Bingo has a rich history that dates back hundreds of years. Some of the earliest forms of online Bingo date back to the mid-nineties. Back then, websites allowed players to download software that allowed them access to exclusive bonus games and different sorts of tournaments.
The game is hugely popular online, but has it changed much in the last 20 years? Where are the graphics, design and features from 20 years ago? What innovations have there been in graphics and design? Who is behind the graphics and designs on bingo sites? Learn more below.
Graphics
The graphics were pretty basic when online bingo first came onto the scene. Earlier graphics were nothing like the slick, colourful, and well-rendered graphics in today’s offerings. This isn’t a surprise, considering the technology that existed back then. Back in the day, players had to settle for bingo cards that looked like they could have been drawn by hand.
They had no animations or anything else to get excited about. Nowadays, you can also take advantage of HD graphics that will amaze you when you first see them at a bingo casino online.
Design
The first online bingo games appeared on portals (think AOL, MSN and Yahoo all rolled into one) over fifteen years ago in 1995. Since then, we’ve seen an explosion of sites and brands, each with its look and feel. In the early days, you played bingo on static pages that looked pretty much like they do now.
Then they moved onto flash-based sites, with animations and other features making them a lot more fun. But these days, some games are played entirely on mobile devices, while others have moved to HTML5 or another responsive layout.
Game developers
The evolution of online bingo has been ongoing since it launched its first game in 1996. Bingo game developers such as Microgaming, Playtech and Virtue Fusion are constantly striving to outdo their rivals. This is by creating new games with dazzling graphics, innovative features and more ways to win.
More than 100 different games are available at UK sites, such as Mecca Bingo, Foxy Bingo, Wink Bingo, and Gala Bingo. Each game developer appeals to a different audience in the market. Moreover, developers are coming up with new and exciting features for bingo players.
Chat rooms
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the evolution of online bingo is bingo chat rooms feature. The chat room is one of the things that makes online bingo so unique, as it allows players to interact with each other while they are playing. It adds a social element to the game that would not be possible in a real-life bingo hall.
There were only a handful of sites in the early days of online bingo, and the software was very basic. Players stuck with one site when playing bingo.
Social aspect
The social aspect of online bingo has changed over the years. In the early days, players would converse via their chat hosts or other players at the table even before online bingo. Bingo halls were popular with social interactions a common feature. This was a great way to meet people worldwide and even create friendships that lasted for years.
Nowadays, however, with the creation of the internet, many people can now play alone in their own homes. This is great if you want peace. Also, it also means fewer opportunities to make friends.
Software
One of the most significant developments in online bingo has been the software used to power it. Back in the 1990s, sites were clunky and slow, with many players waiting several minutes for a game to load up. In addition, graphics and sound effects were poor and made little impact on the player. Today, games are far more user-friendly, with improved speed and better graphics, meaning that players can enjoy a much more enjoyable experience. Bingo sites have also moved away from outdated Java software towards HTML5 for compatibility with mobile phones and PCs.
Bingo is a numbers game with many rules and variations. However, at its core, it’s all about matching numbers on cards. There was no video or audio streaming in the early days of online bingo. Instead, players would watch their numbers called as displayed on a rotating ticker at the top of the screen. In addition to making the game more visually appealing, audio and video streaming also improved communication between bingo halls and their players. They added chat rooms to allow players to interact with each other during games for a fun social environment.
