What aspects of fantasy computer gaming (the experience more than the hardware itself) do you think are improving over time? Is there anything you feel is inferior to yesterday's games? Admittedly, this is a complicated question. I believe technologies involving virtual and augmented/extended realities have and will drastically change the fantasy gaming experience, though at present it is still rather limited due to the hardware. I can also say the same with AI. These improvements will make character and environment interaction a whole new experience. You will be able to experience these things with people all over the globe. These technologies will continue to improve and certainly boost our sensory experiences and allow social connections not previously possible (even with AI "personalities". However, I feel this may also limit our connection to the real world and fool us into thinking the virtual experience is somehow "better." When world building, I tend to draw on my real experiences (natural and social) to build a world, especially when building a world of modern or older technologies. My virtual experiences seem like a poor substitute in that regard. I also feel creators are trying to push messages (that don't necessarily truly belong to them) in order to fit with the modern status quo. So, in my opinion, the performance and sensory aspects of computer gaming are amazing and will eventually expand into areas of the brain that don't even involve direct sensing. But, I believe our modern ideals (as opposed to our personal, real-world experiences) are seeping too much into the gaming experience. I believe this has stolen from the creativity and freedom of building a huge variety of different worlds (some not very pleasant but still worth fighting for), all in the name of not stepping on eggshells. And relying on virtual experiences over real experiences has resulted in many overly "synthesized" games that removes the organic, human touch.

Updated 13 September 2024 (23:48)

I've also thought about the effects all this may have on the tabletop gaming experience. It's no secret that Hasbro/WotC is going digital with Dungeons and Dragons, and I don't doubt some other systems will follow its lead (even though I think it's misguided to reflexively do so). It will certainly transform certain areas of the experience: mechanics will be easier to track and implement, you will be able to BUY (unless some development is allowed) some amazing virtual desktops and game effects, it will be much more difficult to cheat, and the DM doesn't have to take as much time placing terrain and the like. Buttt, you will pay for it in real money for all the good stuff. The imagination is hard to monetize, but virtual assets are easy. And will all this digital glitz get in the way of story, collective imagination, and shared experience? It might be awesome to see that first fireball cast on the screen or even in VR/AR, but how long before the novelty ends or that you have to spend more money to "upgrade?" Will such environments tend to steer players towards smaller and more-contained settings over vast wilderness? Time will tell, but I'm definitely worried about digital assets becoming more valuable than the players themselves (and what they contribute to the hobby and to each other's imagination).

Updated 17 September 2024 (22:06)

I think computer-assisted gaming can actually be beneficial...where a computer takes control (even if prompted by a human) of some of the "accounting" of an RPG. The "accounting" can include turn counts, random trials (e.g., dice rolls and random encounters), character attributes and information, and perhaps a substantial sample set of what an actual computer RPG would maintain. But the creative, "non-numeric" aspects of the game would remain as in a classic tabletop. This allows the DM/GM to concentrate much more on the narrative aspects of the game and would also improve immersion for the players. Of course, this is what virtual tabletops (VTTs) were originally meant to do, and most RPG gamers have heard of Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, Foundry, and the like. When it comes to D&D, I never did play any of the editions past 3.5, mainly because I saw the changes were becoming too drastic (I felt 4th edition tried to emulate MMOs like World of Warcraft). I did play test a little 5th edition before it was released, but I never did make the transition because I didn't want to end up spending a fortune on new materials. I had already spent a ton on 2nd edition and 3/3.5. Thus, I didn't delve much into D&D Beyond, but I heard it was a rather handy resource, even if it wasn't meant to automate as many aspects of the game as would a true VTT. But now Hasbro/WotC wants to monetize ALL aspects of the D&D game. Players were always more difficult to milk money from because they didn't need as many materials as the DM. Now that will change. I just hope that computer-assisted gaming can stay for several RPG systems without executives and designers feeling the itch to transition to full digital so they can milk players for all their worth. I'm afraid that D&D's direction may force Roll20 and similar VTTs to change direction in a bad way just to survive. After all, everyone knows D&D is the big fish and those VTTs will no doubt be denied any access to the newest D&D edition(s), unless they somehow sell their souls to Hasbro. I hope this is an opportunity for systems like Pathfinder (I remember when it started to challenge D&D and thus D&D 4th-edition and the dropping of their OGL happened), Call of Cthulhu (still one of my favorites), and niche systems to become more prominent in the market. Perhaps that will slow down the full-digital transition.

Updated 14 September 2024 (19:21)