7 HUGE Video Game Innovations on the Horizon | MojoPlays
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VOICE OVER: Dave Thibault
WRITTEN BY: Jarett Burke
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we're looking at the future of gaming! What devices or innovations will take games to the next level? Well here's just a few to think of… If you think what you're currently playing now is mind blowing, just wait for another five years or so.
7 Crazy Video Game Innovations on the Horizon
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we’re looking at the future of gaming! What devices or innovations will take games to the next level? Well here’s just a few to think of… If you think what you’re currently playing now is mind blowing, just wait for another five years or so.
A.I. Learning
While A.I. learning could mean a few things, like a machine learning to play (and dominate) a video game or even learning to create a game from scratch, in this instance we mean computer characters or NPCs absorbing knowledge, growing and adapting simply from their own actions and by interacting with human players. While we’re not quite there yet – though we do have ways of making Enemy A.I. more and more complex – the implications for gaming’s future are massive. Imagine playing “Call of Duty” and not being able to tell whether you’re playing against bots or actual human players? That’s right, A.I. enemies would become more difficult the longer you played against them, as they’d learn dynamic actions from their own experiences and also learn from human players’ actions as well. Also, not having to script NPCs to death would cut down time that games would need to spend in development. Let’s just hope enemy NPC’s become sentient.
Ray Tracing
Before we start talking about ray tracing, let’s say what it means first: it’s a rendering technique for making the lighting in video games more realistic, causing light to bounce off objects like it does in real life. For example, reflections will show in puddles in real time and will not require pre-rendering; and, shadows will be cast naturally by moving objects (again, without pre-rendering). The good news is that this feature is not too far off for console gamers, as both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will both feature advanced ray tracing technology; but you can currently see some examples of ray tracing right now in PC games running advanced Nvidia graphics cards. Expect this technology to explode during the next console generation, as developers will have more incentive for exploring this expensive technique because the games and systems will support it.
Cloud-Based Gaming
The idea of hosting games on remote servers and streaming them to our devices is one that COULD carry much potential in the future of gaming. But, up until this point, we’ve mostly been sold a false bill of goods in regard to the powers of cloud-based gaming… Do we even need to mention how awful Google Stadia has performed and sold since its release in Late 2019? No, we think not… Still that hasn’t stopped companies from pushing for more cloud based gaming. Microsoft’s Highly touted xCloud seems to be the next major player up to bat, though whether or not it’ll fare better or share the same fate as Stadia remains to be seen. The power of the cloud – at least for now – is best left to our imaginations until everyone on the planet has much, much better Internet connections. It’ll happen… just not yet.
VR Becoming Standard
If “Half Life: Alyx” is any indication, VR is indeed a viable gaming platform when support is strong. But right now, to own one a high-powered VR device, you’ll need a super powerful PC to (first of all) run the device and then you’ll need the expensive VR headset itself. That’s going to set you back a few bucks… But, as PlayStation has shown with its PSVR, and Google and Samsung (to a larger extent) have shown with their Cardboard and Gear VR, respectively, the future of VR gaming will be available to everyone… and not just those who’ve won the lottery or have a trust fund. The PSVR runs for about 350 dollars, while the Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR just require a smartphone and cheap headset in order to operate. And, as technology develops and prices decrease, we’re expecting VR to become a gaming standard in the not too distant future.
Wearable Gaming
Sure, we can technically quote/unquote “wear games” right now, as the Apple Watch has some games on it, but they’re all pretty basic; and, as we’ve mentioned already, there are many VR headsets currently available. But, we want some Tom Cruise /“Minority Report”-type stuff that blows our minds! Like… how about a controller in the form of gloves? It makes sense right? What could serve as a better controller than your hands?! The CaptoGlove is looking to do just that. Then there’s an armband – in MYO – that reads muscle movement and tension to control your PC, phone and other devices. That’s pretty far out! Headphones not delivering the sound quality you want? Well, you’ll soon be able to wear a backpack (named SubPac) that not only lets you hear the sound but FEEL it as well. Pretty soon we’ll be wearing full body suits like in “Ready Player One.” And before anyone says “Power Glove”, we’d counter that with “Virtual Boy” held up next to our previous entry.
Augmented Reality
We all got an – admittedly – quite basic taste of A.R. with the delightful “Pokemon Go!” that managed to blend the real world and virtual world together in damn-near perfection. Now, could you imagine a more complex gaming franchise making something similar with futuristic technology?? Running around our own neighborhoods, gunning down hordes of enemy invaders using our smartphones sounds awesome… but it should be noted; that games based around this concept have gotten people in trouble with the law before! Ok so AR may have some safety issues still yet to be addressed, but you can still enjoy some very cool A.R. games right now like “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite” and (of course) “Pokemon Go!” while you wait for the immediate future of A.R. gaming – which may be closer than you think with products like the Nreal Light glasses set to arrive sometime this year.
A.I. Building Games
You think games are more complex and better looking than ever now? Wait until a machine masters the ins-and-outs of game development – that will be a truly evolutionary leap forward for gaming. Right now companies are already having A.I. learn how to play games – and actually improve itself through playing games – so it’s not going to be too far off before A.I. has learned to build games too. A current example of rudimentary A.I. building can be found in the slew of recent procedurally generated environment games like “Dead Cells” and “No Man’s Sky.” When you compare these games to the earliest examples in the genre, like 1980’s “Rogue,” it’s easy to imagine that within the next 30 or 40 years we’ll have games completely made by machines. But will human input not be required at all? No… as we’ll still need that original spark of human creativity!
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we’re looking at the future of gaming! What devices or innovations will take games to the next level? Well here’s just a few to think of… If you think what you’re currently playing now is mind blowing, just wait for another five years or so.
A.I. Learning
While A.I. learning could mean a few things, like a machine learning to play (and dominate) a video game or even learning to create a game from scratch, in this instance we mean computer characters or NPCs absorbing knowledge, growing and adapting simply from their own actions and by interacting with human players. While we’re not quite there yet – though we do have ways of making Enemy A.I. more and more complex – the implications for gaming’s future are massive. Imagine playing “Call of Duty” and not being able to tell whether you’re playing against bots or actual human players? That’s right, A.I. enemies would become more difficult the longer you played against them, as they’d learn dynamic actions from their own experiences and also learn from human players’ actions as well. Also, not having to script NPCs to death would cut down time that games would need to spend in development. Let’s just hope enemy NPC’s become sentient.
Ray Tracing
Before we start talking about ray tracing, let’s say what it means first: it’s a rendering technique for making the lighting in video games more realistic, causing light to bounce off objects like it does in real life. For example, reflections will show in puddles in real time and will not require pre-rendering; and, shadows will be cast naturally by moving objects (again, without pre-rendering). The good news is that this feature is not too far off for console gamers, as both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will both feature advanced ray tracing technology; but you can currently see some examples of ray tracing right now in PC games running advanced Nvidia graphics cards. Expect this technology to explode during the next console generation, as developers will have more incentive for exploring this expensive technique because the games and systems will support it.
Cloud-Based Gaming
The idea of hosting games on remote servers and streaming them to our devices is one that COULD carry much potential in the future of gaming. But, up until this point, we’ve mostly been sold a false bill of goods in regard to the powers of cloud-based gaming… Do we even need to mention how awful Google Stadia has performed and sold since its release in Late 2019? No, we think not… Still that hasn’t stopped companies from pushing for more cloud based gaming. Microsoft’s Highly touted xCloud seems to be the next major player up to bat, though whether or not it’ll fare better or share the same fate as Stadia remains to be seen. The power of the cloud – at least for now – is best left to our imaginations until everyone on the planet has much, much better Internet connections. It’ll happen… just not yet.
VR Becoming Standard
If “Half Life: Alyx” is any indication, VR is indeed a viable gaming platform when support is strong. But right now, to own one a high-powered VR device, you’ll need a super powerful PC to (first of all) run the device and then you’ll need the expensive VR headset itself. That’s going to set you back a few bucks… But, as PlayStation has shown with its PSVR, and Google and Samsung (to a larger extent) have shown with their Cardboard and Gear VR, respectively, the future of VR gaming will be available to everyone… and not just those who’ve won the lottery or have a trust fund. The PSVR runs for about 350 dollars, while the Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR just require a smartphone and cheap headset in order to operate. And, as technology develops and prices decrease, we’re expecting VR to become a gaming standard in the not too distant future.
Wearable Gaming
Sure, we can technically quote/unquote “wear games” right now, as the Apple Watch has some games on it, but they’re all pretty basic; and, as we’ve mentioned already, there are many VR headsets currently available. But, we want some Tom Cruise /“Minority Report”-type stuff that blows our minds! Like… how about a controller in the form of gloves? It makes sense right? What could serve as a better controller than your hands?! The CaptoGlove is looking to do just that. Then there’s an armband – in MYO – that reads muscle movement and tension to control your PC, phone and other devices. That’s pretty far out! Headphones not delivering the sound quality you want? Well, you’ll soon be able to wear a backpack (named SubPac) that not only lets you hear the sound but FEEL it as well. Pretty soon we’ll be wearing full body suits like in “Ready Player One.” And before anyone says “Power Glove”, we’d counter that with “Virtual Boy” held up next to our previous entry.
Augmented Reality
We all got an – admittedly – quite basic taste of A.R. with the delightful “Pokemon Go!” that managed to blend the real world and virtual world together in damn-near perfection. Now, could you imagine a more complex gaming franchise making something similar with futuristic technology?? Running around our own neighborhoods, gunning down hordes of enemy invaders using our smartphones sounds awesome… but it should be noted; that games based around this concept have gotten people in trouble with the law before! Ok so AR may have some safety issues still yet to be addressed, but you can still enjoy some very cool A.R. games right now like “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite” and (of course) “Pokemon Go!” while you wait for the immediate future of A.R. gaming – which may be closer than you think with products like the Nreal Light glasses set to arrive sometime this year.
A.I. Building Games
You think games are more complex and better looking than ever now? Wait until a machine masters the ins-and-outs of game development – that will be a truly evolutionary leap forward for gaming. Right now companies are already having A.I. learn how to play games – and actually improve itself through playing games – so it’s not going to be too far off before A.I. has learned to build games too. A current example of rudimentary A.I. building can be found in the slew of recent procedurally generated environment games like “Dead Cells” and “No Man’s Sky.” When you compare these games to the earliest examples in the genre, like 1980’s “Rogue,” it’s easy to imagine that within the next 30 or 40 years we’ll have games completely made by machines. But will human input not be required at all? No… as we’ll still need that original spark of human creativity!
