Spielberg: consoles will go, VR will return

By Tom Bramwell Published 20 May, 2009

Plus: he's a PC gamer, but has 360/PS3.

Film director Steven Spielberg has said that traditional gaming platforms will cease to exist and that 3D gaming and virtual reality will be the "new platform for our gaming future".

Speaking to The Guardian, Spielberg said that, just like the old "videogame parlours", consoles and other gaming equipment will go "the way of the Dodo bird".

"Now we're all playing at home and someday we'll be playing directly on our TV sets, bypassing all of the platforms," he said.

The veteran director, who just finished work on his second Boom Blox game with EA, also talked about his expectations about the future.

"In the short term I would love to start seeing 3D games developed where with a good pair of glasses we get a real three-dimensional experience in front of an appropriate monitor that is designed just for 3D," he said.

"And after that, will certainly be virtual reality, which just like 3D came and went in the 1950s, and now it's here to stay in movies.

"I really think virtual reality, which experimentally came and went in the eighties, is going to be redeveloped, just like 3D is being redeveloped today, and that's going to be the new platform for our gaming future."

Elsewhere in the interview, Spielberg said he was "a PC game player more than anything else", but said he also played on PS3 and Xbox 360.

"I get more into the microphysics of gaming, especially on the PC. I'm closer to the screen, I look for detail, I notice things more easily. The Wii platform which I adore is more of a macro experience, you know."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • PearOfAnguish #1 3 years ago

    "a PC game player more than anything else"

    He is a man of taste and sophistication.

  • Canyarion #2 3 years ago

    So he plays Wii too. So basically he plays everything.

    How is 3D being redeveloped right now?

    And who's going to provide the technology to directly play on your TV? Maybe we won't have a separate console in the form of a box, but we'll definitely need some kind of console technology.

    One last thing: the way hardcore gamers react to motion control, I don't see Virtual Reality becoming mainstream that soon.

  • Coughthulu #3 3 years ago

    Man who directs films predicts future of different industry.

    Meanwhile, JK Rowling declares all music will be played by orchestras in a decades time, and she's a Rachmaninoff listener.

  • rhubarbandcustard #4 3 years ago

    Spielberg, multi-millionaire: wants 3D gaming on 3D displays.

    Average joe on average wage: wants affordable hardware and affordable software.

    I don't care about the whims of some molly coddled film director and hopefully neither do game companies.

  • Widge #5 3 years ago

    although he did mention bypassing the need for hardware platforms... so yay for average joe

  • NegativeZero #6 3 years ago

    Virtual Reality? Probably not.

    Now if he'd said Augmented Reality, he might have been on to something. I'm fairly sure there's going to be a huge boom in AR stuff in the next decade - the factors are all lining up. Multi-Touch displays gaining in appeal, ubiquitous wireless internet access, increased push toward mobile computing, booms in related tech industries like headsets, realtime video processing, computer vision, GPS...

  • Venkman90 #7 3 years ago

    As above, some rich guy who hasn't lived in the "real" world for 30 years predicts what we will have or not have.

    That said he did work with alot of futeroligists on Minority Report....

  • menage #8 3 years ago

    I really don't need fancy 3D VR glasses and stuff. I'm already pooping my pants playing Dead Space on a normal TV thank you. Let alone the motion sickness.

  • HermitArcader #9 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • LazyDan #10 3 years ago

    Again, this guy recently said there'd been no successful games based on films up until now - totally ignoring Goldeneye, let alone any others. His batty opinions on the games industry mean as much as the next internet nerd's - it's his position in the film industry which is unfortunately making more people listen to him than the average forum tard. Like me :( AND YOU.

  • grayn #11 3 years ago

    "How is 3D being redeveloped right now?"

    I think he's talking about films, in which case, he's right - it's THE big thing in film at the moment.

  • UncleLou #12 3 years ago

    As above, some rich guy who hasn't lived in the "real" world for 30 years predicts what we will have or not have.

    Yeah, he's just one of the most consistently commercially succesful directors in the world, and one of the pioneers of (CGI) special effects. Quite the quixotic dreamer.

  • Meho #13 3 years ago

    But just THINK of the VR pr0n. You know it will catch up sooner or later.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #14 3 years ago

    I like his films, I like Boom Blox, and I like the fact that he says he's a PC gamer at heart. Despite the fact that I spend most of my time on my 360, I always think of myself as a PC gamer first and foremost, too. Old habits die hard.

    I think he's right about VR, eventually - we'll get some kind of Minority Report VR parlour experience sooner or later, before we go all Better Than Life or get a Holodeck. So he's probably on the money (as per), but I don't know how long we'll have to wait...

  • Lionheart #15 3 years ago

    Spielberg you n00b!!!!!!!!

  • Liam64 #16 3 years ago

    "Man who directs films predicts future of different industry. "

    Man who hasn't had a single game published dismisses the thoughts of the man who created and directed Medal of Honor, The Dig and produced Boom Blox...

  • mingster #17 3 years ago

    +1 for VR.
    Wants immersive Tron experience.

  • Les #18 3 years ago

    "He is a man of taste and sophistication."

    That I contest. I once saw the man on the ferry to Elba wearing yellow Versace shorts... ;)

  • Nithron #19 3 years ago

    3D wont catch on properly until it works without glasses.

    I'm highly qualified to comment on this, see, as i work in the theater industry.

  • penhalion #20 3 years ago

    circular polarisation will sort out the TV aspect of 3D. Cheap ass glasses that require no batteries or other additions and then it's simply down to the games hardware to support it.

    As for VR er no thank you!

  • paulf #21 3 years ago

    they got to make a headset or glasses that don't make you look like a twat before vr/3d will be mainstream

  • Ryze #22 3 years ago

    VR came and went in the 90s, and most of his assumptions and predictions will probably happen at some point, but it just depends on WHEN in the future timeline you're talking about. Consoles will be here for a while yet...

    Any of us could say all of this shit too:

    - I'm waiting for the paint that allows me to make one wall of my living room into a screen without using a projector.

    There. Great.

  • Les #23 3 years ago

    "they got to make a headset or glasses that don't make you look like a twat before vr/3d will be mainstream"

    I don't think 3D will catch on with the mainstream before they develop a proper 3D projection technology (if ever).

  • Xerx3s #24 3 years ago

    The 80's called, they want their SciFi back.

  • chasejamie #25 3 years ago

    I don't have binocular vision, so 3D no good for for me. First E.T, then Indy, and now he's trying to get rid of my consoles! Bearded git.

  • dadrester #26 3 years ago

    pah he knows nothing... fully 3D augmented reality is where it's at.

  • Yaz #27 3 years ago

    Les says "I don't think 3D will catch on with the mainstream before they develop a proper 3D projection technology (if ever)."

    Agreed.

    3D just will not catch on the way some people imagine until it can be acheived without the need to 'strap in' or 'strap on' (no, I'm not talking about porn ;)).

  • hiddenranbir #28 3 years ago

    "a PC game player more than anything else"

    He is a man of taste and sophistication.

    Agreed!

  • BadBoyBonner #29 3 years ago

    I think the point he is trying to make is this.

    If nearly 18 years ago you would have told all the lads playing in the Arcades that by 2005 they would have a home system costing less than £300 quid that was more powerful than nearly every arcade machine out they would have laughed in your face as a lunatic.

    Cue 2005 and the launch of the 360 with PGR 3 etc.

    Clearly what this simple statement failed to mention was that technological development in the arcades would slow to a crawl while the consoles would leap forward - still the statement remains true - and nobody from the late eighties or early nineties would have believed you.

    3D technology is here, 3D tv's are here (well not in the uk - but they are being bought and sold as we speak) all the TV really needs to be be able to do is operate at 120hz refresh and viola its 3D ready.

    Even most old DLP projectors can manage 120Hz very easily.

    BBC & Sky have been filming in 3D for a while now. Hollywood are embracing it Volatile games are demoing running it on PS3 & 360 (and PC no doubt).

    As for the average Joe - Good News - Laser Tv's have quite a few advantages (already out in America & Japan - google LaserVue)

    * be half the weight and cost of plasma displays
    * require around 25% of the power required by Plasma displays
    * be very thin like plasma and LCD displays are today
    * have a very wide colour gamut. Twice the colour of today's HDTVs.
    * have a 50,000 hour life
    * maintain full power output for the lifespan of the laser, resulting in a picture that doesn't progressively degrade over time, such as with plasma, LCD and CRT technology

    The only thing really holding anything like this back is if the public embrace it - but as with HDTV - remember those kids that were in the arcades all those years ago? Well they nearly all own homes, are happy to devote income to their gaming habits and see something like a £300 console as 5 "old school" trips to the arcades.

    Gamers massively accelerated HDTV adoption - will they do the same for 3D displays? Probably for the right killer app, I know I'll be doing my bit , that's for sure.

  • SEVQA #30 3 years ago

    I always thought one of the major problems with VR was motion sickness due to the brain eventually rejecting what was being displayed due to the little hairs in our ears not moving in the same direction of vision being displayed. Until something can actually interfere with the brain’s signals virtual reality with head mounted displays better come mounted with vomit buckets.

    Augmented Reality already mentioned above seems a far more realistic approach to where entertainment and particularly games may be heading over the next decade. I see the Wii as being a fine example of this level of interaction where peripherals are used in the real time world to enhance the virtual and our interaction with it. I also see the rumble feature of the past and today’s controllers being the beginning of this experience of giving the user’s a real physical feeling when viewing a virtual image.

    Maybe a return to laser quest / Quasar style rooms filled full of black MDF boxes which turn to magically beautifully rendered environments when the visors are put on and full on battle can take place where the users actually lose breath by running around. I guess we will see if David Lloyd installs a Holo Deck in the near future, either way I feel the idea of a Holo Deck is closer than full VR at this point in time. The idea of wasting away at home playing video games watching movies and eating popcorn are going to go the way of the Dodo I reckon.

  • Ryze #31 3 years ago

    I like this comments thread.

    At least he's prompted discussion!

  • BadBoyBonner #32 3 years ago

    SEVQA

    Don't roller-coaster's move the inner ears hair like a mo-fo and also result in people being sick (for some people) and they still seem pretty popular - but you're right, as has been documented, it doesn't sit well with some people. Obviously 3D is not VR.

    I like the idea of augmented reality working well - more so when coupled with the Quasar style set-up.

    Now obviously brand is everything these days so how about one along the lines of Gears of War or Call of Duty.

    Build a rough set you can walk along in the style of a narrow street complex - and viola augmented reality changes it into CoD or GoW - 4 mates can play at once all walking down the street with replica Lancers/Stg 44's/ RPD's etc.

    I'd give it more than a few goes - would seem like the ideal complimentary experience to something like the Spiderman Ride at Universal - perhaps they could rig it up to do Terminator Salvation?
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/09 @ 14:34

  • Gao #33 3 years ago

    I think hes probably right about consoles disapearing, they will most likely end up as a part of satalite and cable boxes.

    Not so sure about the whole Virtual reality thing though, would be very cool but not every ones cup of tea.

  • Bravestinsane #34 3 years ago

    No shit.... its pretty obvious with the rate technology improves year on year he is just stating the obvious, im pretty sure it will come eventually you wait in the future they could even have those holodecks from Star Trek.

  • SEVQA #35 3 years ago

    BadBoyBonner

    Yeah roller coasters do indeed move the inner ear hairs like a mo-fo which results in real motion sickness in some people. This cyber sickness caused by VR HMD is still being researched and so far found as having similar symptoms to motion sickness that don’t necessarily develop immediately. The comparison of a classic roller coaster verses the IMAX Spider Man ride at Adventure Island universal (which is awesome I may add) would be a good example of this difference of motion sickness and cyber sickness as I remember feeling slightly physically sick from the Hulk ride due to my Nacho’s dancing around my guts and g force in contrast to actually feeling dizzy after the Spider Man ride which had it gone on for any longer I may have gone a bit funny. For the sections of that ride when you are catapulted through the city from a giant web was like my eye’s telling me I’m flying and my brain telling my body I’m not really moving at all and it did feel very weird (cool but weird).

    If the Quasar idea does ever see light then absolutely licenses would have to be the order of the day where developers Rockstar, Sony, Microsoft… would possibly own vast buildings or even fields where these Augmented Reality games would be played and hosted. Who knows maybe replacing our movie theaters?

    “CoD or GoW - 4 mates can play at once all walking down the street with replica Lancers/Stg 44's/ RPD's etc.”

    Yeah that’s exactly it! where you could actually see your mates face’s and certain objects dotted around made to look like sets and the rest is all projected either on glasses, visual displays or digital wall paper where recreations of our favorite game / film franchises can thrive.

    This very idea could also translate to experiencing recreations of some of the finest scenes in cinema history where you could be in the scene as either an observant or participant. In many respects this is the void that video games are trying to close with the movie industry of old and only time will tell if the correct convergences of technologies have taken place for this sort of interaction to even be a possibility. Though consoles going away seems to be the wrong direction as they embraces the very nature of convergences by putting everything in one box, so on that note I think Spielberg is very mistaken!

    Today I see what Microsoft is doing with Touch and what Sony are experimenting with the EyeToy and this remote control car game (I cant recall its official name) where physical elements are captured and translated to virtual textured 3d on screen seems very interesting and could develop into something more spectacular than a remote controlled car and a glass table perhaps?

  • Sunyavadin #36 3 years ago

    AR? Maybe that'll be a major component of portable gaming within the next decade as cheap OLED technology takes off.

    VR? Not a chance in hell. I'm more likely to believe the idea that a 2000 year old jewish zombie can make me immortal if I eat flesh and drink blood.

  • IneptPercy #37 3 years ago

    Not sure console gaming will die, it will probably just become one console.

    Imagine if Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo joined forces, that one console would be great, we can all buy the same console with a wide choice of games, easy.

    As for being a PC gamer, I am a more recently converted PC gamer and I am slowly upgrading my mates aswell. Does seem the best option.

  • Ryze #38 3 years ago

    ^ Can you imagine the cost of the bloody thing with no one to encourage any price cuts!

    I can see a player like Sky/Virgin embedding a console in their boxes, and selling games and controllers via a download service.

    The boxes already contain HDDs, and if done right, the download speeds could be very quick using a combination of the satellite feed for the big/popular games, and a broadband connection for the smaller and rarer ones.

    As for Sky / Virgin embedding their kit in TVs... can't see it.

  • Bander #39 3 years ago

    "In the short term I would love to start seeing 3D games developed where with a good pair of glasses we get a real three-dimensional experience in front of an appropriate monitor that is designed just for 3D"

    Like the 3D glasses for the Sega Master System then?

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=dMoMbXZCbT4

  • secombe #40 3 years ago

    3D will definitely happen sooner rather than later, I'm sure of that. Virtually every major film lined up for 2010 onwards is at least considering 3D as a viable option, and I think after Avatar and a few other films, people are really going to have a taste for the technology and bringing it into their homes.

  • Les #41 3 years ago

    "people are really going to have a taste for the technology and bringing it into their homes."

    My bet is that it's just a fad to get people to the cinema again and that it will die out just like before. I would be really surprised if people bring a device into their home that would require them to wear glasses in order to watch. Just too much of a hassle and it interferes with the social aspects of watching something together.
    Edited by 1 at 21/05/09 @ 09:36

  • metalangel #42 3 years ago

    Spielberg, though not a fan of going on planes, is apparently a big MS Flight Sim nut.

  • man.the.king #43 3 years ago

    Maybe, but it seems to me that that "new platform for our gaming future" is still far off in the future, 1.5 or 2 decades at least.

  • mashk #44 3 years ago

    When are we going to get games like the 'Better than life' ones featured in Red Dwarf?

  • chrisjm #45 3 years ago

    VR DS with headset please. anything to be away from the numpties on the tube while getting to work.

  • IneptPercy #46 3 years ago

    I see a flaw in that idea, I play my DS on the bus everyday, with a headset I could imagine I may miss my bus stop.