The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Like everything else in life, gaming is subject to fashion. Everything goes through stages of popularity and hatred, thats just the way life is, as what is popular at one time won't be in the future. Just ask Babylon Zoo. For instance, five years ago the Spice Girls were the most popular band in the world, and everything they touched turned to gold. Now, most people wouldn't touch their solo singles with a barge pole. Gaming is no different.
What do you mean?
Well look at it like this. The latest craze in gaming is cel shading. Its just so chic darling! Videogamers and developers acknowledge it in unison - 2D is the new 3D. Even games like House of the Dead are using it. After Jet Set Radio made it 'cool' every game developer and their dog is copying the trend, even the King of Originality, Shigsy! When the latest Zelda game was released at last year's Spaceworld it drew gasps of disbelief form journalists expecting the latest 3D graphics depicting Link in all his glory, only to see a flat pixie looking creature with no nose. But despite the consumer backlash it was critically acclaimed by those 'in the know', who appreciate the new style. Jumping on the bandwagon more like.
But graphics isn't the only area of gaming subject to fashion. It has seeped into the gaming industry in general. For the close affiliation between the two there is only one developer to blame.
Sony.
Fair play to them, the marketing strategy of PlayStation was genius, pure genius. It introduced gaming to the mass market and dispelled images of gamers being spotty geeks sitting behind a keyboard. It essentially created a new breed of gamers - the casual gamer. Using games like WipEout, whose use of dance music endeared itself to clubbers etc, Sony made it fashionable to be a gamer. Arguably, this establishment of a user base is what guaranteed stellar launch figures for the PS2, because the games weren't actually that good. In a remarkable turnaround in the games industry Sony have seemingly built an unassailable lead whilst Nintendo struggle to keep up, because of their kiddie image. Proper gamers know that myth about Nintendo isn't true, but Nintendo can't do anything about it because consumers won't respond. See what I mean about fashion? Ten years ago people would have been falling over themselves to get a new Nintendo console. Now they are being beaten in sales by a company that has minimal experience in the console market.
What about the other fashions? Whilst others die, never to be seen again (virtual boy anyone?), others remain and end up being copied, such as the rumble pad. Take other games. Point-and-click games used to be all the rage with developer clamouring to make them but nowadays they would rather just release an FPS, perhaps the most flooded genre in games today.
So what can be concluded from my mindless ranting? Well, its obvious that trends and fashions have dictated most sections of the gaming industry, and with constant technological advances what looked good three years ago will look decidedly old hat now, and the same for now three years down the line. Its impossible to stop it happening, we just have to grin and bear it, because its inevitable. Just don't ask me about the new look Zelda.
Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear you thoughts
What do you mean?
Well look at it like this. The latest craze in gaming is cel shading. Its just so chic darling! Videogamers and developers acknowledge it in unison - 2D is the new 3D. Even games like House of the Dead are using it. After Jet Set Radio made it 'cool' every game developer and their dog is copying the trend, even the King of Originality, Shigsy! When the latest Zelda game was released at last year's Spaceworld it drew gasps of disbelief form journalists expecting the latest 3D graphics depicting Link in all his glory, only to see a flat pixie looking creature with no nose. But despite the consumer backlash it was critically acclaimed by those 'in the know', who appreciate the new style. Jumping on the bandwagon more like.
But graphics isn't the only area of gaming subject to fashion. It has seeped into the gaming industry in general. For the close affiliation between the two there is only one developer to blame.
Sony.
Fair play to them, the marketing strategy of PlayStation was genius, pure genius. It introduced gaming to the mass market and dispelled images of gamers being spotty geeks sitting behind a keyboard. It essentially created a new breed of gamers - the casual gamer. Using games like WipEout, whose use of dance music endeared itself to clubbers etc, Sony made it fashionable to be a gamer. Arguably, this establishment of a user base is what guaranteed stellar launch figures for the PS2, because the games weren't actually that good. In a remarkable turnaround in the games industry Sony have seemingly built an unassailable lead whilst Nintendo struggle to keep up, because of their kiddie image. Proper gamers know that myth about Nintendo isn't true, but Nintendo can't do anything about it because consumers won't respond. See what I mean about fashion? Ten years ago people would have been falling over themselves to get a new Nintendo console. Now they are being beaten in sales by a company that has minimal experience in the console market.
What about the other fashions? Whilst others die, never to be seen again (virtual boy anyone?), others remain and end up being copied, such as the rumble pad. Take other games. Point-and-click games used to be all the rage with developer clamouring to make them but nowadays they would rather just release an FPS, perhaps the most flooded genre in games today.
So what can be concluded from my mindless ranting? Well, its obvious that trends and fashions have dictated most sections of the gaming industry, and with constant technological advances what looked good three years ago will look decidedly old hat now, and the same for now three years down the line. Its impossible to stop it happening, we just have to grin and bear it, because its inevitable. Just don't ask me about the new look Zelda.
Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear you thoughts
Page:
Still didn't work, which has probably got something to do with the fact that Arsenal are pants
Yeah, like sponsoring Arsenal, and I think that in the Official Dreamcast magazine I saw it in clubs with Space Channel 5 showing
Yeah, probably because it tried to imitate PS2 tactics and still failed
Thanks for your honesty...I think. Back to the topic, do you think the Dreamcst failed because it was unfashionable?
Apologies. I was just commenting on what I percieved to be the publics perception at the time. I know it was a misconception because I was a games player and I didn't have spots, but I did sit at my computer a lot. Oh crap! I'm nearly a geek!
And if you must know, I have a friend who is a spotty geek (sorry Chris) and he plays games, and I OBJECT TO THAT STATEMENT
RM18 wrote:
> The Zelda games have always been a natural progression in terms of graphics, but
> the latest seems to be step back
Its hardly a step back, Miyomoto probably wanted to freshen things up abit
> The Zelda games have always been a natural progression in terms of graphics, but
> the latest seems to be step back
Its hardly a step back, Miyomoto probably wanted to freshen things up abit
The Zelda games have always been a natural progression in terms of graphics, but the latest seems to be step back
RastaBillySkank wrote:
> Celda (Cel-shading and Zelda, geddit?) looks like a damn fine game.
I find it
> funny how all the people who go on about "Gameplay's the only thing that
> matters to me..." are suddenly turning iffy about buying Zelda simply
> because it's cel-shaded.
I'm not getting iffy that Zelda's going cel shaded, as I will buy it anyway and like you said it probably will be damn fine, I just expressed surprise that Shigeru Miyamoto would go along with the trend and use it when he and Nintendo have a reputation for innovation and originality
P.S Can you give me some feedback on the post
> Celda (Cel-shading and Zelda, geddit?) looks like a damn fine game.
I find it
> funny how all the people who go on about "Gameplay's the only thing that
> matters to me..." are suddenly turning iffy about buying Zelda simply
> because it's cel-shaded.
I'm not getting iffy that Zelda's going cel shaded, as I will buy it anyway and like you said it probably will be damn fine, I just expressed surprise that Shigeru Miyamoto would go along with the trend and use it when he and Nintendo have a reputation for innovation and originality
P.S Can you give me some feedback on the post
Page: