4. Augmented Realities
We've seen it before. From Fallout to Watchmen, augmented realities are a relevant part of popular culture and they seem likely to continue to be just that. In light of tough economic times and a slowly improving economy, many non-gamers have adopted gaming as hobby purely as a healthier form of leisurely escapism. The truth of the matter is that videogames act as a form of entertainment in which players can live and breath a world that is not their own - if only for a while. Which is why titles such as Bethesda's 'Fallout 3' and 2K Boston's 'Bioshock' have achieved commercial success. The hardcore aren't the only ones buying into this either. A trend has emerged where a growing number of titles present solid gameplay wrapped within dystopias which are, in some cases, quite reminiscent of George Orwell's '1984'. This increased interest in the latter can partially be accredited to developers tending to the needs of their growing audience: individuals seeking new ways to escape from the qualms and worries of everyday life rather than strictly their most loyal fans.