Looking at it solely from a marketing perspective...franchises and remakes.
Does anyone really think that 25 to Life will become a blockbuster franchise? There are only so many things you can do with that premise, and keeping the game in its current setting for future titles will just make new games look like they're behind the times solely because of the setting of the game.
On top of that, you aren't going to be able to pop out quick and easy remakes. If you're making a new version of Pong or of Super Mario Brothers, you really don't need to change anything. The new version of NARC, on the other hand, is almost completely different from the original.
And as for the "spanning the ages" comment...well, I'm one of those people that thinks that we should be preserving as much of the history of gaming as we possibly can. Look at the NES - most of the games released for that are set in fantasy worlds and are, for the most part, still very enjoyable today. Games that try to be "cool", on the other hand, just end up looking stupid and end up being joke fodder instead of becoming "classic." (Not the best example...but it's one of the first that came to mind.)
I know that the companies are in it solely for the money...but having artistic, timeless games is nice for us idealistic gamers.:)
Lest we forget, randomness needs to be done correctly to work.
The Xbox version of "Toejam and Earl" boasted completely randomly generated worlds. According to my friends that have played it, though, the levels aren't really all that different from the ones that were generated the time before. Heck, I've even heard someone say that the random levels took away variety from the game.
On the other hand, we can't have random levels that don't work. Putting a snowy mountain in the middle of a rainforest just won't work, and it's not fair to have random levels that are impossibly difficult (as mentioned in another post, F-Zero X has generated race tracks with incredibly sharp turns and no walls).
Still, randomness is appealing. I love puzzle games like Tetris, mainly because the experience is different every time. The basics are the same, but the actual challenge is never the same.
It's been said, but this would be great for some genres. There are too many shooters and strategy games for the PC. Find a way to develop random maps that are logical, challenging but not overwhelming, and fun and you've got a goldmine on your hands.
As far as I can tell, finding a good randomization system is the biggest hurdle. If we clear that, then we've just found a way to put level designers out of business.:)
Maybe it's just me, but I see this as a fad more than anything. If there's one thing I've learned about marketing things, basing things off of what's current and what's "popular" works fine for the short term but kills long term potential.
Fifteen years down the road, which will stand up better: a game that was released in 2004 that depicts life on the streets in that same year, or a game like the Legend of Zelda, which isn't set in our world?
I've never really understood why sports games cost so much, especially at the end of a system's lifestyle.
What is the company doing that warrants the $50 price tag? More importantly, what needs to be changed? Updating rosters and adding expansion teams makes complete sense, as does throwing in any redesigned jerseys or uniforms.
Still...do we really need a brand new graphics engine every year? There's only so much that can be done, you know, and the changes in each console generation are usually relatively small. How about all of the modes that they've been throwing in? Owner? Coach? How about Popcorn Vendor mode? Sell buttery fresh goodness while watching the game as you walk around the stands! The games are just fine graphically and controlwise, and we've got all of the modes that we need: single game, multiplayer, season, playoffs, and practice are really all that a game must have. The others are nice but unneeded.
The only thing that I can think of that would warrant the $50 price tag is online play, and even that's not really worth it. The practice with sports games as of late seems to be discontinuing online gameplay shortly after the new game comes out, and Xbox Live is already $50 a year. Is a year of online football really worth an extra $50? I'd much prefer it if they offered free and continuous online play without any form of official support or leagues, but that's just a pipe dream...
I've got a feeling that Sega won't be losing much money from this. Tweak the graphics and modes if you must, but as long as it's got the basic modes and current rosters, it's got everything that's needed.
Just one warning: the Dr. Wario version of the game is single-player only.
If you want the multiplayer support, go for the Classic NES version, as it's the only one with it. If it doesn't matter to you, go with Wario Ware instead.
If the FCC adopts such a broadcast flag rule for digital radio, it would apply only to what's called "in-band on-channel digital radio content," that is, digital radio stations that broadcast over the airwaves -- as traditional AM and FM stations now do -- and not to satellite radio or Webcasters that stream digital radio over the Internet.
Unless I'm mistaken, this means that the flag will not apply to Shoutcast radio stations or others that are internet-only. This sounds like it applies to XM, Sirius, and other forms of digital radio, but NOT what's streamed to your computer.
Then again, I could be misinterpreting that part of the article...
Crap...does this mean that they're going to delay the game for months to rewrite the multiplayer and the other stolen code? Damn thieves...I want my Half-Life now!
Wait...this is Metal Gear? In that case, never mind...
For all of the times that I've heard people complain about Nintendo not being original, I don't think I've seen nearly as many complaints about Square or Rockstar...it's not like the GTA and Final Fantasy series give us a new, innovative and completely unique game with each new release.
The games are good, and that's what matters most in the end. Don't like them? Don't buy the system. It's as simple as that.
The DS looks amazing thus far...the software planned (a new Wario Ware game, a Metroid FPS, and a game called Pac-Pix that sounds absolutely awesome, among others) is very innovative and interesting, and the system itself looks like it's very well made. The six face buttons, wireless play, the touch-sensitive second screen...even a microphone. This thing has got everything we'll need.:)
As long as there's third party support, I've got a feeling that the DS will succeed.
...but to use the name Goldeneye in a Bond game and to justify it by making up such a lame story is unbelievable.
Can you really say that the story is "lame" at this point in time? From what I've learned, games can change quite a bit before they're released. It's possible that the actual storyline will be very different when the game comes out. Beyond that...they could have a lot of fun with this premise...especially if we can kill Bond.:)
And what happens if the game is as good as Goldeneye is (or was, depending)? Won't we all benefit from it?:)
In any case, does the storyline really matter? When people think GoldenEye, most people think of the amazing multiplayer. If this game can manage to recreate the fun of the N64 game's multiplayer, it will be a hit. Undoubtedly.
And lest we forget, you can succeed without a gripping story...Serious Sam, anyone?:)
Give it a chance...you might like what you see. If not, then no harm's been done to you.
Adding a shift button would effectively take us from six buttons to ten: (6-1) x 2
Still...what about games where you need quick access to all of the buttons? Fighters, Street Fighter II being the big one, would be nigh impossible to play, as would any games that require the use of multiple buttons in quick succession.
I still think that SNES emulation on the GBA is a lost cause...Wait until the next system, possibly the DS, and get it right then. Don't bother when you don't have enough buttons OR horsepower.
Remember all of the attention that the 11 minute Super Mario Brothers 3 speed run received before it was proven to be faked?
Do we have any proof that this Zelda run isn't faked? As we saw with Mario, it's very possible to get a speed run that appears to be real by manipulating every single frame in an emulator...
I was at a low income rural high school and we competed in 1997. There was no qualification to go to nationals, just pay up the $3000 entry fee. We had a local construction company pay for the entry fee and the high school gave a few hundred for parts.
That's changed. Now, you've got to either (a) win a competition or (b) win one of a select few awards to qualify. That doesn't give FIRST 300 teams, though, so you can also qualify based on how long it's been since your team has last gone to Nationals...the longer, the better your chances.
When we got to the tournament (we all paid our own travel and lodging) we found out the student built robots are an extreme exception. Most literally are built at the labs of GM or NASA or who ever is the sponsor, the engineers do everything, and the students have no clue.
Admittedly, there are a few teams that operate in that way...but they're far from the rule. I'm on team 818, one of the GM-sponsored teams. Our engineers have made it a point to have the students do everything they possibly can on the robot. We were sending kids out to the GM shop everyday to go work on the robot.
"In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Steve Jobs said, 'The iPod already works with the No. 1 music service in the world, and the iTunes Music Store works with the No. 1 digital-music player in the world. The No. 2s are so far behind already. Why would we want to work with No. 2?'"
It may be overused, but if there was ever a situation where the word PWNED was called for, this is it...
Slashdot Mirror
Does anyone really think that 25 to Life will become a blockbuster franchise? There are only so many things you can do with that premise, and keeping the game in its current setting for future titles will just make new games look like they're behind the times solely because of the setting of the game.
On top of that, you aren't going to be able to pop out quick and easy remakes. If you're making a new version of Pong or of Super Mario Brothers, you really don't need to change anything. The new version of NARC, on the other hand, is almost completely different from the original.
And as for the "spanning the ages" comment...well, I'm one of those people that thinks that we should be preserving as much of the history of gaming as we possibly can. Look at the NES - most of the games released for that are set in fantasy worlds and are, for the most part, still very enjoyable today. Games that try to be "cool", on the other hand, just end up looking stupid and end up being joke fodder instead of becoming "classic." (Not the best example...but it's one of the first that came to mind.)
I know that the companies are in it solely for the money...but having artistic, timeless games is nice for us idealistic gamers. :)
The Xbox version of "Toejam and Earl" boasted completely randomly generated worlds. According to my friends that have played it, though, the levels aren't really all that different from the ones that were generated the time before. Heck, I've even heard someone say that the random levels took away variety from the game.
On the other hand, we can't have random levels that don't work. Putting a snowy mountain in the middle of a rainforest just won't work, and it's not fair to have random levels that are impossibly difficult (as mentioned in another post, F-Zero X has generated race tracks with incredibly sharp turns and no walls).
Still, randomness is appealing. I love puzzle games like Tetris, mainly because the experience is different every time. The basics are the same, but the actual challenge is never the same.
It's been said, but this would be great for some genres. There are too many shooters and strategy games for the PC. Find a way to develop random maps that are logical, challenging but not overwhelming, and fun and you've got a goldmine on your hands.
As far as I can tell, finding a good randomization system is the biggest hurdle. If we clear that, then we've just found a way to put level designers out of business. :)
Fifteen years down the road, which will stand up better: a game that was released in 2004 that depicts life on the streets in that same year, or a game like the Legend of Zelda, which isn't set in our world?
What is the company doing that warrants the $50 price tag? More importantly, what needs to be changed? Updating rosters and adding expansion teams makes complete sense, as does throwing in any redesigned jerseys or uniforms.
Still...do we really need a brand new graphics engine every year? There's only so much that can be done, you know, and the changes in each console generation are usually relatively small. How about all of the modes that they've been throwing in? Owner? Coach? How about Popcorn Vendor mode? Sell buttery fresh goodness while watching the game as you walk around the stands! The games are just fine graphically and controlwise, and we've got all of the modes that we need: single game, multiplayer, season, playoffs, and practice are really all that a game must have. The others are nice but unneeded.
The only thing that I can think of that would warrant the $50 price tag is online play, and even that's not really worth it. The practice with sports games as of late seems to be discontinuing online gameplay shortly after the new game comes out, and Xbox Live is already $50 a year. Is a year of online football really worth an extra $50? I'd much prefer it if they offered free and continuous online play without any form of official support or leagues, but that's just a pipe dream...
I've got a feeling that Sega won't be losing much money from this. Tweak the graphics and modes if you must, but as long as it's got the basic modes and current rosters, it's got everything that's needed.
No...but I regulate myself. :)
Government shouldn't be run by businesses, even though it seems like that's what usually happens...
If you want the multiplayer support, go for the Classic NES version, as it's the only one with it. If it doesn't matter to you, go with Wario Ware instead.
Forgot to mention...this was posted before I RTFA. There's a possibility that this was covered. Time to go find out firsthand...
I'm all for a hacker that wants to put Kerry in office, but this doesn't seem like something we should trust the public with...
That said, this is even less limiting than I originally thought it was. Absolutely nothing worth worrying about, apparently...
Unless I'm mistaken, this means that the flag will not apply to Shoutcast radio stations or others that are internet-only. This sounds like it applies to XM, Sirius, and other forms of digital radio, but NOT what's streamed to your computer.
Then again, I could be misinterpreting that part of the article...
Wait...this is Metal Gear? In that case, never mind...
The games are good, and that's what matters most in the end. Don't like them? Don't buy the system. It's as simple as that.
As long as there's third party support, I've got a feeling that the DS will succeed.
Can you really say that the story is "lame" at this point in time? From what I've learned, games can change quite a bit before they're released. It's possible that the actual storyline will be very different when the game comes out. Beyond that...they could have a lot of fun with this premise...especially if we can kill Bond. :)
And what happens if the game is as good as Goldeneye is (or was, depending)? Won't we all benefit from it? :)
In any case, does the storyline really matter? When people think GoldenEye, most people think of the amazing multiplayer. If this game can manage to recreate the fun of the N64 game's multiplayer, it will be a hit. Undoubtedly.
And lest we forget, you can succeed without a gripping story...Serious Sam, anyone? :)
Give it a chance...you might like what you see. If not, then no harm's been done to you.
Still...what about games where you need quick access to all of the buttons? Fighters, Street Fighter II being the big one, would be nigh impossible to play, as would any games that require the use of multiple buttons in quick succession.
I still think that SNES emulation on the GBA is a lost cause...Wait until the next system, possibly the DS, and get it right then. Don't bother when you don't have enough buttons OR horsepower.
Oops. >_
Do we have any proof that this Zelda run isn't faked? As we saw with Mario, it's very possible to get a speed run that appears to be real by manipulating every single frame in an emulator...
Did I miss a memo or something? Is file storage suddenly humorous?
I can't help but think that the majority of Slashdot readers would end up doing the same thing if they were put in that situation...
Actually, it's the first fifteen seconds that are autonomous. Trust me...I'm the programmer for 818. I know this one. :)
I was at a low income rural high school and we competed in 1997. There was no qualification to go to nationals, just pay up the $3000 entry fee. We had a local construction company pay for the entry fee and the high school gave a few hundred for parts.
That's changed. Now, you've got to either (a) win a competition or (b) win one of a select few awards to qualify. That doesn't give FIRST 300 teams, though, so you can also qualify based on how long it's been since your team has last gone to Nationals...the longer, the better your chances.
When we got to the tournament (we all paid our own travel and lodging) we found out the student built robots are an extreme exception. Most literally are built at the labs of GM or NASA or who ever is the sponsor, the engineers do everything, and the students have no clue.
Admittedly, there are a few teams that operate in that way...but they're far from the rule. I'm on team 818, one of the GM-sponsored teams. Our engineers have made it a point to have the students do everything they possibly can on the robot. We were sending kids out to the GM shop everyday to go work on the robot.
Things have changed, definitely for the better.
It may be overused, but if there was ever a situation where the word PWNED was called for, this is it...
Jobs just PWNED Real!
They've had software for a few years, with a decent variety of titles - reference, educational, games for the little kiddies, and so on.
When I walked into the library on Wednesday, however, I noticed a new addition to their collection: "Serious Sam: The Second Encounter."
Finally...now I can blast aliens and save the Earth, and it's only a dollar rental to do it!
I'm 17 and still in high school...I know almost nothing about politics. Not that that stops me from pretending I do. :)
Take everything I say with a grain of salt...hell, take a whole pitcher.