The future of gaming Part 1: What could go right?

I have seen many people looking back and say that our favorite hobby isnt what it used to be. That game used to be better, have more of a story or where longer. But is gaming really going to end at the end of the next generation of system? Will the 9th generation be our 2012? This week we will try to see if there is hope for us.

First reason to be hopeful: Story and character driven games still exist.

While modern FPS games seem to have become the flagship titles of the gaming universe, many games still shine thanks to their amazing stories. Heavy Rain, Alan Wake, Gran Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption or Assassins Creed II are perfect example of these games that grab you thanks to intricate stories and deep characters. Other, like Bioshock, Dishonored, Skyrim or Deus Ex Human Revolution pull you in with interesting and alien environments, designs and art direction. While they may not sell as well as some of the biggest franchise, they still prove that there is room in our media for art.

Second reason: Innovation is the new name of the game.

Sure, there are many clones of games out there. But there is also an incredible amount of brand new concept in our games, and the trend will most probably go on. Portal 1 and 2 proved that an FPS where you dont shoot people can not only exist but can also be successful and fun. Mirrors Edge gave us first person platforming. Heavy Rain made the interactive movie relevant again. L.A. Noire modernize the pointn click of old. And those are just what software can do. Hardware have made huge leaps toward greater Virtual reality. Kinect, while still flawed, allowed us to be the controller, and the 3D TV and 3DS brought 3D to a wider audience. While many will complain that motion controls and stereoscopic 3D are gimmicks, it can be argued that the same could have been said of 3D polygons and analogue sticks two technologies that existed long before the Playstation 1 and Nintendo 64 came to be- and yet they became staples of the industry. Virtual Reality is getting closer, as proved by the Oculus Rift and Kinect; which could be the next breakthrough in gaming.

Third reason: New, fresh IP and awesome reboots.

While many companies milk their franchises (we will get to that in part 2), many phenomenal new IP from big players have graced our devices this generation. And since most of these new Ip found strong following, it is safe to assume that companies will try to do it again. Reboot have also injected fresh ideas into tired franchises. Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, Shogun: Total War and Devil May cry where all awesome games that attracted both old and new fans. We also received HD remake of many gems from the past that will hopefully lead to sequel (Tony hawks, Jet Grind Radio and beyond Good and Evil could really use one).  

Reason number four: Indie games give us an alternative.

If you are reading this on Gamespot, chances are you played some indie gems such as Journey, Minecraft, Trine 1 and 2, Angry Birds or Limbo. Those low prices, small budget games resonated with us and created a new genre by themselves. And thanks to Steam, Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN, many gifted creator can bring us their offering without the need to be backed up by huge companies. Which bring it to our final point:

Digital gaming isnt THAT bad!

While Im against digital only in the gaming industry, we all have to admit that this form of distribution got many advantages. While it gives creators opportunities to make a name for themselves (as seen above) it also help us get our fix for a fraction of the price the material releases of the games. Steam sales can allow you to grab Civilizations V complete for less than 10$. PSN sales let you get your hand on Resident Evil 6 for less than 15$. And virtual consoles let us enjoy our cherish games from past generation for less than it would cost to be them on ebay.

In conclusion, I believe that the next generation of system has the potential to be just as groundbreaking as the 5th generation was. Now, it might also go down in history as the second great crash of the industry, as we will see next time.