Poll: Are games reaching their pinnacle?

[Rattja]

Well no, we have a long road ahead until we reach the top. We are not even doing the best we are currently able to do, so no, not at all.

First we need to get games that combine complex and deep game mechanics together with good graphics and story, not one or the other. Then we need viritual reality.
When we reach that point, that's where I fail to see where to go next.

 

[aozgolo]

I hope we are plateauing graphically so that game developers can start pushing the boundary in other aspects of gameplay, but I doubt that's true.

 

[G00N3R7883]

There are lots of things that can be improved in games. My number one desire is to see AI improve for both enemies and friendly NPCs. After that, I want to see games designed with multiple quest solutions and branching narratives - and not just in RPGs but all genres.

 

[loa]

The AAA game industry is slowly crawling out of a black and brown ditch, far away from its peak as far as I am concerned.

 

[Vivi22]

Once again I ask to the members of the Escapist their opinions. I really have no insightful thoughts about this topic. No context other than what do gamers think? Are we seeing this year (or next one) the best that gaming will ever be able to offer? If not, what else is left to create or to improve?

This question makes about as much sense as asking if books or movies have reached their pinnacle. That is to say it makes no sense. It's completely unanswerable because the question itself doesn't actually mean anything.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Nah, don't be daft. They haven't even bothered innovating much more than graphics and thats still a fairly long way from where they want to get it. I have been playing games from the late 90's/early 00's recently and i can say with great sadness that the gaming industry as a whole has seemingly given up trying to do much more than make games look pretty.

Polish that turd all you want but if the core elements are weak and childish then the best graphics in the world won't make the game any better.

 

[Smooth Operator]

For people without imagination games probably soon will be at their end yes, one solid photo-realistic game and that is their gaming life done.
But for everyone else there is absolutely no limit, whatever you can imagine will some day be done. Or if it's not convincing enough, books have been around for 5000 years did you see them reaching a pinnacle that will never be surpassed?

 

[gorfias]

In terms of graphics, there is so far to go. Gameplay? Gen 6 was capable of about anything I'd want. It's just a matter of applying it.

Being frank. I really don't want to see that. The bleeding edge doesn't make games look good. Quality art direction does and the people that don't understand that are stupid.

Art direction matters. For instance, most people seem to agree that Bioshock 1 had superior graphics to 2. But the art direction in 2 was so much better.

But you look at the Wii vs. Wii U, using very similar art direction? They're really done something special and I give them kudos for it. And I think there is plenty of room to grow.

But the original Xbox and PS2 controllers really did what I want. Games like G-d of War, Halo2, Ratchet and Clank showed that there is only so many new ways to play.

 

[RiseUp]

This is like asking if film reached its peak by the mid-1930's, or even that it has since or ever will. It's impossible to nail down the objective quality of an entire art form, but I will say that games have a lot of room to grow, and that we should see better and more ambitious games outside of the stagnant AAA market as people continue to iterate and experiment.

 

[angryscotsman93]

Well, let me ask you a question: has literature reached its pinnacle? What about painting? Theater? No? Neither have games, because I honestly don't consider it to be possible.

Now, just to make sure we're on the same page, here, my definition of "pinnacle" is "perfection": as in, "We have reached the absolute peak of what is possible with our medium, and there's no way in hell we can ever do better." And that's straight up impossible. True perfection is nearly unreachable, even in theoretical matters (where's my 100%-efficiency engine, SCIENTISTS?), and when you add in subjectivity, where everyone has their own standards for what constitutes the pinnacle of excellence, you just can't please everyone to the point that everyone agrees it's perfect. And that's the way I like it. I don't know about you, but I find the idea of truly reaching perfection to be absolutely depressing. Imagine playing a game so utterly amazing, that every other game in existence feels like playing the Starship Troopers video game while a black-belt kicks you in the groin- I can't help but feel like life would be unbearable after that, because THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.

So long as perfection remains just out of reach, people will continue to strive for it, and will continue to make amazing, wonderful things. And I'm looking forward to that.

 

[mecegirl]

As a whole? No. The AAA industry perhaps, but that seems to be a self imposed limitation than anything. But right now it seems to me that with the strides taken on the independent side of things we still have a long way to go. Nothing can reach new heights unless risks are taken, and unless seemingly out there ideas are followed up on. the AAA industry has all but given up on pushing the envelope on everything but HD graphics.

 

[Silence]

Not even CLOSE.

If you can name me instantly 5 games which have a great and memorable story AND incredible gameplay, I will say to you, that maybe games know what they are now.

But pinnacle? What?

 

[FPLOON]

I wish... but, then I slap myself and say "No you don't!" before I reply back with a "SETTLE IT IN SMASH!!" reference...

Other than that, the "pinnacle" in question is more subjective than the diversity in video games... and the latter covers more bases than an average RTS match...

 

[Rednog]

I think right now games are stagnant, if anything. Gameplay has been at a point where no one is really going out of their way to shake things up. Most games introduce their mechanics in the first few minutes and you're pretty much done with it. Which is really a shame, because when a game extends out for 10+ hours and I'm just doing the same thing in different environments I get a little bored.
And we all know that graphics are no where near peaking, look at e3 demos from this year, last year, and the year before that. All those pretty screen shots and beautifully rendered clips...yea no one has delivered those yet.

 

[zumbledum]

until we reach star trek level holo decks its pretty easy to see ways to improve. im not just talking the full sensory immersion but also the computational power to have free thinking ai opponents / companions w/e

 

[ObserverStatus]

Nothing short of Sword Art Online style nerve gear will make me say gaming has reached its pinnacle.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

Ok well there's a lot of things to be improved upon: character development, AI, open-ended storylines with impacts from player choices, real-world exploration and dynamically generated, physics, interactivity, and of course on the technology side, there's the immersion provided by sound and graphics that is always on the uptake. I'll admit that there's a slight plateau with the last generation and the current one, and we aren't seeing a whole lot of difference just yet apart from gimmicky little things.

BUT, we also have to admit things have come a very long way indeed. Ok, maybe there are only a few shining stars at the moment that really stand out and try something new or different, but the story telling has actually matured quite a bit. If you look at the games of the previous generation, and try looking back even further, the norm is that you still have to *have* a story, no matter how crap it is. This is not taking brilliant examples from the past that were ahead of their time, I'm talking about in general. Nowadays, a review will absolutely crush a game if the story is far too bland to engage anyone.

 

[PinkiePyro]

I think we have hit a platu for now .. untill we figure out cheaper hologram tech and/or other VR stuff like the oculas