When looking back on games over the past couple of generations, a few defining features have signified evolution in the industry. Mechanics and graphics have both taken point on the natural selection of videogame creation and quite rightly so. As nature shows us, however, this progression is often not a path to perfection. Most dinosaurs evolved into the modern bird through the growth of wings, but with that came a particular lust for breaking their face through vigorous efforts to self-mate against apparently quite sexy reflections. Physical adaptations may allow for the species to thrive in an ever changing environment, but the pitfalls still remain.

With evolution, each step carries with it some remnant from its past. In videogames, this remnant is themes. Many themes have gone past the point of cliché through saturation and have instead been accepted as “this is how videogames are”. We as gamers do not notice recycling. Much like a fine toilet paper, gamers are OK with it if the job gets done and doesn’t hurt our arse too much… and is at least 2-ply, but isn’t so thick that the threat of blockage requires midway ‘safety’ flushes.

The most consistent and superfluous theme is probably War, but that’s boring so I’m going with Future. Future is all “futuristic and such”, while War is all “I’m going to shoot them Nazis and Russia is rather shifty and the Japanese are even shiftier and Australia has never been a part of any of them except as an American comic-relief that gets killed right at the end, but it isn’t a big deal so everyone moves on.” Also I realise that I have described Russia as a country as shifty, and the Japanese as a people as shifty… that is what you call validation through meticulous detail right there.

Anyway back on point, the future can be described as three possibilities as dictated by videogames:

1) Post-apocalyptia (See Fallout/Borderlands/Rage/real life in about 20 years or so) ‘“ A baron wasteland that has been ravaged by some level of nuclear devastation. Humanity is left to fight against its savage nature to not only survive but to move forward. Single individuals often become a catalyst for growth to proceed once more, while the majority fester in piles of greed and self-preservation.

2) Freaking Space (See Halo/Mass Effect/Doom) ‘“ Earth has united into a single entity usually due an alien war. Planets instead become separate colonies or countries that all have ties to the galactic conflict. No matter how vast or expansive the universe is portrayed, Earth is always the centre point of most issues that surround the mythos. Humans are looked down upon as lesser species through their late entry into space travel and legacy of violence. The only individuals that matter are marines of some kind, as a single trained human will always topple the greatest alien plan or force.

3) The Past (See Every JRPG) ‘“ Although the date details that this is in fact the future, technology and landscapes do not correspond. Tribes and vicious beasts populate the land, which is rather untouched by man-made creations. Small futuristic artefacts are scattered throughout to try and authenticate the future setting such as techno music or steam-punk architecture.

The gist of all these either on their own or in combination with each other is that we are quite fucked. On the bright side however Nick Cage will probably be killed.

Nostalgia encompasses not just how things have changed, but the feelings they created at the time. The expanse of space or thought of nuclear apocalypse once brought a sensation of awe. The possibilities that the future could hold bred nothing but excitement and the fact that they could be interacted with using a super Nintendo or 1995 personal computer only magnified this fact. The idea that the eventual conclusion of our existence could play out during our lifetime through this medium of videogames just personified why they needed to exist. This could not happen any other way. These feelings could not be evoked any other way. By repeating these tropes for the past two decades they have lost the essence of possibility and have instead just become another setting to shoot things.

The way videogames are headed however, I do not feel the feelings of old will ever be rekindled again. Originality died with the rest of humanity as far as the future is concerned. I would honestly not be surprised if a game had you play a middle-aged red haired gentleman in the year 2062. Cars fold into brief cases; dogs talk and your thieving bitch wife always takes your entire wallet which is just plain inconvenient. The visceral possibility of creating sprockets is only matched by the underlining story of abuse between your son and the robot maid.

Another original idea which is probably in development because it is original and such, is a war. A war involving the entire world. A war where the Germans follow a malevolent dictator that uses Jews as a scapegoat to unite the country in conflict. The story then opens up to reveal that Russia is a bit shifty, but not nearly as much as the Japanese.

Soon every depiction of the future will involve a time-travelling car, a chick with three boobs, the Easter bunny being defeated by air-guitar solos, a daft punk medley and Bruce Willis… at Christmas time… future Christmas… future time.

A realistic depiction of a prosperous future is unheard of and this just astounds me. Human emotion through triumph, betrayal, love and hate will always remain. The extravagance of total annihilation is not needed to emote the idea of “the world is different now” because it won’t be. Technology will change, people will not. If video games were to actually show progression in such a way it would not only reinvigorate the future theme, but become a relatable experience that is both unique and familiar. Future? Marty, what do you mean? How can we be in the future?