Do you guys ever envision a time when people can use videoconferencing/webcam technology to routinely game with people around the country or the world? Being a technological dunce I have no idea how far we are away from the days when we can push a button and get a good clear picture and ungarbled sound.


Any thoughts?

I think the tech is there now but it would be moderately expensive.  but I don't think that it will ever be as good as face to face, just a sub for when face to face isn't possible.

If my fellow gamer friends and I could afford the audio/visual hardware and bandwidth to play remotely, we would.  

Many people would play remotely even if it just meant being across town instead.  We have enough parents with young children currently, the ability to be home when 5 minutes of assistance is needed would allow for more games for more people.

Once cheap enough hardware/software like that existed it would be used.  I've heard of professional systems that already exist for interacting with clients and business partners around the world but the price tag is around $100,000 last I heard.

The implications for things like education and business are staggering but the gamers would use them as well.

Quote from: King_StannisDo you guys ever envision a time when people can use videoconferencing/webcam technology to routinely game with people around the country or the world? Being a technological dunce I have no idea how far we are away from the days when we can push a button and get a good clear picture and ungarbled sound.

It's already being done...

Quote from: King_StannisDo you guys ever envision a time when people can use videoconferencing/webcam technology to routinely game with people around the country or the world? Being a technological dunce I have no idea how far we are away from the days when we can push a button and get a good clear picture and ungarbled sound.

Any thoughts?

i've been imagining it for years.  it's an eventuality when the techology and service are reasonably affordable.

Voice technology currently allows simultaneous communication over the net, but that obviously doesn't help with things like showing maps to other remote players. I personally prefer programs like Fantasy Grounds, which combines chat with dice rolling and the ability to display maps to everyone connected to the game. Maybe video conferencing games might become widespread at a later date, but for now we're not doing too bad with what's readily available.

I can imagine it being increasingly available and affordable as the years go on, but I can't see it being satisfying for me.

If you want to do that, can't you just play any number of online computer games?  I don't see why one would keep all the conventions of tabletop gaming if they go online.  Something like Neverwinter Nights is going to have any web RPG type program beat hands down.  IMO anyway.

Quote from: King_StannisDo you guys ever envision a time when people can use videoconferencing/webcam technology to routinely game with people around the country or the world? Being a technological dunce I have no idea how far we are away from the days when we can push a button and get a good clear picture and ungarbled sound.

Only in my nightmares.
 
Call me a Luddite, but I think half the fun of P&P RPGing is the gathering.  Passing books around, chatting, borrowing stuff until the next session, etc.  I don't think I could ever do video-conferenced gaming.  Then again, I said I'd never (okay, "never again" is more precise) use a laptop as a GM.  
 
Honestly, things like Fantasy Grounds leave me wondering "why?"  I can't see even choosing to game remotely.  Only being forced to for want of local players.  Again, though, I'm dumbfounded by people being willing to organize a (regular) time to play MMORPGs.

Pharao dreamt of a room full of heads, and each head spoke simultaneously. Pharao awoke screaming.

I foresee that there will be several forays into that territory. And yes, it may be an alternative if you want to game with guys that have moved, but you want to indulge your memories.

But with video signals, you never have peripheric vision, and you often have a very confined point of view. If I, as DM, cannot see a player fidget because he gets bored, or cannot keep on top of all the players like I could when they were sitting in front of me, then the game will suffer. If the players can't read their buddies' bodies to see they're going to do or say something, then everybody will talk at once, which even worsens things.

And that's without taking into account the fact that I can't hand something over, have a player give me something to drink, play with the kids of our fellow players, or go up to the kitchen with them to make some sandwiches and talk shit.

Now, it might be a good idea for smelly gamers or Hida Oakheart. So I might go online to participate in GenCon games.

And finally, where most computer programs for table use cannot fill my need for a good DM program, I can't really see a video-game-interface done well.

Quote from: SobekHonestly, things like Fantasy Grounds leave me wondering "why?"  I can't see even choosing to game remotely.  Only being forced to for want of local players.  Again, though, I'm dumbfounded by people being willing to organize a (regular) time to play MMORPGs.

That's easy to answer. I have a group of really good friends, like not just gaming buddies, but real life buddies, who enjoy gaming, but we're spread out throughout the country now. Fantasy Grounds allows us to actually game together without having to be in one place at one time. It would really rock if we could ever get our crap together enough to actually schedule a time to play....

Quote from: BullittThat's easy to answer. I have a group of really good friends, like not just gaming buddies, but real life buddies, who enjoy gaming, but we're spread out throughout the country now. Fantasy Grounds allows us to actually game together without having to be in one place at one time. It would really rock if we could ever get our crap together enough to actually schedule a time to play....

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I prefer in-person gaming by a long shot. And I have never played any sort of MMORG. I barely even tolerate single-player RPG video games. But thanks to OpenRPG/WebRPG at first and now Fantasy Grounds, I still game with my old gang, people I have known for over 30 years.

We have managed to get together in person a few times in recent years, but only 2 in-person games.

I have in-person games too, with other people, and enjoy them. But I am glad to have technology that lets me keep gaming with my old friends.

i would take "video conferencing RP" as a substitute for tabletop gaming.  NWN and other games like that are not the same as tableop because you have to program in everything you want to happen ahead of time (i assume, as i have not actually seen or played the game myself thanks to limited budget and freetime).

however, what might be interesting is a combination of the two... the DM can prepare parts of it (like map JPGs or character modeling, or even playable modules) on the computer ahead of time, and just wing the rest of it tabletop style over the video conferencing...

I view FTF and online as apples and oranges...but they are both fruit  

I PRG alot online because
1) I play alot of non-d20/DND games and players are sometimes hard to find
2) Other RPGers are sometimes hard to find  Lots of FTF board games
3) Easy to organize. No travel involved and once you have all your initial files made, simple

It won't replace FTF, but there are some very cool aspects like...
Whispers/Notes work way better  
Send cool sound/image files
Efficient data tracking. Makes GMing a snap once the files are made
You can play in your underwear (or something comfortable)  

I like them both and view them like different rpg's. Fun but different...

Quote from: BOZi would take "video conferencing RP" as a substitute for tabletop gaming.  NWN and other games like that are not the same as tableop because you have to program in everything you want to happen ahead of time (i assume, as i have not actually seen or played the game myself thanks to limited budget and freetime).

Actually, it's a combination of the two.  You can certainly program pretty much anything to happen at a certain time - when the group steps in this spot, this object appears, that visual effect goes off, disembodied voice says these lines - whatever.  But you do need some pretty good programming skills to pull that off.

You can also do stuff "on the fly".  Instead of scripting a bunch of conversation, just possess the creature in question and talk.  Or use a variety of commands to create creatures, items, and effects as you need them.  Naturally some things are easier than others, and it works best to program some things and do others through the DM client.

Hopefully NWN2 will make it even better.