Support NeoGAF

[Africa's Toto]

(Before you bring that console war shit here. I'm talking across platforms, not on consoles alone)

There's been a lot of talk about how stagnant the industry has been in terms of innovation of mechanics, gameplay, etc. (My personal belief is that the focus has been on graphical fidelity for far too long, but that's beside the point)
The point being is the next wave of games are looking to be mostly similar to the titles we already have. Simy scaled up and sprinkled with effects.
Vr was a pipe dream, then it became an unpolished trifle, then an decent but expensive niche. With the release of Alyx, VR has become the one of the most awe-inspiring and polished experiences in gaming.
That next gen feel that seems to be missing from the reveals and trailers is in VR.


Note: I'm not saying these VR titles will automatically be more fun or better than traditional flatscreen games. The majority of them are still niche pleasures. But if there's anything exciting about a "next generation", it isn't another br with a name generator title.
(No offense Ubi, I like your shit, please don't delay Watch dogs: Legion, okay, thanks)

 

[azz0r]

I'm really excited to see zombies (hopefully) in Resident Evil 8

 

[GymWolf]

That game was nothing new or nextgen even when it was released.

It's like people never played game with good combat and mechanics in vr before this one...

 

[AV]

VR isn't tied to a "gen". Frankly, neither are consoles any more.

Mainly though, people underestimate the SSDs in the new boxes. I know, PCs have had them for years, but we've never had huge console developers working with them yet. Knowing that every machine is going to have (roughly) the same technology allows developers to create experiences specifically catered for that lack of loading. Again, yes, PCs have had them for ages, we know. But the millions and millions and millions of people who play only console are about to have their minds blown.

 

[The Cockatrice]

this is next gen VR.

 

[ZywyPL]

For me it will be hard to can anything "next-gen" until I see a huge leap in physics or AI, like what happened with HL2 and Crysis... Like you said OP, we're seeing same old games with just prettier graphics, so at the end of the day everything feels/plays the same, and whenever the devs want to show us something really jaw-dropping it's either a cut-scene, script or a QTE, none of it is triggered and controlled by us, the players.

 

[hyperbertha]

Gameplay wise, beyond the instant streaming thanks to SSD, and major improvements in AI, I don't see where we can go that's a tangible improvement. It takes a lot of imagination and brainstorming to come up with fresh gameplay in each genre. Graphics on the other hand still has a loooong way to go before its there, and is easy to improve.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Its a different experience for sure.

Unless industry can make vr more accessible/ streamlined/ standardised, I can't justify dropping 100 s of $ on a headset. With an expectation it can be outdated without any justification.

 

[INC]

That game was nothing new or nextgen even when it was released.

It's like people never played game with good combat and mechanics in vr before this one...

I'd even say it wasn't even that great of combat

It was very save tbh, no 2 handed weapons, no running

I bought alyx for 1 reason, mods. And it's slowly starting to pay off

 

[Africa's Toto]

That game was nothing new or nextgen even when it was released.

It's like people never played game with good combat and mechanics in vr before this one...

I can agree that the individual parts were not new at release. As someone else pointed out, boneworks was already pushing for a similar experience. But boneworks was and is an experiment. It made you think"damn, imagine what a full-length experience with these mechanics would be like". And Alyx is it so far.

 

[Dontero]

If you mean by that worse enemy AI than even first FPS games sure.

When it comes to VR the best VR game i played was Fallout New Vegas and RE7. Because unlike most of VR games they don't lower the bar or create braindead games because motion controls suck. In case of FNV you have 100 hours game with amazing writing, whole arsenal of weapons to play with and world to explore, instead of snarky character in closed room pointing me at beach ball and i am supposed to play basketball with it like some infant.

 

[INC]

Source engine was impressive

But as a VR game, it was dated. BUT accessible to non new vr player's, I think valve needed to have more options for seasoned vr players

 

[Schmick]

Flight Simulator 2020 seems pretty next gen. Not just on how the visual looks but simulating the whole planet.

 

[Africa's Toto]

VR isn't tied to a "gen". Frankly, neither are consoles any more.

Mainly though, people underestimate the SSDs in the new boxes. I know, PCs have had them for years, but we've never had huge console developers working with them yet. Knowing that every machine is going to have (roughly) the same technology allows developers to create experiences specifically catered for that lack of loading. Again, yes, PCs have had them for ages, we know. But the millions and millions and millions of people who play only console are about to have their minds blown.

I'm actually looking forward to the improvements the new SSDs will deliver, I mentioned Watch dogs legion and I think the things that game is going for are interesting and will definitely benefit from the improvements in "the boxes".
But I think designers will end up doing the same things they've been doing, just at a larger scale.

Though, yeah, we should probably wait for the games to get out.

 

[INC]

VR biggest improvements, will come with stuff like DLSS 2.0

Facebook also has something similar coming to, AI driven supersampling

These will make a huge difference, because you won't need such a beefy pc to run VR

 

[rofif]

I've finished in on cv1 and got myself a quest to replay it fully wirelessly.
It's amazing but also kinda hard to replay... the puzzles and slow pace are kinda annoying. And there is so little combat.

 

[Wonko_C]

Flight Simulator 2020 seems pretty next gen. Not just on how the visual looks but simulating the whole planet.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 already let you do that, and probably some others even before it.

 

[Schmick]

You can't compare FS2020 with FS2004!

 

[Vasto]

Halo Infinite will be the definition of Next Gen.

 

[Soulblighter31]

VR isn't tied to a "gen". Frankly, neither are consoles any more.

Mainly though, people underestimate the SSDs in the new boxes. I know, PCs have had them for years, but we've never had huge console developers working with them yet. Knowing that every machine is going to have (roughly) the same technology allows developers to create experiences specifically catered for that lack of loading. Again, yes, PCs have had them for ages, we know. But the millions and millions and millions of people who play only console are about to have their minds blown.

What ? Underestimating ? ?Its all sony fans are talking about. You would think you only need a harddrive to power games.


No, in fact people are so overestimating the ssd's that we're at parody levels of hilarity. The ssd is the least interesting thing in these boxes. The most important thing is the ram, then the gpu, then the cpu. Dead last are these fucking ssd's.

The consoles use the same shitty inputs for 25 years. We're gonna play the same type of games as we always did because the way we interact with them is the same.

 

[Fake]

I like the this Alyx game, but I'll be honest, nothing about next gen there at least for me.

 

[Guilty_AI]

"Next-gen" is still a bit too vague of a definition for me. Usually the generation jump was just an improvement of the overall visuals, remaining mostly the same concept for the 9th gen. Even with the whole SSD thing that people get so crazy about, at the end of the day what we're getting is improved visuals since its main perk is faster datastreaming (thus more detailed worlds).

I'd say VR is closer to the jump from 2D to 3D, but i don't think this change will happen immediately. What i think we'll see is a gradual growth of the VR market for the next 10 years or so until it becomes more commonplace. I see a lot of people saying VR is just a gimmick but there's so much more potential there that even goes beyond gaming. For example, VR and social media go hand in hand.

 

[INC]

I like the this Alyx game, but I'll be honest, nothing about next gen there at least for me.

Visually it looks next gen'ish.........for a VR game

 

[Fake]

Visually it looks next gen'ish.........for a VR game

Never noted, but I got your point.

 

[Africa's Toto]

You guys have some good points. In my opinion, VR is the definition of the next generation of gaming. Not necessarily coinciding with a new console cycle, but closer to the leap from 2d to 3d than from PS1 to PS2.
And I think Alyx is the most polished, cohesive VR experience to date.
Therefore I put Alyx at the front of this.

Maybe the title of the thread should've been 'Alyx (and VR as a whole) is the closest we'll get to a true next gen experience for a while'.

 

[INC]

VR is next gen in terms of gameplay, without a doubt

I can't even play standard FPS games anymore, I find them dull, VR has different skill ceilings, than pancake FPS games

Stuff like actual reloading, gun positionings and angle switching.

Getting shot in the back, and 180 turning on them, in real time, just can't be replicated with a mnk

Anyone who gives vr FPS a real chance, and get decent, standard FPS just never feel the same

 

[Bryank75]

I think there will be loads of next gen experiences on PS5....however...

I hope Alyx comes to PSVR and that most shooters have a VR mode because I believe it is the only way shooters can go beyond M&KB. Using VR along with fully intuitive and non-laggy motion controls will be incredible and make them even more competitive.

 

[KormaChameleon]

I think there will be loads of next gen experiences on PS5....however...

I hope Alyx comes to PSVR and that most shooters have a VR mode because I believe it is the only way shooters can go beyond M&KB. Using VR along with fully intuitive and non-laggy motion controls will be incredible and make them even more competitive.

The most next-gen and immersive experience I had was playing Pavlor VR. Oh man, that game is something!

 

[Bryank75]

The most next-gen and immersive experience I had was playing Pavlor VR. Oh man, that game is something!

I'm very excited for PSVR2, I didn't get the first one because of the set up and amount of wires.... there is a great library now. If it doesn't come, I'll probably have to get an Oculus. Pavlov looks very cool.

 

[Wonko_C]

You can't compare FS2020 with FS2004!

Of course not. The graphics are unmatched even by more recent simulators like X-plane 11 and Prepar3D, but flying around the world is nothing new. Pilots and FS enthusiasts have been doing it for decades.

 

[INC]

The most next-gen and immersive experience I had was playing Pavlor VR. Oh man, that game is something!

Dont like pavlov recoil mechanic, its clumsy, mod support and workshop is its biggest selling point, and contactors now has that

Contractors and onward has better gunplay to me

I play wardust mainly, its extremely janky, but its BF in vr........that's basically the dream (again this is a very janky version)

Nedd to get a wheel fir racing games and a price for fps games too

I use a pulley system too for pc vr, game changer

 

[Wonko_C]

VR is next gen in terms of gameplay, without a doubt

I can't even play standard FPS games anymore, I find them dull, VR has different skill ceilings, than pancake FPS games

Stuff like actual reloading, gun positionings and angle switching.

Getting shot in the back, and 180 turning on them, in real time, just can't be replicated with a mnk

Anyone who gives vr FPS a real chance, and get decent, standard FPS just never feel the same

Whenever someone mentions how different are guns in VR I am always reminded of this:

So much more satisfying.

I think there will be loads of next gen experiences on PS5....however...

I hope Alyx comes to PSVR and that most shooters have a VR mode because I believe it is the only way shooters can go beyond M&KB. Using VR along with fully intuitive and non-laggy motion controls will be incredible and make them even more competitive.

 

[Bryank75]

Whenever someone mentions how different are guns in VR I am always reminded of this:

So much more satisfying.

That's awesome!

 

[yurinka]

Vr was a pipe dream, then it became an unpolished trifle, then an decent but expensive niche. With the release of Alyx, VR has become the one of the most awe-inspiring and polished experiences in gaming.
That next gen feel that seems to be missing from the reveals and trailers is in VR.

From the little I read and heard about it, Alyx doesn't offer anything new to previous VR games. Sounds like the same but with a bigger budget than most games basically spent on new visuals and polish.

Seems another one of these shooters where you teleport to move the character, and then pick up items aim, shoot, and reload by moving your arms. Does it offer anything else new in terms of gameplay or game design?

 

[supernova8]

From the little I read and heard about it, Alyx doesn't offer anything new to previous VR games. Sounds like the same but with a bigger budget than most games basically spent on new visuals and polish.

Seems another one of these shooters where you teleport to move the character, and then pick up items aim, shoot, and reload by moving your arms. Does it offer anything else new in terms of gameplay or game design?

I think if we had an Elder Scrolls Oblivion moment but for VR (and open world) in the same setting, that would be amazing. Or perhaps some kind of MMO in VR would be pretty game changing.
Then again... might kill the whole collecting armor stuff because you wouldn't see what you're wearing.

 

[rofif]

Seeing how it ends... it is a criminal act to not follow it up with episode 3 in 2021 or even sooner.
These assholes should have next hl game ready and done just waiting for release. What are they even doing.

 

[VGEsoterica]

Agree. While improvements in graphical fidelity are fun to look at, if the games are the same as the current gen but just nicer looking it really isn’t an evolution.

If I paint my car a new color and get it detailed it looks nicer, but it’s the same experience.

I want new and unique games that haven’t been done yet, utilizing the new tech

 

[Matt_Fox]

This is next gen!!!

 

[Matt_Fox]

Agree. While improvements in graphical fidelity are fun to look at, if the games are the same as the current gen but just nicer looking it really isn’t an evolution.

If I paint my car a new color and get it detailed it looks nicer, but it’s the same experience.

I want new and unique games that haven’t been done yet, utilizing the new tech

It's exactly that kind of focus group comment that made Microsoft believe bundling in the Kinect was a winning idea!!!

 

[Keihart]

More than Next Gen, Alyx it's the culmination of this gen VR. It borrows A LOT from all the games that came before and puts it in a nice little package. It really tries to follow what we know it works, it doesn't really risk with new things or deifying VR rules.

Just to add, for me the VR game that really made me look at how different it's to play a shooter in VR it's Onward, you can just imagine the potential and how natural feels taking out all of this conveniences that we are used to in regular games.

Making a hardcore VR shooting game feels very natural, manual reloading, manual holstering, aligning scopes, etc. It all feels natural in VR...i'm really excited for a next gen game in the spirits of onward.

 

[GymWolf]

Whenever someone mentions how different are guns in VR I am always reminded of this:

So much more satisfying.

Lol for real, some game have pretty accurate balistics, when i bought arizona sunshine i wasn't capable of getting an headshot from 2 meters away

 

[EverydayBeast]

You're not getting attention only releasing on PC instead of releasing on PSVR.

 

[Romulus]

This is next gen!!!

I mean showing this actually convinces me it is. The dude is obviously completely engrossed into it but unaware of his surroundings, but he's literally sold that a threat is coming at him. Traditional gaming can't do that and that's a massive step-up of convincing the gamer he's inside a gaming world.

 

[Explosive Zombie]

True next gen is teleport walking instead of actually moving your character around normally... also lots and lots of dumb 3D puzzles.

 

[Wonko_C]

From the little I read and heard about it, Alyx doesn't offer anything new to previous VR games. Sounds like the same but with a bigger budget than most games basically spent on new visuals and polish.

Seems another one of these shooters where you teleport to move the character, and then pick up items aim, shoot, and reload by moving your arms. Does it offer anything else new in terms of gameplay or game design?

Yeah, it's true it doesn't do much new that other VR games haven't done before, and like you said, it does it all with a level of polish that no other VR game has matched.

Still Dark10x explains the appeal much better than I ever could: (timestamped at 5:20 for the good part)


Teleporting is not mandatory, you can move with the analog stick like in any traditional game.

I think if we had an Elder Scrolls Oblivion moment but for VR (and open world) in the same setting, that would be amazing. Or perhaps some kind of MMO in VR would be pretty game changing.
Then again... might kill the whole collecting armor stuff because you wouldn't see what you're wearing.

You can see your own armor in Iron Man VR, and that's just one game. Sure most are just "floating hands" as of now, but once body tracking is implemented in a non-janky way, I can see MMOs taking advantage of it. (Cosmetic microtransactions on a new level)

Lol for real, some game have pretty accurate balistics, when i bought arizona sunshine i wasn't capable of getting an headshot from 2 meters away

You played it on PC or PSVR? I only have played it on PSVR with both the Moves and the Aim Controller and it didn't seem any harder to aim than say, Blood & Thruth. Maybe the PSVR version had to remove the physics to maintain a good framerate?

 

[Romulus]

True next gen is teleport walking instead of actually moving your character around normally... also lots and lots of dumb 3D puzzles.

Teleport is an option, you can walk normally

 

[Explosive Zombie]

Yeah, it's true it doesn't do much new that other VR games have done before, and like you said, it does it all with a level of polish that no other VR game has matched.

Still Dark10x explains the appeal much better than I ever could: (timestamped at 5:20 for the good part)


Teleporting is not mandatory, you can move with the analog stick like in any traditional game.

This still highlights the limitations, everything is very slow, there's only so many enemies at a time.

 

[Romulus]

This still highlights the limitations, everything is very slow, there's only so many enemies at a time.

I'm all about hardcore games with a bunch of enemies onscreen, super fast paced PC games,. I used to play unreal tournament, and Quake 3, but Alyx is its own animal. It's just damn good. The combat interactions are intense and intimate in a way I haven't experienced in gaming. It's next level in practice.

 

[Resenge]

This still highlights the limitations, everything is very slow, there's only so many enemies at a time.

"This still highlights the limitations in Dark Souls, everything is very slow, there's only so many enemies at a time."

This is how weak that argument is.

 

[GymWolf]

Yeah, it's true it doesn't do much new that other VR games haven't done before, and like you said, it does it all with a level of polish that no other VR game has matched.

Still Dark10x explains the appeal much better than I ever could: (timestamped at 5:20 for the good part)


Teleporting is not mandatory, you can move with the analog stick like in any traditional game.



You can see your own armor in Iron Man VR, and that's just one game. Sure most are just "floating hands" as of now, but once body tracking is implemented in a non-janky way, I can see MMOs taking advantage of it. (Cosmetic microtransactions on a new level)


You played it on PC or PSVR? I only have played it on PSVR with both the Moves and the Aim Controller and it didn't seem any harder to aim than say, Blood & Thruth. Maybe the PSVR version had to remove the physics to maintain a good framerate?

I tried the game on pc with proper controller, combat was ok, no more than that onestly.