The next generation of gaming is
nearly here, but what about the generation after that one? Gamemakers at last
week's Game Developers Conference Next in Los Angeles were already
contemplating outside-the-box innovations - from wearable controllers to illuminated
living rooms.
Here are five ideas discussed at GDC Next that can change the gaming industry…
Here are five ideas discussed at GDC Next that can change the gaming industry…
Virtual reality
While the virtual reality headset
seemed to go the way of the beeper in 1990s, updated takes on that technology
have emerged that could make a big impact on the way players view virtual
worlds in the future. Google Glass, Oculus Rift and CastAR are already giving
early adopters a peek at images in 3D or projected in real life - all without a
TV screen.
Make-believe becomes a reality
Games have long explored what's
physically impossible in the real world, like instantly teleporting across
space in the first-person puzzler "Portal" or effortlessly bending
time in the 2D platformer "Braid." With higher definition graphics,
new controllers and increased fidelity, expect game designers to continue to
push the limits of make-believe reality.
Do it yourself gaming
The success of
"Skylanders" and "Disney Infinity" has proven gamers want
to merge physical and virtual worlds. The next evolution for players might be
to create their very own toys or accessories utilizing at-home 3D printing
technology. Imagine scanning an old-school "Star Wars" figure,
printing a new version then sending it to a virtual galaxy far, far away.
Minority Report comes real
Touchscreens have revolutionized the
way users interact with devices, but their slick surfaces don't always make for
the best game controllers. Advancements in technology that physically respond
to touch - called "haptic touch" - combined with motion detection and
augmented reality could bring interfaces imagined in "Iron Man" and
"Minority Report" to life.
Projection technology
As handheld devices become more
pervasive and projection technology is more accessible, interactivity will
likely continue to leap off TV screens, as illustrated earlier this year by
Microsoft's IllumiRoom project, a conceptual system that combined a projector
and Kinect sensor to augment areas surrounding a TV screen with dazzling
projected visualizations.
