Check out this picture from the late 90s. “Yes, this is an actual PC screenshot.” This didn’t seem ridiculous when that magazine was published. “That’s SO real.” It makes you wonder if we’ll be laughing about the graphics we have now in another 15 years. “I can’t believe we thought that was good in 2013, HA.” I certainly hope so. I always make the joke, “this is higher-res than real life,” or, “the frame-rate's faster than the universe refreshes.” Well, with some new technology, we’re getting scarily close to being in a second world when we game.
I’m talking about the Oculus Rift. It’s a virtual-reality headset in development, with over $75 million in funding (digitaltrends). It has a 7-inch screen that wraps around to provide a field of view more than 90 degrees (basically everything your eye can see). The screen shows one image for each eye, for stereoscopic 3D. They don’t completely overlap, however, just like the images our eyes generate in real life. The outside world is completely blocked out.
This thing scares me a little, though. At what point are video games TOO real? If playing games feels just like real life, except cooler, why would I ever want to not be in the game? I’m picturing a “Wall-e” type world where we’re all just sitting back with our VR headsets on, with intravenous feeding, blissfully unaware of what’s going on outside. Still, the new technology is exciting. I can’t wait to be laughing at what seems amazing right now.
It is true; computer graphics have come a long way in the pass couple decades. The day that games have better resolution that real life will be the triumph of computer graphics. As a gamer myself, I want to try out the Oculus Rift to see if it really provides an immersive experience. I understand your concern however it will fall to the user how to use this technology and to not let it take over their lives.
ReplyDeleteHello Andres,
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about graphics through video gaming, but it was cool to see you talk about the Oculus Rift! I don't know if it is actually worth the money, but once the technology gets better and it becomes more integrated with gaming, I'm sure that it will be amazing. I thought your first image was hilarious, because in modern day standard, the graphics are hideous. Now we have things like Skyrim and Soda Drinker Pro with amazingly animated scenes. Hopefully in the future we will have insanely good graphics.