After watching E3 this week, I think I've realised how down the crapper the (console) game industry is actually becoming. A few games stood out to me, however I was honestly really irked and a bit sad to see nearly every game being totally realistic (and shooters).
Now, realism isn't bad, but if you take into account the fact that nearly every game that's on the PS3 and Xbox is realistic (and a shooter LOL), it's not impressive anymore and I was definitely not inspired by most of the games at E3. The worst by far was EA. I am extremely disappointed with EA, it's like their creative team has had their imagination and soul sucked out of them.
I was pretty sad at how Naughty Dog has just completely lost their roots now too. They used to be the pioneers of the gaming industry (they created the first ever game on the PS2 to use an open world game engine for example) and their animation used to be so fluid and a total pleasure to watch, and now what do they do? Conform to the shitty standards of the rest of the gaming industry nowadays. Basically.... realistic shooter or GTFO.
I think I can safely say that as the industry stands right now, the only company I would consider dedicating my life to is Insomniac. Either that, or I will make my own company. Something, or someone, needs to get out there and save this steaming pile of rubbish that we call the console gaming industry.
Technology has replaced imagination.A few years back, when consoles were limited in what they could do, game companies were forced to get creative and those were the days that we saw many of the greatest games ever released. Just think- most of the great games today are remakes or sequels of older games, riding on their successes.
This is why I'm dreading the release of the PS4, and the next Xbox. I know for a fact that this will probably mark the ultimate turning of the game industry- when technology is finally powerful enough to emulate real life, and game companies will not want to go back to the "childish" and colourful graphics of the old gaming era.
The problem isn't only with the game companies though- it's also with the consumers of these games. The industry tried to cater to people who aren't gamers, and then we got games like Call of Duty. Now all these people expect are super realistic shooters, and these are the people the industry considers "core gamers". We are stuck in this nasty little rut where any game that's not a realistic shooter won't be successful, and so the industry is pretty stale.
What to do?So... what if an up and coming game company doesn't want to make games like this? What do they do?
Well... don't make games for consoles of course! Now, we have things such as the iPhone and Android phones, and Steam, where we can reach out to people who don't like things such a realistic shooters. Now is the BEST TIME to make new and innovative games on the phone platform and on things such as Steam because alot of people are sick of the staleness of console games and are always on the lookout for something new.
At this rate, the console industry is eventually going to ruin itself. Something needs to change.
/end rant.
`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
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And as far as content, I feel the reason there's less creativity is because games are less Japanese and more targeted towards Americans and our apparent interests. I mean, the original Mario, Sonic and Megaman games were the craziest, trippiest shit, but it was cool and original. It was all of those- Megaman, especially that made me dream as a kid, that led me to drawing comics and practicing art styles. I cannot say any games that have come out in the last decade (save a couple) have done that for me.
But since the industry is focusing more on creating ideas that cater to Americans, most likely their largest customer force, then one would see recurring themes and ideas and art. The only thing to look forward to now as far as games is good stories; some do have some great ideas. Red Dead Redemption is one of my favorite games for that reason.
Watch Dogs being one, apparently supposed to be what Syndicate should have been like and the fact I can't get Syndicate due to it being banned from Australia, I am really hoping I get to see this.
The Last of Us I would consider a good game cause its using Uncharted mechanics and implementing it into a survival horror type game and from the looks of it, the AI in this game is actually looking pretty good.
Playstation All-Stars is a bit of a mixed bag cause yes it looks like they are making their own SSB, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Its just the way that games have developed over the years, gamers have grown up and the games will grow up with them. Though I do detest the fact that these companies are trying to advertise new things to make our consoles do everything -besides- play games.
Most of the best games I have played recently are indie titles (well except Skyrim but I am a bethesda fan ^.^). Bastion does come to mind that game has beautiful art style and audio what sets the atmosphere.
"So... what if an up and coming game company doesn't want to make games like this? What do they do?" They self publish and go the independent route the success of Xbox Live Arcade, PSN and PC has proven this is a growing part of the industry its also where a lot of the creativity (and possibly the future of AAA studios) are. You don't have to be a small team to be a independent studio (CD Projekt RED comes to mind they make the games they want with no publishers to answer to)
Don't give up on the industry yet
(Well this probably doesn't make sense *woo* dyslexia)
Then of course, there's the fact that the young boys who play these games get obsessed. I invited several guys to my beach house with me one weekend, and I thought IF they played video games, we'd find something on the PS2 or the Sega Genesis that I keep down there. Instead, they brought down their XBox and played Call of Duty the entire time. Not only are these games so cookie-cutter and similar, but they're sucking all the desire to play outside from the kids who play them. I brought them to the beach to play on the beach, go surfing, all the beachy stuff, but instead, they just wanted to sit inside and play COD all day. They had no desire to play my Sega Genesis (which had been broken for about a year and I had just fixed it.) They didn't care at all that their xBox only had one controller either. Despite that we could play 2-player on any other system, they still insisted. To the point they were completely and utterly rude about getting me to let them play their stupid game.
I loved the old cheesy graphics of mario and the old graphics of things like spyro but also prefer clear, realistic graphics to make my gaming experience look as if it could be another world or part of ours.
Personally i believe there is quite a lot of imagination going into a few games, halo for example, they have created a world completely different to ours from elements of our world, that's quite hard to do. Even Mass Effect has gone completely different and alien to us. So they haven't lost imagination, they are just making things more believable to the people who play them.
Things like Call of Duty and black ops is based around human war, it would look so fake if they had graphics of say Crash Bandicoot. Again it's to get the gamer involved and to give them a sense of being there, what it would be like to be there. Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be an assassin? If Assassin's Creed was in the old style of games you certainly wouldn't be able to feel what it would be like.
The industry for serious gamers is much much bigger than casual that only play games of a certain type, which would you go for, a small proportion of the population earning just enough to get by, or the larger one that could make millions and keep your company going for a long long time.
Thank you Insomniac for sticking with us!
/end rant on your journal
Haha sorry about that Yas, I completely agree with everything you've said here, it's just gone too far. We need people like you [and I'm hoping as well
How many dragon games are out there? How many of them are good but undersold and overlooked? I agree, older games had to be more creative, but Drakengard was a near-perfect blend of creativity and mainstream beat-em-up and it's STILL one of my favorite games.
I would be more than happy to go into business with you if that's where this leads, but I hope this industry can be saved, I really do. What we need is a breath of fresh air.
Super Mario Sunshine, LoZ Twilight Princess, Pokemon Colosseum/Gale of Darkness, Animal Crossing... I've got everything I need.
Epic Mickey 2
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Rayman Legends
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Beyond: Two Souls
Playstation All-Star Battle Royale
Everything else was "meh" or "don't care" in my opinion.