have we gone as far as we can/should with the xbox/360

[muse hunter]

Recently i watched a video of kameo, however i must mention that while watching the kameo video and admiring its beauty and scale i put to myself the question, is this as videogames can or should go regarding graphics and power? Seeing as this is just a launch title the mind boggles thinking about the games that could be created in a few years, were finally at a stage where even Peter Molyneux's imagination can be satisfield. I believe we've reached a point where anything is possible, the technology no longer limits developers just their imagination.

But with this comes other issues, could games such as GTA on the ps3 and xbox360 take on a more darker side due to this new technology? before going around the gta world killing everyone in sight was just harmless fun, a quick thrill. But with this technology wouldn't the actions and look of characters inhabiting game worlds take on a more life like approach? won't they be less predictable? and thus chasing one down in gta and beating them to death and listening to their screams might take on a more darker disturbing edge than before. Maybe these issues should be sorted out every time more powerful technology arrives or am i getting ahead of myself in that we havn't yet reached that stage? If not, probably soon, and seeing as its not just a morale issue but a social issue shouldn't it get dealt with before we reach that stage, seeing as if games ever reached a stage where killing could be as grusome and potentially disturbing as it is in a film like henry portrait of a serial killer then should we draw a line under it?

[Dogg Thang]

Why?

When there are no technological limits, it will only mean that all options are open. If a game is disturbing, what would possibly be wrong with that? For every 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', there are 10 Barbie movies spawned - I can't see this being any different in games.

What you seem to be talking about is not a technological issue, but a censorship issue.

Do you think we should we be frightened about where games could go?

[Rossco]

I dont think its a problem at all or any line should be drawn, I'm quite excited about the realism of it all.


And about the no technological limits and the only limit being your imagination part. Imagine the next Fable, I expect a new Xbox 360 one to be annouced before launch. ANd it will the game we all wished for this time. Not that Fable wasn't good!

[Kotatsu Neko]

Given that the (comparatively) unlimited world of movie CG has yet to reach photo realism, I would say we have a long way to go with console visuals yet.

[Crisp_Rapper]

i'm looking forward to the revolution specific version of battle raper... omg!!

[charlesr]

Didn't this same question get raised when the PS1 and the PS2 arrived? "Graphics are now so realistic (heheh) it's no longer acceptable to have violence in games".
It wasn't the graphics that was disturbing in GTA3, it was the ideas it wasn't afraid to use. It was quite clearly a man baseball batting people to death etc. I don't believe that improving the graphics will make this much more disturbing.

Also, the more realistic the graphics get, the more rubbish they look (Final Fantasy movie for example). Until they are absolutely perfect, they will just look "wrong".

[eastyy]

To be honest realism is one thing but i would rather they make more use with the power of consoles in making games deeper.

Like with the nippon ichi games for the ps2

[PeteBrant]

Given that the (comparatively) unlimited world of movie CG has yet to reach photo realism, I would say we have a long way to go with console visuals yet.

Agreed, take something like the battle of pellanor fields in LotR, with twice the realism, running in real time, with full unit AI, dynamic campaign and story telling - then we might be appproaching a plateau - As it stands we are decades away.

[MartyG]

Didn't this same question get raised when the PS1 and the PS2 arrived? "Graphics are now so realistic (heheh) it's no longer acceptable to have violence in games".

I'm sure the same thing was asked when Death Wish 3 was released on the 8-bit home computers back in the mid 80s

[endo]

Also, the more realistic the graphics get, the more rubbish they look (Final Fantasy movie for example). Until they are absolutely perfect, they will just look "wrong".

Isn't that the uncanny valley or something? I remember reading about that a while ago- basically if graphics aren't perfectly real they'll always look wrong like you say.

[mid]

The Uncanny Valley, absolutely.

From the topic title, I thought you were going to ask a slightly different question, actually - I don't think we've got anywhere near as far as we can with exploiting the power of the XBox, and the 360 is arriving too soon for me to consider buying another new console yet. I don't see me buying one for another year or two just because I've got a backlog that big of current-gen games I'd like to play.

[Rebelli0n]

Forget violence,I for one want to know where the hell all the 3d porn games are? you'd think by now there'd be a flood of them on the PC at least.

[Il Postino]

Originally posted by: muse hunter
seeing as if games ever reached a stage where killing could be as grusome and potentially disturbing as it is in a film like henry portrait of a serial killer then should we draw a line under it?

You are RKS on acid (no, let's be topical and say coke) and I claim my five pounds. Did you send in this exact same post/letter to the December 1999 issue of X-Gen magazine?

But enough with the laughter. Seriously, you've pretty much answered your own question; the answer being no. Pick your films (or indeed most news channels) carefully and you'll witness scenes a thousand times more shocking than anything you're likely to see in the next generation (cell chips and all) of videogames.

Why just today I saw images (on BBC News) of one of our "Brave Boys in Iraq" leaping out of a burning Warrior Tank and being stoned/beaten with big sticks by the locals. This followed the unholy trio of Blue Peter, Newsround and Neighbours (will somebody please think about the children, etc).

Why should the violent content contained in 'Henry' be any more or less disturbing if it were presented in a videogame? Is it player interaction you have a problem with or just the potential visual impact of next generation games? If it's the latter, then I don't get your point, because, let's face it, we've all (and that includes eight-year-old little rat boy, from down the lane) seen it before.

My Lord, this is a dire thread and I've made it even direrere (it's a real word, no, really) by adding this dirererierere post.

Next-Gen State of Emergency, (eat your heart out New Orleans).

[Freddo]

what you want to worry about is manhunt2 on the revolution, complete with accurate motions for cutting a mans throat out.

[Yoshimax]

I'm sure the same thing was asked when Death Wish 3 was released on the 8-bit home computers back in the mid 80s

Kudos Marty - One of Gremlins finest hours IMO (and there were many.) I loved this game - particularly the 128k version (for da music).

Now that I think about it, running & gunning grannies in this game could have significantly impacted my perspective in life. Fortunately though, I'm a grounded individual.