At the incredible rate that technology is advancing today, what exactly can gamers expect to see in 20 years? Will the way players engage change drastically? What about new forms of film and television – could there be different threats and opportunities to interactive entertainment down the line?
Immersive reality in transmedia
At the online conference Beyond Games #1 in May 2021, panellists Louis Savy (SCI-FI-LONDON), Houston Howard (One 3 Creative), Kuo-Yu Liang (Ku Worldwide), Jon Middleton (Nifty Games) and Alexey Menshikov (Beatshapers) talk about the democratization of the creative process. They discuss the various ways players can enjoy a fully immersive experience in VR. In particular, players can choose their own appearance in a game should they wish to do so; in the not-so-distant future, players may simply buy an actor’s 3D model, say, to recreate a fight between Spider-Man and any villain from his rogues’ gallery outside their street.
The panel also shares valuable insights on the possibilities of monetisation. Artists may license their faces and their voices, and consumers may buy them to create their own film or game. Players can even drop themselves onto the next Marvel blockbuster via mo-cap AR using Unreal Engine and star in their own movie or game.
On challenges and breaking down barriers
Of course, as with any advancement in technology, institutions will always have to think about litigation. We need to amend laws. We need to regulate IPs. As players and fans become more and more empowered to create their own interactive entertainment, companies need to be more forward-thinking and innovative as well.
Ultimately, it all boils down to the story – how good of a story world do you have? The strength of an IP dictates whether or not the ultimate creative asset can be placed anywhere and monetised. When all the barriers have broken down, an IP will no longer be restricted to just a video game IP or a movie IP. The same is true for sports – fans will have more agency in what’s going on in the game. At the end of the day, the game itself doesn’t change, but it advances.
What do you think teams developing IPs today should do to prepare for this kind of immersive future? How important is the mindset of the creator when it comes to thinking outside the box? Towards the end of this video session, the panel answers a few hand-picked questions from the audience to cap off the talk.
This 40-minute session is ideal for anyone who’s always been curious about the future of game development, listening to the community, and anticipating what will happen in the next 20 years. It’s also a great watch for developers planning their games (hint: the future is cross-platform, cross-IP and cross-everything).
Catherine plays video games for a living, reads comics for inspiration, and writes because she’s in love with words. Her Young Adult fantasy novel, Of Myths And Men, has been published by Penguin Random House SEA and is her love letter to gamer geeks, mythological creatures, aliens, and epic quests to save the world. She one day hopes to soar the skies as a superhero, but for now, she strongly believes in saving lives through her works in fiction. Check out her books at bit.ly/catherinedellosabooks, or follow her on FB/IG/Twitter at @thenoobwife.
