Spielberg talks future of gaming, believes in virtual reality
We would never dare think of crossing Steven Spielberg. The man is made of pure magic, and has the power to erase firearms from existence, cause you undeniable fear of the water, and create currency out of toy planes and paper. When he talks, we listen. And recently, he did just that with The Guardian's podcast, Tech Weekly.Spielberg had some insight as to where the gaming business is headed, with his hopes for the immediate future residing in 3D gaming, much like his colleague James Cameron. Spielberg says the reemergence of 3D in film -- something Hollywood tried and failed at back in the 1950s -- is a prime example of how we'll see the technology make its way into games. Spielberg envisions "3D games developed where with a good pair of glasses we get a real three-dimensional experience in front of an appropriate monitor that is designed just for 3D." Also, he thinks we're not too far off from a future void of console platforms altogether, where we'll soon be playing games directly from our TV sets.
As for the long-term future, Spielberg sees the technology going toward virtual reality, and sees it as the industry's inevitable future. "I really think virtual reality -- which experimentally came and went in the eighties -- is going to be redeveloped, just like 3D is being redeveloped today," he said, further adding, "and that's going to be the new platform for our gaming future."
That's all well and good, Mr. Spielberg, but these virtual reality games better be more enjoyable than that Grid Busters game we played down at the Jersey shore back in the '90s.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:01PM
I really hope so, playing games like GTA IV and Fallout have really made me want this. I mean, in Fallout 3, you can press A to sit in a chair couch bed or whatever, but then there are mods that let you pose your character, of course you do that through console commands and stuff. Looking at stuff like that makes me desperately want to be able to do those kinds of complex environmental/character interactions, but unless we have 300 button controllers that would probably never happen
butaneko @ May 20th 2009 4:10PM
What if you were the button?
Mind... Blown!
Doug @ May 20th 2009 4:30PM
THE FUTURE IS HERE.
Lol, wii
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:32PM
the wii doesn't really cut it. It's just a new way to control things, it doesn't allow for a greater depth of interaction or immersiveness. If Fallout were on the Wii you'd just be swinging the mote to sit in a chair, or even more likely just press A
FNG @ May 20th 2009 4:10PM
alright all you dumb asses out there. read and learn. this is the sort of stuff you type when you see a blog post without any comments. not some small number...
Oh, and Mr. Wayne, please spend some of all that money getting this VR thing going. Thanks Mr. Wayne.
FNG @ May 20th 2009 4:11PM
quality. that was a replying to post, but here we are... Mr Wayne, please spend some money on a new comment system for us...
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:12PM
that money's gotta go to other stuff, bat shaped vehicles, a holographic mountain, giant mechanical T rex and Giant Penny maintenance.
FNG @ May 20th 2009 4:24PM
understood. not like I expect this reply to end up in the correct place...
"replying to FNG [Undo]" is right there... let's see if it works THIS time.
dead @ May 20th 2009 4:11PM
I kinda wish these filmmakers would stay the hell out of the gaming industry.
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:12PM
Steve Speilebergs game company made Medal of Honor before he sold it to EA, so yeah
dead @ May 20th 2009 4:35PM
What's your point? MOH wasn't very good.
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:50PM
incorrect. Thanks for playing
butaneko @ May 20th 2009 4:13PM
I only every played that crappy Dactyl Nightmare in virtual reality. Sports World baby! Paramus NJ.
xFenixKnightx @ May 20th 2009 4:19PM
Virtual reality? YES!!1!
I'll be first in line to pick up my copy of Banging Megan Fox 2011! I bet if I put $5 on Banging Kim Kardashian 2012 you get an exclusive blow job demo!
"NICE!!!"
-Marcus Fenix
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:20PM
that sad part is that that would totally happen
xFenixKnightx @ May 20th 2009 4:23PM
You meant to type rad, instead of sad....right? lol!
FNG @ May 20th 2009 4:25PM
oooooh Nice new avatar Fenix!
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:25PM
rad until people forgo human interaction for Lucy Liu bot version 8 (thanks futurama)
xFenixKnightx @ May 20th 2009 4:42PM
Thanks, hopefully its sticks. It was switching back n fourth with the Carmine avatar by itself for some reason.
Neuromancer @ May 20th 2009 5:12PM
Goes to show you just how craggy Marcus's face really is. Thanks for the close up.
The Dark Wayne @ May 20th 2009 4:24PM
I dont see why we would be playing games on our TVs and not have consoles. The only way that would happen is if the game companies merged or made deals with television companies or started producing TVs themselves, well which Sony already does. Huh, guess it isnt that unlikely
robotoid @ May 20th 2009 5:15PM
if they start making TVs with included "console hardware", the different TVs would be the new "consoles", wouldnt they?
Slaziman @ May 20th 2009 6:05PM
A Sony TV with a PS3 integrated? ... GENIUS
dogmaticatheist @ May 20th 2009 4:26PM
Spielberg knows squat about gaming and knows even less about the future.
dead @ May 20th 2009 4:38PM
Truth
Petebot330 @ May 20th 2009 5:00PM
It's like Lawnmower Man! Right? Hey guys, remember Lawnmower Man?
Neuromancer @ May 20th 2009 5:13PM
I do, what a bizarre film.
uncle jesse @ May 20th 2009 6:19PM
Lawnmower man! Nice! That lady who was offering up the iced tea was hot!
robotoid @ May 20th 2009 5:17PM
"He thinks we're not too far off from a future void of console platforms altogether". haha oh Spielberg, you're so funny.
PARANOID365 @ May 21st 2009 2:02AM
Oh shit guys, don't look now but Mr. Spielberg is watching us through his state of the art hand cam; man are you guys gonna get it !!
staticthreat @ May 21st 2009 8:39PM
I have been saying this stuff for years and have been enjoying it on my pc for over a year :)
Do yourselves a favour and checkout IZ3d and their free driver that works with Red/Blue 3d glasses. I have played many 3d games including Oblivion and Flight Sim X in 3d and the effect is amazing. Playing games in True 3D is awesome. The future is in Shutter glasses, not VR headsets!
IZ3d also sells monitors that have dual layer LCD's for shutter glasses *no blue/red glasses headache* but they are still out of my price league for experimental products.