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I want a new game.
Something I haven't played before.
I don't mean a new game to buy, I mean I want someone out there, a developer somewhere, to use that knotted cord of cells in his skull to be original and create something new.
It can't be that hard, we have a limitless imagination and can dream of other worlds and conjure gods.
So why then, can I get a racing game, a fighting game, or a jumpy about collecting things game?
There's a game called Rez, doesn't interest me but at least it's something new.
Same with Parappa the Rappa, it was odd but totally different.
I don't want to guide some large-breasted Indiana Jones wannabe around some dusty levels for no point.
I don't want to have a fighting game where different characters beat the tar out of each other.
Is it just me?
Am I the only one that stares at the shelves and sees loads and loads of game boxes, but only about 4 different types of game within?
Sure, the graphics are different, but it's the same bloody thing over and over.
Wolfenstein & Medal of Honour are good games.
But they're the same as Half-Life, which is the same as Doom.
GTA3 is a good game, but it's the same as Driver and the same as Target Renegade.
Sure, it looks better and stuff but it's the same clunky, wheezing ideas being trotted out time and time again.
Ecco The Dolphin.
Not my sort of game (I think) but at least it's different.
Same with Microsoft Train Simulator - I can't think why anyone would want to buy that (I got it gratis, as a joke from some punk here), but it's a break from the norm.
So why is it so hard for developers to think outside the box?
"People buy these sorts of games, they sell"
Well hey Activision/whoever, if all you serve is one food then of course people are going to eat it, because they don't have any choice.
Give us the chance to experience something new, it may work or it may not, but for chrissakes, put some effort into it would you?
Stop vomiting up the same old ideas but putting shinier game engines on it and counting the cash.
And we can do our part as consumners - just don't buy the games you know are the same old stuff.
Film License games.
They always bring 'em out and they always, always suck.
So who buys them?
Stop buying and the developers will start having to think.
Say what you like about Black and White (and sometimes I hate it, other times I love it), but it was a new game, a new style and totally original stuff for you to play around with.
Doesn't matter if you liked it or not, it was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise fetid dungeon of samey titles all vying for your hard-earned.
But what am I saying, you're all creaming for Metal Gear Solid 2.
Yeah, it looks nice.
Yeah, you can hide in lockers but it's exactly the same as before, there is nothing different here. It's just newer.
Something I haven't played before.
I don't mean a new game to buy, I mean I want someone out there, a developer somewhere, to use that knotted cord of cells in his skull to be original and create something new.
It can't be that hard, we have a limitless imagination and can dream of other worlds and conjure gods.
So why then, can I get a racing game, a fighting game, or a jumpy about collecting things game?
There's a game called Rez, doesn't interest me but at least it's something new.
Same with Parappa the Rappa, it was odd but totally different.
I don't want to guide some large-breasted Indiana Jones wannabe around some dusty levels for no point.
I don't want to have a fighting game where different characters beat the tar out of each other.
Is it just me?
Am I the only one that stares at the shelves and sees loads and loads of game boxes, but only about 4 different types of game within?
Sure, the graphics are different, but it's the same bloody thing over and over.
Wolfenstein & Medal of Honour are good games.
But they're the same as Half-Life, which is the same as Doom.
GTA3 is a good game, but it's the same as Driver and the same as Target Renegade.
Sure, it looks better and stuff but it's the same clunky, wheezing ideas being trotted out time and time again.
Ecco The Dolphin.
Not my sort of game (I think) but at least it's different.
Same with Microsoft Train Simulator - I can't think why anyone would want to buy that (I got it gratis, as a joke from some punk here), but it's a break from the norm.
So why is it so hard for developers to think outside the box?
"People buy these sorts of games, they sell"
Well hey Activision/whoever, if all you serve is one food then of course people are going to eat it, because they don't have any choice.
Give us the chance to experience something new, it may work or it may not, but for chrissakes, put some effort into it would you?
Stop vomiting up the same old ideas but putting shinier game engines on it and counting the cash.
And we can do our part as consumners - just don't buy the games you know are the same old stuff.
Film License games.
They always bring 'em out and they always, always suck.
So who buys them?
Stop buying and the developers will start having to think.
Say what you like about Black and White (and sometimes I hate it, other times I love it), but it was a new game, a new style and totally original stuff for you to play around with.
Doesn't matter if you liked it or not, it was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise fetid dungeon of samey titles all vying for your hard-earned.
But what am I saying, you're all creaming for Metal Gear Solid 2.
Yeah, it looks nice.
Yeah, you can hide in lockers but it's exactly the same as before, there is nothing different here. It's just newer.
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Ah, agree with YH.
I just hope I can get somewhere that isn't ruled by money.
I just hope I can get somewhere that isn't ruled by money.
Grix Thraves wrote:
> No, didn't mean story.
Could you explain what you did mean then? I think I got the wrong end of the stick.
> No, didn't mean story.
Could you explain what you did mean then? I think I got the wrong end of the stick.
Bad judgement, Venom.
And, no, really, I'm supposed to be in school.
It's half way through my maths lesson at the moment.
I better get going.
...
Yup. I don't want to miss maths.
...
*goes to kitchen, finds something to drink*
And, no, really, I'm supposed to be in school.
It's half way through my maths lesson at the moment.
I better get going.
...
Yup. I don't want to miss maths.
...
*goes to kitchen, finds something to drink*
Venom, good point.
BUT:
Games designers are employed to make games that sell. If that means making Gran Turismo 145, or Tomb Raider 98, then that's what they do.
It comes back to the old argument that games industry is too commercialised. To maybe business bods, share holders to think about, market positioning and all that stuff.
It's taken the attention away from the games.
Games companies are run buy business men. Their job is to make money, full stop. They don't care how they do it.
BUT:
Games designers are employed to make games that sell. If that means making Gran Turismo 145, or Tomb Raider 98, then that's what they do.
It comes back to the old argument that games industry is too commercialised. To maybe business bods, share holders to think about, market positioning and all that stuff.
It's taken the attention away from the games.
Games companies are run buy business men. Their job is to make money, full stop. They don't care how they do it.
Grix Thraves wrote:
> You know... I think I'm supposed to be in school.
I had that this morning, sitting at home, thinking I should be at work, but I wasn't.
I am now though.
> You know... I think I'm supposed to be in school.
I had that this morning, sitting at home, thinking I should be at work, but I wasn't.
I am now though.
It's all very well saying "Oh, but it's difficult for designers to think up original ideas", but they are paid to design games. It is their job. If the best they can do is to churn out another first person shooter, or Gran Turismo clone, they are not doing the job any better than Joe Bloggs next door could.
If they can't do the job significantly better than anyone else around, why have they got the job in the first place?
If they can't do the job significantly better than anyone else around, why have they got the job in the first place?
You know... I think I'm supposed to be in school.
No, didn't mean story.
He didn't say story.
So Grix, you're effectively saying that you should come up with a story, and then design the rest of the game in a way the best tells the story. Am I right?
Ok. Now, think of the games that have been recognised as classics. Tetris. Pacman. Asteroids. Maybe MarioKart?
None of them have a story worth mentioning. The only one with anything near a storyline is Asteroids. "Aliens are invading. Stop them."
Not everyone wants storylines in their games.
For me, the fun in a game is to beat my own high score. Or other peoples high score. That's why I enjoy Zone Mode on WipEout Fusion so much. No story, no complex stuff. Just me and a target score to beat. Simple.
Ok. Now, think of the games that have been recognised as classics. Tetris. Pacman. Asteroids. Maybe MarioKart?
None of them have a story worth mentioning. The only one with anything near a storyline is Asteroids. "Aliens are invading. Stop them."
Not everyone wants storylines in their games.
For me, the fun in a game is to beat my own high score. Or other peoples high score. That's why I enjoy Zone Mode on WipEout Fusion so much. No story, no complex stuff. Just me and a target score to beat. Simple.
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