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When I first played the playstation 2, I was simply amazed. I find that very hard to admit (being a nintendo fan) but it's true. But after a few hours of playing teken tag tournament, I realised that it there was absolutely nothing new. It felt like-actually, I was just playing a playstation one with a new, graphical makeover. Many people have already labelled the PS2 as a near-failure. If you forget the great games, the PS2 is really nothing special. Don't get me wrong though, it could have been and still can be great but the one thing it's lacking is innovation. I've always thought that "next-gen" consoles were all about innovation and with the kings of innovation (nintendo) and Microsoft both bringing out stunning, innovative new systems in a few months, the PS2 will be completely shadowed.
What do you think Innovation is?
What do you think Innovation is?
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Aah... Remember the good old days...
I am writing this in a VERY brief moment of despair. I fear that the glorious days of fun and addictive gaming are coming to an end. I came to this dreadful conclusion when I first heard about the next generation psx (PS2), and to light the fuse on the bomb, Nintendo is moving on too. Oh yahoo, hi-res graphics smoother than an ice cube sliding down a greasy pane of glass. But the sad thing is, games are meant to be played, not to be watched.
My first console was my beloved NES. I played for hours attempting to finish Super Mario Brothers 3 and The Legend of Zelda. I was about eight years old and I couldn't be parted from it...that is, until the Super NES was released. Feeling suicidle when my mum uttered the words: "No, you can't get it," I settled for playing the "old" one, and not the "super one". Then one day the world was treated to the ultimate console, the playstation. "Cool I thought, "I'm definately getting that". Thankfully, I didn't. Although it looked incredible for its time, the controller felt uncomfortable, the buttons weren't responsive and the games weren't great (at frist).
Okay, now for a summary of that.
1. NES-loved it.
2. SNES-looked better, played the same.
3. Playstation-looked the best, played the worst.
Do you see a pattern emerging? Improving technical specs, worsening gameplay? But then the N64 came along and brought a whole new channel of gameplay. Maybe it was the analogue stick or the multiplayer or 3-D Mario, but whatever it was, it worked. Now I think that is or is very close to the pinnacle of innovation. Basically, I’ve given up on innovation when it comes to computer games. I think now, I can only expect someone like Nintendo to take Innovation to the next level.
Anyway, back to the point about addictive gaming. To make more sense of this, take two games like Bust-a-Move 2 and Rogue Squadron. BAM2 has simplistic 2-D graphics and gameplay that could cure a drug addict. Rogue Squadron is one of the best looking games on the N64, but has boring gameplay and proves to be an inferior game to bust-a-move. The expansion pack improves graphics, but doesn’t improve gameplay in any way.
So if Nintendo’s next console follows the trend of the Playstation and can’t maintain their playability in future games, they are going to learn the hard way that gameplay rules, graphics help. But if they manage to improve gameplay as well, bring on the next nintendo!
However, after saying all this, I think that the future looks bright. For instance, the Playstation 2 has brought us some good games like Time Splitters. Also, the Dreamcast has FINALLY brought us atleast one good game-Shenmue. If these soon-to-be prehistoric consoles can have success then the Gamecube certainly can.
I am writing this in a VERY brief moment of despair. I fear that the glorious days of fun and addictive gaming are coming to an end. I came to this dreadful conclusion when I first heard about the next generation psx (PS2), and to light the fuse on the bomb, Nintendo is moving on too. Oh yahoo, hi-res graphics smoother than an ice cube sliding down a greasy pane of glass. But the sad thing is, games are meant to be played, not to be watched.
My first console was my beloved NES. I played for hours attempting to finish Super Mario Brothers 3 and The Legend of Zelda. I was about eight years old and I couldn't be parted from it...that is, until the Super NES was released. Feeling suicidle when my mum uttered the words: "No, you can't get it," I settled for playing the "old" one, and not the "super one". Then one day the world was treated to the ultimate console, the playstation. "Cool I thought, "I'm definately getting that". Thankfully, I didn't. Although it looked incredible for its time, the controller felt uncomfortable, the buttons weren't responsive and the games weren't great (at frist).
Okay, now for a summary of that.
1. NES-loved it.
2. SNES-looked better, played the same.
3. Playstation-looked the best, played the worst.
Do you see a pattern emerging? Improving technical specs, worsening gameplay? But then the N64 came along and brought a whole new channel of gameplay. Maybe it was the analogue stick or the multiplayer or 3-D Mario, but whatever it was, it worked. Now I think that is or is very close to the pinnacle of innovation. Basically, I’ve given up on innovation when it comes to computer games. I think now, I can only expect someone like Nintendo to take Innovation to the next level.
Anyway, back to the point about addictive gaming. To make more sense of this, take two games like Bust-a-Move 2 and Rogue Squadron. BAM2 has simplistic 2-D graphics and gameplay that could cure a drug addict. Rogue Squadron is one of the best looking games on the N64, but has boring gameplay and proves to be an inferior game to bust-a-move. The expansion pack improves graphics, but doesn’t improve gameplay in any way.
So if Nintendo’s next console follows the trend of the Playstation and can’t maintain their playability in future games, they are going to learn the hard way that gameplay rules, graphics help. But if they manage to improve gameplay as well, bring on the next nintendo!
However, after saying all this, I think that the future looks bright. For instance, the Playstation 2 has brought us some good games like Time Splitters. Also, the Dreamcast has FINALLY brought us atleast one good game-Shenmue. If these soon-to-be prehistoric consoles can have success then the Gamecube certainly can.
Its definately a software thing after all the hardwares power continues to increase exponentially so we expect the new systems to be as powerful as they are! However as you said we expect more, with the last generation of machines games changed from 2D to 3D...this amazed most, however to amaze us again will take alot more.
We want the games that Sony promised the games that make us "Feel" as if were there, we want the emotion of being in the game, we want to see sprites cry, laugh, feel pain and feel joy. Unfortunately none of the offerings from Sony so far have delivered the promised emotions, the closest weve got to seeing this type of game is Shenmue on the Dreamcast!
Should we have believed Sonys lies, or are they yet to deliver!
We want the games that Sony promised the games that make us "Feel" as if were there, we want the emotion of being in the game, we want to see sprites cry, laugh, feel pain and feel joy. Unfortunately none of the offerings from Sony so far have delivered the promised emotions, the closest weve got to seeing this type of game is Shenmue on the Dreamcast!
Should we have believed Sonys lies, or are they yet to deliver!
I think maybe its less that the harware/software is becomming less remarkable... more that people expectations are becomming ever higher?
In reply to Player_Xs first question
Q..What do you think Innovation is?
A..Well I dont think the new games systems are particularly innovative, the only thing thats been innovative as far as consoles go has been the N64 control pad and the introduction of analogue sticks!
Consoles arent really innovative, its the games that are innovative. The games make the systems innovative!
Q..What do you think Innovation is?
A..Well I dont think the new games systems are particularly innovative, the only thing thats been innovative as far as consoles go has been the N64 control pad and the introduction of analogue sticks!
Consoles arent really innovative, its the games that are innovative. The games make the systems innovative!
Last year there were some great games, For example: Perfect dark on the n64, Shenmue on the dreamcast and Driver 2 on the playstation. The one ingredient that make all these games so good is their gameplay. Unfortunately, games as good as these are very rare. Looking along the long line of video game sequels I sometimes fail to see much improvement The main problem that seems to building is that game developers continue to make improvements for their games where, in some cases, improvements aren’t really needed. As game developers get wrapped up in the technical limits of the new systems they have to develop for, they seem to forget about the gameplay part of it and start focusing on the new graphical capabilities.
Now, what they fail to understand is that, not every gamer wants flashy graphics and a whole bunch of extras; what every gamer does want is FUN. Fun...it’s a simple word isn’t it? Unfortunately, when it comes to video games it isn’t. Game developers have sapped the fun out of their games with all their new improvements and extras which isn’t really what the public wants.
Basically, we could be looking at the end of video gaming as we know it. If the games aren’t fun anymore, then no-one will want to waste their money on buying games and then they’ll start wasting their money on card games like poker and snap (snore).
Don’t worry though, the future can’t be that grim (can it?). Actually, 2001 is looking to be a great year for computer games, as long as the games are fun. It could go both ways but with the release of the Gamecube and the Xbox, it looks like this year will bring some great new games.
Now, what they fail to understand is that, not every gamer wants flashy graphics and a whole bunch of extras; what every gamer does want is FUN. Fun...it’s a simple word isn’t it? Unfortunately, when it comes to video games it isn’t. Game developers have sapped the fun out of their games with all their new improvements and extras which isn’t really what the public wants.
Basically, we could be looking at the end of video gaming as we know it. If the games aren’t fun anymore, then no-one will want to waste their money on buying games and then they’ll start wasting their money on card games like poker and snap (snore).
Don’t worry though, the future can’t be that grim (can it?). Actually, 2001 is looking to be a great year for computer games, as long as the games are fun. It could go both ways but with the release of the Gamecube and the Xbox, it looks like this year will bring some great new games.
The PS2 is a made over PS1, but hey thats not bad the normal PS1 games are great although you can see where the extra processing power will make a differnce and produce some great games!
For example Driver and Driver2 are great games, but the extra power of PS2 could make the graphics look alot nicer.
TimeCrisis 2 couldnt be made on the PS1 as it isnt powerful enough to handle the two player simulataneous gun action!
The ResidentEvil games are great, but it would be nice to have it in real 3D.
Tekken3 was great, but the PS1 wasnt powerful enough to do real 3D interactive backgrounds...now this is solved on the PS2 in TekkenTagTournament!
The PS2 is needed in order to break the limits of the PS1, that has held back gaming (As shown above), hopefully the PS2 will deliver the goods this year as the Dreamcast did last year!
For example Driver and Driver2 are great games, but the extra power of PS2 could make the graphics look alot nicer.
TimeCrisis 2 couldnt be made on the PS1 as it isnt powerful enough to handle the two player simulataneous gun action!
The ResidentEvil games are great, but it would be nice to have it in real 3D.
Tekken3 was great, but the PS1 wasnt powerful enough to do real 3D interactive backgrounds...now this is solved on the PS2 in TekkenTagTournament!
The PS2 is needed in order to break the limits of the PS1, that has held back gaming (As shown above), hopefully the PS2 will deliver the goods this year as the Dreamcast did last year!
Mind using PSX the same controllers means less time spent oon figuring out the controllers, but i had no probs with the N64 controllers after a while!
Yes. It was kind of a contradiction in terms, wasn't it?
I think the problem with innovation is that whilst the hardware is getting better and faster and more technically advanced than ever before, giving us the possibility of fantastic visuals, sound and gameplay, the software developers are struggling to keep up.
After all, it's simple enough to build a 'super console', but is it just as easy to build a 'super game' for it? I don't think so, I think the developers are getting left behind, and need to put more resources into developing not just whole new game engines, but possibly developing a whole new language with which to interface with the new hardware.
Whilst the hardware jumps have been great, the jumps in object code languages have not been as big, therefore the programming of games is not up to making the most of the technical specifications available.
In maybe 3 years time, when programming techniques have finally got to grips with the new hardware, then we may start to see the PS2, the X-Box and the Gamecube getting pushed towards their limits, but in the meantime we are going to see more and more of the same.
The small jumps in graphical quality offered by the likes of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Gran Turismo 3 are just that, I think that all these consoles are capable of a lot more than what these games will offer.
The X-Box has the advantage of being an entirely new platform, and developers may be able to get a lot out of it straight away because they will be approaching the programming from a new direction. Therefore the world will await the X-Box's first few releases with great anticipation.
But for now, more investment needs to be made in developers and not consoles, or before you know it, by the time they've got to grips with the latest technology, another generation of consoles will be upon us and the learning curve will take a dive, and we'll be starting all over again.
I think the problem with innovation is that whilst the hardware is getting better and faster and more technically advanced than ever before, giving us the possibility of fantastic visuals, sound and gameplay, the software developers are struggling to keep up.
After all, it's simple enough to build a 'super console', but is it just as easy to build a 'super game' for it? I don't think so, I think the developers are getting left behind, and need to put more resources into developing not just whole new game engines, but possibly developing a whole new language with which to interface with the new hardware.
Whilst the hardware jumps have been great, the jumps in object code languages have not been as big, therefore the programming of games is not up to making the most of the technical specifications available.
In maybe 3 years time, when programming techniques have finally got to grips with the new hardware, then we may start to see the PS2, the X-Box and the Gamecube getting pushed towards their limits, but in the meantime we are going to see more and more of the same.
The small jumps in graphical quality offered by the likes of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Gran Turismo 3 are just that, I think that all these consoles are capable of a lot more than what these games will offer.
The X-Box has the advantage of being an entirely new platform, and developers may be able to get a lot out of it straight away because they will be approaching the programming from a new direction. Therefore the world will await the X-Box's first few releases with great anticipation.
But for now, more investment needs to be made in developers and not consoles, or before you know it, by the time they've got to grips with the latest technology, another generation of consoles will be upon us and the learning curve will take a dive, and we'll be starting all over again.
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