As this generation of consoles draws to a close, the future of video games teems with possibility. In the next two years, new technology will bring changes to the industry beyond anything imagined.
2D is so 2009. What about 3D?
With movies like Avatar and Alice in Wonderland fuelling the 3D frenzy, consumers now wonder how long until we start seeing this technology at home. Well, it's closer than you think. Already on the market are 3D digital cameras; 3D televisions will become a big item this summer.
Will the PlayStation, Xbox or Wii ever be able to create 3D graphics? Unlikely. At least, not in this generation. For true 3D, a game needs to be in full, 1080p HD and running at around 120 frames per second, which is twice the current standard.
3D gaming will most likely have its infancy in Blu-ray-based games displayed on 3D televisions. Then, look to portable devices, either cellphones or a new portable system, to usher in the next dimension of video games. Trust Apple to enhance the HD gaming experience and bring 3D games to the new iPad.
iPod Touch and iPhone and iPad, oh my
Consoles and PCs will no longer drive the video game industry. Instead, consoles will react to the trends set by portable devices like cellphones. With a significantly shorter lifespan than consoles, they can yolk new technologies and adapt to consumers much more quickly, allowing portable devices to be on the cutting edge of gaming. The popularity of games on handheld devices such as the iPod Touch and iPhone create a symbiotic relationship with console gaming, each pushing the other to keep ideas moving in fresh new directions.
Also, with the iPad's high-definition graphics, you can rest assured its popularity and adaptability will climb with gamers over the next year. For all those who scoff that the iPad is a glorified iPhone that cannot compete with the latter's portability or convenience, Apple has only scratched the surface of the iPad's capabilities. With more and more adults and students looking for an all-in-one device that can cover all school, work, and entertainment needs without the cost and bulkiness of laptops, devices like the iPad, with Apple's powerful App Store behind it, will allow gaming to soar to new heights.
This generation ain't big enough for the three of us
With the console war over for this generation, a new war is brewing — the motion-controller war. Already announced is Project Natal on the Xbox 360, Move for the PlayStation 3, and the Wii Motion Plus for the Nintendo Wii. These add-ons will build on the movement innovation from the Nintendo Wii and apply it to a much larger scale. While Wii Motion Plus and Move use controllers for their motion-sensitivity, the true innovation comes from Microsoft. Project Natal uses a system of motion-sensing cameras allowing a player's entire body to become the controller. All three systems, which should start rolling out for the holiday season, will allow gamers an unprecedented level of interaction with a virtual world.
We can't expect the next generation of consoles until 2012 at the earliest, but the industry, powered by changing trends and technology, will develop faster in the next two years than it has in the last decade. It is an industry that, in order to survive, will need to be more flexible and adaptable to a changing world and its changing gamers.
When he's not teaching junior high, St. Albert Catholic High alumnus Derek Mitchell spends his free time connected to a video game console.
