🚀 go-pugleaf

Daniel Starr (starr-...@yale.edu) wrote:
 ( lots 'o' stuff zapped by my discretionary prowess )

: [Invitation:  anyone want to fire off a prediction or two on what new
: developments / trends we're likely to see in computer gaming over the next
: year or two?  Mine:

: --SVGA becomes relatively frequent on "hot" games by Christmas '94.

SVGA and VESA are indeed becoming more an more popular, but unfortunately to 
do any real graphics intensive apps, you need a bit more computing power than 
what the average user (according to tha SPA) has. When 486's are commonplace 
and the Pentium sneaks into the home, maybe.

: --CD-ROM does NOT take over, but by middle of next year enhanced CD-ROM

For game software, I doubt it, unless lots of disk caching is done. CD-ROM is 
a pretty slow format. There are lots of developers jumping on the bandwagon, 
the one I work for included, but I don't think is a) as popular or b) as great 
as everybody says. One exception... many games that are coming out nowadays 
are upwards of 20 megs, some even more. It costs a manufacturer about a dollar 
for every high density disk duplicated. Even compressed, this takes 9-10 
disks, and 9-10 dollars. It costs about a dollar to make one 
cd-rom. I think what CD rom will be come is a great new storage media to fit 
large games in, cheaper.

: --Science-fiction adventure and role-playing games become much more frequent.

I think (this is my opinion, so don't flame me too bad) most people are sick 
of the "same ol same ol" and want something new. The games that will be hot 
are the ones that are a completely new concept in gaming. The key to all 
ultra-successful games is that they are based on concepts that are completely 
new. Games are meant to entertain,a nd peopel are always striving for 
something new to entertain them. Granted, an occasional clone will make 
popularity, but will never be as wll know, or as successful as the original.

: --Role-playing games with detailed, formatted worlds, a la Darklands or
:   Pirates!, become more common.

See above. Yes, there will be a lot more clones, because these ventures were 
succesful, and companies know they can make a buck on clones. But as 
succesful, no. People want new ideas!


: --Someone makes a big hit with a graphic adventure game that has genuine
:   sophistication in its text and puzzles.  [hmm, maybe wishful thinking]

IMHO, it won't be Sierra.
 :)

: --3DO, meanwhile, flops due to insufficient software.  (It would be neat
:   to be wrong about this one, though.)

I strongly disagree, because of the sheer number of 3do developers. We just 
got our development stuff (and what a development platform they use, whew!) 
and I know of at least 25 major game companies that are developing for 3do. 
Combined with the absolutely amazing stuff it can do and its really low price, 
I don't think software availability is going to be an issue. It's only 
possible downfall: Poor marketing. We cross our fingers and hope that 3do will 
be hitting the saturday morning cartoon circuit.