Grok
Posts: 100
Joined: 9/3/2000 From: Col. SC USA Status: offline
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According to the posting dates, I'm a day late and a dollar short...again.
But to comment on your "specualtion of future developments", since virtual reality is a "reality" today and computers have gotten progressively more powerful and versitle, I see the melding of several technologies to enhance game play.
For those who like tacticle or small unit scale games, I think a virtual reality setup with a force feedback chair and joystick would work well. It would give the gamer the "feel" of being there. Whether it be riding a AFV or piloting an aircraft or even slogging it through the mud as infantry, that setup would be perfect for that. Imagine firing those guns or rolling over rough terrain, or flying tight high g-manuevers, or being the recipient of enemy artillery, that chair would bounce and sway to it all while the virtual reality helmet would keep you totally immeresed within its solitary confines, away from the mundane distractions of everyday life.
As for larger scale games, such as grand tacticle or stratagic...thats harder to speculate on...however based on current and readily available technologies, a 3D enviroment would probably be best suited for that.
JonBullis already commented on that, but I would like to add and clarify a few things. For one it could be played on a table that is prepared for holographic imaging, using lasers to produce the image and 3D effects. It would appear more or less as a table top game, with a larger playing area, hidden units, fog of war, real time play as well as so many other things that are part of regular computer games, but coupled to a minatures type feel. A virtual realty type glove would be used to move units, attack and issue orders, using a laser for a point and spot interface to designate units and officers. Orders could be given to officers in command of the units or the gamer could issue the orders directly to those units, tho in a real time enviroment trying to control each individual unit would be difficult if not impossible.
I know some of this sounds far fetched, but it can be accomplished using existing technology...now cost is another thing altogether.
Grok
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"My teeth have more bite, than your mouth has bark!"
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