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IGDA: Talking next-gen gaming
World Famous04.02.08 - 4:41 PM 28 comments

Last week (Thursday to be exact), I drove down to San Diego to listen to an International Game Developers Association panel discussion on next-gen gaming. Specifically, it was a group of video game journalists essentially speaking to game developers and students on their views on next-gen gaming and what it means to them and the industry itself.

Instead of just writing a boring summary, I thought I'd share with you my notes as I tracked the back and forth discussions. Think of it as live blogging, but not really.

As a side note, Geoff Keighley really hates Gears of War. I'm not sure exactly why, but he wouldn't stop bashing the thing. Also, Brandon Sheffield is the most emo gaming journo ever. Nice guy, but you know, emo.

On the panel was: editor-in-chief Dave Halverson from Play Magazine; editor-in-chief Francesca Reyes from Official Xbox Magazine; deputy editor-in-chief Kaiser Hwang from PSM; editor Brandon Sheffield from Game Developer Magazine; contributing writer Paul Semel for GamePro, Official PlayStation Magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and others; and Game Head host Geoff Keighley from Spike TV.

The discussion:

What makes next-gen gaming?

Halverson: Graphics come first. There are certain parts in games now that we used to just see in film. Games are more character driven now. Physics and detail are key. 

Keighley: All that is true, but it's also what you're doing with the graphics. I would say God of War II has more next-gen features than some titles that are out now for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Next gen games are more refined and defined by the way you use the environment. To me, Black felt more next gen than something like Perfect Dark Zero.

Hwang: I definie next gen by the new generation of hardware that comes out.

Reyes: Graphics are the most tangible aspect.

Semel: I look at it as, "Is this something I couldn't do on my old system?". The mainstream don't care about physics, but they do notice. They want justification for their $600.

What makes better graphics: Realism vs polygons 

Halverson: What matters is how a character feels or plays, not necessarily how it looks. It makes a huge difference in games.

Keighley: Sense of style is a better way of putting it. I think that's one of the struggles now with today's games as graphics improve -- keeping a certain style. The same goes for violence: Do we keep it real or abstract?

Semel: I'd like to see less super realistic games. I'd like to see a game take the style of XIII and mix it with the gameplay of Halo. I think that'd be really interesting. 

Halverson: Games that try to mimic reality is really something I'm not interested in. I like fantastical games like Final Fantasy that present something better than real life. I want games to evoke emotion. Character and story are what's really key.

Semel: The way characters act and speak is more important than visual realism. I'd like to see games think more about story and less about looks.

Video game and morality 

Halverson: I'd like to see a love scene in a video game. I'd like to see something with more emotion -- realism from a real relationship. I would like to see real human emotion.

Reyes: As far as morality and violence, I think there will always be a sense of fantasy in video games that stops something from being completely realistic. I don't see video games ever crossing that line.

Keighley: There is a level of imagination, but the fact that you can facemap people into your game, I think that adds to realism. People outside the industry will always question increased violence and I think there always needs to be some kind of self regulation. Gamers understand the difference, but outsiders don't.

Hwang: Developers need to ask themselves if there's a point to making a game more real. They should be thinking more of if a game is fun, not more realistic.

Innovative control schemes and their place in next-gen gaming 

Halverson: I would prefer a standard controller, something more precise [than something like the Wiimote]. But, really, the control is only as good as the game that is made for it.

Hwang: No matter what the control scheme, it's just doing the same thing but in a different way.

Keighley: I think we're seeing more of something like multiple dimensions this generation. The bar is higher for the Wii because the graphics just aren't ever going to really be there when compared to the 360 and PS3.

The visual role in rating games high

Reyes: It's more of what you do with the graphics than the graphics themselves. With a game like Gears of War, it was more of a complete experience, not just graphics.

Semel: If I get more of the same thing that I like, then the game will essentially get the same score.

Halverson: I applaud simplicity.

Reyes: With us at OXM, we had to be careful to not have launch goggles with the new, hot graphics that were coming out. The people on staff wanted to give games a higher score simply because they looked better.

Hwang: Graphics are something that can immediately immerse you in a game. So, yes, they play a huge role in rating a game. Graphics can change the way you play and do matter.

Keighley: Most issues I have are with gameplay, not graphics. To me, it's more about storytelling and dialogue.

What makes for a good story in video games? 

Keighley: Bringing real emotion is the really tough part developers have to deal with. It's something that really set Grand Theft Auto apart from the rest -- it had great voice acting, etc.

(editor's note: It was at this point that Geoff really bashed Gears of War for it's dialogue and story, or lack thereof, in his eyes)

Hwang: Games like GTA really capture the essense of what all games should try to do.

Halverson: If you do it [good story], then you better do it right or not at all. A game like Bullet Witch is a perfect example. For me, that story was like nails on a chalkboard. Either a story is given a ton of attention or not at all.

Semel: If you want a really good game, then you should have a really good story.

What is the going to be the defining next-gen genre? 

Semel: I don't think we have seen it yet, but it will probably be online.

Halverson: It's going to be a game that really utilizes the environments within it. A next-gen 2D game would be so refreshing.

What role would player-created content have in the future of games? 

Keighley: It's an important and powerful feature we will see more of.

How is story keep up with technological advancement in video games? 

Halverson: I would like to see the cinematic go away.

Sheffield: The writing is not there yet. Video games are still very comic bookish in that respect.

Semel: We won't see better writing until the payoff is really there to do so.

Sound and music in games

Halverson: Music is paramount for me in a game. Music can elevate an average game to something really special. 

And voice acting? 

Semel: Developers should be focused on getting the best voice for that specific character. Nobody really cares about what name you get, what matters is that the voice fits the role you want.

 

--That was more or less the good stuff of the discussion. It was actually an informative event and a great insight for those not familiar with how some of us gaming journos look at the industry. Hopefully, you've also come away with a better understanding of just how things are. 



MORE IN OUR xbox 360 SECTION

Latest comment by Creamsnake |view all 28 comments
Yeah I was gonna say something about your tetris comment... but I didn't want to be a jerk. lol...



DJDuffy 's Avatar
DJDuffy at 04/02/2007 16:42

Geoff Keighley is a pimp
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 04/02/2007 16:52

I like Brandon Sheffield! Does that make me emo by proxy?
ConsummateK's Avatar
ConsummateK at 04/02/2007 16:54

Huh, interesting. Geoff always seems to know his stuff, which was why I was happy when he landed his own show (though you can tell spike has a little more creative control than he might like) so it's interesting to me that he hates Gears so much.
DJDuffy 's Avatar
DJDuffy at 04/02/2007 16:58

Yea Sheffield did make some really good points too...especially about the writing not being there yet. Geoff Keighley is still a pimp though...his next Bonus Round looks like a good one.
geoffkeighley's Avatar
geoffkeighley at 04/02/2007 17:03

Good report! Saying I hate Gears of War is a little strong though...I loved the game and gave it 9/10 on Game Head. I did, however, feel that the writing and dialogue was the loose link in the chain and should have been much better. That was the gist of my point at the IGDA

-Geoff Keighley
robzepeda's Avatar
robzepeda at 04/02/2007 17:09

the question I wanted to ask so bad was "Is the gaming press ready to let 'fun' go as the end-all-be-all of interactive entertainment."

seriously tho, we could have sat talking games for hours on end. overall it was a great event and hopefully we have more like these.

n'gai croal would be a nice panelist.
DJDuffy 's Avatar
DJDuffy at 04/02/2007 17:10

ooh..sorry Geoff..I didn't know you were going to read this hehe *red face* I take back the pimp comment, if you don't want to be a pimp, I understand, it isn't easy being a pimp. If you want to be one, that's cool with me too ;)
Barbara's Avatar
Barbara at 04/02/2007 17:11

I thought Sheffield had the most insightful responses on the panel, it's a shame he was the moderator. I love his apartment game idea. And I'd actually prefer if Keighley asked the questions as he has that showmanship personality. Overall I agree about the shallow GOW dialog - completely distracting from the experience.

Anyway nice to meet you afterwards Summa.
ConsummateK's Avatar
ConsummateK at 04/02/2007 17:20

Oh, well yeah I thought that it was pretty much universally accepted that the dialogue was meatheaded and that the plot was about as thick as the razor Sheffield uses to cut (Burn!) But you can't beat it when you're just looking for some good looking monsters to cleave up with a chainsaw.
Artadius's Avatar
Artadius at 04/02/2007 17:22

DJ Duffy, it's hard to understand you with his cock in your mouth.
skankerzero's Avatar
skankerzero at 04/02/2007 17:24

"What makes better graphics: Realism vs polygons"

wtf does that mean? It should read "realism vs stylized".



I wish they would do something like this with us devs. Though, to get honest answers from us, we'd have to be anonymous.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 04/02/2007 17:25

“Are you the Marcus Fenix, the one who fought at Aspho Fields?”
“Yep.”
“Wow, cool!”
“Not really...”

Comic Book Guy: WORST. DIALOGUE. EVER.
DJDuffy 's Avatar
DJDuffy at 04/02/2007 17:31

@ Artadius

I'm not sure if you are cynical or just jealous. Don't worry, I'm sure there is plenty of cock to go around in this sausage fest of an industry. (don't get in a bitch fight with a feminist)
World Famous's Avatar
World Famous at 04/02/2007 17:52

Well Geoff, the only reason I said that was because you kept bringing up how bad the writing and such was. I had no idea you gave it such a high score on your show. All apologies.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 04/02/2007 19:05

Damn, it's good to be Robert Summa. You get to hang out with all the big names. I hope you get down on your knees every night, and thank the Gaming Gods for your good fortune. ;-)
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 04/02/2007 19:15

you hear about that amazing new emo grass? it cuts itself
bleep's Avatar
bleep at 04/02/2007 19:27

I seems that most everyone agreed that there need to be better stories with the NexGen games. NexGen games that they define as having superior graphics. Maybe they should define NexGen games as games that have shitty stories....The thing is that there hasn't ever been a limit on the game developers ability to make games with great stories even without good graphics... so I think its funny that they're like, "Well these game with good graphics need a better story," when that concept applies to all games not just NexGen games.
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 04/02/2007 19:50

give me a game that doesn't insult my intelligence. psychonauts maybe? very few others I have EVER played that aren't straight sims. I liked shadow of colossus, but there was no "there" there. no story or characters I have ever cared 1/10 about as much as any book I've read. I want Nabokov in my games. I'm not fucking around. but the problem is most game developers can't write and are focusing too much on the technical requirements and eye candy. what happened to the zorks or other adventure games? they had no technical requirements. they could focus purely on gameplay - something like tetris will not come around again. there are too many other things to worry about. zelda has no story. Metal gear is just ridiculously stupid. god of war both games 1 and 2 story is trash. they barely scratched the surface of the material they plagiarized. or give me games with a sense of humor and REAL "mature" content and themes and I'm not talking about porno, although that's included. I play games to escape. I find no game has ever absorbed me like a book, or changed the way I thought about and perceive the world around me. except puzzle quest, which I see when I close my eyes.
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 04/02/2007 19:58

obviously not a game character I've cared about than ANY book I've read. I've read a lot of terrible books. mostly for school. but I think video games need people like Suda 51, who have real vision and creativity to not just spew out some Halo clone with four new weapons. give me alternate realities and concrete ideologies and hidden themes and deep ideas, something that evolves and reacts. not just the most realistic bloodspray. give me bloodspray for a reason. give us a new "Godfather" or "Scarface." not ports.
iliketuna's Avatar
iliketuna at 04/02/2007 21:06

Semel: If you want a really good game, then you should have a really good story.


... yea cuz you know... super mario bros, street fighter 2, super mario kart, doom, dance dance revolution, etc... all have reaaally deep and engaging storylines!
plastictrash's Avatar
plastictrash at 04/02/2007 23:51

Bahamut_Zero: alternate realities where dead cows drop milk bottles? (read: Contact on DS). I think Suda 51 has some good ideas but he's highly overrated
Creamsnake's Avatar
Creamsnake at 04/03/2007 00:47

Feminists are hot.
10BobMarleys's Avatar
10BobMarleys at 04/03/2007 07:18

Summa, why didnt you note what he said about Gears? Did u have a fanboy moment? its ok, happens to all of us....
Rancor's Avatar
Rancor at 04/03/2007 10:10

I agree with the first part about a next gen 2d game. A serious 2d online game would rock balls. Allow for varied character type like a fighter who handles like a fighting game char and mercs that handle like contra/metal slug chars. Ohh put it on a portable system, >gamergasm<. Maybe make it like guild wars so you only pay for expansions, thinking ds where each game comes with a gba cart to save char data. and each expansion is a ds card. ok i need to change pants.
branflakesinmilk's Avatar
branflakesinmilk at 04/03/2007 11:48

iliketuna said: "... yea cuz you know... super mario bros, street fighter 2, super mario kart, doom, dance dance revolution, etc... all have reaaally deep and engaging storylines! "
Seriously. games don't necessarily need a great story to be fun. I have wasted hundreds of hours of my life on games that don't even have a semblance of a story. The thing that is important is "Is the game fun?" A game can certainly be fun in large part because of a deep engrossing story, or its atmosphere, its music, but above all I care about the gameplay. Only when all of these things come together will there ever be a perfect game. Oh wait, RE4...
Bahamut_Zero said: "something like tetris will not come around again."
Yes, that game had a great story. I love the part where the two L shape pieces finally come together as one... its so symbolic!! *sob* But seriously, Puzzle League is coming out for ds, dude. That game kicks tetris in the nuts.
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 04/03/2007 12:05

you're right, I sort of derailed the argument with that whole tetris thing but what I really meant was that back in the day, graphics weren't the be-all and end-all, so that pure gameplay like in tetris won out or pure story like in text adventure (or even graphic adventures) won out. I was making two different points. and failed. is that pokemon puzzle league like the n64 version? because I lost a lot of my life to that game
Creamsnake's Avatar
Creamsnake at 04/03/2007 14:50

Yeah I was gonna say something about your tetris comment... but I didn't want to be a jerk. lol

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