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In the last few months, I've been really pleased with the level of creativity coming out in the gaming world. Rez and Ico to name but two have really been pushing the envelope in terms of design, creativity and innovation.
But I'm worried. I can't see these games doing well in terms of sales. This is going to discourage future developers from taking creative risks, and further stagnating the industry with more sequals, franchises and cash cows.
It's the same old story of the bloated corporate execs that's been going on in Hollywood for the last couple of decades. Of course, there's a few differences. In films, it's possible for an independant to make a film on a very low budget, although he may have trouble distrubuting it. In the videogame world, as the technology increases, it becomes more and more difficult to create competitive games on low budgets with small teams. Hopefully, one of the redeeming features of the videogaming industry is that of the Japanese side of the market. Both consumers and producers are more open-minded there, which is why there tends to be a far wider range of novel ideas flowing from the East.
But I wonder how long that can last before the all powerful purse-string holders wade in and force them to create more endless sequels of dating, train driving and horse racing sims.
I suppose that what worries me most is that the very part of a hobby that’s very important to me looks to be threatened. My experience of playing games has changed over the years, changing from the pure gaming buzz to a more beard-strokey approach, and now I positively seek out the unusual, innovative and different gaming experiences. It would be a crying shame if the creativity I cherish was stifled by accountants.
Unfortunately, I realise that it’s almost inevitable; publishers and developers are businessmen, not artists. As the industry continues to get more competitive, the risk-takers will be punished, and more and more developers will be playing it safe. Might that be the time I finally give up the gaming ghost and find something else to do? *shudder*
But I'm worried. I can't see these games doing well in terms of sales. This is going to discourage future developers from taking creative risks, and further stagnating the industry with more sequals, franchises and cash cows.
It's the same old story of the bloated corporate execs that's been going on in Hollywood for the last couple of decades. Of course, there's a few differences. In films, it's possible for an independant to make a film on a very low budget, although he may have trouble distrubuting it. In the videogame world, as the technology increases, it becomes more and more difficult to create competitive games on low budgets with small teams. Hopefully, one of the redeeming features of the videogaming industry is that of the Japanese side of the market. Both consumers and producers are more open-minded there, which is why there tends to be a far wider range of novel ideas flowing from the East.
But I wonder how long that can last before the all powerful purse-string holders wade in and force them to create more endless sequels of dating, train driving and horse racing sims.
I suppose that what worries me most is that the very part of a hobby that’s very important to me looks to be threatened. My experience of playing games has changed over the years, changing from the pure gaming buzz to a more beard-strokey approach, and now I positively seek out the unusual, innovative and different gaming experiences. It would be a crying shame if the creativity I cherish was stifled by accountants.
Unfortunately, I realise that it’s almost inevitable; publishers and developers are businessmen, not artists. As the industry continues to get more competitive, the risk-takers will be punished, and more and more developers will be playing it safe. Might that be the time I finally give up the gaming ghost and find something else to do? *shudder*
No innovation in music? You gotta be kidding.... Sure, pop music is all soulless pap, but there's an underground music for every genre, which is where the boundary pushing goes on. Pop music catches up in about 5 years to what's cutting edge in the more underground scenes. That's the essence of the problem - there is NO gaming underground, as I mentioned due to the costs involved. There's no videogame parallel to cutting 1000 copies of a record and releasing it on a small label. Likewise with indie films.
I'd hate to see the day when all we have left are the gaming equivalents of Hear'say, Westlife and The Vengaboys.
V.V.V.V.V wrote:
> Innovation is always a bit thin on the ground in almost every aspect
> of life.
> Just look at films and music: I don't see masses of innovation in
> those areas of entertainment.
> Originality is the future, but it can only appear in dribs and drabs -
> that's the way it is and the way it has always been.
>
> I always try to buy innovative games like Rez, Jet Set Radio, etc.
> But having said that, in many games there are subtle touches of
> innovation: like the "bullet time" feature in Max Payne for
> instance.
I'd hate to see the day when all we have left are the gaming equivalents of Hear'say, Westlife and The Vengaboys.
V.V.V.V.V wrote:
> Innovation is always a bit thin on the ground in almost every aspect
> of life.
> Just look at films and music: I don't see masses of innovation in
> those areas of entertainment.
> Originality is the future, but it can only appear in dribs and drabs -
> that's the way it is and the way it has always been.
>
> I always try to buy innovative games like Rez, Jet Set Radio, etc.
> But having said that, in many games there are subtle touches of
> innovation: like the "bullet time" feature in Max Payne for
> instance.
Sequels can be be original themselves you know. Anyway, there are plenty of new and better innovations in quality of story, the telling of the story, graphics and other features that aren't usually considered when looking at originality. Oh and there is also originality always on the way just when someone starts saying it's dead. For example Freedom Force the superhero RPG, that's an original idea, even if most of the features are similar to those seen before (plus you can make heroes with a variety of powers from scratch).
Innovation is always a bit thin on the ground in almost every aspect of life.
Just look at films and music: I don't see masses of innovation in those areas of entertainment.
Originality is the future, but it can only appear in dribs and drabs - that's the way it is and the way it has always been.
I always try to buy innovative games like Rez, Jet Set Radio, etc.
But having said that, in many games there are subtle touches of innovation: like the "bullet time" feature in Max Payne for instance.
Just look at films and music: I don't see masses of innovation in those areas of entertainment.
Originality is the future, but it can only appear in dribs and drabs - that's the way it is and the way it has always been.
I always try to buy innovative games like Rez, Jet Set Radio, etc.
But having said that, in many games there are subtle touches of innovation: like the "bullet time" feature in Max Payne for instance.
In the last few months, I've been really pleased with the level of creativity coming out in the gaming world. Rez and Ico to name but two have really been pushing the envelope in terms of design, creativity and innovation.
But I'm worried. I can't see these games doing well in terms of sales. This is going to discourage future developers from taking creative risks, and further stagnating the industry with more sequals, franchises and cash cows.
It's the same old story of the bloated corporate execs that's been going on in Hollywood for the last couple of decades. Of course, there's a few differences. In films, it's possible for an independant to make a film on a very low budget, although he may have trouble distrubuting it. In the videogame world, as the technology increases, it becomes more and more difficult to create competitive games on low budgets with small teams. Hopefully, one of the redeeming features of the videogaming industry is that of the Japanese side of the market. Both consumers and producers are more open-minded there, which is why there tends to be a far wider range of novel ideas flowing from the East.
But I wonder how long that can last before the all powerful purse-string holders wade in and force them to create more endless sequels of dating, train driving and horse racing sims.
I suppose that what worries me most is that the very part of a hobby that’s very important to me looks to be threatened. My experience of playing games has changed over the years, changing from the pure gaming buzz to a more beard-strokey approach, and now I positively seek out the unusual, innovative and different gaming experiences. It would be a crying shame if the creativity I cherish was stifled by accountants.
Unfortunately, I realise that it’s almost inevitable; publishers and developers are businessmen, not artists. As the industry continues to get more competitive, the risk-takers will be punished, and more and more developers will be playing it safe. Might that be the time I finally give up the gaming ghost and find something else to do? *shudder*
But I'm worried. I can't see these games doing well in terms of sales. This is going to discourage future developers from taking creative risks, and further stagnating the industry with more sequals, franchises and cash cows.
It's the same old story of the bloated corporate execs that's been going on in Hollywood for the last couple of decades. Of course, there's a few differences. In films, it's possible for an independant to make a film on a very low budget, although he may have trouble distrubuting it. In the videogame world, as the technology increases, it becomes more and more difficult to create competitive games on low budgets with small teams. Hopefully, one of the redeeming features of the videogaming industry is that of the Japanese side of the market. Both consumers and producers are more open-minded there, which is why there tends to be a far wider range of novel ideas flowing from the East.
But I wonder how long that can last before the all powerful purse-string holders wade in and force them to create more endless sequels of dating, train driving and horse racing sims.
I suppose that what worries me most is that the very part of a hobby that’s very important to me looks to be threatened. My experience of playing games has changed over the years, changing from the pure gaming buzz to a more beard-strokey approach, and now I positively seek out the unusual, innovative and different gaming experiences. It would be a crying shame if the creativity I cherish was stifled by accountants.
Unfortunately, I realise that it’s almost inevitable; publishers and developers are businessmen, not artists. As the industry continues to get more competitive, the risk-takers will be punished, and more and more developers will be playing it safe. Might that be the time I finally give up the gaming ghost and find something else to do? *shudder*