Where do you feel the future in the video gaming industry lies?

[TuringTest]

As of late I've been seeing a lot of topics about 'the past' and pessimistic statements such as 'this game sucks' or 'this game is going to fail'. So, in order to bring something a bit different to the scene, I'll ask this: Where do you feel the future in the video gaming industry lies? Do you see any particular mascots, series', or even companies rising to the forefront in the near future? Does the future of games lie primarily in art or entertainment? And most of all, how do you see games both as a technology and a medium evolving in the near future?

 

[ultrachicken]

I think that the devs of Dead Island and Brink have an opportunity to rise up, but whether or not they'll actually pull it off is beyond me.

I think that the medium itself is evolving, but slowly.

 

[TuringTest]

I think that the medium itself is evolving, but slowly.

Obviously, given every medium evolves over time - but how do you feel it's evolving? Any particular direction, or is it more just groping for a place inbetween the various mediums that currently exist?

 

[ultrachicken]

I think that the medium itself is evolving, but slowly.

Obviously, given every medium evolves over time - but how do you feel it's evolving? Any particular direction, or is it more just groping for a place inbetween the various mediums that currently exist?

Gaming is becoming very widespread and more or less accepted. While there's still a kiddish stigma attached to it, people are beginning to realize that they're not all built to be child friendly.

 

[TuringTest]

Gaming is becoming very widespread and more or less accepted. While there's still a kiddish stigma attached to it, people are beginning to realize that they're not all built to be child friendly.

Interesting take on it. Though considering the whole California videogame bill and certain other events [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108065-Inside-the-Sick-Mind-of-a-School-Shooter-Mod], I would not be at all surprised if the public perception turns back to the view of it being 'childish' soon enough.

 

[ultrachicken]

Gaming is becoming very widespread and more or less accepted. While there's still a kiddish stigma attached to it, people are beginning to realize that they're not all built to be child friendly.

Interesting take on it. Though considering the whole California videogame bill and certain other events [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108065-Inside-the-Sick-Mind-of-a-School-Shooter-Mod], I would not be at all surprised if the public perception turns back to the view of it being 'childish' soon enough.

By paying attention to what was going on in the video game ban proposal, you can see that things are not going well for the prosecution. I doubt it will get anywhere.

As for the school shooting game, the industry has always had offensive games. Most people haven't heard of rapelay or custer's revenge, and they haven't heard of this school shooting one either.

 

[TuringTest]

By paying attention to what was going on in the video game ban proposal, you can see that things are not going well for the prosecution. I doubt it will get anywhere.

As for the school shooting game, the industry has always had offensive games. Most people haven't heard of rapelay or custer's revenge, and they haven't heard of this school shooting one either.

True, but nonethless, it's something that must be kept an eye on.

And the second point is also notable, and myself, I completely acknowledge that offensive games have always, and in all likelihood, will always exist - given I play Postal from time to time. But at the same note, this is really one of the first games that truly offer exactly what the media wants - a game (mod, but semantics) that, if someone plays it and then shoots up a school, will quite possibly take away many rights that videogames previously had any shift public perception. Unlikely, but possible.

 

[TuringTest]

...and you think games are art

Nope. I think they can be art, and there are certain games that are art, but 'games' are not art as a whole.

 

[TuringTest]

lol it is funny how wrong you are

Care to explain your train of thought, or would you rather continue to throw metaphorical spitballs from the sidelines and trolololo?

 

[darth.pixie]

Some have evolved, others have not. New series will emerge and will take off, that's definitely sure but it's hard to predict. As a technology, it will only get better (look at LA Noire animations) and as a medium, it is certainly more widespread than before, though sadly, only some more popular games rather than all of them.

This might chance. I have bright hopes for the future of gaming and while I do believe that some or perhaps even most games are bad right now, it's only until the developers find their balance. The media will eventually find a new bogeyman to blame things on and we'll be able to play our games in peace.

 

[TuringTest]

(look at LA Noire animations)

It's funny you mention that - I was considering that when I was talking about both technology (especially with facial animation and getting out of the 'uncanny valley' hump) and potential future series'. If Noire doesn't flop and/or completely suck, it'll probably go on to be a fairly major cornerstone - not on the level of Halo, but perhaps a bit below GTA. Though I could be way, way off on this, I think it's a possibility.

 

[Savagezion]

I think Activision will be around for a while if not only for Blizzard. However, I am guessing EA or 2K (flameshield) may come above them over the next 5 years. Activision is just burning way too many bridges.

In about 10 years most of the active western market (pretty much people ages 50 and below - I could even stretch it to almost 70s) will be gamers and have been familiar with the medium their whole lives. As such I think new innovations will spring up and have a *little* better reception.

I think Heavy Rain like games will get their own genre associated to them and we will see more of them. As well, we will finally make it out of the uncanny valley.

I also say that in 10-12 years there will be a couple VG "stars" similar to movie stars. Like an elevated recognition of voice actors today. They will probably also work in the movie industry. This is already starting to take place.

I would like to see RPGs not be defined by any specific individual mechanics anymore like the combat systems/inventory/leveling. But rather in the basis of the game. I would prefer RPG be a term used to describe the atmosphere of the game in the way Horror is used. But that isn't gonna happen.

That's my guesses.

 

[Savagezion]

(look at LA Noire animations)

It's funny you mention that - I was considering that when I was talking about both technology (especially with facial animation and getting out of the 'uncanny valley' hump) and potential future series'. If Noire doesn't flop and/or completely suck, it'll probably go on to be a fairly major cornerstone - not on the level of Halo, but perhaps a bit below GTA. Though I could be way, way off on this, I think it's a possibility.

Yep me too, which is why I will be buying it on opening day. I encourage that kind of depth in game design. Even if the game isn't that great I will be happy with my purchase. IN the very least I am buying a replicated version (as close as possible) of what L.A. was like in the 1940s.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

There is only one correct answer to this question: Holodeck.

That is all.

 

[TuringTest]

Yep me too, which is why I will be buying it on opening day. I encourage that kind of depth in game design. Even if the game isn't that great I will be happy with my purchase. IN the very least I am buying a replicated version (as close as possible) of what L.A. was like in the 1940s.

Hah... good to see I'm not totally crazy, than.

There is only one correct answer to this question: Holodeck.

That is all.

Works for me.

 

[Lateinos]

My guess (as well as my hope) is that games will be taken further in the direction of immersion. In the last decade of gaming, we've had an upsurge in games which make you feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. We've crept through the halls of a once-splendid underwater city, still haunted by the ghosts of its past. We've read graffitied messages on safe-room walls, some serious, some facetious. We've found our way through crumbling apartment complexes, littered with the bodies of their former occupants.

Immersion is what I value in my games most of all. Take Bioshock, for example, which is probably my favorite game. As much as I love the gameplay, including the excellent combat system, it is the immersion that makes this game so exceptional. It is lucky the gameplay is so elegant, or else it may have gotten in the way of the oppressive atmosphere, which filled me with incredible paranoia throughout.

To further immersion, graphics will continue to improve. Many games have already crossed the uncanny valley to become pleasing again, and soon, all commercial games will have reached this point. It is possible that the industry will experiment with 3D at some point in the future, considering the role another dimension could play in immersion, but what sort of technology and when are far beyond my reckoning. I just hope it's not one of the 3D technologies they're using in movies; I'm not a fan of the 3D craze.

 

[Lateinos]

I heard that there's a dangerous troll stalking the forum! If you see him, please let us know, merkin!

 

[Vault101]

Who knows? But which ever way it goes I dont think its all doom and gloom as many prophets of gaming like to announce

I think they will start to use multiplayer in new and interesting ways to increase imersion and allow for story as well like left 4 dead or upcoming brink

hopefully in the future I will have enough internet to download to my hearts content and not count every youtube video I watch *sigh*

 

[TuringTest]

My guess (as well as my hope) is that games will be taken further in the direction of immersion. In the last decade of gaming, we've had an upsurge in games which make you feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. We've crept through the halls of a once-splendid underwater city, still haunted by the ghosts of its past. We've read graffitied messages on safe-room walls, some serious, some facetious. We've found our way through crumbling apartment complexes, littered with the bodies of their former occupants.

Immersion is what I value in my games most of all. Take Bioshock, for example, which is probably my favorite game. As much as I love the gameplay, including the excellent combat system, it is the immersion that makes this game so exceptional. It is lucky the gameplay is so elegant, or else it may have gotten in the way of the oppressive atmosphere, which filled me with incredible paranoia throughout.

To further immersion, graphics will continue to improve. Many games have already crossed the uncanny valley to become pleasing again, and soon, all commercial games will have reached this point. It is possible that the industry will experiment with 3D at some point in the future, considering the role another dimension could play in immersion, but what sort of technology and when are far beyond my reckoning. I just hope it's not one of the 3D technologies they're using in movies; I'm not a fan of the 3D craze.

Immersion has always been something that's been interesting to me - and I think graphics are certainly a very confusing thing. Considering I can well immerse myself into games like Dwarf Fortress or Minecraft, while I can't immerse myself into say, Call Of Duty, it may seem like graphics aren't important or actually reverse what people expect. Really, in my opinion, I think the graphics need to be more about the tone of the game or what the game is trying to represent over than looking shiny in order to immerse better - on the same note, however, yes, graphics are consistently if subtly improving over time. Remember when Metal Gear Solid 2 had cutting edge graphics? Yeah...

So yes. Immersion, assuming the game devs see the potential dollar in it and roll with it, should be very deep in the future. And as for 3D - I'm not sure of it. But if motion control improves to the point of no longer requiring a peripheral AND being very consistent, fun and easy to use, and they develop some method of 3D that works and isn't absolutely, completely clunky and overpriced like most 3D methods are in this day and age - I very much look forward to seeing what happens there.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

There is only one correct answer to this question: Holodeck.

That is all.

Holodecks are very space-consuming and what not. So my guess is Neural gaming. Put on a cap with sensors ad stuff on it.....and you're IN the game. No more button limitations and such.
Also, I think as gaming matures it'll slowly move away form purely combat-oriented gameplay. I hope so atleast :/

lol it is funny how wrong you are

aren't you a prolific little troll. I mean, don't get me wrong, It must take some effort to put up 85 (so far) troll posts AND getting probated in one day.