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Do you remember the first platform game? Most of you would have played it! You control a person jumping over barrels and climbing up ladders and for those who didn’t know the game is called Donkey Kong! Now you didn’t play as Donkey Kong but Mario and it was a basic game where you jumped, the concept of jumping is what labeled the game… a Platform game.
But what are the Platform games like today? Well now Mario has spawned thousand of other clones and he now swims, shoots, fly, gains health, wanders through 3D landscapes and even rides other animals. This is evidence of evolution; games changing year after year till a game you played 10 years ago will be completely different to one from the same genre today! The changes are gradual and you only realize how much the genre has changed until you compare to one that came out years ago! Like the old frog in the bath syndrome, slowly increase the heat and he’ll boil to death and he would be none the wiser. So with the release of Super Mario Sunshine just days away what is happening to the platform genre, yep it is evolving. Nintendo do like to edit their own genre, Wario’s coin collecting scenario, Yoshi’s baby grabbing game and Kirby’s power stealing ways. Other companies do successfully edit the platform genre, Sonic did it and even the new Go Go Beckham has managed to do it. Many would expect Mario to do it again, this is the guy who made riding another character a good idea, he invented the platform game, he made it into an adventure style game, and he brought the entire genre in to the 3D world.
Yet now Mario is back Shigeru’s attempt to evolve the Platform genre is with a water pack? Now it is a nice touch but accessories to a character are hardly new, well it is to a Mario game but not to other platformers. It is essentially a gun, something used in later N64 Rare platformers and in particular Spyro. Yet the other function is the use of an additional item to make the character jump further. The idea of using the jet pack to reach heights and spin is something future developers may implement. Again adding something to the platform genre that isn’t what we would have expected from the style of game after playing Donkey Kong back in the 1980’s. It would be nice to compare the future release of Donkey Kong + a new addition to the old Donkey Kong games on the Gamecube to games such as Mario Sunshine, if you can be bothered haul out your old N64 and slap in Donkey Kong 64. Now play the unlockable Arcade version of Donkey Kong and compare it to the 3D game you are actually playing… hard to imagine it is the same genre. I am saddened to see Conker go to X-box; he was a refreshing update to the platform genre that helped slacken my fear that the 3D platform genre was failing already (well Rare 3D platformers anyway). X-box owners are lucky to have a character that can truly evolve platform games from a jumping skill type of game to an all out mix of shooting and comedy. Naturally platform games are a simple example used for this post, first person shooters with the intelligent AI and Red Factions destroying of walls have also evolved dramatically and just look at the variations in driving games.
Even today right in front of are eyes games are evolving, in 5 years time they will not be a Platform game without a death match which companies, especially Rare are implementing into them! Nearly all shoot ‘em ups include Bots in death matches these days something which makers of the first Quake would never of considered. We are also witnessing an early stage of evolution in track editors, Revolt may not of been the first but grabbed the attention of developers, F-zero X has since implemented it in its add on, Tony Hawks 2 started using a skateboard park editor and Timesplitters with its death match editor. All of which will be common in 5 or 6 years time!
The evolution of games proves that the industry is constantly improving it self, but it also shows that it is distancing itself from the original routes of which it came.
Here’s to the future
Dringo
But what are the Platform games like today? Well now Mario has spawned thousand of other clones and he now swims, shoots, fly, gains health, wanders through 3D landscapes and even rides other animals. This is evidence of evolution; games changing year after year till a game you played 10 years ago will be completely different to one from the same genre today! The changes are gradual and you only realize how much the genre has changed until you compare to one that came out years ago! Like the old frog in the bath syndrome, slowly increase the heat and he’ll boil to death and he would be none the wiser. So with the release of Super Mario Sunshine just days away what is happening to the platform genre, yep it is evolving. Nintendo do like to edit their own genre, Wario’s coin collecting scenario, Yoshi’s baby grabbing game and Kirby’s power stealing ways. Other companies do successfully edit the platform genre, Sonic did it and even the new Go Go Beckham has managed to do it. Many would expect Mario to do it again, this is the guy who made riding another character a good idea, he invented the platform game, he made it into an adventure style game, and he brought the entire genre in to the 3D world.
Yet now Mario is back Shigeru’s attempt to evolve the Platform genre is with a water pack? Now it is a nice touch but accessories to a character are hardly new, well it is to a Mario game but not to other platformers. It is essentially a gun, something used in later N64 Rare platformers and in particular Spyro. Yet the other function is the use of an additional item to make the character jump further. The idea of using the jet pack to reach heights and spin is something future developers may implement. Again adding something to the platform genre that isn’t what we would have expected from the style of game after playing Donkey Kong back in the 1980’s. It would be nice to compare the future release of Donkey Kong + a new addition to the old Donkey Kong games on the Gamecube to games such as Mario Sunshine, if you can be bothered haul out your old N64 and slap in Donkey Kong 64. Now play the unlockable Arcade version of Donkey Kong and compare it to the 3D game you are actually playing… hard to imagine it is the same genre. I am saddened to see Conker go to X-box; he was a refreshing update to the platform genre that helped slacken my fear that the 3D platform genre was failing already (well Rare 3D platformers anyway). X-box owners are lucky to have a character that can truly evolve platform games from a jumping skill type of game to an all out mix of shooting and comedy. Naturally platform games are a simple example used for this post, first person shooters with the intelligent AI and Red Factions destroying of walls have also evolved dramatically and just look at the variations in driving games.
Even today right in front of are eyes games are evolving, in 5 years time they will not be a Platform game without a death match which companies, especially Rare are implementing into them! Nearly all shoot ‘em ups include Bots in death matches these days something which makers of the first Quake would never of considered. We are also witnessing an early stage of evolution in track editors, Revolt may not of been the first but grabbed the attention of developers, F-zero X has since implemented it in its add on, Tony Hawks 2 started using a skateboard park editor and Timesplitters with its death match editor. All of which will be common in 5 or 6 years time!
The evolution of games proves that the industry is constantly improving it self, but it also shows that it is distancing itself from the original routes of which it came.
Here’s to the future
Dringo
Yep. Gaming evolution is great.
Nice post Dringo, with a very valid point.
All genres have undergone some kind of evolution over the years. Some with huge changes, some less obvious.
A very subtle change I've seen in a genre is the beat-'em-up genre. First of all beat-'em-up games started off with having two people in an arena having to use their upmost skill to beat their opponent. My favourite of all time is Killer Instinct for the SNES. Haveing to pull of some tricky button combination to create huge combo's such as Ultra's and Ultimate's. Even your judgement is tested with getting extra hits for juggles, it's very hard to do a fire ball at just the right time. It even tested your timing with reversal-moves.
But then beat-'em-ups changed to 3D and a lot of things were different, you could interact with backgrounds, move around on X-Y axis tech and it seemed totally different. Although the moves were done in the same way, it just didn't seem right.
Now, in the form of Capcom vs SNK 2: Eo, we have another change. Instead of having to use their skill and determination to pull of saome almighty moves, now you can simply use the C-Stick and do special moves by moving it in certain directions. For me, although you could choose to use the harder option, seemed a bit weak. Even your bad at beat-'em-ups you should have to work to see Super Moves ad the like. Great game, don't get me wrong, but maybe they should of though about that before.
Anyway, good luck with GAD, Dringo :-)
All genres have undergone some kind of evolution over the years. Some with huge changes, some less obvious.
A very subtle change I've seen in a genre is the beat-'em-up genre. First of all beat-'em-up games started off with having two people in an arena having to use their upmost skill to beat their opponent. My favourite of all time is Killer Instinct for the SNES. Haveing to pull of some tricky button combination to create huge combo's such as Ultra's and Ultimate's. Even your judgement is tested with getting extra hits for juggles, it's very hard to do a fire ball at just the right time. It even tested your timing with reversal-moves.
But then beat-'em-ups changed to 3D and a lot of things were different, you could interact with backgrounds, move around on X-Y axis tech and it seemed totally different. Although the moves were done in the same way, it just didn't seem right.
Now, in the form of Capcom vs SNK 2: Eo, we have another change. Instead of having to use their skill and determination to pull of saome almighty moves, now you can simply use the C-Stick and do special moves by moving it in certain directions. For me, although you could choose to use the harder option, seemed a bit weak. Even your bad at beat-'em-ups you should have to work to see Super Moves ad the like. Great game, don't get me wrong, but maybe they should of though about that before.
Anyway, good luck with GAD, Dringo :-)
Do you remember the first platform game? Most of you would have played it! You control a person jumping over barrels and climbing up ladders and for those who didn’t know the game is called Donkey Kong! Now you didn’t play as Donkey Kong but Mario and it was a basic game where you jumped, the concept of jumping is what labeled the game… a Platform game.
But what are the Platform games like today? Well now Mario has spawned thousand of other clones and he now swims, shoots, fly, gains health, wanders through 3D landscapes and even rides other animals. This is evidence of evolution; games changing year after year till a game you played 10 years ago will be completely different to one from the same genre today! The changes are gradual and you only realize how much the genre has changed until you compare to one that came out years ago! Like the old frog in the bath syndrome, slowly increase the heat and he’ll boil to death and he would be none the wiser. So with the release of Super Mario Sunshine just days away what is happening to the platform genre, yep it is evolving. Nintendo do like to edit their own genre, Wario’s coin collecting scenario, Yoshi’s baby grabbing game and Kirby’s power stealing ways. Other companies do successfully edit the platform genre, Sonic did it and even the new Go Go Beckham has managed to do it. Many would expect Mario to do it again, this is the guy who made riding another character a good idea, he invented the platform game, he made it into an adventure style game, and he brought the entire genre in to the 3D world.
Yet now Mario is back Shigeru’s attempt to evolve the Platform genre is with a water pack? Now it is a nice touch but accessories to a character are hardly new, well it is to a Mario game but not to other platformers. It is essentially a gun, something used in later N64 Rare platformers and in particular Spyro. Yet the other function is the use of an additional item to make the character jump further. The idea of using the jet pack to reach heights and spin is something future developers may implement. Again adding something to the platform genre that isn’t what we would have expected from the style of game after playing Donkey Kong back in the 1980’s. It would be nice to compare the future release of Donkey Kong + a new addition to the old Donkey Kong games on the Gamecube to games such as Mario Sunshine, if you can be bothered haul out your old N64 and slap in Donkey Kong 64. Now play the unlockable Arcade version of Donkey Kong and compare it to the 3D game you are actually playing… hard to imagine it is the same genre. I am saddened to see Conker go to X-box; he was a refreshing update to the platform genre that helped slacken my fear that the 3D platform genre was failing already (well Rare 3D platformers anyway). X-box owners are lucky to have a character that can truly evolve platform games from a jumping skill type of game to an all out mix of shooting and comedy. Naturally platform games are a simple example used for this post, first person shooters with the intelligent AI and Red Factions destroying of walls have also evolved dramatically and just look at the variations in driving games.
Even today right in front of are eyes games are evolving, in 5 years time they will not be a Platform game without a death match which companies, especially Rare are implementing into them! Nearly all shoot ‘em ups include Bots in death matches these days something which makers of the first Quake would never of considered. We are also witnessing an early stage of evolution in track editors, Revolt may not of been the first but grabbed the attention of developers, F-zero X has since implemented it in its add on, Tony Hawks 2 started using a skateboard park editor and Timesplitters with its death match editor. All of which will be common in 5 or 6 years time!
The evolution of games proves that the industry is constantly improving it self, but it also shows that it is distancing itself from the original routes of which it came.
Here’s to the future
Dringo
But what are the Platform games like today? Well now Mario has spawned thousand of other clones and he now swims, shoots, fly, gains health, wanders through 3D landscapes and even rides other animals. This is evidence of evolution; games changing year after year till a game you played 10 years ago will be completely different to one from the same genre today! The changes are gradual and you only realize how much the genre has changed until you compare to one that came out years ago! Like the old frog in the bath syndrome, slowly increase the heat and he’ll boil to death and he would be none the wiser. So with the release of Super Mario Sunshine just days away what is happening to the platform genre, yep it is evolving. Nintendo do like to edit their own genre, Wario’s coin collecting scenario, Yoshi’s baby grabbing game and Kirby’s power stealing ways. Other companies do successfully edit the platform genre, Sonic did it and even the new Go Go Beckham has managed to do it. Many would expect Mario to do it again, this is the guy who made riding another character a good idea, he invented the platform game, he made it into an adventure style game, and he brought the entire genre in to the 3D world.
Yet now Mario is back Shigeru’s attempt to evolve the Platform genre is with a water pack? Now it is a nice touch but accessories to a character are hardly new, well it is to a Mario game but not to other platformers. It is essentially a gun, something used in later N64 Rare platformers and in particular Spyro. Yet the other function is the use of an additional item to make the character jump further. The idea of using the jet pack to reach heights and spin is something future developers may implement. Again adding something to the platform genre that isn’t what we would have expected from the style of game after playing Donkey Kong back in the 1980’s. It would be nice to compare the future release of Donkey Kong + a new addition to the old Donkey Kong games on the Gamecube to games such as Mario Sunshine, if you can be bothered haul out your old N64 and slap in Donkey Kong 64. Now play the unlockable Arcade version of Donkey Kong and compare it to the 3D game you are actually playing… hard to imagine it is the same genre. I am saddened to see Conker go to X-box; he was a refreshing update to the platform genre that helped slacken my fear that the 3D platform genre was failing already (well Rare 3D platformers anyway). X-box owners are lucky to have a character that can truly evolve platform games from a jumping skill type of game to an all out mix of shooting and comedy. Naturally platform games are a simple example used for this post, first person shooters with the intelligent AI and Red Factions destroying of walls have also evolved dramatically and just look at the variations in driving games.
Even today right in front of are eyes games are evolving, in 5 years time they will not be a Platform game without a death match which companies, especially Rare are implementing into them! Nearly all shoot ‘em ups include Bots in death matches these days something which makers of the first Quake would never of considered. We are also witnessing an early stage of evolution in track editors, Revolt may not of been the first but grabbed the attention of developers, F-zero X has since implemented it in its add on, Tony Hawks 2 started using a skateboard park editor and Timesplitters with its death match editor. All of which will be common in 5 or 6 years time!
The evolution of games proves that the industry is constantly improving it self, but it also shows that it is distancing itself from the original routes of which it came.
Here’s to the future
Dringo