Image from http://www.cgsociety.org/

CGI shops are always making up new images that impress, but how far out could the above CGI screen be from actual game implementation? We're talking gameplay not pre-rendered cut scenes. Five years? 10?

True, we are a long way from graphics like that in your typical PC game or console system. However, the industry that will benefit from these high quality CGI effects first will be the big screen.

Movies due to come out within the next few years are already showing higher quality CGI effects that surpass the so called norm of today's graphics. Movie remakes of comic book hero's like Ghost Rider (In theatres 2/16/07) Are promising the next level in full motion CGI effects.

If that's the case then you can expect the same quality in games due for release at least by 2008. Seeing as how the movie and game industry are becoming more and more intertwined everyday.

Image from http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ghostrider/