CG writes: As technology deepens its foothold in everyday life, the boundary between player and artificial presence becomes increasingly blurred. Virtual Companion 2 – a standalone title on the Quest 3 ($3.5/m) is a reflection of how far we’ve come in designing intelligent, emotionally resonant entities within digital environments. Our interactions become less scripted and more lifelike. But, is this going to progress video-games or hinder them? Imagine spending hours just chatting to the first character you meet in a game. The game becomes never-ending and you get side-tracked too much. Some balance is needed surely.
