The gaming industry and fans alike are on the edge of their seats, because today is the annual E3 conference, one of the biggest gaming expos in the world.
Even though I'd only consider myself a casual gamer, I am very interested to see what comes out of this year's E3. Not necessarily because of any particular game or console, but because this will be a crucial year for the entire gaming industry.
Think about how prevalent smartphones and multifunction mobile devices have become. GPS devices are becoming less popular because of apps like Google Maps, and gaming-only devices like the Nintendo DS are starting to fade with hundreds of games (many of which are free) for both iPhone and Android phones. Not to mention the popularity of games like Farmville and Mafia Wars on Facebook.
Gaming isn't what it used to be, back when it was an arms race between Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft to see who would release the next hit game or unveil a new console. Nowadays, independent developers are the ones dictating the direction the industry is heading.
There are rumors of Microsoft previewing controller-free gaming and Nintendo showing off a 3D hand-held console that doesn't require glasses, but we'll have to wait until after the conference to see if these latest innovations will gain any ground.
The nature of gaming has changed because of social media, and the industry is going to have to change along with it.
