Guest Post: The Future of Video Games?

I previously predicted that the future of 3D technology might lie not with movies or television or handheld devices, but with immersive video gaming experiences.  One of my friends, Robert (a.k.a. the Mad Blogger), recently listed a bunch of his own prognostications for the future of video games.  Along with some other posts he made, it ended up getting him banned from certain gaming forums.  Here's what he wrote, judge for yourselves:

"Now through 2020:The last version (in the evolution) of video game systems (which we are starting to see now) will no longer have slots for inserting (disks or cartridges). If you want to play a video game, you download it directly to the console. There would be different fees for a trial version (for example, 24 hours with limited features), rental version (all of the features but for only a set amount of time), and purchase version (all of the features for an unlimited amount of time).



Stores like Funcoland or Gamestop will become obsolete.


Beyond 2020:Video game (console) systems will become obsolete. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo (and other major players that might emerge) will all have subscriber-based channels on your television (or other multi-content viewing device). By subscribing to a channel, you would be able to play games associated with that channel.


There will be universal video game controllers to play games from all (content providers).


Smart televisions will come equipped with gaming (channels and operating systems) and controllers built into them.


There will be a 'picture-in-picture' feature so (multiple) players can play (multiple) games from...different systems at the same time.


Video games will include more of the senses. There will be enhanced speakers built into the controllers for better sound quality, aromas will be released from games for better smell quality, and the controllers will vibrate more (keep all comments clean here)."

What do you think?  Far-fetched?  Fair speculations?  Are his ideas about the demise of the video game console and video game brick-and-mortar shops that controversial?  The great thing about any predictions is that if you wait long enough you'll find out if the "fortune teller" was right or wrong, so time will tell.