When talking about a lot of entertainment products, classics and originals are often held in such high regard that most attempts to update, replicate, or build on them are put down as not being as good as what came before. In the current age of cinema, this is a particularly prevalent theme. Still, there isn’t any doubt that the application of modern technology has bolstered a great many forms of what we’d call “classic entertainment.”
What could always be enjoyed by just about anyone at a relatively low cost compared to premium modern entertainment or what’s been around as a go-to source of fun for decades – even centuries – counts in this bracket. While each one would have survived to this day without the use of new tech, these forms of entertainment have certainly become even more appealing and high-quality, thanks to technological advancements.
From a pack of cards at home to playing across the world in an instant
Despite the prevalence of computer, console, and mobile gaming alongside other convenient and tech-powered entertainment options like streaming on-demand, playing cards still sell very well. From 2016 to 2030, the global market was forecast to grow from $3.9 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 2.5 percent, which certainly speaks to the popularity and accessibility of playing cards.
Of all of the games that can be played with a deck of 52 cards, one of the most popular – especially in India – is andar bahar. Perfectly suited to two players or more, it’s a superbly simple game to pick up and very fun to master.
Nowadays, there’s an app for everything, and all of the classic card games are certainly included within that phrase. However, thanks to an ingenious tweaking of some already popular technology, online andar bahar has transformed from being one of digital cards and a random number generator to real life andar bahar.
By infusing live casino tech, andar bahar can now be played across the world with a professional croupier running the proceedings. This real money version of the game flexes live streaming technology to its current limits, allowing for an authentic experience, real-time play online, and professional dealing at the table.
Making the classic tiles game both convenient and spellbinding
A unique game with many spellings in English, mahjong has its origins in China, but boomed in popularity in what would be defined as more western-orientated nations like the UK, Australia, and US in the 1920s. The game of engraved tiles is said to have been created in the 19th Century, most likely, boasting tremendous popularity across the wide-spanning provinces of China.
Still, in the US, it certainly had a huge impact culturally, and could be considered as continuing to do so to this day. The key is that the social game has always been a way to find community, with the four-seated game being as friendly as it is competitive.
Now, there’s a new age for specialist mahjong equipment. A truly convenient-enhancing and spellbinding creation, the automatic mahjong table is a sight to behold. There are many different models, but most have a raised playing surface with four tiles rows that can fade into the table.
When the tiles are done, you shove them under a square in the middle that clicks up. While underneath, they’re shuffled and put out to the tile rows, where they then rise up ready to be played. Some players are happy with the convenience of online play, but those who meet up for the communal aspects will be dazzled by the automatic tables.
Newer, better ways to experience cinema
The first commercial movie screening took place at the end of 1985 in Paris. Since then, the cinema has become a go-to way to experience new movies, forging a multi-billion industry. While streaming may be eating into that now – or the quality of storytelling has receded – the cinema experience is still hailed as the best way to watch a movie, and that can certainly be demonstrated by the new applications of tech.
The three big ones right now are IMAX, which offers larger screens in refined auditoriums, 4DX and its extrasensory experience, and the most impressive of them all, ScreenX. Making use of the side walls, Screen X offers immersion across your vision. Some films have already jumped onto fitting this tech, including Bullet Train, Emergency Declaration, and Hansan: Rising Dragon.
Live technology, specialized automatic equipment, and innovative use of screens have propelled these classic forms of entertainment to new heights, keeping them modern, fresh, and still very fun.
