Brave New World? Part 1

ROCKSTAR IS HIRING!  Yes, that is right the sandbox developer is looking for Environment Artists for “a next gen console”. This is very exciting news and not just because the job market looks a bit like a post apocalyptic shooter.

I am not sure when it happened, when did the PS3 or 360 stop being “next gen”?  I only got into console gaming at the end of the PS2 lifespan so I watched the frenzy over the new systems from a neutral standpoint more or less.  Microsoft and Sony fought to build new branding for their new systems. Fan sites blew up with discussion over which system had better specs or better launch titles. HD-DVD (you guys remember that right?) was beating out Bluray.  The world of video games was wide open with it was not just about adding more pixels it was about dynamic lighting and intelligent enemy AI, it was about where we could go.

There are still debates on which version of a multiplatform game is better (no PC gaming! no one cares about your x number of cores and 4gigs of video memory) and what system is providing a better online system but next gen has fallen out of the debate all together.   At one point it must have stopped, now when you ask a person what console they game on it is assumed the answer will be PS3 or 360. It doesn’t seem that it was too long ago either which makes it even crazier that in the last month of so the description is slowly working back into the conversation.

Most notable is the leaked patent for the new Xbox which indicates DVR is being added and that Microsoft will be showing the Xbox 720 (I really hope they pick a new name because this naming scheme is not really sustainable and makes no sense) at this year’s E3. They are talking 6x as powerful and throwing launch windows of 2013-2014 around like it isn’t a big deal.  I was a given that the day these systems launched the R&D teams began work  on the next systems but the idea that we are getting close to seeing all new consoles on our mantels was not even in my head until I saw the words Xbox720 on Twitter. 

This is an amazing opportunity for gamers and developers alike.  Just like 5 years ago the potencial for innovation is blowing up again.  Of course the technical side is simple, what super powerful CPUs or brand new graphics cards can they stuff into the chassis?  But what of the implications? To me more cores or RAM isn’t innovative in and of itself.  What I find interesting is what that power can do.   

Take the Uncharted Franchise, when it launched it was lauded for its high quality renders, dynamic lightening and the smart water.  NaughtDog's team didn't stop there however, they kept pushing the the limits of the PS3 trying to eak every last ounce of rendering power from it. 4 years later you can see the  progress: 

Evolution of Nathan Drake (NaughyDog)

(these guys are also looking for folks who want to work on next gen games btw)

Games are pushing closer and closer to the real world. Crafting deep narrative and building immersive environments by manipulating technology in new ways.  High resolution renders, real time shadows, real world psychics, and things are only just getting interesting.  Right now 3D processing & motion control are just getting off the ground (the nerd inside me envisions Holodecks becoming more possible every day).

Developers are building new interfaces for games which do everything from using cameras to track lighted markers, similar to motion capture technology, sensor bars that detect transmitters or even voice control.  A variety controllers are struggling to be the standard for the next generation of  console interaction. Such as the Leonar3Do software which allows users to paint models in a 3D space. Giving game modellers the same freedom as sculptors might have working on a 'real' object. 

The Xbox Kinect still has a ways to go but it is looking to provide the most potential.  Like something right out of a Science fiction movie where users can manipulate menus and information onscreen with gestures, no peripherals required and with a reasonable degree of accuracy.  It starts in gaming, with titles like Ghost Recon but who is to day this can’t expand to your home entertainment system, personal PC and maybe even business in the future.  Gaming is a fantastic way for technology to integrate into society, you can work out the bugs and get people used to interacting with technology in certain ways casually and at younger ages which helps them make the jump into mainstream.

Minority Report (2002)

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (2012)

It is safe to say that it is all conjecture at this point.  Sony has already said they will not be presenting a new system at the Industry Expo E3 this year and as of the last reports we are still years from seeing these systems in our homes. It is fun imagining though, how progress in computational power and design can come together to foster innovation. 

Doom (1990)

Future Doom?

Big developers are beginning to stock their offices with 'next gen' projects once again so a whole revolution in gaming could be right around the corner. It won't be long before the world of Augmented reality is brought right into our homes with the PlayStation Vita or WiiU which should both be available before the end of the year.  Game systems that can interact with our world the way we interact with theirs. We are moving toward increasingly immersive gaming experiences and graphics are just one part of it.  The industry is poised on new age of innovation. we are setting the groundwork for games we don't just play but games we can play in.