The Reason I Hate The Current State of The Games Industry

[Atarinvader]

The problem is sequals, or more accurately, lack of orginality. I don't really blame the industry, but more that state of affairs it has created for itself that will eventualy end up in it eating its own ass, not unlike the market crash of the mid-80s.

 

If you look at the big releases slated for this year you have Halo 2, Animal Crossing 2, Ico 2, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (double points for being a rehash of a sequal), Soul Calibur II, Mario Kart 3, Mario 128, Zelda (14?), Tomb Raider 6, maybe Grand Theft Auto 5 and definetly another bloody FIFA game (probably just before Christmas too!).

 

I don't think you can really blame the industry, as it is purely a fancial venture and it'll find ways of getting the money the best it can. Rather, I blame the people with the money, the gamers that pass up REZ for another EA sports title, the bone-heads that bought the PS2 over the Dreamcast because the numbers on the back of the box were higher and the mums that keep on buying those damned Tomb Raider games (no matter how crap they make them) for Little Johny.

 

I can't even believe that one of the most inovative games in a while, Ico, is getting a sequal in the imaginatively titled Ico 2. A game that seemed to have a least some artistic integrity has a number slapped on and gets reboxed.

 

Videogames future are bleak, very much so indeed...

[cryptik76]

While I'm not necessarily saying you're wrong about the lack of originality, I have to make this comment. The reason why the games you list are "the big releases slated for this year" is because they are all sequels to successful games (and games which, for the most part, were innovators in their time), so obviously they are going to get a lot of press and hype.

 

You don't generally see a lot of hype for the next big innovation in games, mostly because the press is too busy focusing on what is sure to be successful (though they're not always right). I'm sure there are going to be some great and innovative titles released this year, but for most of them you're just going to have to wait until they are released and build up a strong word-of-mouth (instead of magazine hype) before you realize that the next big innovation in games was under your nose the whole time.

[Atarinvader]

I see what you mean but, the magazines that I generally read (Edge and Games TM) seem to be mostly hyping Steel Battelion, Viewtiful Joe, Ikargua etc etc but that doesn't generaly stop the masses flocking to buy the crappy dregs and sequals.

 

The problem is that your average gamer doesn't go searching for that obscure Treasure release such as Freak Out, but would rather stick with 'What They Know' as opposed to doing a bit of research as to what is good.

[Starscream]

This isn't anything new really - it's happened since the 16 bit days. Anything before the 16 bits was so exciting because we had never known what a video game was when the Atari's, Coleco's INTV's hit the market. Nintendo actually opened the door for console specific liscensing on a huge scale and really set the standard of how games are marketed. These things have been good and bad. When Sega and Nintendo were battling it out in the early 90's, both did whatever they could to obtain a specific franchise. When that became a successful franchise, sequels were an important part of games. The NES had it's fair share, starting with the done to death Mario franchise. Nintendo, by far, still depends on sequels or certain franchises to this very day. Maybe because they have lasted the longest.

 

Just remember, for every 50 boring, unoriginal games that comes out, 1 kick ass game comes out. And that one kick ass game is reason enough to love gaming. Besides, if they were all good games, would we complain there aren't enough bad games?!

[Atarinvader]

There has definetly been franchising for a long time now, but it's only now that we have seen them span up to 4 generations in some cases, with all the Christmas 'Tent Pole' games being completely unorginal. Ideas are getting stale. I can't think of one inovation game on the X-Box, one AAA PS2 title that isn't a sequal or one Gamecube game that hasn't been done-to-death if only conceptualy (Animal Crossing is the exception, but it's not getting a UK release so I don't count it).

 

On a different point, I don't think that X-Box Live is going to be as popular as people are expecting. Have you seen how tricky it is to setup? I have a fat 'Retailers Training Manual' to read... Screw that, we've been recomending people phone up M$ directly, the few that are interested.

[Starscream]

Steel Battalions is about the most Innovative console game made to this day, maybe only because you have that huge ass controller. But in any case, there has never been anything like it, and looks as though there won't be again for a while.

 

And I don't see how anyone can say Xbox Live is hard to set up - it took me around 2 minutes tops. And with around 450,000 Live users, I wouldn't say it's not successful. It's only been out for 4 months or so and that's quite impressive.

[Starscream]

Wanna add that Jet Grind (Set) Radio and Jet Set Radio Future were 2 of the most unique innovative games I ever player. even though JSRF was a sequel, it really wasn't one either

[chrisbid]

face it, its a corporate owned hobby. the mere presence of MicroSoft and Sony in the business has pushed the business into hyper-profit mode. Not that profits weren't important in the old days, but gamers tended to be smart enough to seek out quality over crap, and devopers had a fair amount of freedom from marketing departments. Nowadays, marketing deparments have just as much influence (if not more than) in final products than the actual game designers. They dictate what features will be included in particular games. Whereas in the classic era, a designer would make a build of a game, and marketing would only suggest a few changes, then figure out how to present the game to the public (which is what their primary job focus should be), with all the licenses and sequels, the marketing guys can seemingly sleepwalk through their jobs, so they spend more time pretending to be game designers.

[CPUWIZ]

devopers had a fair amount of freedom from marketing departments.  Nowadays, marketing deparments have just as much influence (if not more than) in final products than the actual game designers.  They dictate what features will be included in particular games.  Whereas in the classic era, a designer would make a build of a game, and marketing would only suggest a few changes, then figure out how to present the game to the public (which is what their primary job focus should be), with all the licenses and sequels, the marketing guys can seemingly sleepwalk through their jobs, so they spend more time pretending to be game designers.

 

I don't know where you get that idea from but you are wrong, in fact many of the 2600 games were simple marketing sheets of what they thought a game should look like and they were then handed down to programmers/designers to find out if it's even possible.

 

Marketing people today might have something to do with logo's/ad-campaigns etc. but not with the actual gameplay.

 

[Mock]

I heard that there will be no Halo 2 this year that it was pushed back to 2004 so they could "do it right"...also heard they will preview the game at an upcoming show, so screen shots should be soon to come.

 

Just what I heard...might be old news to you guys.

Mock

[Starscream]

Yep, halo 2 is not coming out this year. And as much as I can't wait for it, I'd rather wait and have it be spectacular than have it sooner and suck

 

face it, its a corporate owned hobby. the mere presence of MicroSoft and Sony in the business has pushed the business into hyper-profit mode.

 

And Nintendo isn't a corporation? And correct me if I'm wrong, but, didn't they price fix the NES to stop competiton and to lock most of the market down and turn greater profits? Didn't they start that " Nintendo Seal Of Quality" crap just to make a percentage off of everything that contained that seal? Aren't they the main company that starting whoring out franchise games and start this trend of sequels? Aren't they still whoring out those same exact franchises? Hmmm, yes Nintendo has contributed nothing but wholesome honesty and goodness to the game industry No blame on them whatsoever for anything bad...........MS and Sony are just the evilest of corporations

 

It's all about the money to everyone involved in the whole gaming industry period. They are business' - they are allowed to make money believe it or not. Do you realize how many thousands of games are available right now? Isn't it great? Most may suck but as I said above, this is how it is. This is how it will be. Be happy you have choices. Buy and play what you like. Let others buy and play what they like.

[CPUWIZ]

This is how it will be. Be happy you have choices. Buy and play what you like. Let others buy and play what they like.

 

WORD

[Starscream]

This is how it will be. Be happy you have choices. Buy and play what you like. Let others buy and play what they like.

 

WORD

 

One love

[chrisbid]

nintendo did get to where they are today because they made great games (donkey kong, punchout, etc). Sony and M$ have yet to contribute a single great game to the hobby, yet theyre in position to reap the most benefits. (they bought devs that made games for them)

 

I was always a Sega fan, and it pisses me off that they were willing to take risks with original games and got burned. But i do take some relief in that the lack of good games these days allows me to catch up and buy more classic stuff

[AtariDude]

The industry today is all about money. No one is willing to take a chance on a new idea that might not pan out. They rather make the same type of game over and over since that is what people seem to like rather than take a chance with a truly original game.

 

I don't think we are going to see any original games in a long time.

[Ze_ro]

What new stuff can be made?

 

When you think about it, pretty much everything has been done. There's very little room for innovation, since almost anything you could invent could be compared to something else in at least some respect. There are a small number of exceptions (Such as Rez, Frequency, and the upcoming Unity)... hell, even Jet Grind Radio was almost a ripoff of Tony Hawk...

 

Similarly, what would you consider to be an "original" movie? What theme is there that hasn't already been done (often to death)? Or, what kind of music can be made that isn't like anything that's already around?

 

Now, I don't mean to defend the industry, since they're not helping the problem by rehashing things... at least they give in and admit that it's the same thing by calling it a sequel. I'd be pissed off if Nintendo came out with a brand new game and it turned out to be Mario Sunshine with a few new graphics.

 

--Zero

[TaterTatty]

I for one do not mind the sequels provided they are done right. I loved halo and can't wait for halo2. The fact that it will take them longer to get it to market is a refreshing breath of fresh air. Not to release is done half a$$ed just in time for Christmas is a really good idea. I think the problem with sequels is when the same game is released with no upgrades or with upgrades that should have been in the origional but weren't because they were forced to release it early to meet some holiday deadline. Just because the same characters are in it doesn't mean same ol same ol. MK Deadly Alliance is a MK game but not in the same way. Mario for N64 is not a rehash of the origional NES game, same characters yes but way different game. Provided it's done right the chance to continue a specific characters adventures in a new way is fun, right Metroid fans? I weep for devil may cry fans

[Paralistalon]

You can't possibly fit an entire gaming universe in one or two games; you have to keep building upon it by releasing sequels. Sequels introduce new characters, make the story more complex, and add new features to the game. After playing so many Mario games, the Mario universe begins to feel more like a second home.

 

Can you imagine how popular Dragonball Z would have been if they stopped the series after defeating Vegeta?

 

If a game is done good enough, I'm left begging for more. I am in no way complaining about the latest Zelda game or the latest Soul Caliber game- because I know that a ton of work is going to be put into them. Hyped sequels get that EXTRA attention.

 

To address a lack of innovation, Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin, and Cubivore come to mind. And that's just on ONE of the latest systems. Even with sequels, games like Metroid Prime were totally innovative. New games come along all the time, and the successful ones get sequels.

 

I'm sorry if I'm sounding like a Nintendo fanboy. The GameCube is the only next-gen system I have, and thus I can vouch for the games from my first-hand experience. There are plenty of games that come out for the other consoles that make me wish I had a PS2 or XBox.

 

People DO like innovation. Game developers know that if they can make a truly innovative game- it will stand out, sell, and it will get... SEQUELS!

 

Besides, you can always buy a Japanese console and start importing all those quirky, innovative games that never make it over here because they are so different.

[cryptik76]

Of course the games industry is about money. Do you have any idea how much it costs to produce a top-shelf game? It's getting to the point where games are costing almost as much as movies (and, in some cases, such as Shenmue and The Getaway, they're costing just as much or more than many major motion pictures), so there's a significant investment involved. Therefore, companies are reluctant to stray too far from proven formulas because it's hard to write off that much money if the game tanks and still be able to stay in business.

 

Keep in mind that it is the gamers' (and mostly critics') constantly increasing expectations that drives the production costs up. Many times a new developer will come out with a low-budget title, even a very good one, and it is panned across the board by critics (which usually results in low sales) because it lacks the latest graphics, top-quality voice acting or music, and special effects.

 

And to answer the comment that the publishers have too much control over a project, who do you think is paying the bills? Many developers couldn't stay afloat for more than a few months without getting money from the publisher (milestone payments, etc.). Sure, that developer may have to compromise their vision somewhat to the demands of the publisher, but it's not usually their money which is buying the new computers, paying the rent and the paychecks, etc., so they have to budge a little or they will find their resources dried up and no one will win. The gamers lose the chance to play the title, the developer loses their jobs, and the publisher loses the monetary investment they put in the developer.

[joeybastard]

I don't mind sequels if they are done well. I've been playing Metroid Prime lately and while it may technically be a sequel, it most certainly kicks ass. Granted, Nintendo loves a franchise but if the games are high quality, I don't care and can't understand why anybody would. By the same token, if the game stinks, I'm not buying it just because Mario is in it.

 

I do like originality too. That's why I got a Dreamcast. Jet Grind Radio, Space Channel 5, Chu Chu Rocket, etc, etc, etc. All great, all genre starters.

[Atarinvader]

I am a big fan of fighters, especially 2D ones and especially the Street Fighter series, so in no means can I say that I hate sequals inherently, but just the majority of current 'blockbuster' sequals, which conceptualy are the same.

 

With the Street Fighter series, if you were to play the first arcade rendition and then Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 or Alpha 3 (Zero 3), then there is no way you'd believe they were the same game due to the amount of progression, the more modern games in the series have so much more depth, and more and more is added in the way of gameplay.

 

However, look at the Tomb Raider series and can you say the same thing? 1,2,3, Last Revilation and Chronices are all the same game, but with new levels each time. Similare things are happening in the Resident Evil series, Nemesis showed some very inovative elements, but they all got dropped for Code: Veronica.