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Surrealism is some what of a mystery to the naked eye, yet it is a recognised form of art across the world which attracts the imagination to run wild and the artistic environments to confuse the human brain. However, surreal environments and characters aren't used enough to bring computer games to life and apart from the odd handful over the last 5 years titles like 'The Grim Fandango' take the lime light for showing off the artistic delights to bring what would normally be an ordinary title, but with surrealism it brought everything to life in an exciting way.
Most of you will have heard of the 'Beetle Juice' films where an ordinary family is dragged into the horror world of the living dead. The 'Beetle Juice' films contain some of the most eccentric forms of Surrealism and some which will leave you feeling in a puzzled situation. With developers today utilising superb artistic design and with the ability to bring environments to life using the most advanced computer graphics chips then surreal environments would feel right at home on our next generation machines.
After the huge success of the 'Grim Fandango' on the PC it's hard to understand why developers aren't looking at different styles and using them to breathe new life into what is going to be just another average game. 'Jet Set Radio' on the Dreamcast brought the world of Cel-Shading to life, it brought gamers a whole new life-line and extreme sports games an alternative that would sell to the gaming public.
With the ability to mix and match different styles and cross environments into each other to re-create a totally new world is an artists dream, yet the gaming world isn't snapping up its opportunities and doing something to consoles which the 'Grim Fandango' did to PC's 5 years a go. 'XIII' which is going to be a multi-platform game is bringing the world of Cel-Shading away from sports titles and introducing it into a genre which at this time excels for realism but lags in imagination. The last blockbuster First Person shooter game was 'Halo' on the Microsoft Xbox. Using huge environments, realistic enemy AI and a great storyline it produced one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences ever to be seen on a console. The game wasn’t a 'bog-standard' First Person Shooter, it was a revelation, yet even though it was a big success and a great title I felt that the lack of something new stretched the genre to the end of its life.
A surrealistic 'Halo' would probably spoil the game as we know it, but if characters used body parts and mixed them with different foods just imagine the fun you could have with your friends designing a Buffet for 'Master Chief' or 'Mario', the create a character modes would once again become something to enjoy rather than the same old serious out-look.
Companies like 'Sega' and 'Nintendo' are renowned for their exploitations of different character designs and although 'Mario' may look like an ordinary plumber the little touches they added made him a character which people around the world can name straight away. With a little bit more thought going into a game then surely the sales they recoup from such an idea would be more profitable than a game that will sell a few but most people will leave well alone.
Over the next few years of gaming and with the battle for Christmas number 1 and all the trimmings wouldn’t is be nice for a few more ideas to be utilised and brought to our next generation consoles? With 'Zelda' (known to the majority of GameCube fans as Celda) on the GameCube going Cel-Shaded and 'Jet Set Radio Future' on the Xbox proving to be a very big hit, will surreal gaming ever take off the ground? We are due by now a new style which will breathe new life into dying genres and I believe that something that puts no limits on the human imagination could prove to be the revelation developers need to introduce before game like 'Blade 2' and 'Chase' become something of a novelty which the majority of us will leave well alone, its time to introduce Surreal Gaming!
Thanks for Reading
Garbe123
Most of you will have heard of the 'Beetle Juice' films where an ordinary family is dragged into the horror world of the living dead. The 'Beetle Juice' films contain some of the most eccentric forms of Surrealism and some which will leave you feeling in a puzzled situation. With developers today utilising superb artistic design and with the ability to bring environments to life using the most advanced computer graphics chips then surreal environments would feel right at home on our next generation machines.
After the huge success of the 'Grim Fandango' on the PC it's hard to understand why developers aren't looking at different styles and using them to breathe new life into what is going to be just another average game. 'Jet Set Radio' on the Dreamcast brought the world of Cel-Shading to life, it brought gamers a whole new life-line and extreme sports games an alternative that would sell to the gaming public.
With the ability to mix and match different styles and cross environments into each other to re-create a totally new world is an artists dream, yet the gaming world isn't snapping up its opportunities and doing something to consoles which the 'Grim Fandango' did to PC's 5 years a go. 'XIII' which is going to be a multi-platform game is bringing the world of Cel-Shading away from sports titles and introducing it into a genre which at this time excels for realism but lags in imagination. The last blockbuster First Person shooter game was 'Halo' on the Microsoft Xbox. Using huge environments, realistic enemy AI and a great storyline it produced one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences ever to be seen on a console. The game wasn’t a 'bog-standard' First Person Shooter, it was a revelation, yet even though it was a big success and a great title I felt that the lack of something new stretched the genre to the end of its life.
A surrealistic 'Halo' would probably spoil the game as we know it, but if characters used body parts and mixed them with different foods just imagine the fun you could have with your friends designing a Buffet for 'Master Chief' or 'Mario', the create a character modes would once again become something to enjoy rather than the same old serious out-look.
Companies like 'Sega' and 'Nintendo' are renowned for their exploitations of different character designs and although 'Mario' may look like an ordinary plumber the little touches they added made him a character which people around the world can name straight away. With a little bit more thought going into a game then surely the sales they recoup from such an idea would be more profitable than a game that will sell a few but most people will leave well alone.
Over the next few years of gaming and with the battle for Christmas number 1 and all the trimmings wouldn’t is be nice for a few more ideas to be utilised and brought to our next generation consoles? With 'Zelda' (known to the majority of GameCube fans as Celda) on the GameCube going Cel-Shaded and 'Jet Set Radio Future' on the Xbox proving to be a very big hit, will surreal gaming ever take off the ground? We are due by now a new style which will breathe new life into dying genres and I believe that something that puts no limits on the human imagination could prove to be the revelation developers need to introduce before game like 'Blade 2' and 'Chase' become something of a novelty which the majority of us will leave well alone, its time to introduce Surreal Gaming!
Thanks for Reading
Garbe123
Page:
To be honest the few Screen-Shots I have seen of Zelda look OK, but a lot are complaining. I agree with what you say though, more games are going Cel-Shaded and it could be the way of the future. Its nice to see more inovative Developing techniques as some genres are becoming 'old hat' and used without any improvements over previous efforts. Would be nice to see Surreal gaming worlds though, especially with our Next Generation consoles.
Zelda Gc is pretty visualy unique, or rather for the fact that it can still look different, and still be better than anything else. People complained about it, because they wanted the 'real' look, seen at Spaceworld 2000. Its interesting to note that a lot of games more recently announced are going cel-shaded.
I agree Nomad, contrasting styles do work, but I don't think we are getting enough of them.
I love playing games which have unique (surreal) visual styles: games like Rez, and the original Jet Set Radio. Sadly though, there's just not enough games which try too be visually unique. It's definately an area that could be exploited more by game developers.
At the moment, we seem to be stuck with the two opposites: either realistc or cartoony graphics. I'd like to see more games like Rez - games which have graphical styles which we've not really seen before. So yeah, I'm definately in favour of more surrealism in gaming.
At the moment, we seem to be stuck with the two opposites: either realistc or cartoony graphics. I'd like to see more games like Rez - games which have graphical styles which we've not really seen before. So yeah, I'm definately in favour of more surrealism in gaming.
garbe123 wrote:
> I agree with what you are saying, but if we were to put those 3 in
> order of which was the most important to gamers then there would be a
> struggle.
That's like saying put the genres in order...it's not important! They're (the 3 branches, that is) all doing well.
> This is the point I am trying to make, everything is heading
> towards realism
Wait, I thought you agreed with me saying there's 3 things gaming is moving towards?
> yet a new genre which included Surrealism or an
> extention of Cel-Shading and it would sell.
Argh! Again, see my post. IT IS A GAME TYPE!!
> I agree with what you are saying, but if we were to put those 3 in
> order of which was the most important to gamers then there would be a
> struggle.
That's like saying put the genres in order...it's not important! They're (the 3 branches, that is) all doing well.
> This is the point I am trying to make, everything is heading
> towards realism
Wait, I thought you agreed with me saying there's 3 things gaming is moving towards?
> yet a new genre which included Surrealism or an
> extention of Cel-Shading and it would sell.
Argh! Again, see my post. IT IS A GAME TYPE!!
I agree with what you are saying, but if we were to put those 3 in order of which was the most important to gamers then there would be a struggle. This is the point I am trying to make, everything is heading towards realism, yet a new genre which included Surrealism or an extention of Cel-Shading and it would sell.
Gaming is branching out in three main ways:
1) Closer to real life. Not just games like The Sims (although stuff like that is getting ever more popular), but simulations like Grand Prix, Gran Turismo, Pro Evolution etc. all trying to fit real life into a DVD.
2) Closer to the old days. Retro gaming on the GBA, remakes like Shinobi and Toejam and Earl coming out, people are trying to recreate the SNES/Genesis era but with better graphics etc.
3) Advancing as it used to. Just going on to make crazy new games. Rez, Ico, Super Monkey Ball, these are all out on the next gen consoles. People are wanting new, wacky games (of which Zelda isn't really the greatest example IMO) and get worried they're not coming...when really, there's as many as there's always been.
1) Closer to real life. Not just games like The Sims (although stuff like that is getting ever more popular), but simulations like Grand Prix, Gran Turismo, Pro Evolution etc. all trying to fit real life into a DVD.
2) Closer to the old days. Retro gaming on the GBA, remakes like Shinobi and Toejam and Earl coming out, people are trying to recreate the SNES/Genesis era but with better graphics etc.
3) Advancing as it used to. Just going on to make crazy new games. Rez, Ico, Super Monkey Ball, these are all out on the next gen consoles. People are wanting new, wacky games (of which Zelda isn't really the greatest example IMO) and get worried they're not coming...when really, there's as many as there's always been.
Surrealism is some what of a mystery to the naked eye, yet it is a recognised form of art across the world which attracts the imagination to run wild and the artistic environments to confuse the human brain. However, surreal environments and characters aren't used enough to bring computer games to life and apart from the odd handful over the last 5 years titles like 'The Grim Fandango' take the lime light for showing off the artistic delights to bring what would normally be an ordinary title, but with surrealism it brought everything to life in an exciting way.
Most of you will have heard of the 'Beetle Juice' films where an ordinary family is dragged into the horror world of the living dead. The 'Beetle Juice' films contain some of the most eccentric forms of Surrealism and some which will leave you feeling in a puzzled situation. With developers today utilising superb artistic design and with the ability to bring environments to life using the most advanced computer graphics chips then surreal environments would feel right at home on our next generation machines.
After the huge success of the 'Grim Fandango' on the PC it's hard to understand why developers aren't looking at different styles and using them to breathe new life into what is going to be just another average game. 'Jet Set Radio' on the Dreamcast brought the world of Cel-Shading to life, it brought gamers a whole new life-line and extreme sports games an alternative that would sell to the gaming public.
With the ability to mix and match different styles and cross environments into each other to re-create a totally new world is an artists dream, yet the gaming world isn't snapping up its opportunities and doing something to consoles which the 'Grim Fandango' did to PC's 5 years a go. 'XIII' which is going to be a multi-platform game is bringing the world of Cel-Shading away from sports titles and introducing it into a genre which at this time excels for realism but lags in imagination. The last blockbuster First Person shooter game was 'Halo' on the Microsoft Xbox. Using huge environments, realistic enemy AI and a great storyline it produced one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences ever to be seen on a console. The game wasn’t a 'bog-standard' First Person Shooter, it was a revelation, yet even though it was a big success and a great title I felt that the lack of something new stretched the genre to the end of its life.
A surrealistic 'Halo' would probably spoil the game as we know it, but if characters used body parts and mixed them with different foods just imagine the fun you could have with your friends designing a Buffet for 'Master Chief' or 'Mario', the create a character modes would once again become something to enjoy rather than the same old serious out-look.
Companies like 'Sega' and 'Nintendo' are renowned for their exploitations of different character designs and although 'Mario' may look like an ordinary plumber the little touches they added made him a character which people around the world can name straight away. With a little bit more thought going into a game then surely the sales they recoup from such an idea would be more profitable than a game that will sell a few but most people will leave well alone.
Over the next few years of gaming and with the battle for Christmas number 1 and all the trimmings wouldn’t is be nice for a few more ideas to be utilised and brought to our next generation consoles? With 'Zelda' (known to the majority of GameCube fans as Celda) on the GameCube going Cel-Shaded and 'Jet Set Radio Future' on the Xbox proving to be a very big hit, will surreal gaming ever take off the ground? We are due by now a new style which will breathe new life into dying genres and I believe that something that puts no limits on the human imagination could prove to be the revelation developers need to introduce before game like 'Blade 2' and 'Chase' become something of a novelty which the majority of us will leave well alone, its time to introduce Surreal Gaming!
Thanks for Reading
Garbe123
Most of you will have heard of the 'Beetle Juice' films where an ordinary family is dragged into the horror world of the living dead. The 'Beetle Juice' films contain some of the most eccentric forms of Surrealism and some which will leave you feeling in a puzzled situation. With developers today utilising superb artistic design and with the ability to bring environments to life using the most advanced computer graphics chips then surreal environments would feel right at home on our next generation machines.
After the huge success of the 'Grim Fandango' on the PC it's hard to understand why developers aren't looking at different styles and using them to breathe new life into what is going to be just another average game. 'Jet Set Radio' on the Dreamcast brought the world of Cel-Shading to life, it brought gamers a whole new life-line and extreme sports games an alternative that would sell to the gaming public.
With the ability to mix and match different styles and cross environments into each other to re-create a totally new world is an artists dream, yet the gaming world isn't snapping up its opportunities and doing something to consoles which the 'Grim Fandango' did to PC's 5 years a go. 'XIII' which is going to be a multi-platform game is bringing the world of Cel-Shading away from sports titles and introducing it into a genre which at this time excels for realism but lags in imagination. The last blockbuster First Person shooter game was 'Halo' on the Microsoft Xbox. Using huge environments, realistic enemy AI and a great storyline it produced one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences ever to be seen on a console. The game wasn’t a 'bog-standard' First Person Shooter, it was a revelation, yet even though it was a big success and a great title I felt that the lack of something new stretched the genre to the end of its life.
A surrealistic 'Halo' would probably spoil the game as we know it, but if characters used body parts and mixed them with different foods just imagine the fun you could have with your friends designing a Buffet for 'Master Chief' or 'Mario', the create a character modes would once again become something to enjoy rather than the same old serious out-look.
Companies like 'Sega' and 'Nintendo' are renowned for their exploitations of different character designs and although 'Mario' may look like an ordinary plumber the little touches they added made him a character which people around the world can name straight away. With a little bit more thought going into a game then surely the sales they recoup from such an idea would be more profitable than a game that will sell a few but most people will leave well alone.
Over the next few years of gaming and with the battle for Christmas number 1 and all the trimmings wouldn’t is be nice for a few more ideas to be utilised and brought to our next generation consoles? With 'Zelda' (known to the majority of GameCube fans as Celda) on the GameCube going Cel-Shaded and 'Jet Set Radio Future' on the Xbox proving to be a very big hit, will surreal gaming ever take off the ground? We are due by now a new style which will breathe new life into dying genres and I believe that something that puts no limits on the human imagination could prove to be the revelation developers need to introduce before game like 'Blade 2' and 'Chase' become something of a novelty which the majority of us will leave well alone, its time to introduce Surreal Gaming!
Thanks for Reading
Garbe123
Page: