Taking a peak a GDCs site showed me that many new game developments are under way with next gen hardware and software that allows for ultra fast rendering and level creation in almost a blink of an eye. games such as crysis show some lengths games developers go to create these next gen games.

Reading a magazine a few weeks back lead me to believe that the advancement in hardware for pcs would allow the main processor of a pc to take on multi threading with new heights and generate AI that is currently unheard of in games today. what if a character ran behind a tree that had randomly fallen (possible never to fall there again) and use it for cover, or decide that a stream was to cold to cross thus they would run the bank to find an warmer place to cross. this also allows for some graphical advancement as the processor will be doing the A.I. work but the GPU would be taking on the frame rates, giving the stunning view from atop the sky's.

As far as games like crysis and far cry go. they intended to give the character a little bit of freedom but not to much (oblivions quick jump) to involve the character in gorilla warfare, actually experience what it would be like to take on a load of bad guys in a jungle but still give boundaries for a character not to walk to far away from the story. this is all part of interactive story telling. many games such as final fantasy have emotional attachments to characters and working this in can also be a part of interactive story telling. If a strong dramatic point in the game is apparent, it could over shadow any minor more subtle points in the game.

Games often support a wide verity of tricks to fool the player into attachments and believability, to make the game a memorable experience. at the current state games are beginning to make use of graphics and careful story telling to make a game seem more real and immersive to the player but as it stands to date, games in general are still only trying, cracking that perfect balance is a step - in my opinion - that has yet to be taken.