Tuesday 5 January 2010

Game Technology

Anything and everything has come far and this couldn't be more true than with technology. Something that just 'does the job' is now unheard of and were we have seen powerful technology, easy to use technology, great looking technology and interactive technology, today we see the grouping of all these plus more.

Game consoles have also come far and with sleek new designs and some of the most powerful technology readily and cheaply available on the market today, for many game consoles have replaced television sets and stereo systems as room centre pieces.

Like anything, we didn't just arrive here overnight and there has been some difficult times and some epic failures. Games design for entertainment purposes took a long time to come to our homes with most initial computer games running on university mainframe computers, and even when they did they were more of a headache to set up before actually playing them. It really wasn't till the 80's that we began to see the introduction of new bold and unique games thanks to a push from the home computing market, and society began to appreciate gaming for what it was and it started to become part of a lifestyle along side films, books and music.




Although we have seen this huge development in the sophistication of our consoles and games it is only really in the past decade we have seen the actual aesthetics and ergonomics of our consoles play far more important roles. Even if we look back the the first Playstation, considering its huge success being one of the first to introduce us to real 3D graphics, CD's instead of cartidges and obvcourse that iconic controller, the console itself still looks like a very old fashioned, tacky, bulky grey box.

But just look at where we have come! The Playstation 3, in my opinion the best package ever. I am very fond of the best technology, it is something i just have to have and the PS3 i feel is the best example of why i have written this blog and where we are going in the future. The Playstation 3 is less of a console and more of a mind blowing media hub, combining all of the latest and greatest technology available today, in one completley user friendly package. Not only is it an extremley powerful gaming machine but it allows users to watch high definition movies using its blu-ray player, listen to their music using its massive hard drive, browse the internet, view their photographs in stunning slide shows, with the latest wireless technologies including wi-fi and bluetooth, touvh sensitive buttons, built in power supply, a fantastic looking and easy to use menu system the Xross Media Bar with customisable themes just like a home computer and even cure diseases using the Folding@Home software plus so much more, all in one shiny chrome and gloss black package with sleek curves not much bigger than a shoe box, plus arguably the best ergonomically designed controllers, which are wireless as well as motion sensitive, plus the playstation eye for an even more interactive experience its nice to feel we're heading in the right direction!

And it is in this direction that i feel we are heading, no longer will we have individual aplliances, individual pieces of technology designed to perfrom individual tasks, and we may no longer even see video game consoles. One main system for all our entertainment needs is all we shall need, instant access to any film, song or game from anywhere in the world (such as the interaction between the PSP and PS3), no longer shelf upon shelf upon shelf of blu-ray discs, DVD's, CD's and even books, no need to back-up due to complete reliability and no longer will we have coffee tables crowded with remotes and controllers for TV, game, DVD and our surround sound, one universal control, mabye control using our voices, mabye control using our minds! One can dream!

1 comment:

  1. You've made some interesting observations about how media devices all seem to be merging into one another. :D

    Give it enough time, and by my predictions, we'll be walking about with a single chip implant in the brain that caters for most of our technological needs, whether it be to have a video conference with work colleagues or to play Assassin's Creed 7!

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