The AI situation

The classic man vs machine dilemma has reemerged recently ever since the public display and subsequent integration of AI into the general populace. Some people welcome the new technology that is relatively easy to use, yet there is a understandable concern among those who speculate and actually consider what AI can do.

Before AI ever became commonplace it was regular people that lead the charge for the skills and talents you find today. With the introduction of AI came the ability to almost replicate just about anything with little to no effort. In a way its not fair to the very talented people who worked extremely hard to gain what they have now in the hopes that they can achieve their dreams, and for those unfortunate enough, to be sidelined by a machine after years of effort is a very proverbial slap in the face.

AI should not be replacing our hardworking people, rather it should be reducing the workload of such talented people by making the process smoother. In a way, people already use a variant of AI in the form of computers that already exist. At the end of the day Quantity will never replace Quality work that a skilled person managed to achieve.

Whether it be movies, artwork, books, or even game development, AI can be used and probably has been used quite often to reduce the time it takes to put together brilliant works. yet it can not and should not replace the very focal point, the human element behind each piece.

The Hesitation to Take a Chance: The Dilemma of Hiring New Employees in the Gaming Industry

Securing a position in the gaming industry can be an arduous task for aspiring professionals. Despite their enthusiasm and potential, many talented individuals find themselves facing a common challenge: the hesitancy of companies to take a chance and hire new employees. In this article, we explore the reasons behind this dilemma and shed light on the factors that contribute to this hesitation.

One of the primary reasons why companies may be hesitant to hire new employees in the gaming industry is the inherent risk involved. Developing a successful video game requires significant investments of time, money, and resources. Companies naturally aim to minimize risks and ensure that their projects have the highest chances of success. As a result, they often lean towards hiring experienced individuals who have a proven track record and can hit the ground running.

Additionally, the fast-paced and competitive nature of the gaming industry further amplifies the reluctance to hire new employees. Companies often operate on tight deadlines, striving to meet demanding schedules and deliver high-quality products to an eager audience. In such an environment, there may be limited time and resources available for training and mentoring new hires, which can make companies more cautious when considering candidates without prior industry experience.

Furthermore, the gaming industry thrives on innovation and creativity. Companies are constantly seeking fresh ideas and unique perspectives to push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. However, striking the right balance between risk-taking and maintaining a stable business can be a delicate act. Some companies may choose to prioritize stability and rely on experienced professionals who have already demonstrated their creative prowess, rather than taking a chance on unproven talent.

That being said, it is essential to recognize the potential value that new employees can bring to the gaming industry. Fresh perspectives and innovative ideas from newcomers have the potential to inject vitality into projects and drive creative breakthroughs. Embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration between experienced professionals and aspiring talent can lead to the discovery of untapped potential and the cultivation of the next generation of gaming industry leaders.

In summary, the hesitancy to hire new employees in the gaming industry can be attributed to various factors, including the risks associated with unproven talent, the fast-paced nature of the industry, and the delicate balance between stability and innovation. However, by fostering an environment that values and supports the development of new talent, companies can strike a balance between mitigating risks and embracing fresh perspectives. Ultimately, the gaming industry stands to benefit from the infusion of new ideas and the growth of its workforce, ensuring continued innovation and success in the ever-evolving world of gaming.

The Future of VR: A World Beyond Reality

As a gamer, I am always excited about new technologies that bring us closer to our virtual worlds. Virtual reality, or VR, is one such technology that has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry and take us beyond the limits of reality. But what does the future hold for VR?

One thing is clear: VR technology is constantly evolving, and its potential is far-reaching. While current VR technology is impressive, it is still in its infancy, and there is much room for improvement. In the near future, we can expect to see more advanced VR systems with higher resolution displays, more realistic haptic feedback, and improved motion tracking.

As VR technology continues to improve, we can also expect to see more applications beyond gaming. For example, VR has the potential to transform education, allowing students to explore complex concepts in a more immersive and interactive way. It could also revolutionize the way we work, enabling remote teams to collaborate in a virtual workspace.

But the future of VR goes beyond just the technology. As VR becomes more mainstream, we can expect to see a shift in the way we interact with each other and our environments. Virtual communities and social spaces will become more prevalent, allowing people from all over the world to come together in a virtual space.

We may even see a shift in the way we perceive reality itself. As VR becomes more immersive and realistic, we may start to question what is real and what is not. We may begin to see the line between reality and virtual reality blur, leading to new philosophical and ethical debates.

Of course, there are also challenges to be overcome in the future of VR. One of the biggest challenges is making VR technology more accessible and affordable. While current VR systems are impressive, they are still relatively expensive and require powerful computers to run.

Another challenge is ensuring that VR technology is safe and does not have negative effects on our health. For example, prolonged use of VR headsets can cause motion sickness and eye strain.

Despite these challenges, the future of VR is bright. As technology continues to advance and VR becomes more mainstream, we can expect to see a world beyond reality where anything is possible. The possibilities are endless, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what the future holds.

The decline of desire for in-person events.

There isn’t a moment in time where I wake up and think about the what ifs. What if I asked the girl out; What if I got my dream job; What if I had the opportunity to be apart of the community that I enjoy. I do believe that in-person events or Conventions like PAX and even E3 had played important roles throughout the history of gaming.

Believe it or not, I’d like to think that attending something that big in-person has a very good effect on the average gamer. Afterall, on the rule of technicality most of the time a gamer can only experience stuff through the power of online communities; or they would be alone with maybe one or two other people who understand.

But have we as a community moved past the desire to come together in person? Is it so wrong to wanna share laughs with like minded individuals in the same room as each other. Arguably some of the best moments in gaming history has happened at a physical event. Yet just as clear, about every year the average number of people who attend such events in person have declined at a steady pace. So why have we opted to not attend.

More than likely it’s probably due to the balancing of featured titles that hit the season and the price and location. I’m very sure anyone in the community can see the pattern game devs tend to follow and when there is a lull in interesting games to check out. All those triple A companies usually hold their best stuff for the fall season. The other important note is that every in person event can also be watched from home via sites like YouTube and Twitch. To that end Nintendo has been the longest big name company that exclusively did digital events, namely the signature Nintendo Direct every season. In support of the digital choice, really the only limit is your internet.

Gaming to Gamers

Are we as gamers getting better over the years? Or are games getting easier than we remember?

I can remember the days when I would sit a struggle with a problem and it would take me forever to either brute force the solution, or give up. Nowadays if I encountered such a problem, I would just use the internet for my solutions. The same can be said for video games over the years. Whether it was a strict time-constraint, misunderstanding of simple problems, or even a steep learning curve. We as gamers have always been able to achieve impressive feats.

So there comes a point where you may have asked yourself. “Why do the games I play seem easier than what I remember?” Don’t misunderstand me here, I can easily point to infamous examples like *Turbo Tunnel* from BattleToads and say they easily rival even modern games in terms of difficulty. The types of games I’m looking at have a different view depending on who you ask. Some players believe games like Elden Ring is way too hard, others will say the opposite or it wasn’t challenging enough.

The way I see it is the more you play a game, in a way it gets easier for you as you learn from your mistakes you learn what the game will “let” you get away with. That still doesn’t mean that the game will get easier, but that says you as a player are learning how the game is played. Where the question comes in is for games of the same franchise, like how every Kirby game will have Kirby with more or less the signature suck up bad guys and copy their abilities.

Here’s where stuff gets interesting, I am willing to guess that if a rookie player picked up a brand new game they are unfamiliar with, they will more or less struggle with the game somewhere along the road. Yes they can just lookup the solution, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t learning. They become familiar with the mechanics of the game. Thus when a new game in the series drops, not only will it most likely retain the core mechanics, it will throw in several new ones. The idea is this player still can both play and finish the game, while retaining how fun it was to play.

However in my cases, and maybe for some others. Sometimes when I finish a game, I felt the game was too easy. Not because it actually was easu but because I am already familiar with the game i played from a predecessor. Thus in some cases, a player may choose to end their playthrough then and there and move on. Others may restrict themselves by setting challenges on themself. Like the Nuzlocke challenge for Pokemon. They could even set a harder goal, speedruns are a perfect example of such challenges.

I believe that we as gamers seek to find some fulfillment from the games and sometimes just a normal run is too easy for us. So we seek out new heights, always striving to go beyond every believable expectation. It’s not a bad thing to be clear, rather the whole idea as itself is something that can be considered a milestone for the future.