My first job was in the computer games industry. A game used to be an alternate reality, like a fantasy novel, or film. You could never fool the player that what they were playing was real because there wasn't the processing power to render semi-reality. So you thought about gameplay and enhancing the alternate paradigm you'd created. Like many in the industry, I yearned for the day when the technology was good enough for me not to know the difference. And I was awe-inspired by what we could do when we could plot an alternate reality that was real enough to be real.
Then a sad thing happened. Reality took over as the only driver in development. All focus was on making something look real. And now the alternate reality doesn't exist; only simulation of actual reality. The FPS genre is seen as distinct from sports sims, but are they? I'd argue no. I'd argue that an FPS is just an ever more real simulation of a real world situation. When was the last time you saw a game that either created a genre or didn't sit inside one that already existed?
There is a reason that 3D is big again now and it flows directly from my argument. It's the breaking down of another departure from reality. Full body suits that enable you to feel the impact of what you are doing are next. It's just a logical extension of the hydraulic chair or any kind of haptic technology.
The last wall to be broken down is that between the interface and the human brain. When we can plug in directly and there really is no difference between generated experience and actual experience, I believe we're fucked. Who would willingly spend a life that's often disappointing, frustrating, and unfulfilled when a believable alternative is handed on a plate.
What actually is a life? Is it what you experience or what you can choose to experience?
I have seen it, yeah. I wouldn't have thought to link it to what I was saying but it definitely is linked. It might even have influenced me more than I thought. Very well spotted, Mr Joe.
Diving into a think hole again I see. May I join you?
Are you choosing the experiences, or are the experiences choosing you? And are these experiences meaningful? Is life the culmination of meanings we attach to experiences? Why do we choose to attach meaning to some experiences, and not others. What are any of our choices if not an internal mind game to see what will happen, to give us an experience to describe as life. What happens when we stop playing these games...I don't want to know that, sounds meaningless.
Started on a point, turned into a rant, and ended up as questioning existence. You're more than welcome to join me on this. I'd sooner not be alone, but I don't want to drag anyone down with me.
Define meaningful, though, and be careful how you do it.
Drag? How do you know it's down and not up? Is this an ascending or descending spiral? Is there a fixed point in which to orient myself?
Careful!? Is that a warning? What exactly do you think you are warning me of, being wrong? I cannot define "meaningful" for you nor do I think I want to with such a danger sign. Sounds like a mind trap. I can only define things of meaning for myself, and I know this definition isn't absolute.
It did sound like a warning but it wasn't directed at you, but at all humanity. It wasn't a trap for you but again, for everyone. If humans choose a reality that is engineered and controlled by a small subset of other humans, how likely is it that they'll get the reality they want, as opposed to the reality that is most profitable? How likely is it that those who control "reality" will not be corrupted in some way by their new-found power? It was a sly comment on what already happens in the world.
You may want to dismiss it, though, because I haven't slept since Thursday night (it's Sunday morning), I'm suffering with the flu, I'm hugely stressed at a launch date tomorrow (despite thinking I've thought of everything and all will be well), I've had caffeine (despite being a bit allergic, and it making my brain spin), I've run out of ice cream, I'm being followed around by a housefly which is quite patently in love with me because it refuses to be more than a few feet from me, and I'm uncharacteristically grumpy and slightly dazed. :)
I have some ice cream. You're welcome to it. There are also popsicles if you want. And the fly probably thinks you stink good. You may want to bathe. :)
What was the best era for video games?
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My first job was in the computer games industry. A game used to be an alternate reality, like a fantasy novel, or film. You could never fool the player that what they were playing was real because there wasn't the processing power to render semi-reality. So you thought about gameplay and enhancing the alternate paradigm you'd created. Like many in the industry, I yearned for the day when the technology was good enough for me not to know the difference. And I was awe-inspired by what we could do when we could plot an alternate reality that was real enough to be real.
Then a sad thing happened. Reality took over as the only driver in development. All focus was on making something look real. And now the alternate reality doesn't exist; only simulation of actual reality. The FPS genre is seen as distinct from sports sims, but are they? I'd argue no. I'd argue that an FPS is just an ever more real simulation of a real world situation. When was the last time you saw a game that either created a genre or didn't sit inside one that already existed?
There is a reason that 3D is big again now and it flows directly from my argument. It's the breaking down of another departure from reality. Full body suits that enable you to feel the impact of what you are doing are next. It's just a logical extension of the hydraulic chair or any kind of haptic technology.
The last wall to be broken down is that between the interface and the human brain. When we can plug in directly and there really is no difference between generated experience and actual experience, I believe we're fucked. Who would willingly spend a life that's often disappointing, frustrating, and unfulfilled when a believable alternative is handed on a plate.
What actually is a life? Is it what you experience or what you can choose to experience?
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[Old Memory]
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howaminotmyself
12 years ago
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I presume you've already seen Videodrome? If not, check it out, I think it'a a great commentary on topics such as this.
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dappled
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I have seen it, yeah. I wouldn't have thought to link it to what I was saying but it definitely is linked. It might even have influenced me more than I thought. Very well spotted, Mr Joe.
Diving into a think hole again I see. May I join you?
Are you choosing the experiences, or are the experiences choosing you? And are these experiences meaningful? Is life the culmination of meanings we attach to experiences? Why do we choose to attach meaning to some experiences, and not others. What are any of our choices if not an internal mind game to see what will happen, to give us an experience to describe as life. What happens when we stop playing these games...I don't want to know that, sounds meaningless.
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dappled
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Started on a point, turned into a rant, and ended up as questioning existence. You're more than welcome to join me on this. I'd sooner not be alone, but I don't want to drag anyone down with me.
Define meaningful, though, and be careful how you do it.
--
howaminotmyself
12 years ago
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Drag? How do you know it's down and not up? Is this an ascending or descending spiral? Is there a fixed point in which to orient myself?
Careful!? Is that a warning? What exactly do you think you are warning me of, being wrong? I cannot define "meaningful" for you nor do I think I want to with such a danger sign. Sounds like a mind trap. I can only define things of meaning for myself, and I know this definition isn't absolute.
Are you going to define "meaningful" for me?
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dappled
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It did sound like a warning but it wasn't directed at you, but at all humanity. It wasn't a trap for you but again, for everyone. If humans choose a reality that is engineered and controlled by a small subset of other humans, how likely is it that they'll get the reality they want, as opposed to the reality that is most profitable? How likely is it that those who control "reality" will not be corrupted in some way by their new-found power? It was a sly comment on what already happens in the world.
You may want to dismiss it, though, because I haven't slept since Thursday night (it's Sunday morning), I'm suffering with the flu, I'm hugely stressed at a launch date tomorrow (despite thinking I've thought of everything and all will be well), I've had caffeine (despite being a bit allergic, and it making my brain spin), I've run out of ice cream, I'm being followed around by a housefly which is quite patently in love with me because it refuses to be more than a few feet from me, and I'm uncharacteristically grumpy and slightly dazed. :)
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howaminotmyself
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I have some ice cream. You're welcome to it. There are also popsicles if you want. And the fly probably thinks you stink good. You may want to bathe. :)