Help with a potential video game exhibit.

[scooterb23]

Hey everyone, as most of you remember, I spent several years working at COSI, a science center in Columbus, Ohio. I left the job a few months ago, but they have contacted me because they remembered I was a video gamer. It seems that they are currently in the brainstorming phase for a future exhibit based around video games / virtual reality / immersive technologies and the like.

Here's where you come in. I have been sent a few questions. They would like to hear opinions from REAL GAMERS about the themes they are talking about including in the exhibit.

So, here are the questions, they are very broad...so please, type as much as you feel you need to answer the questions to your satisfaction:

1. What experiences would you expect to have in an exhibition about video gaming, virtual worlds, and immersive technologies?

2. What's the coolest experience you can imagine having with this technology?

3. What do you think will be the next big breakthroughs in gaming in the next 5-10 years?

4. If development continues on this project, what corporate or research partners do you think we should work with to develop the exhibition? (This one may be more of a local-based question for specific companies, but general ideas would be helpful as well).

Also, I know that video games have been tackled as museum exhibits before...does anyone have info on those exhibits? Websites, reviews, current locations etc. It'd probably be helpful to ensure there's not too much duplication.

Finally, if there's anything else that you think is important, please write it down.

Thanks everyone for their time, and hopefully, for your answers.

Scott

[theChad]

I don't have any suggestions yet, but I would just like to say that this is an amazing idea and I hope they go through with it. I haven't been to COSI since I was like 12. I will be brainstorming and get back to you.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

1. What experiences would you expect to have in an exhibition about video gaming, virtual worlds, and immersive technologies?
At least a modest timeline display. In the space of just over 40 years (from the beginnings of Ralph Baer's Black Box prototypes), we've done from big booping blocks on a B&W screen to full-color hi-def near-photorealism with 5.1 surround. Name me even one other technology that's had that kind of curve. A side display might be technology that has emerged from that curve and benefits other areas: 3D medical imaging, accident reconstruction, tele-operator systems (such as the shuttle's arm), etc.; a lot of graphics technology has been driven by the video game industry, even before Hollywood took it on board as anything more than a novelty. Video games are kind of like the space program: it wouldn't hurt to sell the public on what good they do. Examples of handicapped gaming gear might be good here too.


2. What's the coolest experience you can imagine having with this technology?
I guess hot holodeck sex is right out, so...me personally? Virtual freakin' space shuttle mission. Problem is, you can do that at NASA in Houston, or at Spacecamp, or what have you. So, what about a great big life-sized version of Pong? Or Breakout? Have the player wear some kind of sensor on a belt or somesuch, and have a huge paddle follow that sensor. They've gotta run like hell to catch the ball.


3. What do you think will be the next big breakthroughs in gaming in the next 5-10 years?
Massively multiplayer in areas other than RPGs. The technology is there. Think about it: you could literally recruit an entire virtual football team, play seasons, and compete for something along the lines of a virtual Super Bowl. Rather than picking plays and handing everything except 1 or 2 players off to the computer, you literally have an entire football team capable of doing human stuff like going completely off-script to save the day...or do something staggeringly stupid. It doesn't have to be football either.


4. If development continues on this project, what corporate or research partners do you think we should work with to develop the exhibition?
There are obvious ones, but also less obvious ones - much as I may or may not like the companies in question, never forget EA, Activision-Blizzard...the biggies.

[GrandAmChandler]

Stickied, because this is important. This means something.

[Trebuken]

1. What experiences would you expect to have in an exhibition about video gaming, virtual worlds, and immersive technologies?

-Wii motion controls and the technology behind them as well as additional Wii add-ons such as the guns, wheels, and Wii Fit.
-Virtual Worlds would need to include World of Warcraft, Playstation Home, Second Life would be huge, it's been featured on several TV programs...
-3D Television is now available and may continue to advance. Also holographic technology as recently displayed on CNN's election coverage has a future if it can be made cost effective.

2. What's the coolest experience you can imagine having with this technology?

-I think the initial potential would be at theme parks -- because f the cost, espeacially with regards to holograms.
-Associating with people from around the world, with automatic translating in some instances, introduces gaming as a shared culture.
-Competitive gaming events and the rise of gaming centers (LAN centers) as opposed to Arcades.

3. What do you think will be the next big breakthroughs in gaming in the next 5-10 years?

I don't see anything huge in that span, we know that that is only 1 or two cycles of systems.

-Wii motion plus will likely lead to even more motion controls.
-Blu-Ray, mass storage increases.
-More authenticate and standardized 1080p gaming, maybe even 2160p might pop up at some point (Quad HDTV).
-Moore's Law increase in processing speed. We may see dramatic changes in the amount of bandwidth people can gain over the internet which could allow for superior online gaming and possibly even multi-tasking online activities (e.g. playing WOW while streaming a Netflix Video to your second monitor ((without lag))).

4. If development continues on this project, what corporate or research partners do you think we should work with to develop the exhibition?

-Digital Press, Atari-Age, Ben Heck, etc.

[scooterb23]

Thanks so far for the info. If anyone else is pondering writing something (I see lots of people have at least looked...so opinions have to be out there). I encourage you to write your thoughts soon, I'm supposed to report back by Monday or Tuesaday at the latest.

Thanks!!

[Cornelius]

I'm still thinking about this, but I can answer 1 question now.




3. What do you think will be the next big breakthroughs in gaming in the next 5-10 years?

Head Tracking for desktop VR displays. This actually would not be too hard to set up a demo of, since this Johnny Lee has his software available for download.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

[s1lence]

1. What experiences would you expect to have in an exhibition about video gaming, virtual worlds, and immersive technologies? First off you need history of where gaming came from and the various attempted to move technology forward over the years, like the Power Glove or the Virtual Boy. Then you need to highlight the anticipated techs that are in the pipeline or are being used now, like holographics or whatever the lastest and greatest graphcial concepts are coming. Language conversion in real time, that would be really sweet.

2. What's the coolest experience you can imagine having with this technology? Being able to communicate with anyone around the world with ease. This isn't just for gaming, but something that would help bring the world more together. The realism of future gaming is almost scary as its getting the point that real and make believe are blending together.


3. What do you think will be the next big breakthroughs in gaming in the next 5-10 years?
Accurate and usable motion controls in all games, not just a gimmick. The use of mostly downloadable games and not actual retail copies for games. MMORPG's and FPS that have huge lobbies (more then 50 in a FPS) with people all over the world playing with little if any lag what so ever. Full body modeling, not just facial, in all games so you can actually play as you. The next step in HDTVs that makes 1080p the low end standard (Thats in 10 years)

4. If development continues on this project, what corporate or research partners do you think we should work with to develop the exhibition? (This one may be more of a local-based question for specific companies, but general ideas would be helpful as well).

Well for the historic portions, DP, Atari Age and such. For the modern items you would groups that are associated with things like Popular Science and other groups related to PC development. This would not include most game developers as the big boys just seem to know how to implement ideas, not create them. Some of the graphical engine creators would be another source.

[scooterb23]

I know it's a sticky up here, so it doesn't need a "bump" but if there are others who want to have their 2 cents worth included in my report back to the heads of this project. You've got to have something in by tomorrow around 1-2 PM (Eastern) at the latest. Even after that point, I'll be happy to field comments, just realize that it may not get shared after that point (unless it is really good).

Doesn't even have to be about all the questions, just 1, completely random thoughts...I can use it all.

Thanks again for the responses so far, there's lots of good stuff here.

[MonoTekETeA]

So, what about a great big life-sized version of Pong? Or Breakout? Have the player wear some kind of sensor on a belt or somesuch, and have a huge paddle follow that sensor. They've gotta run like hell to catch the ball.

Ditto'd for truth. This exact thing popped into my mind instantaneously. It is easily something that everyone could get into and understand, and with those projector popcorn/ice hockey games in FYE, the technology is easily there for Pong.

Good minds thing alike PDF, kick ass.

[nintendoeats]

1. What experiences would you expect to have in an exhibition about video gaming, virtual worlds, and immersive technologies?

Something that conveys how gaming has moved along a story telling medium would be good. I think that the real strength that games have is that they permit you to think of yourself as a character in any game. the most common way this manifests is "oh man. I killed that guy. Nicko Bellic didn't kill that guy: I did." this tells us something about ourselves. How do you react to the fact that you killed that guy? Games like Fallout 3 offer more innocent example. inone situation, you find a town of cannibals (who are also ultra-right wing republicans. political commentary much?). How do you react? What are you going to do about it? will you do anything?

Getting to the point, we should emphasies that element of video games. So, here is my proposition: sit someone down in front of a computer and let them meet three characters. Give them some preset questions to ask(alot of them though, enough that they can't ask all of them) and then have them give them this situation, which some of you may be framiliar with:

You are in a burning building. The 3 people you just met are unconcious in front of you. You can save one person, throw one out the window and leave the other one to die. decide.

Lastly, put them in the funeral for the person that they left to die. Hear about what they had done, meet the people that cared about them etc etc. Of course the other two will be there. There reactions will be another factor.

The idea is to put the "player" in a situation where they get involved with characters, make decisions about them their fates, and then deals with the ramifications.



2. What's the coolest experience you can imagine having with this technology?

Doing something in an emmersive virtual environment that I had never even considered doing in real life. suprise me.



3. What do you think will be the next big breakthroughs in gaming in the next 5-10 years?

Well, I can pretty much guarantee you that open world is the future. I can't say that I neccesarily like it, but we will almost certainly see less closed, controlled experiences ala Half-Life or MGS. However, actual storytelling is probably going to advance significantly. Multiple endings have become almost standard by now, which is in line with the open-world shift. You want to see the future: Fallout 3 but even better.

As far as actual brekthroughs, I think that we are going to see more in the way of developments of consoles themselves(such as more inventive uses of DLC, or 4th wall breaking ala Psycho Mantis and your memory card), rather than games. Actual game technology and ideas will get better, but I can't think of any "breakthroughs" that might happen. Of course, if I could than I would probably be making shedloads of money as a game designer. I have ideas for games, but I wouldn't say that any of them would work outside of the context which I imagine for them.


Finally, if there's anything else that you think is important, please write it down.
This sounds like a prime oppertunity to portray games as an art form. Since we can't get Jack Thompson to Play Metal Gear Solid 4, lets at least try to convince him that it has value to our culture.

[nintendoeats]

Ok, heres another thought. Make a version of rock band...with a real guitar. Push the fact that games make things about 8 trillion times easier than they really are. I guarantee you that no one would get through a whole song. Unfortunately we can do a thing where you AQCTUALLY have to gun down someone on the road and then escape the cops by crashing into a railing and flying out your windsheild into the river. Murder Simulator my ass.

[Vectorman0]

I am un-sticking this this. I think it will get more exposure in with the regular threads. Everyone glosses over the few threads at the top.