Films are a passive medium with the narrative densely packed whithin 2 hours, often less. Games depend on player interaction and a standard AAA game is expected to have 10+ hour gameplay. While movies are usually finished in one sitting, games have to stay engaging so that the player will come back as many times is needed to finish it. They are very different media.
I would say games are more like TV series, but likening it to any non-interactive medium would be putting aside games' most important difference: the ability to act and make choices. Unfortunately, many games put this aside. While it doesn't stop the game from being engaging, it misses the point of delivering the narrative through a game. And that's not the only problem of narrative in games.
Separating chunks of gameplay from chunks of narrative, something that is often done, it's the worst possible way to create an engaging experience. Those interested only in the gameplay will skip cutscenes or be forced to watch them. Those interested only in the narrative will force themselves through the gameplay. Only those in the middle ground will enjoy it, as long as the game is compelling overall.
A car can be like any other car, because it's a tool with a specific function. Games are meant to entertain, novelty factors significantly. If every sci-fi book was like every other sci-fi book, it wouldn't work so well. The problem is that not only most games aren't trying to push the genres, they aren't even trying to nudge them.
It isn't so much "for the sake of art", either. When a game plays the same than a dozen others that you've played before, it playing gets dull.
Randomly generated content does work. Quite well, actually. See Spelunky, as an example. Not only that, but the entire genre of roguelikes is defined by randomly generated content and it has been for quite some time.
Of course Minecraft isn't like Mario or any other game, it has won its place due to its own merits. Although it isn't completely unlike Amnesia in the sense that many players can tell tales of silent tension and desperate flights, but I digress.
You have to remember that Minecraft isn't finished yet. It started as just lego pieces, but it greatly increased in complexity. It's still a sandbox, but it's more like a living (albeit simple graphically) world each new update. While it probably won't be as complex as Dwarf Fortress (which is also an astounding game based on randomly generated content), it is easier to get immersed into.
Minecraft is about exploring as well as creating. It isn't about platforming and probably wouldn't be better if it was. But if that's what you want, there is Terraria.
Because they are one of the only 3 decent gaming consoles (2 if you only care about HD) and have quite a few good exclusives that dedicated gamers can't help but care about.
Besides, it is unreasonable to expect that the vast majority of uninformed customer will do anything about it. Even if every customer that feels bothered by this decision stop buying, it won't be more than a scratch to their deep pockets. Even then, since you don't buy from them anymore, they won't care about what you think either. Voting with dollars doesn't work against megacorps.
While Xbox Live itself doesn't advertise good games, becoming a Kotaku pick, which is listed in the XBLIG interface, should greatly increase visibility and likely profitability too.
These measures are making the whole experience very unappealing. They might be avoiding some problems, but they are unlikely to attract anybody that didn't make their mind before playing this trial mode and they may even change the mind of the ones who did.
Whether the free gamers have "entitlement attitude" doesn't matter, because if the free mode fails to entice players, then it is pointless. No self-righteousness will make anybody buy/subscribe.
Among the changes, Google announced that it's new motto is "Be evil". The black bar marks its new corporative mentality, that involves new goals such as using it's privileged position to take over the world and kicking puppies.
You say that as if it doesn't happen already. Not only a lot of games have loads of purely cosmetical items, but MMOs and console online services sell them for real money.
Plus, they've made a promise to make a DRM removal patch if they ever go out of business. It isn't a legally-binding promise, AFAIK, but it still shows that they mean well.
I find that very hard to believe. Even if they wanted to do that, how can they be sure they will have the opportunity to do that. If they are bought before going out of business, the new management probably won't keep this promise. Unless they have this patch ready right now, it is not certain whether they will be able to develop it when they are going out of business.
Why would anyone ever dream of developing a console that is weaker than a mobile phone? It has a better power source, better cooling possibilities, fewer space constraints, and fewer wireless communication requirements.
You sound like a person blaming women being raped because she dresses sexy.
The people we're talking about are not just dressing sexy, they're walking in a prison, pulling their pants down and yelling "Come and get it, boys!".
Actually, grandparent's analogy, compared to yours, seems more adequate.
While such people are endangering themselves by being ignorant, it is in no way their fault. Deciding what is safe or not to run is not exactly intuitive for someone with little knowledge on computers, yet if they don't explore and experiment by themselves, they are not likely to learn anything.
An user that runs "JustinBieberNaked.exe" as root simply knows no better. Ignorance is not a crime. Unauthorized access and theft, however, are crimes. Since such user knows little and yet owns and therefore have the right to use the computer, only the OS (and other software) companies can do something to ensure security. While they should not be liable for damages(unless the problem happens on their end and affects the customers), they should do everything they can to ensure security.
Government, and its adherents, also have a long track record of atrocity. Should we get rid of it too?
I think it's kind of hypocritical to treat religion as such an evil, when people are equally (or even more) likely to worship a TV celebrity, which often isn't even a good example in any way.
Religion, by itself, isn't evil. It is often full of good intentions (yes, I know the idiom). The problem is in the religious organizations. They get powerful, consequently they get corrupt (if they don't begin that way) and start attempting to manipulate people.
If someone is religious independently of any institution, they are much less likely to be led into doing something harmful.
While DRM issues are becoming more and more publicized, it's still very unlikely that your average Joe is going to forgo the latest shoot-em-up or whatever just to try to make a point about DRM.
Unless it makes their PC stop working properly. DRM or no DRM, they might become very hesitant to buying PC games.
The "video" word is somewhat limiting, so let's use the term "electronic entertainment". I think auditory cues, like ambient noise, sound effects and tactile feedback, in addition to voices or TTS, could be interesting alternatives. At the very least is a challenge in game design.
I suppose stereo headphones or surround sound could help to create immersion.
I always thought how sad it is that people with certain disabilities can't experience gaming, even thought it wouldn't take much to make those experiences available to them. In this specific case it isn't so easy, but I can't see why there aren't adventure games for blind people, as an example.
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Uninspired? What are you talking about. DJ Hero was far more interesting than just another rehash of the same plastic guitar thing.
Films are a passive medium with the narrative densely packed whithin 2 hours, often less. Games depend on player interaction and a standard AAA game is expected to have 10+ hour gameplay. While movies are usually finished in one sitting, games have to stay engaging so that the player will come back as many times is needed to finish it. They are very different media.
I would say games are more like TV series, but likening it to any non-interactive medium would be putting aside games' most important difference: the ability to act and make choices. Unfortunately, many games put this aside. While it doesn't stop the game from being engaging, it misses the point of delivering the narrative through a game. And that's not the only problem of narrative in games.
Separating chunks of gameplay from chunks of narrative, something that is often done, it's the worst possible way to create an engaging experience. Those interested only in the gameplay will skip cutscenes or be forced to watch them. Those interested only in the narrative will force themselves through the gameplay. Only those in the middle ground will enjoy it, as long as the game is compelling overall.
A car can be like any other car, because it's a tool with a specific function. Games are meant to entertain, novelty factors significantly. If every sci-fi book was like every other sci-fi book, it wouldn't work so well. The problem is that not only most games aren't trying to push the genres, they aren't even trying to nudge them.
It isn't so much "for the sake of art", either. When a game plays the same than a dozen others that you've played before, it playing gets dull.
Randomly generated content does work. Quite well, actually. See Spelunky, as an example. Not only that, but the entire genre of roguelikes is defined by randomly generated content and it has been for quite some time.
Of course Minecraft isn't like Mario or any other game, it has won its place due to its own merits. Although it isn't completely unlike Amnesia in the sense that many players can tell tales of silent tension and desperate flights, but I digress.
You have to remember that Minecraft isn't finished yet. It started as just lego pieces, but it greatly increased in complexity. It's still a sandbox, but it's more like a living (albeit simple graphically) world each new update. While it probably won't be as complex as Dwarf Fortress (which is also an astounding game based on randomly generated content), it is easier to get immersed into.
Minecraft is about exploring as well as creating. It isn't about platforming and probably wouldn't be better if it was. But if that's what you want, there is Terraria.
If people don't buy a Sony console, how can Sony claim mass copyright infringement of games that only run on a Sony console?
Copyright infringement claims are more often related to what they believe they should be earning rather than actual customer behavior and statistics.
Because they are one of the only 3 decent gaming consoles (2 if you only care about HD) and have quite a few good exclusives that dedicated gamers can't help but care about.
Besides, it is unreasonable to expect that the vast majority of uninformed customer will do anything about it. Even if every customer that feels bothered by this decision stop buying, it won't be more than a scratch to their deep pockets. Even then, since you don't buy from them anymore, they won't care about what you think either. Voting with dollars doesn't work against megacorps.
And then they will cry piracy.
While Xbox Live itself doesn't advertise good games, becoming a Kotaku pick, which is listed in the XBLIG interface, should greatly increase visibility and likely profitability too.
These measures are making the whole experience very unappealing. They might be avoiding some problems, but they are unlikely to attract anybody that didn't make their mind before playing this trial mode and they may even change the mind of the ones who did.
Whether the free gamers have "entitlement attitude" doesn't matter, because if the free mode fails to entice players, then it is pointless. No self-righteousness will make anybody buy/subscribe.
Among the changes, Google announced that it's new motto is "Be evil". The black bar marks its new corporative mentality, that involves new goals such as using it's privileged position to take over the world and kicking puppies.
You say that as if it doesn't happen already. Not only a lot of games have loads of purely cosmetical items, but MMOs and console online services sell them for real money.
If they believe even in a single deity, they can't be considered atheists. I see your point, but it's not entirely correct either.
Plus, they've made a promise to make a DRM removal patch if they ever go out of business. It isn't a legally-binding promise, AFAIK, but it still shows that they mean well.
I find that very hard to believe. Even if they wanted to do that, how can they be sure they will have the opportunity to do that. If they are bought before going out of business, the new management probably won't keep this promise. Unless they have this patch ready right now, it is not certain whether they will be able to develop it when they are going out of business.
Anyway, please refrain from cutting throats of live beings, wether they're animals or whatnot.
Thanks.
True. I once saw a letuce writhing and gargling sap. It was horrible.
Why would anyone ever dream of developing a console that is weaker than a mobile phone? It has a better power source, better cooling possibilities, fewer space constraints, and fewer wireless communication requirements.
I have no idea, but it happened.
With vuvuzelas in the background? What a crappy demo would that be.
You sound like a person blaming women being raped because she dresses sexy.
The people we're talking about are not just dressing sexy, they're walking in a prison, pulling their pants down and yelling "Come and get it, boys!".
Actually, grandparent's analogy, compared to yours, seems more adequate.
While such people are endangering themselves by being ignorant, it is in no way their fault. Deciding what is safe or not to run is not exactly intuitive for someone with little knowledge on computers, yet if they don't explore and experiment by themselves, they are not likely to learn anything.
An user that runs "JustinBieberNaked.exe" as root simply knows no better. Ignorance is not a crime. Unauthorized access and theft, however, are crimes. Since such user knows little and yet owns and therefore have the right to use the computer, only the OS (and other software) companies can do something to ensure security. While they should not be liable for damages(unless the problem happens on their end and affects the customers), they should do everything they can to ensure security.
Cult of celebrity, maybe? It is already happening.
Government, and its adherents, also have a long track record of atrocity. Should we get rid of it too?
I think it's kind of hypocritical to treat religion as such an evil, when people are equally (or even more) likely to worship a TV celebrity, which often isn't even a good example in any way.
Religion, by itself, isn't evil. It is often full of good intentions (yes, I know the idiom). The problem is in the religious organizations. They get powerful, consequently they get corrupt (if they don't begin that way) and start attempting to manipulate people.
If someone is religious independently of any institution, they are much less likely to be led into doing something harmful.
But is it really a problem, considering their population density?
While DRM issues are becoming more and more publicized, it's still very unlikely that your average Joe is going to forgo the latest shoot-em-up or whatever just to try to make a point about DRM.
Unless it makes their PC stop working properly. DRM or no DRM, they might become very hesitant to buying PC games.
The "video" word is somewhat limiting, so let's use the term "electronic entertainment". I think auditory cues, like ambient noise, sound effects and tactile feedback, in addition to voices or TTS, could be interesting alternatives. At the very least is a challenge in game design.
I suppose stereo headphones or surround sound could help to create immersion.
I always thought how sad it is that people with certain disabilities can't experience gaming, even thought it wouldn't take much to make those experiences available to them. In this specific case it isn't so easy, but I can't see why there aren't adventure games for blind people, as an example.
Better keep looking.
Why in the world would anyone want to buy that, even if it was cheap?
Who thought those taxidermized squirrels would be a good idea?
I wonder if they could bring back Seaman.