# Game Domain Research Step 5: Technical Trends

## MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

- 🛑 NEVER generate content without web search verification

- 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions
- 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding
- ✅ Search the web to verify and supplement your knowledge with current facts
- 📋 YOU ARE A GAME TECHNOLOGY ANALYST, not content generator
- 💬 FOCUS on emerging game technologies, engine trends, and platform innovation patterns
- 🔍 WEB SEARCH REQUIRED - verify current facts against live sources
- 📝 WRITE CONTENT IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT
- ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config `{communication_language}`

## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

- 🎯 Show web search analysis before presenting findings
- ⚠️ Present [C] continue option after technical trends content generation
- 📝 WRITE TECHNICAL TRENDS ANALYSIS TO DOCUMENT IMMEDIATELY
- 💾 ONLY proceed when user chooses C (Continue)
- 📖 Update frontmatter `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]` before loading next step
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to load next step until C is selected

## CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

- Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
- **Research topic = "{{research_topic}}"** - established from initial discussion
- **Research goals = "{{research_goals}}"** - established from initial discussion
- Focus on emerging game technologies, engine trends, and platform-specific innovation
- Web search capabilities with source verification are enabled

## YOUR TASK:

Conduct comprehensive game technology trends analysis using current web data with emphasis on game engine innovations, rendering advances, AI in games, and platform-specific technology impacting {{research_topic}}.

## TECHNICAL TRENDS SEQUENCE:

### 1. Begin Game Technical Trends Analysis

Start with game technology research approach:
"Now I'll conduct **game technical trends and emerging technologies** analysis for **{{research_topic}}** using current data.

**Game Technical Trends Focus:**

- Game engine innovations and adoption trends (Unreal, Unity, Godot, proprietary)
- Rendering and graphics technology advances (ray tracing, nanite, lumen, etc.)
- AI in game development (procedural generation, NPC behavior, ML tools)
- Platform-specific technology features (console hardware, mobile GPU, cloud streaming)
- Online and networking technology for multiplayer games

**Let me search for current game technology developments.**"

### 2. Web Search for Game Engine and Rendering Technologies

Search for current game technology information:
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} game engine technology trends innovations"

**Game technology focus:**

- Game engine adoption rates and feature comparison
- Rendering technology innovations (ray tracing, global illumination, etc.)
- New engine features that affect game design possibilities
- Open source vs commercial engine trends

### 3. Web Search for AI and Procedural Technology

Search for current AI and procedural trends:
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} AI procedural generation game technology"

**AI and procedural focus:**

- AI-driven NPC behavior and dialogue systems
- Procedural content generation for levels, worlds, and assets
- Machine learning applications in game development tools
- AI-assisted art and audio production trends

### 4. Web Search for Platform Technology and Future Outlook

Search for platform technology and future projections:
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} game platform technology future outlook"

**Platform and future focus:**

- Console hardware capabilities (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2)
- Mobile hardware advances affecting game design
- Cloud gaming and streaming technology maturation
- VR/AR hardware evolution and game design implications

### 5. Generate Game Technical Trends Content

**WRITE IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT**

Prepare game technical analysis with source citations:

#### Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

```markdown
## Game Technical Trends and Innovation

### Game Engine Landscape

[Game engine trends analysis with source citations]
_Dominant Engines: [Unreal, Unity, Godot, and proprietary engine adoption]_
_Engine Capability Advances: [Key new features affecting game design and production]_
_Engine Economics: [Licensing models, royalties, and engine choice trade-offs]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Rendering and Graphics Technology

[Rendering technology analysis with source citations]
_Ray Tracing Adoption: [Current state and game adoption of real-time ray tracing]_
_Next-Gen Rendering: [Nanite, Lumen, virtual shadow maps, and similar tech]_
_Mobile Graphics Advances: [Mobile GPU improvements affecting mobile game quality]_
_Source: [URL]_

### AI in Game Development

[AI technology analysis with source citations]
_AI-Driven NPC Systems: [Machine learning approaches to NPC behavior and dialogue]_
_Procedural Content Generation: [AI-assisted level, world, and asset creation]_
_Development Tool AI: [AI assistants for coding, art, audio in game dev pipelines]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Platform-Specific Technology

[Platform technology analysis with source citations]
_Console Hardware Capabilities: [PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 features]_
_Mobile Platform Advances: [iOS and Android hardware and API improvements]_
_Cloud Gaming Maturation: [Xbox Cloud, GeForce NOW, and cloud streaming trends]_
_VR/AR Technology Evolution: [Meta Quest, PSVR2, and spatial computing games]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Online and Multiplayer Technology

[Networking technology analysis with source citations]
_Netcode Innovations: [Rollback netcode, server reconciliation, and latency solutions]_
_Live Service Infrastructure: [Backend services for live game operations]_
_Anti-Cheat Technology: [Current approaches to fair play enforcement]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Future Outlook

[Game tech future outlook and projections with source citations]
_Near-term Technology Shifts: [Technologies entering mainstream game dev in 1-2 years]_
_Medium-term Projections: [Anticipated game tech evolution over 3-5 years]_
_Long-term Vision: [Transformative technologies on the game industry horizon]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Implementation Opportunities

[Game tech implementation opportunity analysis with source citations]
_High-Impact Technology Adoptions: [Technologies offering competitive differentiation]_
_Low-Cost High-Value Tech: [Accessible technologies with strong ROI for studios]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Challenges and Risks

[Game tech challenges and risks assessment with source citations]
_Technical Debt Risks: [Legacy tech decisions creating future development burdens]_
_Engine Dependency Risks: [Risks of relying on third-party engine vendors]_
_Platform Fragmentation: [Challenges of supporting multiple hardware targets]_
_Source: [URL]_

## Recommendations

### Technology Adoption Strategy

[Game technology adoption recommendations]

### Innovation Roadmap

[Game innovation roadmap suggestions for the studio]

### Risk Mitigation

[Game technology risk mitigation strategies]
```

### 6. Present Analysis and Complete Option

Show the generated technical analysis and present complete option:
"I've completed **game technical trends and innovation analysis** for {{research_topic}}.

**Technical Highlights:**

- Game engine landscape and adoption trends identified
- Rendering and graphics technology advances documented
- AI and procedural generation opportunities mapped
- Platform-specific technology features analyzed
- Online and multiplayer technology innovations covered

**Game Technical Trends Research Completed:**

- Game engine landscape and capability trends analyzed
- Rendering, AI, and platform-specific innovations mapped
- Future outlook and implementation opportunities documented
- Practical recommendations for game studio technology adoption

**Ready to proceed to research synthesis and recommendations?**
[C] Continue - Save this to document and proceed to synthesis

### 7. Handle Continue Selection

#### If 'C' (Continue):

- **CONTENT ALREADY WRITTEN TO DOCUMENT**
- Update frontmatter: `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]`
- Load: `./step-06-research-synthesis.md`

## APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

Content is already written to document when generated in step 5. No additional append needed.

## SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ Game engine landscape and adoption trends identified with current data
✅ Rendering and graphics technology advances clearly documented
✅ AI and procedural generation opportunities mapped
✅ Platform-specific technology features analyzed
✅ Strategic recommendations for game studio tech adoption provided
✅ Content written immediately to document
✅ [C] continue option presented and handled correctly
✅ Proper routing to next step (research synthesis)
✅ Research goals alignment maintained

## FAILURE MODES:

❌ Relying solely on training data without web verification for current game tech facts
❌ Missing critical game engine or rendering technology developments
❌ Not providing practical game studio implementation recommendations
❌ Not completing strategic recommendations
❌ Not presenting completion option for research workflow
❌ Appending content without user selecting 'C'

❌ **CRITICAL**: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions
❌ **CRITICAL**: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file
❌ **CRITICAL**: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

## GAME TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

- Search for game engine release notes, GDC talks, and developer blog announcements
- Identify rendering technology milestones and hardware adoption timelines
- Research AI and procedural generation tools and their game applications
- Consider platform-specific technology constraints and opportunities
- Analyze competitive technological advantages for studios in this space

## RESEARCH WORKFLOW COMPLETION:

When 'C' is selected:

- All game domain research steps completed
- Comprehensive research document generated
- All sections appended with source citations
- Research workflow status updated
- Final recommendations provided to user

## NEXT STEPS:

Research workflow complete. User may:

- Use the game domain research to inform other workflows (GDD, architecture, etc.)
- Conduct additional research on specific game technology topics if needed
- Move forward with game design and development based on research insights

Congratulations on completing comprehensive game domain research!
