My thoughts of the difference between a 'sim' and a 'video game' is the level of immersion. Obviously that is a fine line and is different for most people. I've flown planes that feel like a game but in a sim world. I've also played fps games that briefly feel like sims. A sim will retain a fun factor even without some external challenge or contest. It is good enough on it's own. Only recently have hardware and programs become so good as to begin to mimic reality in 2D, even without other sensory inputs.
And this is just the start of it all..
Someday auto repair manuals will become step-by-step visualizations of taking apart a 3D models.
Travel will be available virtually.
Go in amongst football player on the line and feel the crunches using focused sonic skin disrupters. Rewind and watch the play from a different perspective in full slo-mo control. Who did what and why. What could they see from that angle? You are in the game instead of watching moving blobs on a screen.
Art and CAD will be create-able in the ether with motion and thought sensors.
So many things will be possible in the upcoming virtual experience.
(sorry I'm repeating myself here, but am fascinated by what many humans now have access to.)
I once went up on a B-17 flight with dad, but now can 'fly' one of them. Felt familiar. Just wow.
