Nadir
Enigma
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 544
- MBTI Type
- INxJ
- Enneagram
- 4
I've been involved with video games from a very young age. I've spent obscene amounts of time on them. Played them, loved them, modded them too (Red Alert was my first <3). But these last few years have witnessed my interest waning. I still play games, but no particularly "new" ones. I'm just not interested.
My opinion is that the video game industry is becoming stale, and this is reflected in the games as well. Longer development cycles, higher expenses, big fish eating small fish, and a definite inclination towards graphics rather than gameplay - these are what I'm observing. There's a distinct lack of originality - sure, there have always been genres, but the rehashing is completely commonplace by now. Graphics are the main attractions, the most distinctive feature of today's games - gameplay is secondary, tailored to match the grandeur of the graphics or other immersive aspects such as physics. (And no, it hasn't been this way since the beginning.) For instance - Bioshock is a great game, but how is System Shock 2, released in, like, 1999, any less good? One could even argue the contrary.
Maybe I'm just not seeing it, but, another example - a classic like Freespace 2, a space sim released in 2000, remains unbeaten. Why? Because there's no alternative (admittedly, Freelancer was good, but it was more like an arcade game than a true space sim). Possible alternatives can not, would not be able to sell as much as say, games like Crysis. And when they can't do that, the expenses remain unaccounted for, and developers go bankrupt. (Black Isle, Troika, Microprose, Ion Storm would be a few examples) So what happens? Genres disappear entirely or nearly so. (Adventure games anyone? Aforementioned space sims?) There's a reason why Planescape: Torment (released in late 1999, a RPG which is the favourite game I've played to date) is doomed to the status of a cult classic. It's stellar gameplay's recognition was dampered by its unattractive packaging, backward graphics even then. And since then the bar has sharply risen. (I would like to take a moment to voice my appreciation for exponential functions...) I don't see games like Torment anymore.
The only game I'm more or less looking forward to nowadays is Spore. It is fortunate to have Will Wright's backing. And it'd better live up to the expectations of innovation placed upon it, or I'm going to be really disappointed. I'm also interested in the work of Introversion Software of UK, as they have been so far truly creative in all their games and been receiving the recognition they deserve.
Thoughts?
My opinion is that the video game industry is becoming stale, and this is reflected in the games as well. Longer development cycles, higher expenses, big fish eating small fish, and a definite inclination towards graphics rather than gameplay - these are what I'm observing. There's a distinct lack of originality - sure, there have always been genres, but the rehashing is completely commonplace by now. Graphics are the main attractions, the most distinctive feature of today's games - gameplay is secondary, tailored to match the grandeur of the graphics or other immersive aspects such as physics. (And no, it hasn't been this way since the beginning.) For instance - Bioshock is a great game, but how is System Shock 2, released in, like, 1999, any less good? One could even argue the contrary.
Maybe I'm just not seeing it, but, another example - a classic like Freespace 2, a space sim released in 2000, remains unbeaten. Why? Because there's no alternative (admittedly, Freelancer was good, but it was more like an arcade game than a true space sim). Possible alternatives can not, would not be able to sell as much as say, games like Crysis. And when they can't do that, the expenses remain unaccounted for, and developers go bankrupt. (Black Isle, Troika, Microprose, Ion Storm would be a few examples) So what happens? Genres disappear entirely or nearly so. (Adventure games anyone? Aforementioned space sims?) There's a reason why Planescape: Torment (released in late 1999, a RPG which is the favourite game I've played to date) is doomed to the status of a cult classic. It's stellar gameplay's recognition was dampered by its unattractive packaging, backward graphics even then. And since then the bar has sharply risen. (I would like to take a moment to voice my appreciation for exponential functions...) I don't see games like Torment anymore.
The only game I'm more or less looking forward to nowadays is Spore. It is fortunate to have Will Wright's backing. And it'd better live up to the expectations of innovation placed upon it, or I'm going to be really disappointed. I'm also interested in the work of Introversion Software of UK, as they have been so far truly creative in all their games and been receiving the recognition they deserve.
Thoughts?
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