Graeme Devine’s Vision: The Future of Mixed Reality Gaming
A Gaming Pioneer’s Perspective on the Next Frontier
Graeme Devine, a legendary figure in the gaming industry, has been shaping interactive entertainment since his early days at Atari in the 1970s. With groundbreaking contributions to iconic titles like The 7th Guest, The 11th Hour, and early Quake games, Devine has consistently pushed the boundaries of gaming technology. Now, as part of Magic Leap, he’s pioneering the next evolution: mixed reality gaming.
Defining Mixed Reality: Beyond Augmented Reality
At the recent DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Devine shared his compelling vision for mixed reality (MR) — a term he prefers over “augmented reality.” His definition captures the essence of this emerging technology:
“Mixed reality is the mixture of the real world and virtual worlds so that one understands the other. This creates experiences that cannot possibly happen anywhere else.”
Image Credit: Dean Takahashi
The Evolution of Gaming Platforms
Devine draws parallels between the current state of MR and the early days of smartphones:
- iPhone’s Lesson: A decade ago, smartphones were in their infancy; today, they generate billions quarterly
- MR’s Potential: Similar revolutionary growth could transform how we interact with digital content
- Beyond the Screen: Current 3D games remain “on the other side of the glass” — MR brings them into our physical space
Image Credit: DICE Summit
“Ghost Girl”: A Glimpse into MR’s Potential
Devine showcased a conceptual MR game that demonstrates the technology’s unique capabilities:
- Real-World Integration: Players interact with physical wooden cubes that connect to the digital experience
- Environmental Awareness: The game responds to your actual living space and movements
- Immersive Storytelling: A ghost character appears in your room, creating unprecedented emotional engagement
“She looks directly at you. She knows where your eyes are… And there behind you is the outline of a dead body — in your house.”
Image Credit: DICE Summit
The “Five-Mile Rule” for MR Adoption
Devine highlights a crucial metric for MR success:
- Smartphone Standard: Would you drive five miles to retrieve your phone? Most would
- Wearable Challenge: Few would do the same for a smartwatch
- MR Imperative: Mixed reality devices must achieve similar indispensability
Why MR Needs Its Own Platform
Key insights about MR’s development:
- Not an Add-On: MR must be as distinct from smartphones as television was from radio
- Developer Mindset: Requires fundamentally new design approaches
- Consumer Appeal: Must create experiences compelling enough to drive mass adoption
“We have to create a compelling platform that people will line up for four days at Best Buy.”
Image Credit: Dean Takahashi
Why Games Lead the MR Revolution
Devine makes a compelling case for gaming as the ideal MR launchpad:
- Constant Interaction: Games naturally adapt to user actions and environments
- Proven Engagement Model: Interactive entertainment drives technology adoption
- Creative Testing Ground: Allows exploration of MR’s unique capabilities
As mixed reality evolves, Devine’s vision suggests we’re on the cusp of a transformation as significant as the shift from 2D to 3D gaming — but this time, the game world will step through the screen into ours.
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