mr_ed and myself found ourselves discussing the future of gaming the other day, or more specifically virtual realtiy games and i was just wondering what people's opinions were on how long it will take for one of the big hardware companies to release one. I realise obviously there would be various degrees of development over generations of console but i am refering to te first generation that puts you actuslly into the game via headset or whatever rather than watching on a monitor
We estimated around 25-30 years, considering the rapid development over that time period going from space invaders to current games, what do you think?

I would have thought it'd be in earlier. Isn't that what places like Intencity are - where you go and play virtual reality games.

I know there's a big difference between a huge game at an arcade and a console gaming machine, but I'd have thought 25years is a long time to get from where we are now to where you project us to be.

All the best,

possibly but you have to bear in mind how long arcade to home transitions take, even games like tekken 5 for example take months and months to be made over for consoles, considering the magnitude of technology needed here i could see there being a 4 or 5 year gap between truly top notch virtual reality games being avaliable in arcades and at home
Add to this the fact that each generation of console lasts say... 4 years so in 25 years you're looking at only 6 generations of console.

I am salivating already.

Virtual Reality died out with Nintendo's Vritual Boy system... Give it up! JK They make some pretty cool looking head gear that has a nice LCD screen, and you can turn your head to look around(I.E. you look up, the guy looks up). Combine that with the gecko gun thing, and you'll be the ultimate VR warrior! (I'll find that stuff for you )

EDIT: Found it! It's called the eMagin Z800 3D visor, costs $899, and It's suppose to be awesome! Here's a pic:


and here's the site: 3D visor

Virtual Boy... I remember when it came out that there was this contest where you could win one of those. I tried it once and I said something like "Oh God! Things can't get better than this"

Now I can't do anything but laugh at that.




P.S: I remember that I once played Doom in virtual reality. Was pretty sweet

I need virtual gaming now. Imagine being a sourcerer/wizard/elementalist on an online rpg...drool...

It's coming March 2006

Think outside the Box

Dude there are already a few very simple developing virtual reality games out there. Ever played Virtual EVE?

Nice. I think I will budget myself to get one.

I want complicated, realistic ones!

I want Metroid Prime 3 to be Virtual Reality. Or Halo, or Killzone, something!

drool...My god that would be fantastical. One day.

HALO in virtual reality......

that would be so friggen awsome! they would have to include a weapon too. (so that you can aim better,by your own skill's)

Halo It virtual reality would be good, but think about jedi knight using the force and a lightsaber!

I dont think we will see full virtual reality for a while yet, but I think we'll start to get very good partial virtual reality in the next couple of years.

And maybe add in the pain for extra realism LOL. oh god thatll definantely stur up problems.

Think back to 10 years ago
Virtual Boy by nintendo

http://www.vr32.de/frames.e.htm

Yeah, but we want new technology!

And not crappy stuff like the Virtual Boy

Ah, I dream for the day when I will be able to raise a fire golem from the floor using what appears to be my own hands.

Standing and moving and running. Perhaps virtual reality is the way to get the non-active computer generation to do a little exercise. Hmmm

Those obese kids would soon start sweating off the pounds when a horde of medieval warriors on horseback come a calling

Or maybe they would get more obese when they suffer from epilectic shocks and eventual paralysis from fear of being chopped up by an ogre and sliced by a wizard.

This could be an issue, but surely no worse than watching a 3D horror movie. I know myself having watched Disneyland Paris'


*shudders*

I have seen that in Paris

It was pretty good.

Of course now all the kids probably scream and bang on the door.

yeah they would need some sort of safty device since the players could accidently get hit by a car or fall down the stairs when they charge into the cavalry.

I was thinking about that myself. I can see the headlines now...

"Obese 11 year old dead when walks off of cliff while playing virtual reality game"

A little long

I read somewhere that in about 50 yrs we could be invincible because computers will be 'storing' something from us.

And another one, will be where people can send VR photos of something and they will appear. Sounds like the Red Lady from Resident Evil doesn't it?!

There is an invention in New Zealand of a chip that when looked at with a visor projects a movable 3D image, twisting the chip in your hand then moves the image around, or you can move around the image, moving closer zooms in and stepping back the image is smaller, I think this can be the building blocks of what is to come.
Has anyone else seen this stuff???

I think the gaming industry are avoiding the virtual reality. Think of how much contreversy happens with games using controllers and televisions. Then imagine kids in a room totally decked out in movement sensing "armor." And a large rifle. They would look like little space soldiers, and that would cause people to freak out. Good thing is... its unavoidable. Games are used to adventure away from reality and the company that makes the best, most realistic adventure will win. Soo just wait for one company to develope it and then allow commercial competition to do the rest. I would say by 2010 arcades will have realistic multi-player VR, and by 2020 decent home VR.

Im not really sure how far virtual reality, and eventually more or less 2nd reality such as the Matrix. For example, all senses, ability to take on a set apperance, etc, like a life simulation game you can control. This would be the most addicting game in history, since you could do really anything.

My estimate: 20 years maximum. Look at the difference in just about a decade, from Super Nintendo to Nintendo Revolution, or PS3/Xbox 360

Just go out and play Paintball or even laser tag but anyway my estimate is 20-25 years for a home VR system

On the VR that already exists do you have to actually move in real life to move in the game?

wat about the eyetoy thats gettin pretty close?

With Eyetoy you are still looking at a screen. That's not virtual reality.

Eyetoy is too simple as well.