Computer games in the future

[Kyriakos]

As others in this forum, i too have stated that i prefer pseudo 3d games to full 3d ones.
But the general belief is that games will be in full 3d forever from now on, even in genres that arent much about the gfx.

However i wonder if this is the case. Perhapos full 3d was something of a goal to be achieved in the past, but now tha tit has been achieved maybe it will become something less singificant.

It reminds me in a way of ancient greek statues: in the beginning they were very expressionistic (cycladic ones particularly), then they gradually moved on to become more and more realistic, and at some point became utterly realistic.
But then, contrary to what one might have expected, they moved away from realism once more. And became, again, more symbolic.

Nowdays we witness the rise of free online games which ussually are in psedo- 3d. Maybe in the future this appeal will again be considered fruitful for companies to mimic?

What do you think?

 

[Chieftess]

Well, there's already 'symbolic' 3D graphics (just look at Minecraft - it's more retro/cartoonish than realistic).

There'll always be a mixture of graphics. Free games, and games by small developers will always be "psuedo-3D", or simplistic 3D, since they don't have the resources to create realistic graphics. Major gaming companies are almost expected now to create ultra-realistic graphics. Looking at some PS3 games, I'd say it's pretty close to looking real. Once quantum computing becomes a reality (they've recent taken a well, quantum leap towards that goal with manipulating data on an atomic scale), you'll have games that look like it's a photograph. Granted, these games may take not years, but decades to make for the graphics alone (you'll need a completely new set of development tools for 3D rendering). In the mean time, there'll still be simpler games with simpler graphics.


Which does bring up a point... Today's games can cost a few million to make (most of the money going to worker salaries and the game engine - probably a 40/40 split, with 20% gonig towards production/legal fees and such over a 5 year period). In the 80s, I remember seeing huge aisle fulls of NES games (seemed like a half-dozen long isles). The aisles actually had a paper that you took to the warehouse counter and they'd get the game. I once read that there were over 500,000 NES games alone! Now, go into a store, and it's maybe 1 small aisle (if it's long, the games are spread out, or there's old games along side new ones).

So, I would say that there may be more "retro"-style games, but only because they're easier (and cheaper) to make, rather than the years it takes to create a "flagship game". Unless you're Square-Enix and have an army of programmers and artists (they have at least 3 concurrent teams for each FF title), flagship titles are no longer made year after year like they were in the NES era.

 

[cardgame]

By pseudo-3D, Do you mean 2.5D? (I.E. Final Fantasy Tactics, Alien Swarm)

 

[Kyriakos]

From the wiki article it seems that pseudo-3d and 2,5d are generally the same (?).

 

[Maniacal]

I doubt much will really change, though the increase in 3D will certainly continue.

 

[Leonel]

An interesting scan from a book I read as a kid!

From what I can tell, they were pretty spot on about features. Empire Napoleon does the Battle of Waterloo, we got FIFA 11 and current handhelds.

 

[Rub'Rum]

When did you read this? From what year is it? From the drawing style I'd say early 80s but I dunno.

 

[Leonel]

I saw it in a school library around mid 1990's and I'm sure the book was from the 80's.

 

[Azale]

That blurb on long-distance gaming is spot on!

 

[cardgame]

indeed.

 

[Maniacal]

Wow, thats a pretty good guess there. Obviously they weren't aware (or disregarded) of the internet at the time (but that didn't really take off for gaming until the 1990s anyways).

 

[Zelig]

Once quantum computing becomes a reality (they've recent taken a well, quantum leap towards that goal with manipulating data on an atomic scale), you'll have games that look like it's a photograph. Granted, these games may take not years, but decades to make for the graphics alone (you'll need a completely new set of development tools for 3D rendering). In the mean time, there'll still be simpler games with simpler graphics.

Maybe... quantum computing doesn't magically make everything faster, it only lets you code certain functions in ways that they will perform very quickly.

I once read that there were over 500,000 NES games alone!

From wiki: "There are 798 titles in the NES library in the US and PAL region."

They all easily fit on a single cd-rom.