Will People Believe an Unfutureistic Future?

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6 comments, last by jbadams 10 years, 7 months ago

I'm working on a game that takes place in 2173 with some parts in the 2070's (at least the lore will) and the 2090's. Technology has advanced for example people can be placed in stasis but, this is almost never used. Most of life remains just like it has been since the 20th century. There are no truly intelligent AI's, space colonies, super soldiers, or domed cities. Aesthetically things don't look like most modern Sci-Fi, there are buildings with stories in the single digits, not everything is made of steel, and blue is not the only color of light. Is this future too primitive for people to believe for a non-post-apocalyptic world?

People laugh at past predictions of now, yet criticize a game set in the 2030's for being too primitive. The game may get a pass being set in a 3rd-world country but some people don't think those will exist in the future. What will people find more realistic, an optimistic view of future development or the more cynical one I described in the game.

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Sorry, I didn't really understand what is your question exactly ^^'

You fear that if you use a not-so-futuristic-environment for your game which is set in the future it will impact on the quality/immersion of your game?

If that's it, I guess it will depend on the gameplay. Do you intend to use technology, like Ghost reacon do with its future soldier? Or the technology is more like a background, a way to immerse the player in a future environment?

In the first case, I think a game when you are supposed to use future technology without many technologic weapon item would be not fun.
But in the second case, I find it generally cooler to have a present feeling and environment but with new technology which are close to our current technology.

I don't know if I made myself clear or helped you, but there is my opinion :)


a present feeling and environment but with new technology which are close to our current technology

I was thinking it would be more like this. The new technologies would mostly just create subtle differences. Most advanced things would be used by your enemies while the player uses weapons and vehicles closer to modern ones.

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Think of it this way: writer wants that X is possible because it is essential to his story idea so he sets the date Y amount of years into the future. The writer then has to think of other ways technology would advance and how life would change in Y amount of years, let's call it Z.

X and Y result in a claim that will be viewed by the player. Some buy it, others think Y should be greater. Some people might laugh at the Y and Z but it doesn't make a good story bad or vice versa as long as the X is supporting it in meaningful way.

The reason I want to say this is because I think you've got it somewhat backwards. Trying to find good Y and Z so that people won't laugh at your idea is a bad starting point. You try to come up with a story that requires X. As in WHY are you set in the future? Then you evaluate Y based on the fact that X exists. Z is formed when you have Y but don't worry about it so much as it won't be what will makes your story good or bad.

I think such thing as perfect prediction of future is impossible and going for it is just pointless. Star Trek the movie from 1966 did the space travel and technology very well and somewhat realistically but then they wear pants with those wide leg openings. There will always be something completely out of place when viewed back and that is how it should be. In addition to the obvious reason of having artistic freedom when writing a story the movies, games and books we write today that are set in future always reflect the world and way of thinking of today. It's something precious and something we can't get away from fortunately.

I'm working on a game that takes place in 2173 with some parts in the 2070's (at least the lore will) and the 2090's. Technology has advanced for example people can be placed in stasis but, this is almost never used. Most of life remains just like it has been since the 20th century. There are no truly intelligent AI's, space colonies, super soldiers, or domed cities. Aesthetically things don't look like most modern Sci-Fi, there are buildings with stories in the single digits, not everything is made of steel, and blue is not the only color of light. Is this future too primitive for people to believe for a non-post-apocalyptic world?

To be blunt, you will have to create something. Re-examine the above quote; it's just a long list of things that won't be included.

--"I'm not at home right now, but" = lights on, but no ones home

Is there a reason technology hasn't advanced in your setting?

Did it advance but was then lost due to global catastrophe?

Was there some violent demonstration of the problems advancing could cause that lead to it being outlawed?

Are there simply no significant advancements to be made in your alternate universe?

People will believe things that are internally consistent, and based upon sound logic. That is, you shouldn't (usually, unless there's some very good reason) break your own rules, and you should have and follow some set of rules that make sense. People won't believe a setting that doesn't seem to follow a set of logical rules, and will be less inclined to believe a setting that doesn't stick to it's own rules 99%+ of the time.

You don't need to have pretty blue lights, towering sky-scrapers and flying cars, but people will expect there to be logical advances.

- Jason Astle-Adams

If you expect some of your audience to disbelieve because they think progress is unrealistically slow, offer reasons for this slowness: economic and political depression, war pestilence and famine, pollution, and other reasons to waste time without getting much done or even decaying; initiatives diverting technological and scientific effort away from the fun fields (e.g. a great space program with little to show for it, environmental recovery projects); some kind of aversion for technology or realization that there's little left to improve.

Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru

On a related side-note, you can never please everyone, and no matter how much work you put into this there will always be at least some people who will find faults in or simply dislike your work.

Concentrate your efforts on making an internally consistent and appropriately detailed world for people who are fans of yours or similar work, and don't waste too much time worrying about trying to placate the naysayers. smile.png

- Jason Astle-Adams

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