Where do games need to progress most this decade?

[DustyDrB]

I've read a good a bit lately about graphics in games. We have our share of ugly games still (Dragon Age: Origins sticks out, a lot of that has more to do with the design choices, though), but we're getting to a point where even our ugliest games still look pretty good at least [footnote]Within reason. I'm not talking about games like this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQAFJzwZnWo&feature=related].[/footnote]. This doesn't mean everyone is pleased to just stand pat graphically, of course. Many gamers adamantly make sure they have the best equipment to play games and don't like the idea of it not being used to its fullest potential.

But the decade past can be known for two things: improved graphics and motion controls (love them or hate them). And it leaves many wondering what should the trend for improving games from here and into the rest of this decade. So what should it be?

My answer? AI.
We have stunning looking visuals and characters that feel real...until they are free to wonder on their own. I still remember The Saboteur earlier this year and a certain essential character would not stop rushing into the oncoming wave of hostiles. For all except the biggest budget titles (I've heard that games like Halo Reach and Black Ops don't struggle so much in this department), AI is generally idiotic to the point of being frustrating. I don't pretend to know the answer of how to create better friendly (and enemy. Think about how many games have enemies who's AI you can easily exploit to earn a cheap win or kill), but I feel it is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

That's just my opinion. What's yours?

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

New IPs. That is all.

 

[Mittens The Kitten]

mixing genres

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

Non-linearity, In-game decisions and consequences, and yes...

AI.

Also, naturally, immersion and characterisation never hurt anyone.

 

[kebab4you]

F.U.N!
and stop being such graphic whores T.T"

 

[Tanis]

I'd say story.

Like some smarter than me have said - we need our 'Citizen Kain' or even 'The Birds'.

How can video games be taken seriously when most of the stories are crap at best, and porno 'good' at best.

 

[EBonhawk09]

New IPs.

I agree with this.

I'd say story.

Like some smarter than me have said - we need our 'Citizen Kain' or even 'The Birds'.

And this.
We need more original IPs, especially ones that tell a good, strong story. When I play a new game, the first thing I play it for is the story. And if the story sucks, then I tend to quickly lose interest, even if the game has good multiplayer. My only exception for this is BFBC 2.

 

[FirstPersonWinner]

New IPs.

Story. Especially story that pulls you in, with good character motivation and development. And dude, games need a good rise in action and climax just like movies and books do. (Good Strides: Uncharted, Mass Effect)(Bad Strides: Gears of War, God of War, Halo, Halo, Halo, Halo)

Oh, and interesting gameplay changes in shooters (Good Strides: Brink, Mass Effect, Uncharted, Resistance)Bad Strides (Modern Warfare, Halo, Halo, Halo, Halo)

 

[migo]

I was going to say AI as well.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

I will agree with AI. How is it that the FPS genre has not seen a notable advancement in AI in more than a decade? There are a dozen different core theories on how to implement AI of various kinds and yet the best selling game of all time relied on little more than scripted action (the map designer is responsible for the intelligence and as a result it is not intelligent as the script runs no matter the circumstance) and an incredibly simple deterministic finite state machine.

Advances in AI would at long last allow for narrative driven games that are truly non-linear.

 

[Super Toast]

We need to escape the uncanny valley. Heavy Rain came close, but didn't quite pull it off.

 

[zehydra]

What we need to see in the next decade (if we want better games), is more developer time, less release date pressure/rush. Give the developers time and they will make not only a better game, but a game WITH LESS BUGS.

less corporatism

more time

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

If the industry can stop with this motion controlled bullshit I'll be happy.

 

[mindlesspuppet]

On 3D visuals for all the new 3D TVs/Monitors and Motion Controllers.



...



Kidding. I would say "moral" systems, but the Witcher pretty much laid the ground work for proper decision systems so it shouldn't take a decade.

Truth be told, I'd like to see progress made in the efficiency of making games above all else. This would mean better/cheaper tools for such things.

This would allow dev teams to be smaller, cut down on dev time, indie studios could compete with bigger studios, the cost of games might actually come down since less manpower is needed, etc etc.

 

[DustyDrB]

I will agree with AI. How is it that the FPS genre has not seen a notable advancement in AI in more than a decade? There are a dozen different core theories on how to implement AI of various kinds and yet the best selling game of all time relied on little more than scripted action (the map designer is responsible for the intelligence and as a result it is not intelligent as the script runs no matter the circumstance) and an incredibly simple deterministic finite state machine.

Advances in AI would at long last allow for narrative driven games that are truly non-linear.

Saying it much better than I did.

Truth be told, I'd like to see progress made in the efficiency of making games above all else. This would mean better/cheaper tools for such things.

This would allow dev teams to be smaller, cut down on dev time, indie studios could compete with bigger studios, the cost of games might actually come down since less manpower is needed, etc etc.

That kind of has happened with the Unreal Engine 3. So many games are built off of it, as it is easy (relative to building your own engine) to work with. The problem is that many devs don't bother to add their own artistic design, leaving us with a lot of games that look the same.
Seriously, look at this list [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unreal_Engine_games#Unreal_Engine_3]. Only a few of those games have a pretty distinctive art style (Enslaved, Mirror's Edge, Mass Effect, Borderlands).

 

[mindlesspuppet]

Truth be told, I'd like to see progress made in the efficiency of making games above all else. This would mean better/cheaper tools for such things.

This would allow dev teams to be smaller, cut down on dev time, indie studios could compete with bigger studios, the cost of games might actually come down since less manpower is needed, etc etc.

That kind of has happened with the Unreal Engine 3. So many games are built off of it, as it is easy (relative to building your own engine) to work with. The problem is that many devs don't bother to add their own artistic design, leaving us with a lot of games that look the same.
Seriously, look at this list [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unreal_Engine_games#Unreal_Engine_3]. Only a few of those games have a pretty distinctive art style (Enslaved, Mirror's Edge, Mass Effect, Borderlands).

Yeah, I agree to some extent. Though, as great as the U3 engine is, it hasn't really made leaps and bounds for those creating assets for games. I think if id Software licenses out the Tech 5 engine we'll see huge improvements in productivity due to its megatexturing, environment options, etc.

Another thing would be if motion capturing became more accessible to everyone. This [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106666-Software-Designer-Turns-Kinect-into-Cheap-Motion-Capture-Rig] seems like a could start in that direction. Motion capture is expensive for larger studios and intangible for smaller ones, and makes a huge difference in the quality of animation.

Hell, even something as simple as Mudbox becoming more of an actual competitor to ZBrush could help improve productivity as it's interface allows it to much more easier be used in a Maya or Max workflow.

 

[falcon1985]

Social Acceptance. IF we can get it to maybe half the status of movies that would be a great victory for gaming.

As for the actual game mechanics, i'd say immersion. Too many games just feel like you are pushing buttons, instead of living the character's life as intended. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, i can't explain what i mean any better then that.

 

[Chibz]

New IPs: This way Halo & CoD et al can be finally put to rest before they suck even more.

More emphasis on gameplay: Could we get the storylines to be a lot less invasive? Please?

And... better social acceptance of gaming.

As for the actual game mechanics, i'd say immersion. Too many games just feel like you are pushing buttons, instead of living the character's life as intended. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, i can't explain what i mean any better then that.

What, you WANT to follow someone along in their boring life? The Sims is perfect for you then!

 

[pat34us]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned bugs yet, honestly everything you guys have mentioned could take a back seat to doing better play testing looking specifically for bugs and fixing them PRE-RELEASE and not relying on fixing them via patches.

 

[pyrosaw]

Fixing bugs and glitching*cough*Obsidian*cough*,
Better AI,
Less focus on Motion controls and 3D.
I can't really say much that hasn't been said. Indie developers are getting the help they need to make amazing expriences. Lots of company's are trying to innovate already existing genres. Good enough for me.