Viewing Thread:
"The Real FOG"

Okay, okay, I know I'm still a newbie, so all you regulars please forgive me for posting this topic which has probably been done before, albeit before my time on this site.

There is a lot of talk about PS2, X-Box, GBA, GC, and even some limited stuff on virtual reality on this group. What I haven't seen are discussions about the long term future of gaming.

Obviously there will be the next generation of consoles, then another, then another, but where will it all lead?

VR will be here in some form or another in the future, but probably not to the level seen in Red Dwarf (where the whole programme turned out to be a computer game, with characters under mind control).

Games with TV/Film quality graphics will undoubtedly make an appearance, as to will games controlled by your complete bodily movement.

Progress, in the home at least, is slow - cost is obviously a major factor, but are there other reasons? Is VR safe? will it lead to people spending days (or longer) in a virtual world?

People are obviously happy generally with what is available at present, or they wouldn't buy it. Could this demand be slowing developers progress, knowing that they can make the money without pushing capabilities.

So, the reason for this post is - what do others want to see in the long term future of gaming and what are the barriers?

Sorry to all the regulars who have probably heard all this before, but me along with other newbies haven't all had the opportunity to discuss something along these lines and are getting a bit bored with the continual console wars discussions.

Sorry again, I've had a few drinks and got a bit too deep.

lol@Grix.

"Right you, I've had enough. Step outside, and put these headphones on."

Apparently you can get headphones that output very precise frequencies that make you lose your balance. It's possible to floor someone very quickly with it.

The problem with VR at the moment is responces...

Becuase when people turn their head, or move in their body suit, or that magnetic movment area they use, or whatever, it takes a little while fo the computer to update the screen...

As a result, movement doesnt happen istantaniously (as it would in real life), which makes the brain go a little mental, and makes many people feel nausious, and experience headaches after only a short amount of use...

The problem VR had when it was in the arcades a couple of ears ago was that the graphics were, quite frankly, crap. The screens were so small, as the were really close to your eyes, so they didn't have the resolution needed to get anything looking half decent.

Until that issue is sorted, which will take time and money, i don't think VR will become established as a primary medium for games.

As with everything, it will start off in the arcades, when the technology is available, and then migrate slowly to the home.

Slight change of subject, i agree with Grix, it is a shame this topic was overlooked as it was an intereting one. Well done FM for finding it!

The problem with VR at the moment is expense.

That, and a general fear of change and progress in the industry.

Just think of the time that would have to go in to creating a virtual world. After that you would have to create a game to be played there too!

I can see early VR just being the virtual world in which you can wander, with no game as such to be played. At first people will think it's wonderful, but will actually realise that it has little substance, andreturn to consoles, until VR developers take the extra couple of years necessary to create games to play in VR worlds!

It says first of June, so maybe it slipped thru or something.

Err... if he's a newbie, then how come he can post a topic? Or was this from ages ago?

*FM does a little dance of joy*
*FM wonders when he's going to get paid*

It's a shame we're only replying because FM did. Good job though FM, thanks for bringing this to our attention.