Sorry, I Have Standards: Objective Look At Backward Progression Of Gaming

OXCGN:

"We’ve come an extremely long way in such a short amount of time, considering the interactive entertainment medium is relatively a young one.

Since the dawn of the era of the video game, not only have developers constantly been refining and moving forward, but technology has also advanced at an alarming rate, especially in the last half-decade since the release of the current generation of consoles, smartphones and communication devices that serve up an ever increasing number of new games and applications daily.

As such, nearly every year we see some sort of drastic improvement, whether it be something as subtle as improved shadows, or something as development-changing as id Software‘s “megatexture” (to be used in a major release such as Rage, which is using id Tech 5).

Or the huge advancement that Team Bondi are doing with the ‘uncanny-valley’ syndrome and character expressions and interactions with AI and players. Something that will raise the bar very high for others to follow."

[BadCircuit]

I think that the game industry is lacking creativity right now and that could be a problem but it probably isn't as dramatic as the writer makes it.

[Proeliator]

I concur. But maybe the dramatization was to send a message? lol.

[Active Reload]

I just commented on that picture a couple of days ago. Whats the most popular games right now? Military first person shooters! The second map definitely represents that genre the most. I stated that a day or so ago, and got disagrees without reasons. Seriously, what military shooter has a complex map lay out like the first one in that picture, because I would like to play it or have my memory refreshed.

[rockleex]

My main complaint this generation still is:

We need MORE AAA JRPGS!! At least for the HD consoles.

FFXIII was an epic fail.

[UCMEandICU]

I understand what the author is trying to get across and I say - finally, someone says it.

[Commander_TK]

@rockleex

No, we have plenty of JRPGS. We need more horror games!

And btw, holy crap! Finally a good article on N4G!

[MariaHelFutura]

The bigger an industry gets the less consistantly is creativity retained. When COD4/5/6 sell more than more creative games....publishers/developers get "the itch".

I say it once a week on this site.....Be mindfull of the things you choose to support.

[gaminoz]

Yes don't just join the sequel bandwagon and look at some new original smaller titles sometimes :)

[a08andan]

There is another side to it that most people might not realize. Couldn't the feeling of "lack of creativity" and "lack of innovation" simply be a result of a person playing to many games to much?

When you play to many games to much you won't be as sensitive to the story and game-play as you would be if gaming was something you didn't do that much. On very rare occasions you might come across a game that surprises you and feels very fresh and unique, but often there is a feeling that it is all the same. At least for me. I think that a reason to why people feel like there is not enough innovation and creativity is because of the above. The more you play, the harder it gets to appreciate new games. This is not the whole picture though, but could be a pillar that people tend to forget.

[gaminoz]

Actually you have a great point. Gamer fatigue...

There are so many games in so many areas of our lives now (smartphones, portables, consoles, PC, arcade). When I had a N64 and releases were way too few, I really appreciated the games I did play!!!

But still...publishers and devs are taking the shortest route to cash: make a game you know will work that is a sequel or similar to popular ones already out (MOH for eg.), try a bit of controversy, add a few features you can brag about, and then release and cash in. Rinse and repeat.

[Ravenor]

@1.1.1 Arma 2

[HolyOrangeCows]

"Processing power (in terms of consoles) does not need to be increased much more, and as a result, all technical aspects are within an arm’s-reach of the ceiling. Which of course is always designed to be broken naturally.
We know the “end” is near (with the “end” being the point where technical specifications can no longer rise)"

I disagree. Things like draw distance still need a HUGE improvement in game consoles and common GPUs before they hit any sort of "wall"

[XboxOZ360]

There is a great deal, but the major stumbling block is - gamers!

Their inability of late (last two generations) to accept new IP, the lack of willingness to try new features, the inability to look past Multiplayer, and their over the top expectations force many developers, through their publishers, to go the easy, tried and true route and stay with known entities and genre styles.

The gamer today expects every game to have a 8/10 score without exception, and will not even give a new IP ha=lf a chance or play it long enough to even get a good feel for what a developer may have had in mind when creating the game.

L.A. Noir will do reasonibly well, but not score high with gamers. It will score high with the industry, but gamers will shun it.

It has no multiplayer

It does NOT encourage the use of guns to solve problems.

It is not GTA styled and thus will not be liked by many.

Yet it hearlds in one of the best gesture and facial systems known to the industry, it has such an advanced system for recognizing even the smallest facial gesture, that it's close to breaking the 'uncanny valley'...

But that will not be enough for the 'average' gamer, it doesn't rely on gun play, you have to think, and there's certainly no MP or co-op - major fail as far as they are concerned.

So would you say the developer is at fault - or the gamer . .I say the gamer!!

[Proeliator]

I agree. But LA Noire has a bit going for it regardless, because isn't it published by Rockstar?

[MariaHelFutura]

I would say..... it takes two to tango.

[nnotdead]

i see some of your points, but not so much with your L.A. Noir point. i think Heavy Rain showed that their are gamers out there willing to support different type of games and new IPs.

[Focker420]

I was going to say the exact same thing

[Tuxedo_Mask]

If by "the industry" you mean professional review sites then I would argue that they are part of the problem. Gamers often rely on them too much and pass up on games that take more risks because they're rated low. NIER was scored very low on a majority of sites only to be declared an overlooked gem by the same type of sites at the end of the year.

[UCMEandICU]

very well said. This kind of comment "I've always been interested in this game and I played the demo and loved it.... BUT I'LL WAIT TO SEE THE REVIEWS" :/ makes me want to blow my brains out all over the monitor screen every time I see stuff like this.

People don't want to admit it but a majority of gamers that use these gaming sites are total slaves to gaming reviews on this sites.

[acedoh]

I don't necessarily see the problem with waiting on reviews. Not to say they are necessarily accurate all the time but as a gamer I have always enjoyed reviews. Back in the day's of Gamepro and EGM being the only review sources. Games are by no means cheap and I think it's important that people make a decision they won't regret. I have no doubt but many games in past gens I have regretted because not making an informed decision.

[nnotdead]

im with acedoh. if you look at more than just the final score, you can learn a lot about a game you're unsure about. especially if you read a bunch of different reviews. it makes it easy to see if the things that take points off the score are something that has bothered you in the past, or are the good parts the reviewers describe can help you over look the weaknesses of the game.

[Silly gameAr]

There have been a lot of great games released this gen, but there hasn't been a game that defines this generation yet, for me anyway.

New technology, big gaming budgets, cutting edge graphics and game engines are great and all, but where are the games that I will remember fondly 20 years from now?

Like I said, there have been some pretty good games this gen, but nothing that can hold a candle to the fun factor of a game like Chrono Trigger, or gaming bliss like the first time I played GTA 3 or Devil May Cry for the first time.

[acedoh]

I think you are very correct Silly. There have been very few games that have a strong emotional impact on me like so many games of past generations. Mainly when it comes to a great RPG that many can talk about certain points of the game that make you think. As great as games like Uncharted are they are really only blurring the lines between movies and games. I can only hope that in the near future we see more games like those of the past.

[gypsygib]

It's probably because you were 5-10 years younger. I'm sure people in their early teens are having those same moments with the games today.

In my experience games had a much stronger emotional impact when I was a adolescent/kid but there still just as fun in my mid 20s.

The themes and writing are predominately made to appeal to teens and pre-teens not adults regardless of the content rating.

[Passthemic]

Spot on article

[Lykon]

yes a good article for a change, the fps map image is very funny and sums it up really.....

A proper article for a change instead of the 99% of blog or crap site comparision type fodder on here.

[gaminoz]

Man does that user TurismoGTR got a problem with this or what? 3 reports of the same thing???

Man you're LAME dude.

[TheLeprachaun]

The only games that have blown me away this gen : 'Uncharted 2', 'Mass Effect' (especially the first one, the second one is great as well but the feeling playing the first one was amazing, it was truly a fresh experience for me), 'LittleBigPlanet', 'Limbo', 'Assassins Creed 2'(Brotherhood was fine but nowhere near as innovative as number 2, it just expanded on what made AC2 great), 'Alan Wake'(I know a lot of people don't like it but I played that thing from start to finish without putting my controller down, was really really immersed in it), 'Red Dead Redemption'(was glad they got away from GTA for a while, RRD provided a very unique experience for me, hopefully LA Noire will do the same) and 'Heavy Rain'(quite possibly my favourite game this gen).

Apart from those titles and maybe a couple of others, it's been shooter, shooter, sequel, sequel, movie tie in, party game, shooter blah blah blah. Even the latest zelda game(Twilight Princess) which is one of my favourite franchises I might add, felt completely uninspired after the diamond that was Wind Waker.

I really hope things turn around soon, as there's very few games grabbing my interest. Sure these multiplayer shooters etc... are entertaining but they all seem to leave a taste of 'meh' in my mouth.

[Tuxedo_Mask]

Even though it's not a FPS, that FPS map from 2010 is exactly how I felt about Mass Effect 2. I would have had a lot more fun if all the NPCs would have just shut up and let me play the game... that and I couldn't shoot Miranda.

[Tex117]

There is some creativity out there, you just have to quit relying on reviews of the major sites.

Here is to name a few that are supurb...though not perfect games they have a few things that shine.

Minecraft (Vastness)
Demon's Souls (This got popular though...this makes me happy...The game is brilliant)
LittleBigPlanet (build creativity)
Resonance of Fate (RPG Battle system)
Nier (Soundtrack and looney tune story by the end)
Amesia (freaky as all get out)
Witcher
Flower/Limbo/Braid
Heavy Rain
Bioshock

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Lacking creativity? Well, I suppose one could argue that the gaming industry is "lacking" creativity but I would also argue that the industry is evolving into a different medium in some ways. Gaming whether we like it or not is going to be transforming into a more interactive experience across the board now that all three console companies are using motion controls as a big push.

So while 2010 may not have been the most innovative year in gaming through most of it... it definitely saw plenty of innovation towards the end ...and 2011 promises much more innovation on game play, etc..

I also think the author fails in his attempt to call out the individual franchises. Games in a series .. i.e. Uncharted 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops or Halo: Reach are all games in a series of games that had success. When you have success with a certain IP when you make your next game you should be following certain guidelines and things that the game did and repeat them in the next game as the audience that liked the first will be expecting the same thing. I mean take film for example... After the first Star Wars movie would we really have wanted to see them ditch all the characters, setting and basic story line for Empire Strikes Back just to show innovation? No of course not, we wanted more tie fighters and light saber battles, etc... We wanted more Storm Troopers...more big space like battles. And they gave that to us...yes they made subtle changes and different areas but it was still Storm Troopers, light sabres, etc... at the end of the day. If I am getting Uncharted 3...you can rest assured I want Cover based shooting and platforming puzzle play.

This author just strikes me as one of those elitest types that feels he knows better than the industry... You know just like that snobby movie critic that hates all the action films no matter how fun and entertaining they are.

[Dazel]

It's up to us gamers to vote with our wallets and buy into the new exciting ips. While there is a lot of dross there is still good games to play.

[blackburn5]

Sony is the only one left taking risks. They try new kinds IPs all the time. Just look at Heavy Rain,Last Guardian and LBP for examples. Nintendo and Microsoft play it safe mostly. They make games that are basically expansion packs of the last one. They look like they just pick up anything that didn't make it from the last game off the cutting room floor and paste it together to make a second game.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

OMG... I can see why you have one bubble left. Sony is the only one taking a risk? Did you completely miss Nintendo ditching the standard controller interface for Motion controls on the Wii? I mean you wanna talk about risk and something new...Nintendo litterally bet the farm on that console. Had the Wii failed I am pretty sure we would have seen Nintendo pull back from console making completely and just go handheld and software ala Sega.

In terms of gaming IP's...I will give you Heavy Rain is innovative along with LBP...but Last Guardian is a complete unknown at this point so nobody can tell me or you if that game is innovative or unique. It could very well just be your standard JRPG for all we know at this point.

Back to taking risks...Nintendo playing it safe? Wii balance board was hardly playing it safe...3DS is playing it safe? Kinect playing it safe? Dude, get real... all 3 companies (especially MS and Sony) are breaking out of their comfort zones and trying to dip into areas that are very murky at best but could be amazing if handled right.

[jetlian]

map doesn't prove a damn thing!!! those games were just as linear as games are today. Only difference is they had no aid if you should get lost.

People hate the back tracking and games back then were filled with it.

[Kewl_Kat]

You can't expect the gaming industry to come up with original games every year. Even the movie industry, which is bigger than gaming, doesn't produce original movies a year.

[ATi_Elite]

Back in the day games were made with inspiration, motivation, and the desire to be the best. today they all wanna just follow some invisible formula to sell 20 million copies.

Sure I understand the money part but Developers have surely lost everything else when they copy and paste a game together and expect you to pay $60.

there are still top notch developers out there making innovations in gaming and we all know who they are. It's just too bad we gotta wait like 2 or 3 years in between each master piece in each genre.

[gypsygib]

I've had a lot of fun with 95% of my purchases this gen and think there's been a lot of innovation not in terms of creating new genres but in terms of gameplay and melding genres together (which is like creating a new genre - blue mixed with yellow makes green) .

The author thinks because two games offer stake they taste the same. A stake can be cooked and seasoned in many different ways.