Can there be a limit to how good graphics get (read)

[eurddrue]

We are starting to hit the point of limited returns or something like that. Basically it's the point where it's so expensive/requires a lot of technology to gain a small amount of realism/awesomeness/whatever. I'm too tired to explain properly.

moores law would disagree, considering a top of the line PC 10 years ago was probably 1-1.5ghz single core processor with MAYBE half a gig of ram now you have computers with 4 3ghz cores and 8+gb of ram for an equivalent price

It's going to be pretty damn rediculis when our desktop pcs will fit into the size of a penny.

[vskid]

Right now I think the push is in physics. More realistic physics and interaction with the physical world.

I agree. Pretty graphics are nice, but when a grenade goes off in sand, I expect a crater. If I shoot a wall in a normal building, there should be a hole I can see through.

considering a top of the line PC 10 years ago was probably 1-1.5ghz single core processor with MAYBE half a gig of ram

Sounds very familiar. *Looks down at desktop he's using*
*sigh*

[limpport]

You know some games, especially on PS3, are getting close to photorealism even on humans. It's only a matter of time!

We just watched Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in my Film as Literature class. The animations for that are amazing! And that was produced in 2001!

[Black Six]

You know some games, especially on PS3, are getting close to photorealism even on humans. It's only a matter of time!

We just watched Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in my Film as Literature class. The animations for that are amazing! And that was produced in 2001!

Yes, but pre-rendered is not the same as real-time rendering in video games.

[eagle5953]

The next step is raycasting - once they can get that to run at a playable framerate (instead of taking minutes to render one frame ), graphic quality will make a big jump.

[Spyder12587]

Does anyone remember the old PS2 commercials that were like "The Future..... PS9" and it was supposed to be like a neural interface? Sony knows where graphics are going and is developing one now, lol. I remember reading an article that was talking about Nintendo taking out patents on some virtual reality stuff, their next console should be pretty interesting.

[eagle5953]

...their next console should be pretty interesting.

I still suspect their next console will be a WiiHD, backwards compatible with the current Wii, but allowing for upgraded visuals (sort of like the Gameboy Color -> Gameboy Advance situation). If so, expect it in the next couple of years... perhaps in time for Christmas 2010.

Maybe it will even play DVDs out of the box!

[Spyder12587]

Hahaha, well average console life is 5-6 years, so it's getting close to that time. More like 2011-2012, but with the success of the Wii, it wouldn't surprise me if they even put that off for a year or two longer.

[eagle5953]

Hahaha, well average console life is 5-6 years, so it's getting close to that time. More like 2011-2012, but with the success of the Wii, it wouldn't surprise me if they even put that off for a year or two longer.

Well, that would be true for a 'new' console, but for a refresh (like the PS2 and PS2 slim), that isn't necessarily true. Also, Nintendo has shown in the past that it will make a console for as long as people will buy them. If sales start to lag, they can either do a price cut or a system refresh.

And I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if they do indeed release a 'WiiHD,' they'll finally start to give us the different colors they showed before launch.

[Spyder12587]

Also true. My friend was in Japan a few months ago and said that they released a Wii that had DVD playback but it wasn't planned to come to the States. The rationale was that everyone here already has DVD players, they'd cut costs by leaving it out. Doesn't seem to have hurt their sales at all.

EDIT: But I digress, graphics can still get better but I do believe there is a point where they no longer can. At that time, interactivity, physics, and other such immersive aspects will greatly improve as well.

[Rekarp]

Eventually the limit will become us. Our eyes can only capture so much data. Bypassing the eyes will be the first step and then eventually a "Matrix" like state will be introduced.

Personally I don't give a crap about graphics. I really enjoy the finer details of game design. If I make my character walk in a puddle of water I want a splash. I am looking at you Gears of War. Level design, game mechanics, ect are all more important then graphics. Hmm could be why I still have my Atari hooked up >_>

[eagle5953]

Eventually the limit will become us.

Sort of like how the limiting factor in the size of calculators is the size of the human finger...

[themadhacker]

nice back to the future quote metallica man.

[samjc3]

the long forgotten website of benheck.com

nah. we will all still be here, posting about when people actually made their portables by hand, instead of telling the computer "make me a portable. i want it to do....." and then having it instantly come out on thier househeld INSTASTUFF printer.

[Metallica Man X]

Eventually the limit will become us. Our eyes can only capture so much data. Bypassing the eyes will be the first step and then eventually a "Matrix" like state will be introduced.

Personally I don't give a crap about graphics. I really enjoy the finer details of game design. If I make my character walk in a puddle of water I want a splash. I am looking at you Gears of War. Level design, game mechanics, ect are all more important then graphics. Hmm could be why I still have my Atari hooked up >_>

Well put...I hardly ever touch my 360, but my NES and Genesis get played constantly.