Matchstick wrote:If I'm following you correctly, would you say today's "Next Generation" is less about how games look, but more about how they perform? And also changing the way we access and play older titles?
Apologies for not seeing this sooner. Yes, exactly this. Check out what a top tier developer can achieve on the Switch (right) vs. a 2020 PS4 title. (left)
The textures and lighting are compromised, but only his make-up artist cares. In the heat of the moment, on a portable screen? You won't even notice.
Unfortunately, not every developer is as capable as Panic Button.
What you won't see in this screenshot alone, is how those floating Atari graphics beneath the Switch ship on the left popped into view the exact moment I took this picture. Or how many of the details on the smooth, barren surface look suspiciously like sprites at a distance. Or even the way shadows shimmer like they're made out of analog television snow.
Or the desperate struggle for a stable frame rate.
It's similar to Galaxy Force II on Genesis. Yeah, it's sort of impressive that you're getting anything remotely close to the original, but...
Was it worth it?
This kind of calculation's simply not a factor on more powerful hardware, where you can eventually brute force your way through any technical challenges. Usually, if the developer knows what they're doing and has time to reach their goals, you'll need a stress test to see where the engine falls short.
Unless you're this guy, apparently:
I wouldn't blame an Atari Jaguar for something looking as bad as Skylight FreeRange.
I do believe VR and streaming will be the future, though it may be decades before they've established themselves as the dominant trends in the industry.
Maybe. In many places, cable internet has been getting worse. Comcast's service regularly boots us off, especially if we download anything over a few hundred meg, no matter how much we pay them for unlimited.
And VR, while I love it, is a workout that makes long gaming sessions a challenge, even if you do have enough space. And can deal with the motion sickness. How far can the audience expand?
My own wild prediction is that we'll start seeing AAA companies building up assets they can reuse in future games, and this will hopefully encourage more creativity, since they won't be starting from scratch every new console generation.
Imagine a world where virtual antiques exist, forever looking as new as the day they were created?
