The high user demand for gaming products has generated not only a wide range of games in different formats, including web, mobile devices, and consoles. The gaming industry is also a magnet for the latest technological developments that take gaming as we know it to the next level. One day, it is quite possible that all these innovations will shape a completely new universe and gaming variety, and it’s really inspiring to be a witness of such processes and observe the development of upcoming technologies and their impact on the gaming industry.
One of these innovative milestones is 3D printing, a manufacturing process that transforms a 3D digital model into a physical object. This process usually involves material like plastic and a print head, nozzle, or other printing technology. 3D printing is not yet a century old, and it goes without saying that the first 3D printers looked more like huge production machines than printing devices. Despite the miracles that 3D devices do at first glance, their price has become much more affordable even for an ordinary user who can create various objects with it, including for gaming. How did it all start for this promising technology of the future, does it have anything in common with printing on paper, and what benefits and harms will it bring to us? Let’s figure it out.
3D Printers and Their Predecessors: Are There Any? The Brief History of Printing Equipment That Has Quickly Become Common
A common device used in both the office and the home, the printer boasts a long and eventful history of transformation. Today we know it as an external device that connects to a computer and outputs text from a PC to paper. Laser printing technology is widely used for text printing, while inkjet machines are commonly used for printing photographs and images.
Is it possible to call a conventional printer the progenitor of a 3D printer? This is unlikely. The first steps towards the creation of the “futuristic” 3D machine were taken essentially in parallel with the release of printers. The first prototype of a modern printing device (the ordinary one) was created at the beginning of the 19th century, however, schematically and on paper, where it remained for more than a century. The first printing machine, more or less similar to the one we are used to using today, was released by Remington in the middle of the 20th century.
In the case of 3D printers, it happened that the one who came up with the fundamental idea of the technology and the one who patented it is two different people. The idea itself, which consisted of photopolymer curing of models, belonged to the Japanese Hideo Kodama. He did not receive enough funding and failed the application in 1980, as did three French engineers four years later. The American Charles Hull, who developed the technology of layer-by-layer building of physical three-dimensional objects, was the lucky one who obtained a patent for his invention. After its issuance in 1986, the developer founded his own company in California called 3D Systems. The technology he used was called stereolithography (SLA), which adds to other most popular 3D printing methods used today – Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).
However, some similarities can still be noticed. A printing technology inkjet, first used in 1984 by Hewlett Packard, is widely used in design agencies, photo studios, and large format advertising production. They can also print high-quality computer graphics and colorful photographs. So, now what does the 3D printer have to do with it? For inkjet printers, a so-called print head is used, which basically performs the printing process using ink. A similar principle of operation through the print head is also found in a 3D printer working with thermoplastic using FDM technology. The print head is called an extruder and extrudes the heated consumable through a nozzle. Further, a special mechanism of motors and toothed belts begins the movement specified by the program and directs the head, which applies melted plastic to the platform. “Building” an item starts from the bottom and grows layer by layer.
Even if there isn’t much in common between the technologies other than the names, it’s likely that 3D printing will soon become as widespread in households in the United States and all over the world as printers.
What Is Additive Manufacturing and What the Process of Creating 3D Items Looks Like
In order to better understand how 3D printing works at an elementary level, it’s better to look at what approaches exist to create an object. Production of any items can be divided into three types: formative, subtractive, and, last but not least, additive. As you can already guess from the names, the technology of the first is that the craftsmen form something, for example, using pressure, deformation, cutting, casting. Speaking of the term “subtractive”, this method means that the master initially has a solid block of material, and they cut off the excess with the help of a machine, thus creating the desired object. This method has served mankind since ancient times when a stone has been the main tool and material.
Additive manufacturing, on which 3D printing is based, is the process of combining materials to create objects based on 3D model data, usually in layers, as opposed to the subtractive method and the formative method. That is, the material is built up or applied layer by layer.
To print your item, you must first create a 3D model of the object in Computer-Aided Design (CAD). For those who do not have technical skills, there is also a way to select existing models online. Further, a slicer program will work with the file, which allows you to set the desired physical properties of the future object. All information is converted into a G-code, which is read directly by the printer. After saving the file in the desired CLT format as a regular text document with edits, you just need to click on Print. And voila, after clicking ‘Print,’ the 3D printer starts creating a physical object by applying the required number of layers of material starting from the base.
What can be the result of such a process? In short, a lot of things are suitable in size for the printer platform, which means that a gaming fan in any of their manifestations can rejoice and think about purchasing such a thing for personal use. Of course, this hobby is not cheap, so for starters, you can contact specialized firms that provide 3D printing services.
How You Can Boost Your Gaming with 3D Printing
Players who spend their time playing games with great interest and enthusiasm are the dream of all game production companies. Innovative technologies are helping them achieve this goal by making the gaming industry keep up with the times and the growing appetites of the players. They want to get more and more immersive experiences and interact with the game itself and other players during the game. Well, 3D printing has their wishes covered by offering unique opportunities to personalize their experience both online and offline.
Worlds in video games can be so addictive that players are reluctant to leave their favorite characters they go to fight and adventure with in the virtual space and bring even a small part of them into the real world with such delight. The most active collectors have already purchased figurines of their favorite characters and proudly put them on the shelves in a specially designated corner of their house. But with the advent of 3D printing, the hobby of gamers can change dramatically. If inspiration catches up with you, you can build a whole universe of superheroes, having worked out their appearance and accessories to the smallest detail, as well as printing out any objects and elements of the setting.
In addition, the growing availability of 3D printing and modeling for everyone already allows you to bring your ideas about cosplay outfits to life. Have you long dreamed of trying on yourself some kind of appearance from video games or other creative fields? Already now, you can find ready-made models of the most popular characters with all their attributes on the net.
Video games are not the only area of focus for dedicated gamers. How about a family round for an educational and adventurous board game? Players can choose games that are on everyone’s lips, like Monopoly, or pay attention to those that have a narrower fun base, like indie games. Whatever you choose, it is quite possible that in the near future you will be able to spend much less money and therefore experience more board games thanks to 3D printing at home. Thus, your collection will be replenished with new high-quality additions.
In addition, your mood will be spoiled more if you suddenly lose or break some part from the set; get the 3D printer running, produce the item you need, and you can quickly continue the game. One can only imagine how many tutorials will appear for those who want to independently create this or that element, weapon, or customized characters! Already now, you can find free STL guides and start creating your own 3D models. Alternatively, players will be able to combine stories, locations, and more from different games to create hundreds and hundreds of new worlds. This will be a great opportunity to try yourself as a creator and appreciate all the possibilities of 3D printing.
While some eagerly listen to the news about the emergence of new technologies and devices, some like to have those nostalgic moments for old objects. Don’t let that nostalgia disappear. 3D printing will allow you to reinvent long-forgotten games from the 90s or earlier and create time-appropriate retro consoles. What’s more, players will be able to customize the consoles by improving their performance and adding new details to their design.
From land-based establishments to online gambling sites and casino sessions at home, this is exactly the path that gaming platforms have taken to be where they are in the modern world. And most probably, that thrilling journey is far from its end. With 3D printing on the rise, frequent casino visitors, in any of its forms, will also be able to create the necessary cards, chips, and other gadgets to play a hand or two of blackjack or poker. Even if a person is far away or isolated from their companions (pandemics times, you know), this does not mean that an exciting casino game will not take place – grab your printed cards or other accessories and get the use of online video communication tools.
It goes without saying that the use of 3D printing technology in producing gaming items will not only help renew interest in some gaming segments not given enough time and effort but also help game companies themselves make their services even better and more diverse. Production time will be significantly reduced, and thanks to a professional approach, game developers will be able to surprise players with even more realistic products and items.
Virtual Reality, 3D Printing, and Gaming: What Is the Connection Between Them?
Virtual reality helps achieve unprecedented progress in such areas as business, education, architecture, manufacturing, design, healthcare… And also, make gaming sessions more active and engaging! Along with 3D printing, VR technologies are one of the engines of progress in the life of mankind and, like many others, are closely related to other rapidly developing technologies.
For example, the possibilities of 3D printing are already being used to the full to create headsets for spending time in virtual reality. Moreover, both the device manufacturers and the players themselves can do this – apart from a printer and a computer, no additional hardware is needed, and the most commonly used consumable plastic is not that difficult to obtain.
Watching people playing games in VR and augmented reality (AR) is especially entertaining – we can all remember videos in which people are so immersed in the game that they no longer control their movements and, crashing things on their way, risk hitting some wall. Of course, it is not very pleasant if an expensive device fails or if you have to change some part of it. So, now having a 3D printer, in addition to any household items, you can make your own helmet, as well as mounts, buckles, and other parts of your gadget, together with controllers. If you have to use a sword or some other weapon in the game, the 3D printer will help you out in this case too. As a bonus, you can customize its appearance to your liking.
Virtual reality has not existed long enough to penetrate everyday life and become commonplace for everyone, just like 3D printers. But the fact that soon not a single corporate party or birthday celebration will take place without games in virtual reality is a fact. The element of mobility that video games lack is made up for here, and VR combined with 3D printing opportunities provides a fully immersive experience for players.
Advantages and Disadvantages of 3D Printing: Obvious and Not So Facts
The development of 3D printing has undoubtedly become one of the most innovative breakthroughs of our time. Its benefits can be measured both on a global scale, such as progress in the creation of prototypes of human organs, prostheses, and also on an individual level when 3D printing is used as a tool to fuel creativity. The possibilities of 3D printers are truly endless, and therefore it is not strange that they are widely used in areas such as:
- the medical field;
- automotive industry;
- food industry;
- education;
- architecture;
- science;
- instrumentation.
Among the indisputable advantages of using 3D printing is the creation of personalized products from a template that you can customize as you please. Your object will be one and only, and you will not find another like it in the store. Secondly, the manufacturing process itself will not require any great physical effort from you and will take relatively little time. The third argument in favor of 3D printing, you can reproduce the finest details, for example, character figures from the game, and perform works of any complexity using a computer and printer. Well, the last important argument in favor of 3D technology is that it will soon be possible to use a whole variety of materials, from plastic to acrylic, concrete, gypsum, etc.
Flaws? Of course, there are some. The use of 3D technology consumes a lot of energy, and therefore, this technology is not yet so widespread on an industrial scale. In addition, the products that can be made using technology have some limitations, for example, in terms of size. It should also be mentioned that there is harmfulness of emitted particles to human health, and the very materials like plastic are not beneficial to the environment and humanity in a global sense. On the bright side, the use of recycled materials is being actively introduced. Well, the final bump on the path of the development of 3D printing concerns the responsibility and regulation of the issue of creating weapons and other unsafe items using this technology. Hopefully, this issue will be cleared up over time.
Seeing the Future of Innovations Is Impossible Without 3D Printing
The technology of 3D printing, although still incomprehensible to many, does not stand still, and it will not be so long before it is used to help and entertain people, like many things that have already become familiar to us. The attention of large companies and developers like Stratasys, 3D Systems, Relativity Space, Makerbot, nTopology is focused on the development of 3D printing, and its introduction into gaming along with other technologies will occur in sync with the evolution of the technology itself. There are already a large number of programs for working with 3D printing, such as Vectary, 3DS Max, Miniature You, TinkerCAD, Autodesk Maya, with which you can independently design the desired object and customize it, or download ready-made models and simply print them.
For now, the price remains an issue, and it’s not common for the general public to start getting familiar with how 3D printers work. At the same time, it’s all a matter of time because, despite the fact that the technology and its capabilities still sound too futuristic, it has every chance of becoming mastered by every user. Moreover, there is always a demand for new products, and it is growing, and new generations easily adapt to new technologies and gladly accept them.
Gaming is becoming more and more interesting and active pastime, and the player’s routine is no longer reduced to sitting with a tired back in one place. Although the choice of games is already impressive today and is more than diverse, with minimal mastering of 3D printing skills, everyone can give free rein to their imagination. Everyone will be able to create their own games with the necessary cards, tokens, maps, collect figurines of famous heroes made by themselves (with the help of a printer, of course), and just experience all the delights of technology knocking on our doors with their friends. In general, the topic of 3D printing will definitely develop and be updated with new information, so players and not only need to keep abreast of technology news and events.
