How About Some Originality With That Game?

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by Oni no Tenshi on June 08, 2011 at 11:23 PM

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As usual, Snake-you're a genius!

WARNING: COPIOUS RAINBOW USE INSIDE.

It has been said many times that there is no such thing as an original idea. While I might disagree, I *can* agree that it is hard to FIND an original idea-or at least an idea that can be executed WELL.

Unfortunately, I've been the victim (and I'm sure you have too) of the preemptive happy-dance when it comes to the expectations of a game.

You see a teaser trailer. You think, "THIS LOOKS AMAZING!"

Then, you start seeing art and maybe a little trailer here and there online. You start getting more excited. "Oh, man, I'm so stoked!" you say.

Finally, you read a review or article in a gaming magazine as well as the rallying cry of the fan base as they all herald this game as the pinnacle of gaminess and that clinches your fate. You pre-order the game, or at the very least, won't shut up about how awesome the game is going to be to all of your friends, significant other, dog, goldfish, etc until everyone starts making excuses whenever they see you coming with that starry look in your eyes.

But, just like the star-crossed lovers in Romeo and Juliet, you find that the reality of your oh-so-anticipated game is a lot less....glamorous...than the hype.

Which brings me to my next point (which was really also my first point).

Do you haz it?

Now, I'm the first person to say that technology still has a ways to go before it's super duper futuristic (see yesterday's blog for more on that tangent). However, we have come quite a ways since the days of the Atari. We have the ability to make amazing game play, graphics that are practically photo-realistic, and story depth that would rival that of some of the so-called Great American Novelists.

There is just no real good excuse to make a game that sucks.

And there is just no real good excuse to BUY a game that sucks.

For example, WHY do we still have games that involve copious amounts of soul-crushing GRIND? There are plenty of better ways to level up and gain experience than fighting a hundred thousand level 1 slimes.

Why do we have games with mandatory random battles?

Why do we have this morbid fascination with "impossibly hard games that make you want to snap the controller in half"?

I can forgive the idea that games in the past had to play by these sorts of rules due to the limits of the technology at the time, but why do people INSIST on holding onto these horribly outdated modes of gameplay?

Even Tony Stark knows the drill.

If we have the technology, and we have the knowledge, what's keeping the video game industry from making quality games on a regular basis? And why do we have so many crappy licensed titles (remember the SNES Aladdin game? It was AMAZINGLY FUN platforming fun, even though it was difficult..and the Bugs Bunny games for Game Boy are classic and hugely fun as well) when it's completely possible to come up with a high quality and well executed game using licensed characters!

Bottom line, in my opinion, making games should be like minding your manners.

If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

So I say to Game Designers:

If you don't have a good game to make, then don't make a game at all!

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So, what do you think about the logic used to make half-aused games even when gamers are clamoring for quality (Sonic Games Of Late, I am looking at you!)?

Will you be entering my "design a video game contest"? You have until Friday night to come up with 1-2 awesome game ideas to be voted on by the GIO blogging community.

Link To Contest Rules: http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/oni_no_tenshi_blog/archive/2011/06/06/name-that-game-contest-free-art-prize-for-the-top-3.aspx

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To end today's rainbow-tastic blog, I leave you with a video that says it all:

I think the same thing could be said about movies, music, literature, etc. There are a lot of people that like grinding to level up, there are still 8 or so people that like random battles(serious on the first point, not so much on the random battles).

There are different tastes in gamers, and different tastes in developers. That's not so say a "broken" or unfinished game is acceptable.

I like graphics, but I also like games that are not dependant on the graphics to be considered a good game. Crysis 2, was beautiful, but to me it was not that much fun. When OoT rererereleases later this month, it will still be fairly clunky and 64ish, but it will be a lot of fun.

Just like every movie cannot be on the same great level as Killer Klowns from Outer Space, every game cannot be a Resident Evil 4.

So I don't necessarily disagree with what you said, I just don't see it practical to expect, and I also think that devs have to start soemwhere, and often the first game or two from a new studio isn't as good as it would be had it been the 8th or 9th. Or perhaps I just need more imagination!

Comments

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by drubacca117 Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 05:47 AM

The lack of originality in gaming is partly due to the consumer. Why would a company waste time and potentially lose money on a new IP, when a sequel to an established franchise is guaranteed profit? If we want new and original games, we need to start supporting new and original games. Original is also a funny concept in gaming. For about 5-8 years, you couldn't make an RPG without it being compared to Final Fantasy. Same goes for the racing genre, the strategy genre, sports, survival horror... All of them have an established "leader", and as long as gamers clamor for them, all subsequent games from that genre will be compared to them.
by Bbrainss Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 11:15 AM

More rainbows than a gay parade... Wait where was I? Oh yeah, about the lack of original games. The sad fact is that a lot of original games that I've played have only sold bad to good, but never great. Beyond Good and Evil, Super Meat Boy, Braid, The World Ends With You(yeah, I need to stop putting this in every comment I make.), and Radiant Historia have all sold less, combined, than CoD MW2. Anyway, I'll be doing my part in buying these kinds of games. Although, this is what happens in all forms of media with books, movies, and TV shows so it's more of a humanity problem than a gamer problem.
Mod

by mojomonkey12 Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 11:22 AM

I think the same thing could be said about movies, music, literature, etc. There are a lot of people that like grinding to level up, there are still 8 or so people that like random battles(serious on the first point, not so much on the random battles).

There are different tastes in gamers, and different tastes in developers. That's not so say a "broken" or unfinished game is acceptable.

I like graphics, but I also like games that are not dependant on the graphics to be considered a good game. Crysis 2, was beautiful, but to me it was not that much fun. When OoT rererereleases later this month, it will still be fairly clunky and 64ish, but it will be a lot of fun.

Just like every movie cannot be on the same great level as Killer Klowns from Outer Space, every game cannot be a Resident Evil 4.

So I don't necessarily disagree with what you said, I just don't see it practical to expect, and I also think that devs have to start soemwhere, and often the first game or two from a new studio isn't as good as it would be had it been the 8th or 9th. Or perhaps I just need more imagination!
by Evil Deej Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 01:47 PM

I dig the grind for levels...not MMO style grinding, but you'd be hardpressed to see me take the Fast Learner perk in a Fallout game.

And....have you ever played Demon's Souls, Oni? That game is a wonderful example of delicious punishment..so much that completing a level feels like winning the world series, figuratively. lol. I personally don't believe these to be outdated modes of gameplay, because they both still have HUGE fanbases. And the two games I've mentioned have garnered critical acclaim, while retaining pure facets of both styles of gameplay you've blasted.

There are crap games being made across the board, sans grinding and difficulty. They all live on Planet Wii =P

I think you're referring to unoriginal games that have the aforementioned gameplay facets in them in an attempt to assauge some of the bad press they get? or am i wrong?

And...really? Iron Man and The Joker? With rainbows? Oni, how could you?????

cheers~!!
by God Of Irony Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 01:07 AM

aaawww... you bought crysis 2 as well?

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How About Some Originality With That Game?