When video game prophets get it right

During one of our daily forays into the World Wide Web, we stumbled upon a scan of a page which pretty much got us to sit up and pay attention. For one thing, the page was apparently taken from a book a couple of decades old, and contained predictions on how video games would be in the year 2000. We’ve read it, and it turns out that whoever wrote the prediction may actually turn out to be a video game prophet in his own right.

Upon doing a quick search, it turns out that the vintage page (sent in to Data of Data Realms from Prom) which contained the prophetic visions of the future was actually taken from the book “Usborne Guide To Computers”, published around 1981. We also discovered after more Googling, that it’s author, Brian Reffin Smith, was ahead of his time, but is also lucky enough to live to see that his predictions are actually spot on (so wherever you are, Mr. Smith, here’s to you).

Now, just click on “Full Article” and let’s see where he got it right as we go over the contents of the page…

During one of our daily forays into the World Wide Web, we stumbled upon a scan of a page which pretty much got us to sit up and pay attention. For one thing, the page was apparently taken from a book a couple of decades old, and contained predictions on how video games would be in the year 2000. We’ve read it, and it turns out that whoever wrote the prediction may actually turn out to be a video game prophet in his own right.

Upon doing a quick search, it turns out that the vintage page (sent in to Data of Data Realms from Prom) which contained the prophetic visions of the future was actually taken from the book “Usborne Guide To Computers”, published around 1981. We also discovered after more Googling, that it’s author, Brian Reffin Smith, was ahead of his time, but is also lucky enough to live to see that his predictions are actually spot on (so wherever you are, Mr. Smith, here’s to you).

Now, let’s see where he got it right as we go over the contents of the page:

Within ten years, the computer games of today will probably seem very basic and primitive.  The games of the future will be faster and more exciting, with superbly realistic screen display.

The first sentence of the whole thing hits the nail right on the head from the very start, but then again, perhaps this was all just a natural assumption. But could they have also predicted the dawn of HDTV?

These games will contain computers a hundred times more powerful and faster than those of today and capable of storing millions of pieces of information.  Computers like these will be built by packing more and more complicated circuits into a chip of silicon.

Hello, Cell processor.

A TV game with very large memory will be able to reconstruct detailed pictures of say, the Battle of Waterloo or a space battle, and the players will be able to control far more of the details in the picture than they can.

Ah, now here’s something that has pretty much become the trend and the goal for a lot of people in the video game industry. With some titles even bragging that they have faithfully recreated an actual event in history, being able to “be there” has become one of the standards that people judge a video game’s quality nowadays. Entire teams are hired to conduct thorough research on the events that they want to recreate; artists are employed to create and model items, people and clothes of another period; graphics engineers are challenged everyday with how they can find new and better ways to make environments more interactive and more dynamic. And yes, these days, you can control anything from a squad of men to an entire army.

In TV Sports games, you will probably be able to control each of the players individually. These games will also have electronically synthesized voices and the referee will tell you when you are offside or given a free kick.

Hello, FIFA, Madden, and friends.

Powerful computer will be able to create adventure infinitely more complex than those you can play on a micro today.  To help the human player there will probably be a board and counter to plan and keep track of their moves.

Could he have predicted Chrono Trigger? Fallout? Ninja Gaiden? … Sephiroth??? Seriously though, nowadays, some games get so convoluted. They just branch out in all directions with mini-games, side quests, and optional bosses that there are times when one literally can’t get on with the game without checking either their mission log, consulting with Bucket Knight, or just plain peeking at the walkthrough. There are also bosses who just won’t go down by simply being hit (remember Psycho Mantis…?). Hence the Ultimate Guide and the FAQ were invented, creating more jobs and a whole new industry.

At present, most computer games are for only one or two players. More powerful computers though, will be able to cope with instruction from a number of people playing at the same time, either as team against each other or against the computer… By the year 2000, you will be able to challenge someone hundreds of miles away to a game. The game will contain miniature radio transmitters and receivers which will transmit your moves and receive those of your opponent with very little time or delay.  Your opponent’s moves will be automatically carried out in the liquid crystal display.

And thus the Multiplayer option, ad hoc mode, MMORPGs, and LAN parties were born. Amen.

Handheld electronic games will still have liquid crystal displays, but they will probably be in full colour and will be as detailed and realistic as the pictures for a TV programme today.

Do we even have to elaborate on this, considering that almost every man, woman, and child on the street now has one of these things? However, it IS nice to point out that these handheld devices that we’re talking about are so good that they can play music, watch movies, view pictures, and even start flamewars.

The ultimate game will be a super-realistic computer simulation which takes place all around you in a special game cubicle. The game, perhaps a space invasion or adventure game, will have three dimensional effects, laser lighting, and quadrophonic sound.

Smells just like virtual reality, doesn’t it? Now, with companies such as Nintendo and Sony offering innovative new ways to play games (no thanks to motion-sensing, too), could we already be one step closer to Smith’s “Ultimate Game”? And would it sell?

So with all of Smith’s predictions already part of our everyday lives, there are still many questions to ask and answer, as there are many reasons to celebrate.

We are celebrating since all these show just how far technology and society has come, and all in a short span of 25 years. But the questions are, “What are we inventing next?” and “Heard any predictions lately?”

Better take note the next time you hear someone tell you about the future, since who knows? Maybe in another 25 years, we’ll all find ourselves once again marvelling at how the seemingly outrageous have become common reality.