Video games never cease to amaze us, constantly pushing the boundaries of technology. But how far will they go? 20 minutes was invited, Thursday, to the presentation of the creations of the students in fifth year of the Art FX school, in Montpellier (Hérault), in front of a jury of behemoths of the sector, to ask these future professionals how they imagined the future of video games.
And first, virtual reality. This technology, at the heart of the Ready Player One, by Steven Spielberg, allows players, equipped with helmets, to fully immerse themselves in a universe. Most of the students questioned remain, for the moment, skeptical about this new tool. Virtual reality is “one of the directions in which video games are going to go, but it won’t be all games”, thinks Axel. This technology has “a lot of potential, because everyone would like to be in a video game,” says Paola. But, for now, there are a lot of improvements to be made. »
“Virtual reality makes people quite sick”
Clara is “rather skeptical”. “Virtual reality makes people quite sick. It won’t work if we don’t find a solution. “And then, continues the student, “there are not yet many interesting games in virtual reality. It’s nice to test. But for the general public, it is not immediately. Not to mention, points out David, that helmets are “very expensive”, often more expensive than home consoles.
But everyone is convinced: the good old traditional controllers, with their buttons and analog sticks, will resist. “It’s still more accessible,” says Paola. Joysticks will never really go away, continues Thomas. But maybe they will change. “Perhaps there will be a stroke of genius, in ten years, and the controllers will change shape! “, he confides. In the history of video games, David notes, “there have been gimmicks all over the place trying to do away with the controller. But the joystick is still the most practical. »
“Cartoon games will always please”
On the other hand, if Paola believes in the resistance of the PC, she thinks that consoles will eventually disappear, in favor of “games, dematerialized directly on televisions”, she notes. Another challenge for video games is photorealism. The last Gran Turismo, this winter, showed that it was sometimes difficult to discern an image of a video game from a photo. “Stylized, less realistic games still have a charm,” continues Paola. “There is an audience for everything,” continues Clara. “Cartoon” games will always please. »
“Some games will turn to realism thoroughly, and we will have more and more qualitative things, thinks David. And for others, this will not be the goal at all. “Because a Super Mario photorealistic, it would be “ugly”, smiles the student. But for the photorealism to have its effect, the players must still be well equipped. Because, today, “machines capable of running the game with its graphics to the maximum, that remains reserved for… an elite”, he thinks.