I'd suggest that the FPS genre is not where the big advances are being made anymore - it's in games that are defined as being 'open-ended' (single player). They're the ones where the developers are being pushed to create complex AI controlled entities who 'do their own thing' and worlds which have their own rhythms.
Jeremy said;'I don't think that I (or most) gamers are looking for a world they can just stay in forever'. I don't agree with that statement at all - witness the buzz for titles like Oblivion and X3.
The other point I'd make is that there's been criticism lately about how 90% of games are designed by 20 something males for 20 something males. Which is true. But I'd argue that the games with more open ended worlds usually allow for more creative (peaceful?) approaches to game challenges, don't rely on headshots as being the only social interaction available to the player and so can appeal to a greater demographic?
Jeremy said;'I don't think that I (or most) gamers are looking for a world they can just stay in forever'. I don't agree with that statement at all - witness the buzz for titles like Oblivion and X3.
The other point I'd make is that there's been criticism lately about how 90% of games are designed by 20 something males for 20 something males. Which is true. But I'd argue that the games with more open ended worlds usually allow for more creative (peaceful?) approaches to game challenges, don't rely on headshots as being the only social interaction available to the player and so can appeal to a greater demographic?