The Future of Gaming

I write a lot about where the gaming industry is headed -- specifically as it relates to building game mechanics into non-game apps. Past posts have talked about serious problems in the current thinking about "gameification" and the next game mechanics to be implemented across the internet. Next week, some of these thoughts will be brought into event format. The New York Gaming Meetup is partnering with the Y+30 to host a panel event on the Future of Gaming at 92YTribeca in New York City. Specifically, we'll be looking at what gaming will look like in thirty years. If you're interested, RSVP here. Panelists include Ben Feder (CEO, Take Two Interactive), Stephen Totilo (Editor, Kotaku), and Eric Zimmerman (CEO, GameLab). I'll be moderating (read: desperately attempting to keep mental pace with the panelists).

It should be a fascinating event. Sam Lessin's Y+30 always brings a unique outlook to these things by stretching the scope our projection to thirty years. In the words of Bill Gates:

We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten.

The Y+30 tends to be conscious of this quirk of the human mind -- and accounts for it. It's hard to project out thirty years without getting into the realms of sociology, psychology and philosophy (often in that order), so you have to be prepared for a wide-ranging discussion.

While I'll save the best parts for those of you who attend the event, here are some topics I hope we'll cover:

- The future of the console. Will independent gaming consoles (or their analogue) exist in thirty years? Are full-body inputs the way of the future?

- Relatedly, what platforms will be most important to the gaming industry in thirty years? Will mobile gaming dominate?

- What features will be most important to gamers in thirty years? What trends will we want to read about?

- Games and Society. Will the prevalence of online games for younger and younger children change the way those children interact with games (and the web, and society) as teenagers and adults?

- The expansion of game mechanisms to non-gaming apps. How far is it going? Are we going to live in the world of Jesse Schell's vision?

- Will people develop an immunity to traditional game mechanics? If so, how will this impact other aspects of life?

I'm sure plenty more will come up. Hope you can join us.