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Non-Traditional Games On The Rise
The Guardian Gamesblog has up an editorial looking at what the author perceives as a rise in the number of non-traditional games being developed. From the article: "There's Nintendogs, Electroplankton and Wizard of Funk. And there's EA doing a train game and all the Sims community stuff and Spore. And there's Sony larking about with EyeToy. And Bully from Rockstar. And The Movies. Is it just me or is a corner being turned? I mean, there's plenty of dull unimaginative genre regurgitation going on, there always will be. But I can't remember a time when there were so many titles coming up that couldn't comfortably be slotted into established categories."
Hey, the truelly original games are a risk. You never know if it's going to be huge, or fade into oblivion.
But hey, congrats to everyone trying. I can't wait to play something new and different.
Pretty Pictures!
The success of Katamari really opened the floodgates for this, and I'm glad. These games are usually cheaper to produce than an fps or an rpg. They are also faster to produce. And they can sell them for almost the same price as other games, for huge potential profit. However, these are also really hit or miss games. For every Katamari there are 10 Katapoopies.
The genre rehash games and movie license games may cost more with less potential profit, but they have less risk of losing money. The reason is that non hardcore gamers, which constitute a larger portion of the market, are very likely to buy the games. Make a game about Batman and every kid who went to see the movie will buy the game regardless of its quality.
I don't think I have to worry about this pleasant trend continuing. The Revolution and the DS are sure to fan the flames.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
FTA: "Here's the thing: at no point do you shoot the animals with a gun. You don't even kung fu poachers to death." What? No kung fu in a game based in the African Serengeti National Park? Worst. Game. Ever.
A B A C A B B
I thought that many have been trying different things in an attempt to attract the "untapped" girl gamers. This has been going on since the success of the King's Quest series. It has probably expanded at a similar rate to expansion of female gamers.
Thanks for the non-article. Slow day, eh?
Half of the problem with all these "new and exciting" types of games is that while the concept sounds cool, will the gameplay actually be any good.
Unfortunately there is no way to find out but by being the first to try it. Also, if a new game genre is successfully created it will just be copied ad infinium until everyone is completely sick of it again in no time.
Personally, I'm not really picky about a game's genre per say, so much as how effectively the developers are able to tell the story they have created, whether it's a FPS, 3rd person, rts or whatever type of game.
I can't remember a time when there were so many titles coming up that couldn't comfortably be slotted into established categories.
Its been like that for the past two+ decades since commercial computer/video game development. Its the same as everything, the ebb and flow of the universe, there's lots of innovation & improvement for a while, then things get dull for a while, then back to more innovation. In the 80's there was nothing to compare against, so it was even more innovative then.
Damien
The only developer overtime that still is being innovative 'till this day is Nintendo, imo.
Also, If you want some non traditional action, pick up a DS. The new Kirby game is a system seller, hands down. It's a 4-6 hour main quest with another 10-15 hour s of insane time trials and line trials, to get all the medals. It's the first game to actually use the touch screen really well, not feeling like a tech demo.
As long as you are comfortable playing a game where your sole method of control is drawing rainbows, you'll like it.
SAILING MISHAP
Lets not get too overly excited until we actually play these games as several times in the past, games that were hyped as super-innovative have turned out to be not-so innovative after all. Fable comes to mind: definitely entertaining to play, but not quite what was promised. Then there's Master of Orion 3: innovation-gone-wrong. I hope these games live up to their promises, but its the end product that counts.
.plans, etc (note that this only applies to the publicity-related activities, and not internal company dialogue) and then a check next to each feature that was actually implimented. Shooting for the stars is all and good, but do not expect me to pay when you tell me you're shooting for the stars, but land on the moon.
It would be interesting to see game developers post a small table consisting of a list of functions promised in the press-releases, interviews,
"What can a thoughtful man hope for mankind on Earth, given the experience of the past million years? Nothing." -Bokonon
I think game publishers need to accept that a game does not need to have violence to be entertaining.
Actually there is little originality about those games you mentioned.
Nintendogs-Virtual pet game.
Electroplankton-Music generator/music game dozens of them in Japan.
Wizard of funk-same
Train game- 12 a dime in japan
Sims community-OH! how original another SIM expansion?
Spore-Sim life part 2
The movies-Actually and this is a little known fact there were some of these games back in the pc glory days, anyone remember disney stunt island? there is no lack of movie studio simulators.
Bully-Gta meets high school.
Katamari damacy was really cool and original, but there are quite a bit of original indie titles, specially puzzles if you look them up.
Those you mentioned are not THAT original or unconventional. And the industry is still heavily based in military, sci-fi and sport simulators, D&D style RPGs and movie tie-ins. Nothing has changed. (the quality and the technology have improved quite a bit though)
Also rise or not , most gamers wouldnt choose "Katamari" or "the movies" over "halo 3", "MGS4" or (seriously there is no god) the latest NFL or Movie hype tie in.
Go ahead MOD my day!
More opinions here
It would be interesting to see game developers post a small table consisting of a list of functions promised in the press-releases, interviews,
Why wait for somebody else to implement this? Why not do it on your own? I think a feature like that alongside a standard game review would go a long way to making a video game website much more interesting. It's a great idea, you should run with it.
Must... think up... something... clever!
Personally, I believe that there are less original games being made now than have ever been made before; the difference is that now more people (beyond me I guess) are getting sick of the tried and true First Person Shooters, Sports games, and Generic Platformers.
Lets face it, if you've played Half-Life, Counter Strike, and Deus EX you've basically played every First person shooter made in the past 7 years. They may have different stories, and some may have greater levels of graphic violence, but they're essentially a copy of hybrid of one of these games (with the exception of Metroid Prime, which is somewhat unconventional for a First Person Shooter).
Back to my initial point, lots of unique games like Jet Grind Radio, Mr. Mosquito, Samba de Amigo, Pikmin, the Sims, Animal Crossing, etc. have been produced every year for the past decade; the media outlets ignored them (for the most part) because it was more exciting to talk about Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy or Halo. What is happening now is that, through over exposure and poor content development, these big games and genres have become rather dull on a large scale and even more casual gamers are looking for something new.
In all honesty, I personally wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo could recapture a decent piece of the market simply because they're one of the few companies that can produce a unique and yet fun game.
How can your write an article on this without mentioning Darwinia?
http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwinia/
You forgot the large scale warfare FPSes (with vehicles and stuff) like Tribes, Battlefield or UT2004 Onslaught. If you call them Counterstrike clones just because they involve two teams you're ignoring pretty much everything that makes these games good. The addition of character classes, rounds that don't devolve into killing every enemy and vehicles changes the gameplay to a degree that makes the HL1->CS transition seem minor.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Sorry, impressionistic articles like this can mean that the reviewer is simply bored, or (maybe) got a woody for a project that reminded him of his "original game" idea, without realizing that it wasn't exactly new or innovative: there's a whole genre of "hunting games". The only difference is that this one doesn't have any hunting in it.
Alright, that shoulda made you chuckle, but, come on, has nobody seen these deer- hunting games: what I want to know is what makes it different from a hunting game without the gun? Or (to use his "original idea": orienteering), what makes an orienteering game different from a decent military sim (okay, there are few, but those there are are very dear to me) without the guns?
So on the one hand, what some consider novel msy be old hat.
On the other hand, who's to say there's more "new stuff" now, then in the past, and it's not just a "media lull": the aftermath of Doom 3, HL2 and any number of other features.
Or could it be that, after being at the forefront of hardcore gaming for a while, the latest generation of consoles are making PCs irrelevant for the "big titles", and companies are looking elsewhere?
This is still going to be relevant in a few years. http://www.costik.com/weblog/2005_03_01_blogchive. html#111069190589189590
We get a few games bending the genres, which in turn create new genres and the cycle continues.
I'm not saying new stuff isn't bad, innovation is good but you have to wonder how long it'll be before we get the "attack of the clones"?
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When will adventure games finally be on the damn rise so Sam and Max 2 will finally come out!? Syberia wasn't enough to shock that genre back to life.
-my other sig is your mom
Quote: "But I can't remember a time when there were so many titles coming up that couldn't comfortably be slotted into established categories."
How about when when those "established categories" were being established?
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The common sentiment seems to be that the video game industry churns out nothing original, and has not for years. The article certainly reflects that. I suppose it isn't difficult to feel that way when you see so many licensed games and sequels on the market. Regardless, I have to voice my dissent.
/prepares to be modded into oblivion by the legion of /.ers weaned in the arcades.
If you look deeper at the underground independent games you will see a totally different situation. Just check out the one source for independents that sometimes gets kinda-sorta media attention, the Independent Games Festival. Look at last years winners such as Gish and Wik and the Fable of Souls. Intensly original and very fun. How about Strange Adventures in Infinite Space, a charming little game designed to be replayable, with each game finishing in about 5 minutes.
Go to The-Underdogs and just browse around their top-rated titles. There are tons of freebies that are top-notch, very fun, and quite original.
I feel that this situation can be compared to looking out your in your backyard vs traveling to the rainforest. If you sit at home and look in your yard you see tons of squirrels, moles, etc. You get jaded and start to say that there are no unique animals. Occasionally perhaps a deer, and you get worked up over something that isn't really that spectacular. But if you go out and really explore the more wild area you will find tons of great stuff. It is not brought to your doorstep, and it is quickly being eroded away, but it is out there. Just go look for it.
Actually while I do feel that the independent underground is the best source for creative original titles, there are tons of published games that 'fit the bill'. People loooooove to spoute Katamari left and right, and it is an original game, but how about.. Mizuguchi's line of original games (Lumines, Meteos, Rez). How about Wario Ware? How about Dance Dance Revolution? Even the Battlefield series added major innovations into the FPS genre (the huge scale of combat and variety of vehicles) and Guild Wars is an MMORPG that pretty much seems to go contrary to every other MMORPG on the market.
Finally, the 80's were not the golden age of game innovation that people give them credit for. Currently I am intently reading through a great book The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon. Long story short (I realize my post has already crossed from '?interesting? comment' into 'psychotic rant') the 80's original and innovative games were simply original and innovative because there were so few games created yet! Once any succsessful game formula was established, there were an incredible amount of clones. The fact that is true now, is true then. Popular games are copied, repeated, and sell like hotcakes. Pac-Man, for instance, was beat in coin-op sales only by Ms. Pac-Man! There is constantly an influx of new game ideas, the 80's arn't so special.
--- "End Of Line" - MCP
It's cool to see the odd games released in the US instead of needing to import them just to try them out. Densha De Go, Jet De Go, Taxi Driver, Vib Ribbon, Vib Ripple, Beatmania, Pet Station, etc, etc, etc. As long as more people open up to the "different" games and they make a little cash, more companies will bring them over and we won't have to depend on other teams of developers (Fresh Games, Eidos) to translate and ready them for American release.
My Xbox Live Gamer Card
Everyone should play it! Its the only game where you can ride around in a giant robot, wielding the severed arm of another giant robot, and smash ninjas and zombies!
That aside, its an excellent final-fight style brawler with some RPGish character stats and abilities, and its also great fun.
See also: Call of Duty
But that style pretty much hit it's peak with Tribes/Tribes 2.
Pretty much everything you can do in an FPS has been done at this point(and quite a while ago at that). Which was the grandparent's point.
Everything since has just been polished to one degree or another.
Not necessarily, we just haven't found more to do with FPSes yet. Doesn't mean we never will. Don't ask me what, though. If I had that big idea I'd try to make money with it.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Wouldn't be the first game on the Playstation involving hunting with cameras rather than guns. Ever played Fatal Frame?
This sig has absolutely no significance and serves only to take up screen space and waste the time of the reader.
And for the very hardcore, like one of my friends in Dayton, the game keeps track of what objects you've collected throughout the game, so you can try to pick up one of every possible object in the game. She's only got about 20 left to go...
This sig has absolutely no significance and serves only to take up screen space and waste the time of the reader.