Trends for the Worse

[sealboy6]

I just wanted to know what everybody thought was the thing of this generation or the next generation that will be the worst thing for video games.

Personally, I believe GTA:SA switching to AO will be an awful thing for video games. Now that this has happened, I think that the ESRB will rate games on a much harder scale, which will affect sales and the games that come out in the new generations.

My second big issue with modern gaming that will be bad for video gaming in the future is that of games bringing more and more sequels out. I think that most of these games are good games, but if companies start to become more complacent, people will lost interest, and the companies will receive a nice surprise.

Just a thought.

[SkiDragon]

I know video games are doing better now than ever, but most of my friends are largely dissatisfied with modern games.

[Haoie]

A lack of originality, instead for firms to fall back on prequals/sequals/remakes just to be "safe". Fresh gaming ideas are very rare now. A lot of people don't seem to be bothered by this, interestingly, instead calling for more sequal and remakes, etc.

[PDorr3]

The trend of todays young gamers who are being brought up on nothing older than the n64. Sadly to them the only thing that matters these days to them is graphics.

Retro games might seem like they are being brought into mainstream with the recent boom of retro gaming tees and tv plug ins, but lets just ask ourselves this, that 14 year old kid you saw with the atari tee on, does he even own the system or play the games?

Retro gaming lives on only becasue we have people like us around to keep it alive :)

[DeputyMoniker]

Well I, for one, dont have a poblem with the ESRB. When I become a parent it will make my job a little easier when it comes time to buy a game. "AO? M? You already know the answer...put it back." Perhaps strict rating will hurt our chances to get good AO or M games, I mean look how rare it is to see a blockbuster R rated film. On the other hand I dont know how well R rated films are doing on DVD & rental. Maybe parents cant get time away from the kids so theyre waiting for it to come out on video. If thats the case then there shouldnt be any problems in the gaming market. AS LONG as the game is not ONLY rated AO but its actually a good game. Many of you may think GTA is a good game but I, personaly, dont game with ANY adults who like it. I do know a few adults who like it...but they arent actually adults...theyre just kinda childish grown-ups. Thats not to imply I think a GTA fan must be childish. Thats just my experience with people I know.

I dont really think gamers of tomorrow are doomed to shallow gameplay. As long as we have puzzles & fighters then there will be kids out there who choose to play a game that requires you to learn, practice, trial and solve. I guess the one thing I think will be missing from tomorrows games will be the need to practice. I dont mean Halo practice...I mean Galaga practice. Defender practice. KoF practice. Pacman practice. Do you understand where Im going with that?

[njiska]

The GTA:SA controversy is going to be devestating to the industry. The witch hunt has begun.

However i still don't think that's as bad as the blight brought on the industry by EA. EA is responisible for a huge decline in the quality of games and as long as they continue throwing money around thing will get worse.

EA is to the gaming industry what Microsoft was to the computer market in the late 90s.

EA buys good companies and then destroys their products (Westwood Studios for example). EA has started buying exclusive rights to sporting leagues and that means that they have no competition. It's bad enough they're sports titles were basically the same from year to year, but with competition they have no need to try and make better games.

EA also buys movie licences and releases sub-standard movie games. Batman begins was un-impressive and hell it took them 3 games to get a decent Bond game.

EA is a virus and it's hurting us all.

[Raedon]

Not really a trend. Same stuff has been going down sense the Genesis/Snes and MK. Politicians and religious groups complained. There were tons of sequels out and people were asking where the new thing was which came with 3D. Doom came out and I still see clips in news clips over a decade later.

If you don't turn on the Cable TV then these are not problems at all - they never enter or effect your reality.

[Sylentwulf]

Sequels are NOT a problem. They've been out since Pong, and it's never hurt anything. How many pong sequels have there been? Or pacman, donkey kong, mario, sonic, basically ANY Popular franchise. Sequels that start failing, like tomb raider, usually don't keep getting new sequels. For example, unless this next TR game is a gift from the gods, you'll probly never see another one, ever.

If Square/Enix ever announced the end of the Dragon Warrior series, Japan would probably fall off the map, and gamers everywhere would riot over the end of final fantasy, with an equal amount of people being glad, and those who would be mad screaming at each other like rabid fanboys.

As for the rating system. I don't see how it will affect anything. Only people over 18 will be able to purchase GTA? Oh friggin no..... That's how it was SUPPOSED to be to begin with. Game stores are gonna have to start carding a LOT more, and that's only a GOOD thing.

[Griking]

The GTA:SA controversy is going to be devestating to the industry. The witch hunt has begun.

Oh please :roll:

How about the fact that most of the gaming industry seems to think that in order for a game to be successful a game has to have extreme violence and/or sex in it? The industry's attitude that they constantly have to push the envelope is a huge negative trend.

[YoshiM]

The GTA:SA controversy is going to be devestating to the industry. The witch hunt has begun.

How so? If the sex stuff wasn't in the game, it wouldn't have made headlines and it would still be rated "M". All the gore, profanity and stuff people love is going to remain untouched. Sex or sexual themes, however, are probably either going to be gone over with a fine tooth comb to ensure it's "tastefully done" (I think the upcoming Darkwatch has a non interactive scene that is actually integral to the story) and be made non-interactive. If that's devestating, the industry has been a charred post-apocolyptic wreck since Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em. :D


However i still don't think that's as bad as the blight brought on the industry by EA. EA is responisible for a huge decline in the quality of games and as long as they continue throwing money around thing will get worse.

EA is to the gaming industry what Microsoft was to the computer market in the late 90s.

Okay, this is just totally opinion. I don't agree with EA's marketing strategies (like locking up the NFL, NCAA, Arena Football, Foosball or whatever sport licenses they snagged up) but they do publish some pretty solid games. Burnout 3 is a great example, the Battlefield series (even though it's probably milked for all its worth, they are still fun), SSX...the list goes on.

Mergers happen. Buyouts happen. Sometimes if they don't the smaller companies just die and the hope of more really cool titles from these companies usually fizzles away.


EA buys good companies and then destroys their products (Westwood Studios for example). EA has started buying exclusive rights to sporting leagues and that means that they have no competition. It's bad enough they're sports titles were basically the same from year to year, but with competition they have no need to try and make better games.

Set the wayback machine to the 80's. Activision, probably the first third party games company, buys out adventure game company Infocom (as in makers of the Zork series, Wishbringer, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, etc.). Essentially, they destroy the company. Get the pitchforks. Move forward to the early 90's: Sierra starts a line of sports games labeled "Front Page Sports" for computers. They get rave reviews and are praised for having the ability to update rosters without buying new titles. Pretty much every year afterward they start cranking out new versions of their sports titles. Get the rope.

For the sports issue, like it or not it makes money and thus makes good marketing sense to do annual releases at $50 a pop (which is what the market will bear). If there is anyone to blame these days it's the droves of people who keep BUYING Madden or NCAA. If no one bought the games, EA wouldn't put them out as often. And I don't think it's subliminal messages, media pressure or what have you that makes people open their wallets. I think it's more like tradition, kinda like the Star Wars fan that said Episode X stank and then swivled around to the ticket counter and purchased their tickets to see Star Wars. On the side of megers and acquistions (murders & executions?), projects getting axed, ideas of a possible hit being twisted and tainted so they could target a larger demographic, etc. and so on are common in the business world. Don't necessarily blame the company as a whole, blame the bean counters who only cares about the bottom line and won't authorize a risk if that risk would hurt the shareholders' earnings.


EA also buys movie licences and releases sub-standard movie games. Batman begins was un-impressive and hell it took them 3 games to get a decent Bond game.

So does Atari get some blame for the craptastic Matrix game? LJN for Jaws, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street games? Sony for Brom Stoker's Dracula? Bebe's Kids? Crash Test Dummies? Cool World? The Indiana Jones games? Willow? The Terminator games? Dukes of Hazzard (then and now)? Should I go on?

Movie/TV licensed games have been around forever, possibly before EA probably came onto the scene. It is completely and totally unfair to point to EA to say they are to blame for every movie licensed game out there. They are not. Licensed games are historically average to bad no matter who put them out.


EA is a virus and it's hurting us all.

If EA is a virus then the people who buy their products willingly get themselves infected, usually with a smile on their face and a "hoo-hah" two-for-Tuesday on their lips. Okay, maybe not so much the second but you know what I mean.

[Mr.Faxanadu]

A lack of originality, instead for firms to fall back on prequals/sequals/remakes just to be "safe". Fresh gaming ideas are very rare now. A lot of people don't seem to be bothered by this, interestingly, instead calling for more sequal and remakes, etc.

I think XboX thinks putting out ever popular first person shooters is safe! But have you noticed that many of the first person shooters are just “halo engines” with a new skin placed over it. Man! I’m getting sick of them - Conker’s, Destroy All Humans….

[njiska]

The GTA:SA controversy is going to be devestating to the industry. The witch hunt has begun.

How so? If the sex stuff wasn't in the game, it wouldn't have made headlines and it would still be rated "M". All the gore, profanity and stuff people love is going to remain untouched. Sex or sexual themes, however, are probably either going to be gone over with a fine tooth comb to ensure it's "tastefully done" (I think the upcoming Darkwatch has a non interactive scene that is actually integral to the story) and be made non-interactive. If that's devestating, the industry has been a charred post-apocolyptic wreck since Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em. :D

I think you need to take a look at what a Mr. Jack Thompson has to say before you ciritize me saying the witch hunt has begun. This has nothing to do with content of the game. This has to do with the ESRB setting a precident. The ruling allows for people to make arguements over what things a game could be modified to do. In the case of Jack Thompson, Pedophilea in the Sims. It has nothing to do with sex or violence in the game but rather how liable companies are for mods to there game. One could argue that by providing tools companies are supporting the creation of obscene content. i realize that's a stretch but it wouldn't suprise me in the least if someone makes that claim.



However i still don't think that's as bad as the blight brought on the industry by EA. EA is responisible for a huge decline in the quality of games and as long as they continue throwing money around thing will get worse.

EA is to the gaming industry what Microsoft was to the computer market in the late 90s.

Okay, this is just totally opinion. I don't agree with EA's marketing strategies (like locking up the NFL, NCAA, Arena Football, Foosball or whatever sport licenses they snagged up) but they do publish some pretty solid games. Burnout 3 is a great example, the Battlefield series (even though it's probably milked for all its worth, they are still fun), SSX...the list goes on.

Mergers happen. Buyouts happen. Sometimes if they don't the smaller companies just die and the hope of more really cool titles from these companies usually fizzles away.

You're right mergers and buyouts do happen. But because EA has an anti-competition adgenda those buyouts cand become dangerous. They do publish solid games, like Burnout 3 and James Bond: Everything or nothing, however i find the ratio of quality to crap is rather light on the quality side and heavy on the crap.



EA buys good companies and then destroys their products (Westwood Studios for example). EA has started buying exclusive rights to sporting leagues and that means that they have no competition. It's bad enough they're sports titles were basically the same from year to year, but with competition they have no need to try and make better games.

Set the wayback machine to the 80's. Activision, probably the first third party games company, buys out adventure game company Infocom (as in makers of the Zork series, Wishbringer, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, etc.). Essentially, they destroy the company. Get the pitchforks.

True but we're talking about this generation and the next and right now EA is continuing that trend. It's always been a bad thing for gaming.


Move forward to the early 90's: Sierra starts a line of sports games labeled "Front Page Sports" for computers. They get rave reviews and are praised for having the ability to update rosters without buying new titles. Pretty much every year afterward they start cranking out new versions of their sports titles. Get the rope.

For the sports issue, like it or not it makes money and thus makes good marketing sense to do annual releases at $50 a pop (which is what the market will bear). If there is anyone to blame these days it's the droves of people who keep BUYING Madden or NCAA. If no one bought the games, EA wouldn't put them out as often. And I don't think it's subliminal messages, media pressure or what have you that makes people open their wallets. I think it's more like tradition, kinda like the Star Wars fan that said Episode X stank and then swivled around to the ticket counter and purchased their tickets to see Star Wars. On the side of megers and acquistions (murders & executions?), projects getting axed, ideas of a possible hit being twisted and tainted so they could target a larger demographic, etc. and so on are common in the business world. Don't necessarily blame the company as a whole, blame the bean counters who only cares about the bottom line and won't authorize a risk if that risk would hurt the shareholders' earnings.

I wouldn't blame the company as a whole if it weren't for the fact that the company seems to share the mindset of quanity over quality. Yes i realize that sports games are a yearly thing, however EA's innovation in each year is below that of most other publishers. EA is supposed to be the best at sports games but instead of raising the bar they're lowering it. These opinions are not just held by me. Read almost any review of and EA sports game released in the last year and you'll always hear the same thing. Sega's ESPN line did wonders at invation and enhancement but sadly due to the EA/NFL deal Sega decided to drop them. By the way nice American Psycho reference.



EA also buys movie licences and releases sub-standard movie games. Batman begins was un-impressive and hell it took them 3 games to get a decent Bond game.

So does Atari get some blame for the craptastic Matrix game? LJN for Jaws, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street games? Sony for Brom Stoker's Dracula? Bebe's Kids? Crash Test Dummies? Cool World? The Indiana Jones games? Willow? The Terminator games? Dukes of Hazzard (then and now)? Should I go on?

Movie/TV licensed games have been around forever, possibly before EA probably came onto the scene. It is completely and totally unfair to point to EA to say they are to blame for every movie licensed game out there. They are not. Licensed games are historically average to bad no matter who put them out.

Again you're proving my point. Bad lisenced movie games are a trend. It may have started long ago but EA is continuing to carry the torch.



EA is a virus and it's hurting us all.

If EA is a virus then the people who buy their products willingly get themselves infected, usually with a smile on their face and a "hoo-hah" two-for-Tuesday on their lips. Okay, maybe not so much the second but you know what I mean.

Look the point i'm trying to make is that EA embodies a lot of the negatife trends of the past and their current business practices aren't helping the industry. Just because people buy EA's games doesn't mean they aren't bad, it just means they know how to market. EA is a horribly anti-competive company and that's never good for business. Just be glad they can't buy Ubisoft, even if they do own 20% of it.

EA is a ruthless company, just look at how they treat there programmers.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Consumers buying the most pointless games and ignoring the really good treasures on the current generation consoles.

People who buy systems just for sports and racing games..to me, that's like buying a car just for storage purposes, by filling it up with crap.

The RPG craze is still insane, but I'm trying so hard to point out the original RPG's that have been missed by many during the years, like Legend of Mana, BOF3/4, Dragon Warrior series, etc.

Final Fantasy fans, I'm sorry to offend anyone in this forum, I like FF too, but I see these kids all the time, they don't wanna play anything else, they have a stack of PS2/PS1 games with nothing but FINAL FANTASY written on it. Anything else they'll play, they'll bitch it's not like Final Fantasy...well duh....it's called "Originality, not copyright infringement" and again this is just like the car analogy, buy a car for only storage purposes..

How everyone goes crazy over the PSP, but nobody can still afford it. Yet they blindly discuss the PSP without actually knowing how it plays and the many purposes it has.

On top of the PSP, I just don't like how everyone these days has the need for some portable device. How badly are we in a hurry to get on with our lives? Has the thought of having a large TV just died out? Is sitting down and relaxing with your favorite game just a myth now?

I agree about the younger generation, brought up on nothing but GBA and GameCube. (Some have never even seen an N64 now...it's getting scary). When a 6 year old brags about graphics, I just smirk. I look and say "How do you know what graphics are, when you can't even color within the lines in your Kindergarten class? I still remember when you were a twinkle in your mama's ass, hell I could be yo daddy! I used to hunt buffalo!"

The floods of children's cartoons being made into video games is getting on my nerves...I say make a 3D Ren and Stimpy game and I'll be fine heh.

Gamers who bitch about 2D Fighting games, but adore Tekken and Soul Calibur.

and I still hate to this day this quote "Dreamcast? I remember that old school shit" :angry:

[Slimedog]

The only trend in modern gaming that will affect me personally is the trend toward digital distribution. I wouldn't be surprised if 10 years from now all games are download only and when that happens, I won't have anything to collect. Then maybe I can get caught up. :D

[Xexyz]

I see a few bad trends developing.

One is the fact that almost every game made these days needs a big budget. The companies spend so much money developing high detailed 3D engines, voice actors, etc. that it chokes out the small developers (and even worse, the arcade style developers).

I really detest how every game needs an involving storyline. leave it to the RPG's and Adventure games. I don't want to read a novel when I play a new Mega Man title anymore. Imagine if shmups started getting detailed storylines...

I hate how every game needs to be 20+ hours long to sell and satisfy the casual gamers. Go to the NGG board on GFaq's. The simple minded fools always complain about short games. Again, Adventure and RPG games can be long (although 50+ hours is seriously stretching it, not many people want to devote that much time to one game).

I hate the idea that 98%+ of the console games must be in 3D and in a 3D perspective. 2D games are not obsolete. They deliver a satisfying style of gameplay that cannot be duplicated in 3D games. The restrictions of free roaming do not hinder 2D games, they enhance them. I'm not complaining about 2.5D games. I don't mind 3D graphics if I can still get a 2D gameplay style.

Alot of ranting but I'm serious. The games I enjoyed this gen weren't Jade Empire, the KOTOR games, Halo, MGS3, FFX, GTA 3, or the many other Sports/FPS/Adventure games. The games I enjoyed were Gradius V, the Nippon Ichi SRPG's, Ikaruga, Capcom vs. SNK 2, Guilty Gear XX, Metal Slug 3, etc. I did enjoy some mainstream titles like Devil May Cry, but alot of my favorites were small time and more interesting.

[Falcon]

I hate the idea that 98%+ of the console games must be in 3D and in a 3D perspective. 2D games are not obsolete. They deliver a satisfying style of gameplay that cannot be duplicated in 3D games. The restrictions of free roaming do not hinder 2D games, they enhance them. I'm not complaining about 2.5D games. I don't mind 3D graphics if I can still get a 2D gameplay style.

You have to remember, first of all companies are a business, not people who enjoy video games. If 2D games wont sell, they wont develop it. Capcom Fighting Evolution, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, these are examples of games that came out that are 2D, and I can honestly say that I dont know many people that own these games.

[Amy Rose]

I hate how every game needs to be 20+ hours long to sell and satisfy the casual gamers. Go to the NGG board on GFaq's. The simple minded fools always complain about short games. Again, Adventure and RPG games can be long (although 50+ hours is seriously stretching it, not many people want to devote that much time to one game).
It's strange that you say that, I never would have thought that casual gamers would want their games to be long. The few casual gamers I know only play games for a few hours a week, and get bored with them really quickly.

Then again, since games cost so much nowadays (the prices of handheld games are just disgusting) I guess you'd want your money's worth out of it, and if that only comes in length, so be it?

[Mr.FoodMonster]

A lack of originality, instead for firms to fall back on prequals/sequals/remakes just to be "safe". Fresh gaming ideas are very rare now. A lot of people don't seem to be bothered by this, interestingly, instead calling for more sequal and remakes, etc.

I think XboX thinks putting out ever popular first person shooters is safe! But have you noticed that many of the first person shooters are just “halo engines” with a new skin placed over it. Man! I’m getting sick of them - Conker’s, Destroy All Humans….
No. Most FPS are better then Halo, and I'm insulted you think otherwise. Although, it is understandable that some people are getting sick of FPS, because 1-4 or so is actually amazing/original. Also, Conker's and Destroy All Humans... not FPS. Not even kind of.


I think the GTA:SA is bad for the industry, for various reasons posted above. And I really can't imagine why some of you are saying its not a big deal. And I totally aggree with the statement about EA putting out mass amounts of 'teh s uck'. If we end up with only a handful of game developers, and none of them are making the same type of game, then we will simply have eyecandy, but the gameplay will be brainrot. The industry is growing up, and I don't particularly like its 'new friends'.

[le geek]

Personally, I believe GTA:SA switching to AO will be an awful thing for video games. Now that this has happened, I think that the ESRB will rate games on a much harder scale, which will affect sales and the games that come out in the new generations.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. One thing to keep in mind is that some games do get rated AO by the ESRB. It's just that the developers pull or alter content to get the M rating, before publishing. So it won't affect sales so much as games may not be as over the top with realistic violence.

Cheers,
Ben

[davepesc]

Personally, I believe GTA:SA switching to AO will be an awful thing for video games. Now that this has happened, I think that the ESRB will rate games on a much harder scale, which will affect sales and the games that come out in the new generations.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. One thing to keep in mind is that some games do get rated AO by the ESRB. It's just that the developers pull or alter content to get the M rating, before publishing. So it won't affect sales so much as games may not be as over the top with realistic violence.

Cheers,
Ben

I'm hoping this opens the door to more AO games. If SA can sell millions as a mislabeled "M" game, then other games can do it too, right?

As a parent, I want to see some games unavailable to children and as an adult, I want to see games offer as much as possible. This is not necessarily just "OMG lookit teh b00biez," but violence and weighty themes too.

Also: can someone explain more about the EA/NFL partnership? I was told it was the NFL that wanted an exclusive contract with one game company. EA just ponied up the most cash. And I hear that another company got the rights to MLB, yet we don't hear about how that deal is destroying the industry.

[Push Upstairs]

A lack of originality, instead for firms to fall back on prequals/sequals/remakes just to be "safe". Fresh gaming ideas are very rare now. A lot of people don't seem to be bothered by this, interestingly, instead calling for more sequal and remakes, etc.


A letter From the Oct. 1992 issue of EGM:

“Yikes! Your last issue really made a statement! Super Mario Land 2, Strider 2, Phantasy Star 4, Afterburner 3, Thunder Force 4, and R.B.I. 4 are all sequels.

Don’t manufacturers have any original ideas anymore? It seems that we are just being suffocated by sequels. Just because a game has more memory or better graphics than its original, doesn’t always make it better. Buying them is tempting but I, for one, feel cheapened when purchasing a cart that relies on its predecessors popularity.

We have already endured five Mario adventures, three Shinobis, three Ghouls and Ghosts, five Turtles games and seven Batman games. Before the turn of the century we might dwell in a world of all sequels. I think it is time that game developers start coming up with better ideas!”

[cowmando6]

I think XboX thinks putting out ever popular first person shooters is safe! But have you noticed that many of the first person shooters are just “halo engines” with a new skin placed over it. Man! I’m getting sick of them - Conker’s, Destroy All Humans….

Actually, didn't the original Conker game (because after all, isn't the Xbox version a remake of the n64 version?) come out at the end of the N64's life which was before Halo? I'm might be wrong, but comparing Conker to Halo is like comparing cows to koalas.

[davepesc]

[quote=Mr.Faxanadu] ... comparing Conker to Halo is like comparing cows to koalas.

So are you calling Conker a cuddly grey bovine; a black and white teddy bear...um... is Halo stuck in a tree because its hooves have no grip... *head explodes*

[fpstream]

The trend I fear the most is Nintendo is killing themselves. While being original is great and all, it's not great buissness. I don't want to see the end Nintendo. It's just that I think they're killing themselves with the Revolution. People don't want a touch screen/gyroscope/toaster for their controller. I understand that they can use it for some great games, but it is a buissness. Downloading old games is great, but I'm assuming you'll need hi-speed internet, and less than 30% percent of households have that. That means less than 30% of households can use their trump card. Also coming out so late could really hurt them because by then people have lost interest. Also unfortunelty kids these days just care about graphics, so that means they won't like the old games for download, and purchase (how many parents will be keen to that idea), but also the Revolution will have the worst graphics of the next-gen. While I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just that I'm worried about them running themselves into the path of Sega. I just hope it doesn't happen.

[sealboy6]

Personally, I believe GTA:SA switching to AO will be an awful thing for video games. Now that this has happened, I think that the ESRB will rate games on a much harder scale, which will affect sales and the games that come out in the new generations.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. One thing to keep in mind is that some games do get rated AO by the ESRB. It's just that the developers pull or alter content to get the M rating, before publishing. So it won't affect sales so much as games may not be as over the top with realistic violence.

Cheers,
Ben

I'm hoping this opens the door to more AO games. If SA can sell millions as a mislabeled "M" game, then other games can do it too, right?

As a parent, I want to see some games unavailable to children and as an adult, I want to see games offer as much as possible. This is not necessarily just "OMG lookit the b00biez," but violence and weighty themes too.

Also: can someone explain more about the EA/NFL partnership? I was told it was the NFL that wanted an exclusive contract with one game company. EA just ponied up the most cash. And I hear that another company got the rights to MLB, yet we don't hear about how that deal is destroying the industry.

Alright, I wanted to do a double quote to quote different parts, but sadly I don't know how. I don't think, personally, that AO games will sell. I'm not yet 17, so I can't buy M games, but my parents trust me to get them, so they let me, and my local Gamestop trusts me, so I can buy them. But when games go to AO, I think a lot of the market will be destroyed. I 'm not saying that the games won't sell, but GTA:SA, if it came out as AO, would have sold at least 25% less.

Okay, onto the EA/NFL merger thing. I don't know if the NFL wanted the single company, but you're right. 2K games, the publisher of GTA, has made a deal with the MLB to be the only company to make third party games. The NFL deal prevents even first parties to make the games. So no more Sony football, but there will be Sony baseball.

[YoshiM]

I'm snipping some stuff so that my post isn't hella long.


I think you need to take a look at what a Mr. Jack Thompson has to say before you ciritize me saying the witch hunt has begun. This has nothing to do with content of the game. This has to do with the ESRB setting a precident. The ruling allows for people to make arguements over what things a game could be modified to do. In the case of Jack Thompson, Pedophilea in the Sims. It has nothing to do with sex or violence in the game but rather how liable companies are for mods to there game. One could argue that by providing tools companies are supporting the creation of obscene content. i realize that's a stretch but it wouldn't suprise me in the least if someone makes that claim.[quote]

I disagree, it's about content. If GTA did NOT have the code for a sex mini-game and it was instead a homebrew mod inserting it, that'd be a whole other story. See also the Tecmo vs. Ninjahacker.net, which hacked the games on the Xbox (requiring a mod chip, if what I read was true) to allow people to use different "skins" like clothes...or nothing at all. I wanna say it was nudie skins that put Ninjahacker into headlights of the Tecmo legal team who used the DMCA (or something like it) to squash this. The Sims situation is just plain silly. Playing devil's advocate, they could have used a better method to cover up their character models instead of an obvious overlay.

What this situation does is force companies to think about what content they put into the game. No nudity/sex, no problem. If it's there, make sure you have it all documented for the ESRB.


[quote]You're right mergers and buyouts do happen. But because EA has an anti-competition adgenda those buyouts cand become dangerous. They do publish solid games, like Burnout 3 and James Bond: Everything or nothing, however i find the ratio of quality to crap is rather light on the quality side and heavy on the crap.

You could almost say that with any company about the ratio of "good" to "crap". It's entirely subjective. EA is big and that makes them easy to target. If EA bothers you, what about Hasbro? They are probably one of the largest entertainment umbrellas out there with Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Wizards of the Coast, etc. etc.



True but we're talking about this generation and the next and right now EA is continuing that trend. It's always been a bad thing for gaming.

And the trend won't stop and EA won't be the only one. The wheel keeps on turning. Are we talking about boycotting any company that acquires another?



I wouldn't blame the company as a whole if it weren't for the fact that the company seems to share the mindset of quanity over quality. Yes i realize that sports games are a yearly thing, however EA's innovation in each year is below that of most other publishers. EA is supposed to be the best at sports games but instead of raising the bar they're lowering it. These opinions are not just held by me. Read almost any review of and EA sports game released in the last year and you'll always hear the same thing. Sega's ESPN line did wonders at invation and enhancement but sadly due to the EA/NFL deal Sega decided to drop them. By the way nice American Psycho reference.

I skimmed over a few Madden reviews and I didn't really find anything that mentions "lowering the bar". If are stagnating, why are they getting scores in the 9's (out of 10)? The one line of thinking I did see sings to the tune of "this game has enough [new things, changes, whatever] to warrant the purchase". And most other titles (namely Gameday, NFL Fever, am I missing any?) I've read started to go downhill a while ago. ESPN/NFL2K-X was about the only real competition.


Again you're proving my point. Bad lisenced movie games are a trend. It may have started long ago but EA is continuing to carry the torch.

So is Atari (Matrix: Path of Neo), Activision (Fantastic Four), VU Games (Scarface), Majesco (Taxi Driver), etc., etc. Again, don't finger the blame just on EA's massive shoulders. It's industry wide.


Look the point i'm trying to make is that EA embodies a lot of the negatife trends of the past and their current business practices aren't helping the industry. Just because people buy EA's games doesn't mean they aren't bad, it just means they know how to market. EA is a horribly anti-competive company and that's never good for business. Just be glad they can't buy Ubisoft, even if they do own 20% of it.

EA is a ruthless company, just look at how they treat there programmers.

I agree, they do embody a lot of negative trends. So does a lot of other companies. You agree that some of EA's games are "solid", yet you say that they're probably "bad" and that they sell because they are good at marketing? Again, subjective without much real backing other than an emotional dislike.

As for the programmer situation, it's been well known for years how hard it is to be a game programmer. Long hours, sometimes sleeping in your cube during crunch time. I also highly doubt EA is the only company that treated their coders bad.

[sealboy6]

However i still don't think that's as bad as the blight brought on the industry by EA. EA is responisible for a huge decline in the quality of games and as long as they continue throwing money around thing will get worse.

EA is to the gaming industry what Microsoft was to the computer market in the late 90s.

I don't think comparing EA to Microsoft is that good of a comparison. EA holds about 25 percent of the video game market, while Microsoft held more than 50 percent. EA gets a lot of money, but they also release, probably, the most good games that a company releases. True, that is because they also release a lot of games, but if you have the money and they ability to do it, by all means, do it.



EA also buys movie licences and releases sub-standard movie games. Batman begins was un-impressive and hell it took them 3 games to get a decent Bond game.

So does Atari get some blame for the craptastic Matrix game? LJN for Jaws, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street games? Sony for Brom Stoker's Dracula? Bebe's Kids? Crash Test Dummies? Cool World? The Indiana Jones games? Willow? The Terminator games? Dukes of Hazzard (then and now)? Should I go on?

Movie/TV licensed games have been around forever, possibly before EA probably came onto the scene. It is completely and totally unfair to point to EA to say they are to blame for every movie licensed game out there. They are not. Licensed games are historically average to bad no matter who put them out.

How about E.T....



EA is a virus and it's hurting us all.

If EA is a virus then the people who buy their products willingly get themselves infected, usually with a smile on their face and a "hoo-hah" two-for-Tuesday on their lips. Okay, maybe not so much the second but you know what I mean.

Look the point i'm trying to make is that EA embodies a lot of the negatife trends of the past and their current business practices aren't helping the industry. Just because people buy EA's games doesn't mean they aren't bad, it just means they know how to market. EA is a horribly anti-competive company and that's never good for business. Just be glad they can't buy Ubisoft, even if they do own 20% of it.

EA is a ruthless company, just look at how they treat there programmers.[/quote]

EA is a company that controls more of the video game market than any other company, but they have the resources to, and since they are a business, and they need to make money, they should be able to do it. You may want the communistic way of video gaming, but that won't happen. LIttle companies have to try very hard, but they can do it, and if they are bought out, then the founder of the little company has just made a damn nice profit. Video games are a business, so if that means a company seems "evil", then oh well.

[sealboy6]

Again you're proving my point. Bad lisenced movie games are a trend. It may have started long ago but EA is continuing to carry the torch.

So is Atari (Matrix: Path of Neo), Activision (Fantastic Four), VU Games (Scarface), Majesco (Taxi Driver), etc., etc. Again, don't finger the blame just on EA's massive shoulders. It's industry wide.

Yep, I agree. Companies release licensed games because they are sure to make money. I would do the same thing if I was a video game company, because I would make money that way and that is my whole goal. Every single Star Wars game is licensed, as is every single Disney game. Licensing is a way of life for video games, and we just have to live with it.

[sealboy6]

A lack of originality, instead for firms to fall back on prequals/sequals/remakes just to be "safe". Fresh gaming ideas are very rare now. A lot of people don't seem to be bothered by this, interestingly, instead calling for more sequal and remakes, etc.


A letter From the Oct. 1992 issue of EGM:

“Yikes! Your last issue really made a statement! Super Mario Land 2, Strider 2, Phantasy Star 4, Afterburner 3, Thunder Force 4, and R.B.I. 4 are all sequels.

Don’t manufacturers have any original ideas anymore? It seems that we are just being suffocated by sequels. Just because a game has more memory or better graphics than its original, doesn’t always make it better. Buying them is tempting but I, for one, feel cheapened when purchasing a cart that relies on its predecessors popularity.

We have already endured five Mario adventures, three Shinobis, three Ghouls and Ghosts, five Turtles games and seven Batman games. Before the turn of the century we might dwell in a world of all sequels. I think it is time that game developers start coming up with better ideas!”

I fully agree with this post. Sequels have alwasy been around in video games, and even in other industries, this occurs. Car companies release the same car every year, with only minor changes, until the car gets an overhaul every few years. J.K. Rowling just keeps bringing out new Harry Potter books, and she is the richest person in Britain now. Sad. Sue Grafton has released like 20 books that are:

A is for Aardvark
B is for Banana
C is for Chocolate

And so on. These books are mysteries though, not about animals and food. Lastly, movies have lost all originality. Herbie, Bad New Bears, War of the Worlds, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are all remakes of former books or movies. But these movies will make money. These different industries all have one goal. Money. And if that means we need to copy off of something else, or remake something, or make a sequel, then so be it. They need to make money, so when they do decide to make something original, it will be goo.

[kainemaxwell]

We need more orginial games like Katamari Damacy out, not constant sequels and rehashes of old products with something new on top of the old.

[GarrettCRW]

J.K. Rowling just keeps bringing out new Harry Potter books, and she is the richest person in Britain now. Sad.

The entire point was for a series of seven Harry Potter books, of which the sixth was just recently released. She's the richest person in the UK because the books are really damn good, and have garnered a ton of attention. What's wrong with that?

[fpstream]

We need more orginial games like Katamari Damacy out, not constant sequels and rehashes of old products with something new on top of the old.

The funny thing about Katamari Damacy though, is that the creator of it made it because he felt that there wasn't enough originality in video games. But he saw what a sucess Katamari Damacy was and is making a sequel. This sequel doesn't change much, it evens mutliplayer and adds co-op. Doesn't sound like much originality there. It's just that being original is too much of a risk nowadays. Once people have broken into the market, like EA with their liscenced sports games- original for the time, they have every right to run their buissness like a buissness. I loved the original Katamari Damacy, and I'm going to buy We Love Katamari Damacy the day it launches becuase I want more rolling fun. If the throves of people want minor changes to Madden and NCAA each year, so be it. Everybody is different and everybody has their right to play the games they like.

[fpstream]

J.K. Rowling just keeps bringing out new Harry Potter books, and she is the richest person in Britain now. Sad.

The entire point was for a series of seven Harry Potter books, of which the sixth was just recently released. She's the richest person in the UK because the books are really damn good, and have garnered a ton of attention. What's wrong with that?

Tottally agree with you Garret. The Harry Potter books began knowing that there would be seven and it'd be a continuing story. As soon as they finish the seventh book, J.K. Rowling moves on. When Capcom released Megaman they didn't say there were only going to be 7 Megamans and it'd follow Megaman through his early adulthood years. It's tottally different situations, it's like comparing Pac-Men and Master Chiefs. Also she's the richest woman in Britain, there's still Males richer than her.

[Slimedog]

I'll play the pro-sequel devil's advocate. If its a franchise I like, I'll buy them until I think the well has run dry. Every game does not need to be an entirely original work free from any and all infulences. Also, the concept of sequels is not entirely new here. Would anybody care about Sir Conan Doyle's mysteries if each story had a different detective? I wonder if early Greek critics panned the Odyssey for being too derivitive of the Illiad? The point of a series is that it builds on existing characters. You don't have to waste time introducing the character to the audience and you can focus on growing that character and exploring new situations. Just because a game is a sequel does not necessarily mean it is devoid of creativity. As mentioned above, some of the best games in history were sequels regardless of what genere you like. Game creation does not exist in a vacuum and unless your name is Ralph Baer, your game builds on what came before.

Also there is the economics of it. If you don't want to see sequels, stop buying them. Companies keep buying sports games every year because people keep buying them. Thats the way it should work, its a free market. Katamari sold plenty of copies by standing on its originality. Enough to warant producing a cookie cutter sequel. If you don't want the same game with multi player, don't buy it. If nobody buys it, we won't see part three. Vote with your wallet because its a self-correcting system.

[sealboy6]

J.K. Rowling just keeps bringing out new Harry Potter books, and she is the richest person in Britain now. Sad.

The entire point was for a series of seven Harry Potter books, of which the sixth was just recently released. She's the richest person in the UK because the books are really damn good, and have garnered a ton of attention. What's wrong with that?

Yes, and EA made the Madden series knowingly that a game would come out each year. They're the richest company for football games because the games are really damn good, and have garnered a ton of attention. What's wrong with that?

J.K. Rowling didn't announce that there would be seven books until after the first one came out. Once she saw that the did do damn well, she decided to milk it and release seven, even thought the newest books have been the worse. People buy them because they are Harry Potter, as maddens are bought because they are maddens. Personally, I find nothing wrong with sequels. They're good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[evil_genius]

I must disagree because I think kids parents still won't care. they will just buy their kid the game without even reading the title.

[sealboy6]

I must disagree because I think kids parents still won't care. they will just buy their kid the game without even reading the title.

Nope, you're wrong. This is going to get so much attention from the media that parents will not be able to refuse to look at the game's rating. The rating will be looking right at them, and you know stores are going to start asking parents if its for their child or for them. I'm from Illinois, and Blago (Our governor) just signed a bill that makes all M games 18+ and a fine and jail time for any employee that sells an M game to an underage person.

[MrSmiley381]

I would like to respond to one of the early posters, stating that all kids want are graphics and they don't even own an Atari.

Behold, I am the exception. I'm 15, but I own Atari, NES, SMS in the mail, and a freaking Neo Geo. I can't say I can play the Atari constantly - the games weren't meant for that, except for Adventure (which I need) and other longer games, which there really weren't. However, I love Space Invaders, I love Galaga, I love the original Mario, the Neo Geo is godly, and games nowadays are hardly original. Metal Gear Solid 3 turned out nice. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne was thought-provoking. But I can't think of much else. I like Chrono Trigger and Castlevania (for the NES, not the GBA rehash with horrible hit detection, ruined dragon heads, a reversed boss fight, and ruined ending) than play Grand Theft Auto.

That being said, I think the big trend is sex and violence. Ironically, SMT: Nocturne had these, but I don't think they were thrown in pointlessly. The incubus had a horn-penis, and some of the female demons were meant to be erotic. Atl least everything had a mythological base. Oh, and swear words seem to be more popular. Again, Nocturne had this. Nocturne also used it as a personality thing.

Games are losing class. Remakes and rehashes seem to be popular. The Mega Man collection was nice, but the Street Fighter one was blah. I demand more Strider and Marvel Vs. Capcom. A third would be nice IF MARVEL HADN'T SOLD ITS COLLECTIVE SOUL TO EA. Oh, and what's with all the Amerishit? Japan seems to be shipping out more original and fun games. We ship out shooters (Halo? Screw that.) and sports games. YEAR AFTER YEAR SHOOTERS AND SPORTS AND THE OCCASSIONAL GOD OF WAR. Doom 3 and Half Life 2 were good, so was God of War. Halo 2, if you're an X-Box asshole fanboy. Japan shipped out some awesome RPGs, Katamari Damacy, Neo Contra (Easy, but FUN.) and the Disgaea series (ZOMG Makai Kingdom is almost here!). Although, Japan has been shipping out less fighters...

EXCEPT FOR GUILTY GEAR :D

Um, Sammy IS Japan, right?

[Kuros]

I would like to respond to one of the early posters, stating that all kids want are graphics and they don't even own an Atari.

Behold, I am the exception. I'm 15, but I own Atari, NES, SMS in the mail, and a freaking Neo Geo. I can't say I can play the Atari constantly - the games weren't meant for that, except for Adventure (which I need) and other longer games, which there really weren't. However, I love Space Invaders, I love Galaga, I love the original Mario, the Neo Geo is godly, and games nowadays are hardly original. Metal Gear Solid 3 turned out nice. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne was thought-provoking. But I can't think of much else. I like Chrono Trigger and Castlevania (for the NES, not the GBA rehash with horrible hit detection, ruined dragon heads, a reversed boss fight, and ruined ending) than play Grand Theft Auto.

That being said, I think the big trend is sex and violence. Ironically, SMT: Nocturne had these, but I don't think they were thrown in pointlessly. The incubus had a horn-penis, and some of the female demons were meant to be erotic. Atl least everything had a mythological base. Oh, and swear words seem to be more popular. Again, Nocturne had this. Nocturne also used it as a personality thing.

Games are losing class. Remakes and rehashes seem to be popular. The Mega Man collection was nice, but the Street Fighter one was blah. I demand more Strider and Marvel Vs. Capcom. A third would be nice IF MARVEL HADN'T SOLD ITS COLLECTIVE SOUL TO EA. Oh, and what's with all the Amerishit? Japan seems to be shipping out more original and fun games. We ship out shooters (Halo? Screw that.) and sports games. YEAR AFTER YEAR SHOOTERS AND SPORTS AND THE OCCASSIONAL GOD OF WAR. Doom 3 and Half Life 2 were good, so was God of War. Halo 2, if you're an X-Box asshole fanboy. Japan shipped out some awesome RPGs, Katamari Damacy, Neo Contra (Easy, but FUN.) and the Disgaea series (ZOMG Makai Kingdom is almost here!). Although, Japan has been shipping out less fighters...

EXCEPT FOR GUILTY GEAR :D

Um, Sammy IS Japan, right?

Sammy as far as I know is USA, they are in the same city as me.

[MrSmiley381]

Please, walk down there and tell them they have the Japanese feel.

OK, so that's an extra one for the U.S. I still think we could be more original. Although that follow-up to Ico is looking damned good.

[Hiryu]

I agree w/ MrSmiley pretty much spot on. AlthoughI won't be as harsh on American game companies, SOME have done good things lately, Silicon Knights had Eternal Darkness and Metroid Prime. Of course these titles had a bit of backing from Mr. Miyamoto and others. But the vast majority of companies in my opinion are spending waaay too much effort on the FPS genre. Along with this I feel like total 3D environments have ruined a lot of games.

This is something I haven't seen mentioned in this thread, so I'll ask you all. What do you think the effect of things like the G4 network have had on gaming within the past couple years? I know that they are supposed to focus on bleeding edge technology etc., but do you feel that they minimalize any genres or types of games by being a filter of sorts? I tend to feel they have.

[MrSmiley381]

Dear lord they have, Hiryu.

Why?

Let's look at SNK. SNK WAS known for making awesome games until they kinda died. But, even the re-releases are still good. But, no, X-Play HATES Metal Slug and KOF. They said KOF had cheesy music. CHEESY MUSIC. That's a huge-ass understatement. Sure, '02's music was kinda scratchy, but the tunes were still there. They don't respect 2D at all on the current-gen platforms. GBA, yes. PS2, GCN, and XBox? No. Somehow, 2D was only good "in the arcades." Oh, and did anyone watch the Spike TV awards? On skool-daze.com, where I write, one of my fellow writers wrote about it. It's all based on T & A and violence and ghetto shooty rap nonsense.

Give me Mario or give me death, dammit. 2D biased shows need to get non-biased people. I love 2D, bur 3D doesn't bother me. However, some people love 3D but call 2D bad.

[fpstream]

J.K. Rowling just keeps bringing out new Harry Potter books, and she is the richest person in Britain now. Sad.

The entire point was for a series of seven Harry Potter books, of which the sixth was just recently released. She's the richest person in the UK because the books are really damn good, and have garnered a ton of attention. What's wrong with that?

Yes, and EA made the Madden series knowingly that a game would come out each year. They're the richest company for football games because the games are really damn good, and have garnered a ton of attention. What's wrong with that?

J.K. Rowling didn't announce that there would be seven books until after the first one came out. Once she saw that the did do damn well, she decided to milk it and release seven, even thought the newest books have been the worse. People buy them because they are Harry Potter, as maddens are bought because they are maddens. Personally, I find nothing wrong with sequels. They're good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Actually she herself knew there would be seven books because that is how many years at Hogwarts there are. She just didn't think anyone cared becuase didn't expect the original to be such a smashing sucess. And considering you haven't even read the last two books, what are you to judge... I liked the sixth book plenty. I assure you Trip Hawkins didn't make a public anouncment saying there would be a Madden every year. He didn't think it to himself either. So you'd be satisfied with Madden 2001, since that wasn't broke and yet you've bought a new one each year. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[fpstream]

I must disagree because I think kids parents still won't care. they will just buy their kid the game without even reading the title.

Nope, you're wrong. This is going to get so much attention from the media that parents will not be able to refuse to look at the game's rating. The rating will be looking right at them, and you know stores are going to start asking parents if its for their child or for them. I'm from Illinois, and Blago (Our governor) just signed a bill that makes all M games 18+ and a fine and jail time for any employee that sells an M game to an underage person.

There's no jail time, just a $1,000 fine. And they'd certainly lose their job. You're saying awfully brash things with no research behind them.

[fpstream]

I would like to respond to one of the early posters, stating that all kids want are graphics and they don't even own an Atari.

Behold, I am the exception. I'm 15, but I own Atari, NES, SMS in the mail, and a freaking Neo Geo. I can't say I can play the Atari constantly - the games weren't meant for that, except for Adventure (which I need) and other longer games, which there really weren't. However, I love Space Invaders, I love Galaga, I love the original Mario, the Neo Geo is godly, and games nowadays are hardly original. Metal Gear Solid 3 turned out nice. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne was thought-provoking. But I can't think of much else. I like Chrono Trigger and Castlevania (for the NES, not the GBA rehash with horrible hit detection, ruined dragon heads, a reversed boss fight, and ruined ending) than play Grand Theft Auto.

That being said, I think the big trend is sex and violence. Ironically, SMT: Nocturne had these, but I don't think they were thrown in pointlessly. The incubus had a horn-penis, and some of the female demons were meant to be erotic. Atl least everything had a mythological base. Oh, and swear words seem to be more popular. Again, Nocturne had this. Nocturne also used it as a personality thing.

Games are losing class. Remakes and rehashes seem to be popular. The Mega Man collection was nice, but the Street Fighter one was blah. I demand more Strider and Marvel Vs. Capcom. A third would be nice IF MARVEL HADN'T SOLD ITS COLLECTIVE SOUL TO EA. Oh, and what's with all the Amerishit? Japan seems to be shipping out more original and fun games. We ship out shooters (Halo? Screw that.) and sports games. YEAR AFTER YEAR SHOOTERS AND SPORTS AND THE OCCASSIONAL GOD OF WAR. Doom 3 and Half Life 2 were good, so was God of War. Halo 2, if you're an X-Box asshole fanboy. Japan shipped out some awesome RPGs, Katamari Damacy, Neo Contra (Easy, but FUN.) and the Disgaea series (ZOMG Makai Kingdom is almost here!). Although, Japan has been shipping out less fighters...

EXCEPT FOR GUILTY GEAR :D

Um, Sammy IS Japan, right?

There's exceptions in everything, but in general this wave of "video gamers" are graphic snobs. Also you're getting angry at American designers and publishers for making too many First Person Shooters, yet you admitted Doom 3 and Half-Life 2. So you just supported the FPS movement with your wallet. And those gamers are hardly original, improved graphics and a gravity gun? Good games, I love them both, it is just that you're a bit hyprocritical. Also before you begin bashing on the FPS genre, it can be origianl too. Remeber Deus Ex and System Shock? Every genre has their repetitions even RPGs, how Dot Hacks are there, all have the same combat system, graphics, sound, characters, and gameplay. It's just that FPSs are being bashed on because they've been brought into the limelight. People hate popular things, it takes more courage to be the same than to be different.

[Hiryu]

"Mainstream" gamers, whatever you consider them to be, seem to hate all things that are deemed un-popular by X-Play or IGN standards. Usually they tend to be non 3D rendered or "japanese-esque" rpgs or platformers. So I think on both sides of the coin, there are hypocrites.

[fpstream]

"Mainstream" gamers, whatever you consider them to be, seem to hate all things that are deemed un-popular by X-Play or IGN standards. Usually they tend to be non 3D rendered or "japanese-esque" rpgs or platformers. So I think on both sides of the coin, there are hypocrites.

Most definetly, it's human nature to be a hypocrite. You agree with things that you like and disagree with things you don't like. Sometimes you don't have reasons for the things you lilke or don't like.

[imanerd0011]

I think the whole AO thing is stupid. The fact that the person has to go online and download something, and then install it onto their game to see some sex is really pushing it. The owner has to go WAY out of their way to see anything that is AO.
I also can't stand how video games/movies is so damn against Nudity, and could care less about violence. I never understood that. Considering that 99.9% of people will see someone of the opposite sex naked in their lifetime, yet probabley 5% will ever see someone get killed/shot or whatever.

[Early Worm]

night trap....mortal kombat....san andreas.....pick your decade and it's all the same. Sequel = franchise plus sales. Mario....zelda...contra....metal gear...pick your decade and it's all the same.

[fpstream]

Because it's all about the kids. Kids know about violence very early on. You just have to turn on the news to hear about a murder, kidnapping, rape, etc. (At least that's how it is in Chicago). Boys play with plastic guns and G.I. Joes. Kids don't know about sex till later. So parents feel they have to protect their kid's innocence. I agree with you on the above point.

[sealboy6]

I agree w/ MrSmiley pretty much spot on. AlthoughI won't be as harsh on American game companies, SOME have done good things lately, Silicon Knights had Eternal Darkness and Metroid Prime. Of course these titles had a bit of backing from Mr. Miyamoto and others. But the vast majority of companies in my opinion are spending waaay too much effort on the FPS genre. Along with this I feel like total 3D environments have ruined a lot of games.

Why wouldn't a company spend more money on an FPS, when they know they will make money. Too many people tend to think that video game companies are trying to make you happy by making the games that you want to play, but you're wrong. They are, as I've said before, companies. They need to make money. Pariah, Area 51, and Project Snowblind all sold well, so why wouldn't a company keep pumping out this kind of game when they know that mainstream video game players are going to buy this game.


This is something I haven't seen mentioned in this thread, so I'll ask you all. What do you think the effect of things like the G4 network have had on gaming within the past couple years? I know that they are supposed to focus on bleeding edge technology etc., but do you feel that they minimalize any genres or types of games by being a filter of sorts? I tend to feel they have.

Personally, I love G4. Ya, I know many people don't because they appeal to the stupid gamer, but without these people, I don't think the video game industry wouldn't be what it is today. Also, you have to realize that G4 is trying to get people to watch their channel, because, as I state again, they are a company. So if people want to see stupid shows like Judgemant Day, Arena, or X-play, then G4 has to show it. Another example of this is Screensavers. This was one of G4's high tech shows, and many people, including myself, found this show extremely boring. I think more people watch the game that replaced it, Attack of the Show. I do think that they filter out some of the good genres, because as a show, one of the reviewers can't sit down and completely play through Disgaea. Also, Nippon Ichi didn't expect the Disgaea or Phantom Brave games to sell well, so they didnt' release a lot of them. I'm still looking for Phantom Brave Limited Edition or Disgaea. It is harder for a game to become mainstream when not many people have the game. But, overall, I do agree that this has dumbed down video games overall.