Classic games that have been reborn thanks to technology

The internet has helped breathe new life and add interesting twists to some of our favourite traditional games, from board games like Monopoly and Scrabble, to card games like blackjack and poker. Strategy games have also been given a new lease of life, ensuring that the legacy of classic games like Battleship lives on in the younger generation. Even educational quizzes have been revamped with cool apps that keep students engaged and motivated.

Card games

The prevalence of card games in the technology age has come as a surprise to many, after mass predictions that the internet would spell the end for such traditional games. Computers have broadened the scope of possibility for card games thanks to their ability to shuffle and deal cards in seconds, meaning we don’t have to. Despite previous predictions, the popularity of card games has actually increased thanks to technology, with many players being introduced to new titles digitally. Solitaire is a great example of a game that has become more popular thanks to technology, as playing on the computer gets rid of the long set up time required to play with real cards. Technology also makes it easier to add fun features to games without any extra effort for players, for instance Blackjack players can enjoy the 21+3 variation of the classic title online, which has attracted millions of new players.

Board games

Like card games, board games were expected to have become obsolete by now, with experts believing that they wouldn’t be able to last in a world where videogames dominate our attention. However, games like these games have stood the test of time, thanks to the strong reputations they’ve built over the years and a willingness to adapt. Scrabble is a great example of this, although its developers were originally slow in creating a Facebook friendly version of the game, which was the main way of bringing such games to an online audience at the time, they reacted to their competitors doing so extremely quickly. Prior to Facebook, Scrabble has been available on various games consoles, such as Game Boy, PlayStation, Xbox and Wii, as well as mobile phones and tablets, ensuring that they stay up to date with latest technology trends.  Many other board games have followed suit, with tablet versions in particular proving to be an extremely popular alternative to traditional methods.

Strategy games

Strategy games like Battleship have also been admirably adapted for playing online, something which would probably surprise the games creators if they were alive today. Early versions of the game date back to the first World War, when it was played in France, before pen and paper versions were released in the 1930s. In 1967 the version that is widely recognised today, with plastic boards and pegs, was released and there have been several adaptations since then. It was one of the first games to be developed as a video game and has been released on various consoles and handheld devices and is currently available as a mobile phone application. Users can compete with their social media connections over the internet and enjoy latest generation animations which add another dimension that simply wasn’t possible when played as a board game.

Quizzes

Quiz games have also been given a new lease of life by modern technology, which has increased their popularity exponentially. In the past, people wanting to test their knowledge, whether general or on a specific topic, would have to attend a pub quiz or watch quiz-themed TV shows. However, nowadays there are a number of websites you can use to participate in quizzes and challenge your friends by sharing your scores on social media, Sporcle is a great example, with quizzes on various topics, from sport to science. There are thousands of apps with quizzes on different topics, many of which have become extremely popular in the mainstream, for example in the early 2010s millions of us were captivated by logo quiz apps that tested us by asking us to guess brands by looking at a picture of their logos. Even educational quiz apps have taken off, with the likes of Kahoot leading the way and engaging children in the classroom, and helping students study better.