Are any of you familiar with the comedy troupe the Firesign Theatre? One of their albums is called EAT, OR BE EATEN, and it came out in the mid 80's.
It's plot is fairly simple--a guy goes to a store, buys a videogame, and plays it. But the game is really unique. It's a virtual reality game; he literally gets sucked into the action! He even meets, and falls in love with, a girl who's part of the game! And at one point, he ends up in the grooves of the CD, and nearly gets sliced by the laser beam!
Is this the wave of the future for gaming? I think it is.
By the way, the guy's car tells him where he's going--a good 10 years before GPS systems were invented!

You're thinking of gaming experiences that are like the Holodeck in Star Trek?

Yes, exactly!

I think we would see it first in a public place, maybe in a space almost like the old arcades. It seems to me that it would be a long time before people have that kind of setup in their homes to take the place of a PC or a console. Even then, I think it's going to be a long time before that kind of technology is available.

Were you thinking near future?

Oh, no!
As a matter of fact, on the record (yes, it's on vinyl!), the guy actually carries around the CD player, while playing his game. I guess a setup like that is several dozen years away!

Hi Douglas,
Great topic. I'm a big fan of Firesign Theatre and have most of their stuff memorized. In fact, with most thoughts that occur to me, I have to ask "Is that me or Firesign Theatre?" Listening to their albums is as immersive as playing a great adventure game.

Sample The Bourne Conspiracy and realize a closeness to the action never experienced befor. Like I'm running away and hitting, shooting etc. I don't know the mechanics but I'm so with the game I'm almost in it. I wasn't manipulating the character I was going with the thought of it. Just think of the evily devine terror if we could enter these games - a joy unspeakable.

I love the Firesign Theatre, too! And yes, I think it would be cool if they worked on a game. A Nick Danger adventure, perhaps.
And why does the porriage bird lay its egg in the air, anyway?:)

I've never listened to the Firesign Theatre but this reminds me of the old movie Tron, where the guy got sucked into the computer and had to play the games to survive.