“Imperfection may be beautiful, but come on people.”
Picture this, a nice little world where a trip to a video game store in the mall, or that newest copy of EGM held the information of the latest brilliance to hit the shops across the globe. The year is 1996. (Not to mention late 1995.)
Every time you brought home one of those new cartridges in their little shrink wrapped boxes, you got a special feeling inside. Nothing huge, just a spark of excitement knowing you would soon be devoid of the problems around you as you plunged yourself deep into the world of a new RPG, or pummeled your friends in the newest football release. You’re always sure to closely examine reviews and ask opinions about the game, so you know it’s exactly what you want. And even if it’s not, returning it or selling it is as simple as it gets. It’s a good day for gaming.
Then, the shortly-before announced Playstation--- is released. An amazing turning point in gaming, from graphic tricks to produce 3D, to full 3D. A transition that will always be remembered in gaming history. But is it for the good, or the bad? Possibly both. For you see, games in 2D does not automatically make them better, there as a plethora of worthless dribble not fit for a blind chimp on all 2D systems. However, back then, only the big shot games worth playing got praise, games such at E.T. got lovely vacant landfills all to their own, however.
The Playstation takes the world by storm, simply for being 3D it automatically surpasses competitors in the fanbase, leaving a scar on Sega and Nintendo that remains to this day. Had Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 before the Playstation was launched, who knows what would’ve happened. Either way, both systems were loaded with horrible malfunctioning games, but people still loved them. The Nintendo 64 for it’s absolute turning point in 3D Platformers, Mario 64, it’s demonstration of public awareness and ability to prove it wrong with the classic Conker’s Bad Fur Day, turning a children’s Game Boy game into an all out obnoxia-fest. It’s pinnacle in Adventure games with the release of Ocarina of Time, a testament to originality. Times were good.
People also loved the Playstation, for games such as Tomb Raider, which encompassed action and firepower, with a female standpoint and puzzlework, blending genres into one. Parappa the Rappa, for fearlessly venturing into the American market and succeeding, with one of the first Rhythm games that didn’t suck. Resident Evil for it’s pure gore, addicting story line and spooky atmosphere, leaving small children without sleep for nights on end.
Eventually though, the Nintendo 64, after surviving off of only what Rare and Nintendo alone could pull off, and receiving little to no third party support, died out, and the Gamecube, or, Dolphin, was therein announced. The Playstation thrived on and still makes decent sales to this day. There was really nothing to complain about on the Playstation, either. While it was loaded with horrible games, Final Fantasies kept it spicy along with a rush of other great RPGs, it was a good day either route you took. But then something happened.
The Playstation 2 was released, and after so, people waited months upon months for a decent game. Once they waded through all the irate garbage and ridiculous Japanese imports, they were treated to a select few gems. By this time, the Gamecube is out, also with a lackluster amount of decent games for a while. Playstation 2 fans are treated to Final Fantasy X, Jak and Daxter, and a few other must-have quality titles such as Kingdom Hearts. Gamecube owners get the highly original Super Mario Sunshine, the risk-taking Wind Waker, and the zany, yet surprisingly calm setting of Animal Crossing. Either way you took, it was good gaming, but for the little games released that were good, it wasn’t much to brag about. Playstation 2 is constantly getting a fuller library, but with little substance, the Gamecube also has low substance with a higher quality percentage, but with the relatively low amount of games, it hardly makes up for it.
Where have all the good developers went? There’s always been great games around, and there’s always been horrible games around. And while big developers like Shigeru Miyamoto, and everyones’ Mr. Hideo have always been around for us, constantly trying to innovate and renovate, we need more. As experienced gamers, we all beat video games at a much faster rate now, meaning no more weeks-on-end of come home from school and play for a few hours action. We easily solve the most masterful puzzles with ease because games have so revamped our imagination and process of logic of the years, that we are able to assume and predict these things. Making games not done massively well and extremely polished lackluster at best. Our current developers besides the big names that release the occasional masterpiece, are usually horrid attempts at programming futile to attempt with the limited budgets they’re given.
We have deadlines, movie tie-ins, TV show rip-offs, spin-offs of other games and all too many attempts at taking the title away from another game only to wind up on the wall of shame. No longer can a developer relax in an environment with others and calmly exert their imaginative thoughts, they are forced into small spaces, forced to follow a poorly written guideline or script, made to withhold their own ideas as the big shots make money off of their work. Creativity is most certainly out there, but getting creative people up high enough to show their brain storms off is the part the game industry is striking out in. While innovation in a world where nearly everything has been done is most certainly hard, there’s still infinite possibilities out there, why is no one thinking outside of the box? Sure it may be risky, but what’s a little risk to something that could earn you perpetual respect from millions upon millions of people across the globe?
Hopefully people will soon plan newer ideas, companies such as THQ will be blown off the map and replaced by proven succeeding developers, such as the folks at Rare, Retro, and Konami. The amount of bad games will someday go down, it has to, or the video game industry as a whole will crumble. A bad day for anyone who’s grown up with Mario, Link, or any other mascot they can refer to as a source of entertainment and escape.
But then again, are we, the gamers, the problem? Are we too picky due to our extended (or shortened) attention spans and more vast knowledge of puzzles and ideas? Is our cravement for constant innovation and greatness too much for little companies to handle?
Are the developers worse, or are we as gamers, now, better? That’s for you to decide, I personally believe developers need a wake up call.
Note, the Xbox console wasn’t mentioned here as I saw no reason to add it, it’s about games, I wasn’t trying to corner any console in particular.
