Perhaps some day a Holodeck?

I was reading something cool in the Atlantic last weekend about the "next step" in video games. First they were talking about making them interactive, where you show up to a couple's apartment and they're having a fight. You can react however you like, and they will respond in kind. You can try it for yourself here. I haven't tried it yet, myself, but it sounds pretty cool. They are working on a larger version (where you are the host of a party), which includes more characters, a larger space to move around in, as well as interactivity with the environment. The second part of the article had to do with a game called Spores, which is basically you creating a living thing and watching it grow and evolve. You can affect the surroudning environment, too. Basically, this (these) creature(s) can take any shape.. literally limitless possibilities.... which got me thinking......

Interactive characters based on high-level AI... characters with limitless opportunities to evolve and grow...... an environment you can interact with, as well as alter to your liking.... Any Star Trek geeks out there? Does this sound a leetle bit like a Holodeck??

Me thinks it does... and that's just plain cool!