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I seem to be noticing more and more lately the variable quality of modern computer games. We've all been there... we play a game on the PS2, Xbox or even the PC and we're left disappointed. We utter words such as, "If this console can play games as good as Gran Turismo 3, why is this driving game so bad?"
I believe that many games manufacturers are guilty of cutting corners when it comes to the design and development of computer games. Whilst there is an abundance of good quality games out there, some games just dont feel like they're fully finished. Of course in some cases the reason for this is that the game's development was rushed in an effort to bring forward the release date. Bringing out an inferior game for the sake of saving a few weeks is hardly the way to treat thousands of loyal consumers. I suffered this problem with Gran Turismo 2 on the PS1. After buying and loving the first installment of this series, I snapped up the sequel as soon as it was released. I wasn't disappointed and i loved the game. However, it was riddled with bugs. For instance, lap times did not save at all and some of the cars were withdrawn at the last minute, making it impossible to get a game rating of '100% complete'. If the developers Sony had just taken a little bit more time to iron out these bugs, they would have produced a higher quality game.
In other cases, software developers (usually lesser known ones) appear to deliberately produce an inferior game. This is done because they know that they can sell enough copies of the game to make sufficient profits, so they think, "Why should we waste money on making the game better." These developers rely on a particular group of consumers. They rely on the consumers who do not read magazines or seek reviews on the net. They rely on consumers who will buy a game because it has a good cover on the box or because it is endorsed by a celebrity or sports star. Once these consumers get home and realise the game isn't any good, the developers dont care.
One game that i picked up in a shop recently was like this. The cover showed pictures of fancy, exotic cars whilst the back of the case showed pretty FMV sequences. No ingame sequences were shown. What good is this? Games had good FMV sequences 5 years ago on the PS1! Its in-game graphics that count.
Fortunately, these bad apples are sweetened by the presence of top games from top developers who's primary concern is still making money, only these developers want to make money by developing a great game which gets good reviews, causing consumers to buy the game for this reason. And you know what, i bet these developers make more money.
So what can we do? We must ensure that we do not buy games purely on impulse. If we are interested in a game, we should consult reviews on the internet and in magazines. Better still, obtain a playable demo, rent the game for a day or even find a friend who owns it and ask for his opinion.
Thanks for reading. Happy gaming.
I believe that many games manufacturers are guilty of cutting corners when it comes to the design and development of computer games. Whilst there is an abundance of good quality games out there, some games just dont feel like they're fully finished. Of course in some cases the reason for this is that the game's development was rushed in an effort to bring forward the release date. Bringing out an inferior game for the sake of saving a few weeks is hardly the way to treat thousands of loyal consumers. I suffered this problem with Gran Turismo 2 on the PS1. After buying and loving the first installment of this series, I snapped up the sequel as soon as it was released. I wasn't disappointed and i loved the game. However, it was riddled with bugs. For instance, lap times did not save at all and some of the cars were withdrawn at the last minute, making it impossible to get a game rating of '100% complete'. If the developers Sony had just taken a little bit more time to iron out these bugs, they would have produced a higher quality game.
In other cases, software developers (usually lesser known ones) appear to deliberately produce an inferior game. This is done because they know that they can sell enough copies of the game to make sufficient profits, so they think, "Why should we waste money on making the game better." These developers rely on a particular group of consumers. They rely on the consumers who do not read magazines or seek reviews on the net. They rely on consumers who will buy a game because it has a good cover on the box or because it is endorsed by a celebrity or sports star. Once these consumers get home and realise the game isn't any good, the developers dont care.
One game that i picked up in a shop recently was like this. The cover showed pictures of fancy, exotic cars whilst the back of the case showed pretty FMV sequences. No ingame sequences were shown. What good is this? Games had good FMV sequences 5 years ago on the PS1! Its in-game graphics that count.
Fortunately, these bad apples are sweetened by the presence of top games from top developers who's primary concern is still making money, only these developers want to make money by developing a great game which gets good reviews, causing consumers to buy the game for this reason. And you know what, i bet these developers make more money.
So what can we do? We must ensure that we do not buy games purely on impulse. If we are interested in a game, we should consult reviews on the internet and in magazines. Better still, obtain a playable demo, rent the game for a day or even find a friend who owns it and ask for his opinion.
Thanks for reading. Happy gaming.
Thanks Sgt Pepper... its an important issue.
this is atchually quite good
I think some other people should read this apart from me
I think some other people should read this apart from me
I seem to be noticing more and more lately the variable quality of modern computer games. We've all been there... we play a game on the PS2, Xbox or even the PC and we're left disappointed. We utter words such as, "If this console can play games as good as Gran Turismo 3, why is this driving game so bad?"
I believe that many games manufacturers are guilty of cutting corners when it comes to the design and development of computer games. Whilst there is an abundance of good quality games out there, some games just dont feel like they're fully finished. Of course in some cases the reason for this is that the game's development was rushed in an effort to bring forward the release date. Bringing out an inferior game for the sake of saving a few weeks is hardly the way to treat thousands of loyal consumers. I suffered this problem with Gran Turismo 2 on the PS1. After buying and loving the first installment of this series, I snapped up the sequel as soon as it was released. I wasn't disappointed and i loved the game. However, it was riddled with bugs. For instance, lap times did not save at all and some of the cars were withdrawn at the last minute, making it impossible to get a game rating of '100% complete'. If the developers Sony had just taken a little bit more time to iron out these bugs, they would have produced a higher quality game.
In other cases, software developers (usually lesser known ones) appear to deliberately produce an inferior game. This is done because they know that they can sell enough copies of the game to make sufficient profits, so they think, "Why should we waste money on making the game better." These developers rely on a particular group of consumers. They rely on the consumers who do not read magazines or seek reviews on the net. They rely on consumers who will buy a game because it has a good cover on the box or because it is endorsed by a celebrity or sports star. Once these consumers get home and realise the game isn't any good, the developers dont care.
One game that i picked up in a shop recently was like this. The cover showed pictures of fancy, exotic cars whilst the back of the case showed pretty FMV sequences. No ingame sequences were shown. What good is this? Games had good FMV sequences 5 years ago on the PS1! Its in-game graphics that count.
Fortunately, these bad apples are sweetened by the presence of top games from top developers who's primary concern is still making money, only these developers want to make money by developing a great game which gets good reviews, causing consumers to buy the game for this reason. And you know what, i bet these developers make more money.
So what can we do? We must ensure that we do not buy games purely on impulse. If we are interested in a game, we should consult reviews on the internet and in magazines. Better still, obtain a playable demo, rent the game for a day or even find a friend who owns it and ask for his opinion.
Thanks for reading. Happy gaming.
I believe that many games manufacturers are guilty of cutting corners when it comes to the design and development of computer games. Whilst there is an abundance of good quality games out there, some games just dont feel like they're fully finished. Of course in some cases the reason for this is that the game's development was rushed in an effort to bring forward the release date. Bringing out an inferior game for the sake of saving a few weeks is hardly the way to treat thousands of loyal consumers. I suffered this problem with Gran Turismo 2 on the PS1. After buying and loving the first installment of this series, I snapped up the sequel as soon as it was released. I wasn't disappointed and i loved the game. However, it was riddled with bugs. For instance, lap times did not save at all and some of the cars were withdrawn at the last minute, making it impossible to get a game rating of '100% complete'. If the developers Sony had just taken a little bit more time to iron out these bugs, they would have produced a higher quality game.
In other cases, software developers (usually lesser known ones) appear to deliberately produce an inferior game. This is done because they know that they can sell enough copies of the game to make sufficient profits, so they think, "Why should we waste money on making the game better." These developers rely on a particular group of consumers. They rely on the consumers who do not read magazines or seek reviews on the net. They rely on consumers who will buy a game because it has a good cover on the box or because it is endorsed by a celebrity or sports star. Once these consumers get home and realise the game isn't any good, the developers dont care.
One game that i picked up in a shop recently was like this. The cover showed pictures of fancy, exotic cars whilst the back of the case showed pretty FMV sequences. No ingame sequences were shown. What good is this? Games had good FMV sequences 5 years ago on the PS1! Its in-game graphics that count.
Fortunately, these bad apples are sweetened by the presence of top games from top developers who's primary concern is still making money, only these developers want to make money by developing a great game which gets good reviews, causing consumers to buy the game for this reason. And you know what, i bet these developers make more money.
So what can we do? We must ensure that we do not buy games purely on impulse. If we are interested in a game, we should consult reviews on the internet and in magazines. Better still, obtain a playable demo, rent the game for a day or even find a friend who owns it and ask for his opinion.
Thanks for reading. Happy gaming.