what better way to do that than a widely adopted form of recreation? Gaming cuts across every age range, so we weren't shocked when statistics showed parents and children bonding over online games.
Apparently, a little over one in three parents make out time once weekly for an online gaming session with their children. Of course, you may prefer a conventional connection via some outdoor sport. However, there's no harm in lighthearted banter and whatnot over an online game with family.
Fan Rivalry Makes It’s Way Into a Game
Ideally, game developers should be unbiased in their designs, right? But unfortunately, there are no rules to that effect, and Mark Turmell took advantage of that. The "NBA Jam" creator is a fan of the Detroit Pistons.
If you follow the NBA, then you know the rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons runs deep. So, in an interview with "ESPN Magazine," Turmell revealed a unique code in the game that made players of the Bulls shoot bricks, especially at the end of a close match. Talk about a dedicated fan!
A True-to-Life Gaming Experience
UK gamers who ordered "FIFA 2001" and "Gran Turismo 2" got a little extra treat when they finally got their hands on the games. Apparently, the game developers included an unusual addition into their packaging to give players an even more immersive experience.
FIFA's discs could be scratched to reveal a football pitch's scent. And as for Gran Turismo 2, they launched limited-edition discs that gave off the smell of authentic pit-stop when scratched. Without a doubt, both of these games and the teams behind them deserve a solid 10 for effort and innovation.
Games Don't Come Cheap
You're likely enthralled by its thoroughness if you've ever played any Grand Theft Auto title. While that's the case for the 2013 version of the game, it stands out by being the world's most expensive title. Development may have gulped $137 million, but marketing costs amounted to $128 million.
With that hefty investment, you'd hope Northstar North, the game's developer, did break even. True to form, revenue generated hit $1 billion in the first couple of days. And with over $6 billion earned to date since its release, that pricey investment did pay off.
Sonic the Hedgehog Lives in Everyone
Sonic the Hedgehog's status as an iconic video game is uncontested. While some of us didn't have the privilege of enjoying the franchise in the '90s and '00s, we're not exactly left out. After all, in 2022, the comic spawned the sci-fi animation "Sonic the Hedgehog 2."
Adaptation of the game in art, music, and movies is expected. However, no one could have predicted it'll feature in science. When Robert Riddle discovered some important genes, he named them the Sonic hedgehog genes. While that decision wasn't appreciated in scholarly circles, he earned admiration in the online gaming community.
