I dont think we've hit a graphics cap. Theyre awesome now, but they can always get better. I remember lookign at 16bit sega graphics and thinking it was amazing. NHL '94 was like real hockey. Now I look back on it and my NHL 2k8 and am like "okay.. THIS is like real hockey" Another ten years and I'm sure I'll reevaluate it all again.Quing wrote:I have a couple of predictions for the future of gaming. First, I think we're reaching a graphics cap. Computer-generated graphics can only get so good. As a result, I think we'll see an expansion into senses besides sight and hearing. I think that along with that, we'll probably get more systems like the Wii that are controlled via physical interaction. My second major prediction is that we'll probably get more games where what you do matters. What I mean by that is that we'll get games with more open-endedness, with a decrease in production of RPGs like the Suikoden series where you have a plot to follow. For all of the advances in technology, we haven't seen anywhere near the amount of utilization of that technology that could be done, and I suspect that that will change. Now granted, I don't expect these changes to occur in a major way even in the next generation of systems. Rather I think it more likely that we'll edge our way into these changes, and that we won't see a real change until a few system generations from now.
As far as linear plot style stories, I dont think that will go away either. People like stories, whether it's a book, or a grandfather telling you it from an armchair, or going to the movies, and if you can craft a good story people will always be okay with linear. Thats a big if though.
As far as all the discussion of peripherals what I would like to see (and what should be attainable i woudl think in comign years) is a Helmet for FPS games. Someone showed me their Halo 3 limited edition helmet they got and I asked "Cool, can you wear it?". UNfortunately, you can't.
But why can't they make one? Wii has motion sensing and ps3 has sixaxis, it'd be expensive, but I feel like you could make a helmet with a small screen inside it that could sense if you were looking left, right, up, down, and basically take the place of the rigth analog stick in an FPS game.
Combing that with a Gun peripheral in your hands (like maybe the wii zapper or something) and thatd be awesome. You'd look like a blithering idiot from the outside, but youd have a rockin good time inside.