The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only.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.
Every console needs them. That one game, whatever genre it may be, that makes money for producers, draws critical acclaim for developers, and brings hours of enjoyment to us, the player. If you’re lucky, there might be more than one of them on one console. But the basic fact is undeniable – if a console is going to be successful it’s going to need one of these. Yep, you’ve probably guessed from the unimaginative thread title that I am talking about a very special sort of game indeed – the ‘killer app’.
What makes a ‘killer app’? Well, it can be any genre, it can have amazing graphics or simplistic colours, orchestra style sounds or bouncy tunes, but a ‘killer app’ has something. You can’t put your’re finger on it, you just know its there (God I sound like a Pop Idol judge). It just feels like quality and you know hen you are playing it you are probably experiencing something great. A ‘killer app’ can sell consoles on themselves, although as I explain later, that may not necessarily be the case.
With the console ‘war’ developing into to what could be quite possibly one of the hardest fought in the industry’s illustrious history, the need for the so-called ‘killer app’ is more so than ever. With Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo all battling for industry supremacy and – let’s face it – the money in your wallet, the ‘killer app’ could be the game that makes or breaks the success of their latest console. I’m not talking about Triple A titles, because there will always be a substantial amount of those. I’m talking about the sort of game that will force people to buy a console just to play that game, and that, my friends, is very, very, hard to come by.
So lets look at the future potentials, starting with Xbox. In order to establish a guaranteed user base and attract customers, they have released their No.1 game for the foreseeable future, Halo. By all early accounts the game certainly seems to be living up to the hype and at this stage could definitely be described as the ‘killer app’. Whether people will buy the console is debatable, because when you strip it of its fancy graphics and new features, it is little more than a standard FPS. What comes after Halo is tricky, as there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon for Microsoft? PS2, like Microsoft, seem to have their killer app out already, MGS2 is already selling like a Will Young record and seems, like GT3 before it, to be selling consoles on its own. Gamecube also have games for the here and now - Smash Bros certainly looks like it has all the trappings of a ‘killer app’. Plus Nintendo have a couple of other games waiting in the wings. You might have heard of them, its Mariosomething and that thingamajig Zelda.
However, a ‘killer app’ doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, and Nintendo and Sega can vouch for that. The N64 had arguably the greatest collection of true must-have games, yet they still finished behind Sony, who despite their claims and sales figures had nowhere near as many great ‘killer apps’ (Ooooh, controversial). Why? Maybe the casual gamer just doesn’t appreciate brilliance, or their just happy buying the same graphical updates. Does that prove that a console needs more than ‘killer apps’? Could be. It can be argued that PSone’s cheap price won the first console war. But then what about Dreamcast?
Dreamcast was cheap, and had great games, so why didn’t it sell. I’m probably going to annoy some of you know, but I think that Dreamcast didn’t have a ‘killer app’. (Ooooh, controversial – again). Sure, JSR, Crazy Taxi, Soul Calibur and Virtua Tennis were great games, but would you buy a console because of them? I don’t think so. I think a lot of hopes were pinned on Shenmue to be that ‘killer app’, but it turned out to be something of an acquired taste. Maybe the lack of that ‘killer app’ contributed to Sega’s downfall, who knows?
What I do know is that the ‘killer app’ is certainly important and becoming increasingly more so as the console war hots up. All consoles will need ‘em, that’s for sure. Another thing I’m also sure about is that we can look forward to more great games as developers strive for that elusive ‘killer app’. If they continue to do so, then the future is looking very bright indeed.
Thanks for reading
RM18
What makes a ‘killer app’? Well, it can be any genre, it can have amazing graphics or simplistic colours, orchestra style sounds or bouncy tunes, but a ‘killer app’ has something. You can’t put your’re finger on it, you just know its there (God I sound like a Pop Idol judge). It just feels like quality and you know hen you are playing it you are probably experiencing something great. A ‘killer app’ can sell consoles on themselves, although as I explain later, that may not necessarily be the case.
With the console ‘war’ developing into to what could be quite possibly one of the hardest fought in the industry’s illustrious history, the need for the so-called ‘killer app’ is more so than ever. With Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo all battling for industry supremacy and – let’s face it – the money in your wallet, the ‘killer app’ could be the game that makes or breaks the success of their latest console. I’m not talking about Triple A titles, because there will always be a substantial amount of those. I’m talking about the sort of game that will force people to buy a console just to play that game, and that, my friends, is very, very, hard to come by.
So lets look at the future potentials, starting with Xbox. In order to establish a guaranteed user base and attract customers, they have released their No.1 game for the foreseeable future, Halo. By all early accounts the game certainly seems to be living up to the hype and at this stage could definitely be described as the ‘killer app’. Whether people will buy the console is debatable, because when you strip it of its fancy graphics and new features, it is little more than a standard FPS. What comes after Halo is tricky, as there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon for Microsoft? PS2, like Microsoft, seem to have their killer app out already, MGS2 is already selling like a Will Young record and seems, like GT3 before it, to be selling consoles on its own. Gamecube also have games for the here and now - Smash Bros certainly looks like it has all the trappings of a ‘killer app’. Plus Nintendo have a couple of other games waiting in the wings. You might have heard of them, its Mariosomething and that thingamajig Zelda.
However, a ‘killer app’ doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, and Nintendo and Sega can vouch for that. The N64 had arguably the greatest collection of true must-have games, yet they still finished behind Sony, who despite their claims and sales figures had nowhere near as many great ‘killer apps’ (Ooooh, controversial). Why? Maybe the casual gamer just doesn’t appreciate brilliance, or their just happy buying the same graphical updates. Does that prove that a console needs more than ‘killer apps’? Could be. It can be argued that PSone’s cheap price won the first console war. But then what about Dreamcast?
Dreamcast was cheap, and had great games, so why didn’t it sell. I’m probably going to annoy some of you know, but I think that Dreamcast didn’t have a ‘killer app’. (Ooooh, controversial – again). Sure, JSR, Crazy Taxi, Soul Calibur and Virtua Tennis were great games, but would you buy a console because of them? I don’t think so. I think a lot of hopes were pinned on Shenmue to be that ‘killer app’, but it turned out to be something of an acquired taste. Maybe the lack of that ‘killer app’ contributed to Sega’s downfall, who knows?
What I do know is that the ‘killer app’ is certainly important and becoming increasingly more so as the console war hots up. All consoles will need ‘em, that’s for sure. Another thing I’m also sure about is that we can look forward to more great games as developers strive for that elusive ‘killer app’. If they continue to do so, then the future is looking very bright indeed.
Thanks for reading
RM18
Page:
I want Final Fantasy X. Now.
yeah but if I wanted a hard drive I'd use my PC
Well it has an 8GB hard drive for starters... no memory cards needed!
What do you think will be Microsoft's next killer app after Halo?
Like I said in the post there doesn't seem to be anything major on the horizon
Like I said in the post there doesn't seem to be anything major on the horizon
Well it was what I was thinking so it flowed out!
Great post RM18
Every game, to be successful, has to have a Killer App to blow up their sales. I think it wasn't a good idea for Microsoft to bring out Halo on launch. Okay it would make sales, but maybe they should do what Nintendo have done. Brought out a vary of launch titles and then, a couple of weeks after, brought out their trump card, Super Smash Bros. Melee. If the X-Box was launched with a great title like Jet Set Radio Future, it would still get a fair few sales.
In reply to you saying Halo is a just a normal FPS, i'd be welcome to explain it.
Okay, so the pretty graphics may make you think that that's all they've done to it. But no. Supposedly Halo has was of the longest life spans yet. Not only do the enemies learn from heir mistakes, like when you're shooting them, they don't just shoot back, they hide and get their energy back. 2 hour levels is just crazy, but it looks like the X-Box's Killer App could get them more sales than any other.
I agree with what you said about the Dreamcast. Maybe it wouldn't of declined if it were to have more Killer Apps. A good FPS for starters. Maybe a better Sonic game? Maybe not, who knows, Sega made a mistake whether it was this or not, but they can't change that now.
Good luck on winning for it RM18
Every game, to be successful, has to have a Killer App to blow up their sales. I think it wasn't a good idea for Microsoft to bring out Halo on launch. Okay it would make sales, but maybe they should do what Nintendo have done. Brought out a vary of launch titles and then, a couple of weeks after, brought out their trump card, Super Smash Bros. Melee. If the X-Box was launched with a great title like Jet Set Radio Future, it would still get a fair few sales.
In reply to you saying Halo is a just a normal FPS, i'd be welcome to explain it.
Okay, so the pretty graphics may make you think that that's all they've done to it. But no. Supposedly Halo has was of the longest life spans yet. Not only do the enemies learn from heir mistakes, like when you're shooting them, they don't just shoot back, they hide and get their energy back. 2 hour levels is just crazy, but it looks like the X-Box's Killer App could get them more sales than any other.
I agree with what you said about the Dreamcast. Maybe it wouldn't of declined if it were to have more Killer Apps. A good FPS for starters. Maybe a better Sonic game? Maybe not, who knows, Sega made a mistake whether it was this or not, but they can't change that now.
Good luck on winning for it RM18
yeah thanks for replying you made some good points
I often ponder the same subject. You think that games companies have run out of ideas because the same types of games are being released day in day out, but suddenly they bring out a new idea.
You try to think of your own ideas but it's impossible to find oneuntil they click.
I bought an N64 because I liked Nintendo well thought out charcters (and mainly because I'm a Zelda nut!) I liked the new console look the fell of the controller... ifelt like I was in an enstranged world because of these new inovations!
It's brilliant when games companies spill all of these new ideas because it gives us that extra period of time playing games that is bliss.
Basically I think all people talk about this so I decided to post what i think about it....
Oh yeah RM18 good post!
You try to think of your own ideas but it's impossible to find oneuntil they click.
I bought an N64 because I liked Nintendo well thought out charcters (and mainly because I'm a Zelda nut!) I liked the new console look the fell of the controller... ifelt like I was in an enstranged world because of these new inovations!
It's brilliant when games companies spill all of these new ideas because it gives us that extra period of time playing games that is bliss.
Basically I think all people talk about this so I decided to post what i think about it....
Oh yeah RM18 good post!
thanks
RM18 wrote:
> I just realised...how did you know my name? Shaneo knew as
> well
Interesting...
I know what you're thinking, but I'm quite sure that my posting trend hasn't changed in the latest three days :0)
I think Microchips is from the *bob* Tactical Ops clan that I'm in. Not sure though, I'll have to check up on that one.
Anyfudge, nice post Russ - GAD worthy, I agree.
> I just realised...how did you know my name? Shaneo knew as
> well
Interesting...
I know what you're thinking, but I'm quite sure that my posting trend hasn't changed in the latest three days :0)
I think Microchips is from the *bob* Tactical Ops clan that I'm in. Not sure though, I'll have to check up on that one.
Anyfudge, nice post Russ - GAD worthy, I agree.
Page: