After "graphics", where do we go?

[Guest Downhome]

As we all know, there is only so far that video games can go in the graphics department, when it comes to looking more and more like reality. Simply put, we are getting closer and closer to that limit as each day passes. Take a look at many of the games on PC and the next-gen consoles, and you'll see what I'm mean, especially in the sports and FPS titles, many of those already look almost just like reality, so there is little more in this department we can do. However, what happens after we reach the limit to reality graphics? Share your thoughts, feelings, and predictions. Here are just a few of mine...

 

...I see the gaming industry trying brand new looks and feels in the graphics department soon, and it's already happening as a matter of fact. Styles like anime, cell shading, and other types of annimation will be very popular, and many of the games being released will use said styles, and more and more will do so as time goes on. We already see this trend begining with some of the games that have came out in the past year, and many on the way (most notably, the brand new Zelda title on it's way).

 

I also see gaming companies spending more time coming out with more involving and innovotive gameplay aspects. What these could be, it's hard to say. Simply put, ones imagination has no limits, so the possibilities in this area are basicly endless. Who would have thought a few years ago that the "stelth" type of gameplay would become so popular? That is just one of the new aspects that will be taking over, as will pieces of other games like Bullet Time in Max Payne, and other such aspects.

 

As we have already seen for years in games like The Sims, because of their mass sales, gamers apparently crave reality. They want games that they not only can play, but can use as an out from their own life, a get out card basicly. This isn't a bad thing, as we all need to get out sometimes, to escape the day to day routine that is our real lives. It's why we go to moveis, watch certain TV shows, and play video games, etc... I see this going to an entire new leval also, being led by games such as Everquest, and even more so, The Sims: Online. This is another aspect of gaming that will boom unlike we've seen before, it will be one of the more interesting developments if you ask me.

 

Now, finally, we have online gaming. I have this seperat from the above one, as it doesn't have to be all reality simulation. People love playing games with others, it's as simple as that. Nothing beats knowing that you are competing with another human, and not some type of computer AI, it's an experiance that can not be touched when playing with the computer AI, humans offer up different things that created AI can not. Each game is different, you never know what the other people will do, it's simply limitless also. The PC has known this for quite some time, and console owners are now getting a widespread feel for it. I feel eventually, almost every game will have online play, even action titles which will give players the option to be the good guys, or the bad guys, can controll main bosses, etc... You know it's coming, I know it's coming, and online gaming will take off like ever before soon, in the upcoming months and years.

 

The graphics, obviously, will continue to be outstanding, but like I said, there is only so much we can do when it comes to that department, and we are quickly approaching the limits of that aspect. It's up to the gaming companies to go to the next level bringing forth new genres, new gameplay aspects, and moe importantly, more and more brand new, never seen before, experiances for the gaming public, and I don't know about you...

 

...but I have faith that it can be done, and gaming will only continue to the next level, for many years to come.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Computer gaming is another addiction in society. I already know people who do nothing but eat sleep work and play sims online. Im sorry, thats not a life, thats an addiction.

 

The moment we hit reality in video games....thats easy, remember what the Matrix looked like, there you go. Reality will become a game. People need to turn of the TV or PC and realize life and reality is going on all around them. Theres nothing wrong with playing games for a few hours here and there, but in a lot of cases people need serious help.

 

Gamers dont want reality, they want escapes, thats exactly what the sims is. It allows you to either play god, or be who you always wanted to be. Thats some dangerous stuff in my opinion. Its ok to do it here and there, but those 2 options are tempting to lots of people and they get addicted to doing them to the point where their reality will suffer. I already know of it happening to a few people I know. The gaming companis are just waiting for the day they can hook a direct feed into your head so you can play all the time.

 

Theres nothing wrong with most video games, i just have a problem with the addictive nature that they make the games of. FF, wrestling, Crash bandicoot(sp), etc, theres nothing wrong with these types of games, the odds of addiction are slim to none, they are ment to be payed fora few hours and then, you're done, and maybe later you can play them again to get a better score or unlock something. But letting people substitue life, thats wrong. Making a game that fakes reality is disturbing. Video games are a great escape, but some of this stuff is going to far.

 

I'm not saying everyone is gonna be an addict, but theres something like what over a billion gaming untis world wide? (I dont know an exact number, but Im willing to be it is that high or higher) But there's a good chance that it could happen over and over. I fear Sims online may be the crack of the online gamming world since I've seen what it has done to people.

[Guest MrRant]

Nothing to see here.

[Guest redbaron51]

sooner or later, we will be part of the game, because technology is moving at a rapid pace.

[Guest mesepher]

sooner or later, we will be part of the game, because technology is moving at a rapid pace.

and then Triple H-uh will be holding us all down-uh.

[Guest El Satanico]

Computer gaming is another addiction in society. I already know people who do nothing but eat sleep work and play sims online. Im sorry, thats not a life, thats an addiction.

 

The moment we hit reality in video games....thats easy, remember what the Matrix looked like, there you go. Reality will become a game. People need to turn of the TV or PC and realize life and reality is going on all around them. Theres nothing wrong with playing games for a few hours here and there, but in a lot of cases people need serious help.

 

Gamers dont want reality, they want escapes, thats exactly what the sims is. It allows you to either play god, or be who you always wanted to be. Thats some dangerous stuff in my opinion. Its ok to do it here and there, but those 2 options are tempting to lots of people and they get addicted to doing them to the point where their reality will suffer. I already know of it happening to a few people I know. The gaming companis are just waiting for the day they can hook a direct feed into your head so you can play all the time.

 

Theres nothing wrong with most video games, i just have a problem with the addictive nature that they make the games of. FF, wrestling, Crash bandicoot(sp), etc, theres nothing wrong with these types of games, the odds of addiction are slim to none, they are ment to be payed fora few hours and then, you're done, and maybe later you can play them again to get a better score or unlock something. But letting people substitue life, thats wrong. Making a game that fakes reality is disturbing. Video games are a great escape, but some of this stuff is going to far.

 

I'm not saying everyone is gonna be an addict, but theres something like what over a billion gaming untis world wide? (I dont know an exact number, but Im willing to be it is that high or higher) But there's a good chance that it could happen over and over. I fear Sims online may be the crack of the online gamming world since I've seen what it has done to people.

This is stuff like you read of in books like 1984 and other such "technology is dangerous" type books.

 

Scary thing is...you're probably not far off. This type of stuff will likely exist in the near future.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Music/Sound - probably the next big advancement in games will come through the improvement of the Audio aspect of the game, since it can have a huge impact on the game.

 

Camera Angles - how many awesome looking games have sucked because of crappy camera angles?

 

Those are the only two that I can think of off the bat.

 

As for Cel Shading, some people like it because it makes games look more like cartoons, but its not going to be that huge of an impact on graphics because people still want realistic looking graphics.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

At this point, Im suprised Nintendo hasnt given out free gameboys world wide cause they cost like what 5 bucks to make? All customers would need to do is buy 1 mario game and Nintendo's in the profit range.

[Guest redbaron51]

Music/Sound - probably the next big advancement in games will come through the improvement of the Audio aspect of the game, since it can have a huge impact on the game.

 

Camera Angles - how many awesome looking games have sucked because of crappy camera angles?

 

Those are the only two that I can think of off the bat.

 

As for Cel Shading, some people like it because it makes games look more like cartoons, but its not going to be that huge of an impact on graphics because people still want realistic looking graphics.

Music and Sound are definitly the next big thing, and X-Box is the first to do this with a console.

 

Camera angles can only work for certain games, like action, sports, and fighting games, but not racing games.

 

Also I say the controller. There will be no need except it would be like motion capture.

[Guest Karnage]

Gamers dont want reality, they want escapes, thats exactly what the sims is.

It will be really scary if they release something like "Virtual Date". But I won't be surprised if that actually happens.

[Guest GeneMean]

I'll third the music/sound idea. Huge storage devices like DVD-rom and HDD really pave the way for major music content, ala GTA3/GTA:VC. More and more celebs today are lending their voices/likenesses to titles. A few years ago the only name guy you could find in a game was someone like Tim Curry, not so anymore.

 

Sound. Doom III is going to be so huge in this area. People will be going batshitty over ID's new engine but it's going to be the 5.1 sound that'll make people piss their pants.

 

Lastly I think online gaming is where it's at. Console players have never really had the quality multiplayer experiences that PC'ers have had for some time now. Think of all the PC titles out there created solely for online play. MMORPG like Everquest or FPS like Unreal Tournament. Imagine racing Gran Turismo against 7 other people online, or a console version of CounterStrike. The more and more console players get exposed to GOOD online gaming the more it will be expected in each future release. "What do you mean Tekken 5 doesn't have online support?!?"

 

I fear Sims online may be the crack of the online gamming world since I've seen what it has done to people.

 

There's also this little title called Star Wars:Galaxies shipping next year. Might as well plug a USB into the back of your head now Mr. Anderson.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

As long as they don't make a game that's the equivalent of Monty Python's "Funniest Joke in the World" in addictiveness, I'll be perfectly fine with the advancements.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

There's also this little title called Star Wars:Galaxies shipping next year. Might as well plug a USB into the back of your head now Mr. Anderson.

 

Consider my life gone too, if they make it for mac.