Next-Generation Video Game Systems

Graphics: Game play will become even more realistic. It will look like Final Fantasy cut scenes. If you haven't played any games in the series, take a look at the cut scenes from Final Fantasy X. They are amazing. With the new systems, you will be able to see blades of grass bend and break as you pass through them, see cracks in side-walks, and levels bigger than Grand Theft Auto. Or imagine sailing an ocean and a storm rages all about you!!

Physics: This is similar to graphics. Physics are in game 'natural' things, like the weather and background and lighting effects. Buildings will be bigger, more interactive, and more destructive. Everything solid will cast shadows. Blood, sweat and tears will look better than Fight Night Round 4. It seems that open-ended games are on the rise, so virtually anything will be possible. Even snow will layer realistically. Have you ever played a game while an EARTHQUAKE happened IN the game? Also, when you play an RPG, RTS, or MMORPG it will be more exciting to play because you can battle inside a volcano, in jungles, or snow covered mountain-tops.

Hardware: Today's systems are fast, but the future ones will be able to handle teraFLOPS. I'm not a computer whiz or anything, but I hear that this is pretty fast. Which means no loading time, glitches on the screen, or missing pixels. Sorry, Halo 3 players. No more tricks for you. You wiil also be able to play longer without your system burning up.

Sound: What you hear is important, as well as half the game. Dolby Pro Logic II will be old around 2015 or 2018. Will any one ready for the new standard, High Definition digital surround sound?! Imagine playing a Silent Hill game, with a dragging sound right behind you in a small room!! Or hearing rain fall all around you? You will also be able to hear which direction an enemy is coming.

Interface: I use that term because wireless controllers will be a thing of the past. YOU will be the controller. Tiny cameras placed around your t.v. will scan and track your body movements so you can run jump, or sneak up on enemies. Metal Gear Solid would be even more intense!!

And the upgrades: Directors from Hollywood are making games, which is a good thing. This means a lot of high quality games will be made, bringing up the standard to which all games will have to follow. This excludes niche games, like puzzle solving and party games. People will always have a good time with multi-player games. some games will feature voice commands, but better than SOCOM 3. You will be able to whisper, or if things are blowing up all around you, shout in the microphone. Even the interface will be pressure sensitive, so you can tread lightly through a forest. There have also been virtual reality games in the past, with a headset. In the future, it will be three dimensional. With many colors and also a bio feedback system. With pressure sensitive gloves, you will be able to lift, push and carry objects and feel the 'weight' of the object. Imagine playing Zelda in a virtual reality world!! Instead of the traditional two dimesional screen, future games will be played on a three dimensional projector screen. That Hadouken will look amazing!!!

But, this is all in the future, around 2018. Many of these new changes will take a while to make, because it takes time to make it right. So the next video game systems will have photo-realistic graphics, loading screens, and interactive controllers. But it will be worth the wait. I just hope it won't cost too much........

Gecko Joe, Next-Generation Video Game Systems Associated Content