A Thought on Games of the Future

8Jun/097

A Thought on Games of the Future

In a generation of technology where we are swiftly approaching the ability to render photo-real graphics in real-time simulations, there is an important question to ask:

At what level of immersion do violent games actually start becoming a problem?

A benchmark of modern graphics cabability in videogames.

Crysis: A benchmark of modern graphics capability in video games.

I'm not one to rave about violent video games and their effect on young innocent minds. Like many others I believe there is a tangible difference between yourself and a fictional persona that keeps moral boundaries intact.

What about when this isn't the case? What if in 50, 100 or 200 years you can plug yourself into a game via the spinal cord (ala Matrix) and exist in a world that feels as realistic as your own? Will it be ok to give anyone the ability to go into that world and play a GTA style game, for example?

This feels almost like an inevitability. Technology to control very basic virtual actions with your mind already exists, as does the ability to project images directly onto the retina. Once you can get a spinal jack in there to pump fake physical sensations directly into the brain, we are pretty much done.

Will it end with massive censorship of games? Will there be restrictions on the use of this technology? How will they be enforced?

The sensible part of me sees this technology having limits on use from the start: Being locked to only government developed educational/recreational programs, and only for a certain amount of time. It will be entirely family friendly, a great educational tool, though sadly probably developed by Microsoft.

The sci-fi geek in me imagines a dark and miserable future with a massive online black market for twisted adult games. A withered and frail generation that doesn't leave it's cell like rooms for days at a time. The population split by those who are heavily absorbed into the system, and those who tried to maintain a normal life while society is falling down around them.

LAN centers of the future.

What do you think?

Enjoy this article?

Consider subscribing to our rss feed!

Tagged as: Future, Gaming Leave a comment

Pingback: popurls.com // popular today
PG

It’s already been covered at least once in fiction: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Than_Life_(Red_Dwarf_episode)

http://bifftheunderstudy.wordpress.com Dan Gray

Indeed, the Otherland books by Tad Williams were an inspiration for this post too. ‘Being covered in fiction’ is hardly a reason not to discuss it, though.

http://iotarant.blogspot.com/ IMFROMTHEFUTURE

Don’t worry your little head about the future of video games and censorship. Fortunetely for gamers the psychology behind both video game immersion and violence won’t change for a very long time. As video games continue on the path of both realism and violence they will continue to act as pacifiers in overly hostile gamers. While violent television has been shown to increase aggression in children, by the time adulthood hits the norm is that participating in violence in a virtual setting is cathartic.

Also, as realism sets in, the depth of emotions in video games is also likely to compete with the polar extremes of unabridged violence. Developers are more likely to self-censor extremely brutal killing games, and instead opt for a game that forces the moral decision of killing or saving lives into the player, and then realize the consequences of that decision.

War games will likely show the pain and struggle of war rather than a one-sided, belligerent, obnoxious tea-bag infused soiled departure from reality as the present form is obsessed with.

Essentially the question you’re asking is ironic, because given the current situation: anonymity over the internet, unrealistic games, and crude violent death imposing “heroes” the future HAS to get better unless humans decide that living as sentient, rational, and loving creatures has become cliche.

What is more likely is that given the willing exposure of ourselves to the world (via facebook, myspace, twitter and weird as it is redtube), there will be an age of accountability on the web. That will likely include gaming. Your gamer reputation will probably be tied to your real life reputation, and swearing at 12-year-olds will be a thing of the past. That level of immersion that comes with your spinal tap scenario will clench the tie between real and virtual, but will also be a huge step forward for mankind as the possibilities of experience in a virtual world can actually expand the human experience to practically centuries rather the mere 80 some odd years we are given now.

To give some weight to my argument I would simply point to both literature and films. As a global culture very few films or novels survive that are deemed gratuitous in nature. Instead we search for examples of morality, balance, and hope. As pessimistic or cynical as people cite themselves to be, when they watch a film as brutal as Gladiator, we are captivated by the story of honor, not the display of gore. Stories like that become championed and win accolades while slasher films, excite, frighten, and engage our senses but there is little replay value; if you know anything about video games, it’s all in the replay value.
Anonymous

Pornographic virtual reality applications will approach reality and the human race will cease to progress entirely.
Monroe

“…Will it end with massive censorship of games? Will there be restrictions on the use of this technology? How will they be enforced?

The sensible part of me sees this technology having limits on use from the start: Being locked to only government developed educational/recreational programs, and only for a certain amount of time. It will be entirely family friendly, a great educational tool, though sadly probably developed by Microsoft…”

No way unless the government violates the 1st amendment rights censorship won’t happen

http://bifftheunderstudy.wordpress.com Dan Gray

I hate to break this to you, but censorship already exists in video games.

http://iotarant.blogspot.com/ IMFROMTHEFUTURE

The intent of the article I think was to find fault in that experience- at least I think- and that is where I argue that in the future where reality and simulation could be blurred, the experiences will actually be beneficial.

That scenario where you are taught to care for a being, wholly unlike yourself, and watch it’s death, is I think somewhat akin to learning about love and life with pets.

I think there is a clear cognitive understanding that develops very quickly between humans and an “other” which cannot be bridged. As a kid the attachment to a family dog can teach true love, compassion, and fear of death more than any Bible story or Disney movie but as kids develop there is an understanding that while there certainly will be no ‘re-spawn’, the experience of that death isn’t even close to the death of a fellow human.

And yes, there is obviously a lot of detachment from the current video games. The current form doesn’t even try to really be that immersive other than a few force-feedback options, internal clocks, or basic AI convos with NPC’s. Really what I see now is a boon to even less video game interaction, despite the motion control technology that was on display at E3. I find myself watching video games more and more, especially ones that are heavy on the story. They are becoming entertainment in the sense that a group can enjoy a video game even though only a single person is participating. Watching someone play Tetris or Mario is akin to paint drying, watching a Bioshock cut scene and subsequent battle is actually better than most weekend release movies.

One more thing to consider…We actually already have a lot of exposure to horrific and graphic things like war, violence, rape, torture, monsters, and yet we create activities to simulate them to participate and experience them. S&M people actually enjoy playing as rape victims and getting tortured. Paintball simulates combat and it hurts! Rather than the brutal carnage of lions or grizzlies hunting, we pay boxers and ultimate fighters to beat the shit out of each other for amusement.

I actually think people are very good at separating fantastic events from their every day lives. I mean you don’t see kick-boxers dropping store clerks for not accepting coupons.

If I were to imagine the future, no matter how visceral a game could become, the biggest worry would be actually the physical toll on simulating something as shocking as “death” to our peripheral and central nervous systems. Heart attack seems much more likely than heat ache or a shoot up of co-workers.

Like I said, developers are still going to be the key to all of these scenarios, and are they going to risk something like “may cause heart attack”, are they going to understand how to program an algorithm for love? Probably not. Would they develop Call of Duty 45, where if feels like you’re running on a battlefield, shooting a paintball gun, and dropping your friends, without a single drop of blood ever in the picture. Seems much more likely.

In so far as my other post talking about developing a deep gamer experience of human conflict, again that will probably still stick to a somewhat detached role, the lesson or moral will be presented to you no matter what your “character” accomplishes in the game.

I remember playing Age of Empires II, and after each stage they taught you a little history (though it might have been pretty inaccurate). I used cheat codes so Joan of Arc wouldn’t die, because I felt attachment to the reality of her character and what she could have accomplished by staying alive for her troops. Had this been a much more immersive game with sensations and realistic visuals, the emotions would probably be the same, but once the story is told, no matter how realistic, you move on.

Interacting with humans in a virtual environment, falling in love, experience death, that is a completely different can of worms….Good discussion though. Too bad I have a final in 12 hours and haven’t studied.

A Look at MMO Business Models » « Left4Dead 2, Really? [pt. 2]

About Dan

Community manager, graphic designer, social media enthusiast, apocalypse junkie.

Read more...

Follow @Dan_E_Gray

Dan E Gray Designer & Community Manager