The assumption that online games in general are populated mostly by males has remained

somewhat accurate for years. Recent statistics begin to diminish the male domination myth in
gaming culture. Although a worldwide number of male gamers still dominates over female (52% by
48%),[32] women accounted for more than half of the players of certain games. As of 2019, the
average gamer is 33 years old.[33]
The report Online Game Market Forecasts estimates worldwide revenue from online games to reach
$35 billion by 2017, up from $19 billion in 2011.[34]

Platforms[edit]
Console gaming[edit]
Main articles: Xbox Live and PlayStation Network
Xbox Live was launched in November 2002. Initially the console only used a feature called system
link, where players could connect two consoles using an Ethernet cable, or multiple consoles
through a router. With the original Xbox Microsoft launched Xbox Live, allowing shared play over the
internet. A similar feature exists on the PlayStation 3 in the form of the PlayStation Network, and
the Wii also supports a limited amount of online gaming. Nintendo also has a network, dubbed
"Nintendo Network", that fully supports online gaming with the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

Browser games[edit]
Main article: Browser game

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As the World Wide Web developed and browsers became more sophisticated, people started
creating browser games that used a web browser as a client. Simple single player games were
made that could be played using a web browser (most commonly made with web technologies
like HTML, JavaScript, ASP, PHP and MySQL).
The development of web-based graphics technologies such as Flash and Java allowed browser
games to become more complex. These games, also known by their related technology as "Flash
games" or "Java games", became increasingly popular. Games ranged from simple concepts to
large-scale games, some of which were later released on consoles. Many Java or Flash games were
shared on various different websites, bringing them to wide audiences. [35] Browser-based pet games
are popular among the younger generation of online gamers. These games range from gigantic
games with millions of users, such as Neopets, to smaller and more community-based pet games.
More recent browser-based games use web technologies like Ajax to make more complicated
multiplayer interactions possible and WebGL to generate hardware-accelerated 3D graphics without
the need for plugins.

Types of interactions[edit]
Player versus environment (PvE)[edit]
Main article: Player versus environment
PvE is a term used in online games, particularly MMORPGs and other role-playing video games, to
refer to fighting computer-controlled opponents.

Player versus player (PvP)[edit]

Main article: Player versus player
PvP is a term broadly used to describe any game, or aspect of a game, where players compete
against each other rather than against computer-controlled opponents.

Online games[edit]
First-person shooter game (FPS)[edit]
Main article: First-person shooter
During the 1990s, online games started to move from a wide variety of LAN protocols (such as IPX)
and onto the Internet using the TCP/IP protocol. Doom popularized the concept of a deathmatch,
where multiple players battle each other head-to-head, as a new form of online game. Since Doom,
many first-person shooter games contain online components to allow deathmatch or arena style
play. And by popularity, first person shooter games are becoming more and more widespread
around the world. As games became more realistic and competitive, an e-sports community was
born. Games like Counter-Strike, Halo, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Quake Live and Unreal
Tournament are popular with these tournaments. These tournaments have a range of winnings from
money to hardware.
Expansion of hero shooters, a sub-genre of shooter games, happened in 2016 when
several developers released or announced their hero shooter multiplayer online game. Hero
shooters have been considered to have strong potential as an esport, as a large degree of skill and
coordination arises from the importance of teamwork. Some notable examples
include Battleborn, Overwatch, Paladins and Valorant.[36]