Why Today's Video Games Suck
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
For those of you that follow my Twitter feed, you've already gotten some of this...
Today's video games suck. Not all of them. There's always exceptions. And I'll be talking about those as well. But let's talk about the suck first.
As we look around the video game landscape, we are bombarded by new games, sometimes as often as every week. They all tout amazing gameplay and photo-realistic graphics. But when I get into the game...it sucks. It's the same game I played last year.
You know the one. The one where I get to run around, first person, and shoot stuff with a variety of creative weapons. To kill something, I just need to have enough ammo. As long as keep shooting, I'll keep advancing.
Or maybe that racing game. The one where I get to customize my car to no end, and then get to drive it around famous cities. All the while not taking nearly the damage that a guard rail at 250 MPH should provide.
Or the sports game. Be it baseball, football, soccer, golf, hockey, you name it. I get to pick my team to represent, and manage it just like the guy that does it in real life. I can make trades, set the cost of merchandise, etc. Oh yeah, and I get to simulate the games as well. I get to control the batter, or the quarterback, or the left wing. And I get to run and run and run. This game has been made every year, with a new name (and "NEW" features). BTW, making my character look more like me is not enough to get me to spend $50 again.
Finally, there's the fighting game. You know the one. You choose one of 20 characters, and then spend the rest of the game fighting the other 19. Or your buddy, who doesn't know the UP-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT combo moves to destroy you.
Yes, these games get more visually appealing. I'll agree with that. And they do add more features. But at the end of the day, it's still the same game. Where are the new ideas?
The first new idea I've seen comes from one of the most storied game franchises in existence. Super Mario Galaxy. They took a great story and made it better. It's got innovative storylines. It's got innovative gameplay. (The inherent innovation of the Wii notwithstanding.) It is, by far, the best game I've played in a few years. Mario64 gave us one of the first 3D worlds. Running around spherical planets the size of a large house is a completely different experience. Now try jumping from one to the other...because they've each got their own gravities. Absolutely a step in the right direction for an already great line of games.
The second new idea out there is the Guitar Hero/Rockband concept. Who thought pretending to play a guitar could be so much fun? Never before has there been a game that was the POINT of everyone coming over to your house. (No, I'm not talking about your Halo LAN parties.) I'm talking about mixed company (yes, that means girls) coming over to your house to hang out. To have a few drinks. To socialize. And to wait in line to play a video game. Oh yeah, and the game provides the party's soundtrack. Now, perhaps this happened in high school. But having your buddy and your respective girlfriends over to watch you and him play Tecmo Bowl does not count. I had 10 people over 30 in my house recently to play this game. That, my friends, is a first.
My third thought on an amazing new idea in console video games is the "training" game. Whether this be training for your body, mind, or even your eyes, these games are really taking on something new. Games like Brain Age, Big Brain Academy, and Wii Sports have really ignored the need for stunning graphics and instead focused on a game/trainer that actually claims to help you get in shape, make quick decisions, or even improve your peripheral vision. I'm in no way saying that their claims are accurate, but at the very least, I'm getting better at playing their games.
So let's talk ideas. What do you want to see the next great game become? Personally, I'd like to see a new game that incorporates some truly FUN gameplay. Take a look around at the "casual" gaming market. Sites like popcap.com or kongregate.com. Let's take some of the great ideas from these games, smack your "amazing graphics" package on them, and take them to prime time. There are some amazing games on these sites, and it seems only soccer moms are the ones appreciating them.
Today's video games suck. Not all of them. There's always exceptions. And I'll be talking about those as well. But let's talk about the suck first.
As we look around the video game landscape, we are bombarded by new games, sometimes as often as every week. They all tout amazing gameplay and photo-realistic graphics. But when I get into the game...it sucks. It's the same game I played last year.
You know the one. The one where I get to run around, first person, and shoot stuff with a variety of creative weapons. To kill something, I just need to have enough ammo. As long as keep shooting, I'll keep advancing.
Or maybe that racing game. The one where I get to customize my car to no end, and then get to drive it around famous cities. All the while not taking nearly the damage that a guard rail at 250 MPH should provide.
Or the sports game. Be it baseball, football, soccer, golf, hockey, you name it. I get to pick my team to represent, and manage it just like the guy that does it in real life. I can make trades, set the cost of merchandise, etc. Oh yeah, and I get to simulate the games as well. I get to control the batter, or the quarterback, or the left wing. And I get to run and run and run. This game has been made every year, with a new name (and "NEW" features). BTW, making my character look more like me is not enough to get me to spend $50 again.
Finally, there's the fighting game. You know the one. You choose one of 20 characters, and then spend the rest of the game fighting the other 19. Or your buddy, who doesn't know the UP-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT combo moves to destroy you.
Yes, these games get more visually appealing. I'll agree with that. And they do add more features. But at the end of the day, it's still the same game. Where are the new ideas?
The first new idea I've seen comes from one of the most storied game franchises in existence. Super Mario Galaxy. They took a great story and made it better. It's got innovative storylines. It's got innovative gameplay. (The inherent innovation of the Wii notwithstanding.) It is, by far, the best game I've played in a few years. Mario64 gave us one of the first 3D worlds. Running around spherical planets the size of a large house is a completely different experience. Now try jumping from one to the other...because they've each got their own gravities. Absolutely a step in the right direction for an already great line of games.
The second new idea out there is the Guitar Hero/Rockband concept. Who thought pretending to play a guitar could be so much fun? Never before has there been a game that was the POINT of everyone coming over to your house. (No, I'm not talking about your Halo LAN parties.) I'm talking about mixed company (yes, that means girls) coming over to your house to hang out. To have a few drinks. To socialize. And to wait in line to play a video game. Oh yeah, and the game provides the party's soundtrack. Now, perhaps this happened in high school. But having your buddy and your respective girlfriends over to watch you and him play Tecmo Bowl does not count. I had 10 people over 30 in my house recently to play this game. That, my friends, is a first.
My third thought on an amazing new idea in console video games is the "training" game. Whether this be training for your body, mind, or even your eyes, these games are really taking on something new. Games like Brain Age, Big Brain Academy, and Wii Sports have really ignored the need for stunning graphics and instead focused on a game/trainer that actually claims to help you get in shape, make quick decisions, or even improve your peripheral vision. I'm in no way saying that their claims are accurate, but at the very least, I'm getting better at playing their games.
So let's talk ideas. What do you want to see the next great game become? Personally, I'd like to see a new game that incorporates some truly FUN gameplay. Take a look around at the "casual" gaming market. Sites like popcap.com or kongregate.com. Let's take some of the great ideas from these games, smack your "amazing graphics" package on them, and take them to prime time. There are some amazing games on these sites, and it seems only soccer moms are the ones appreciating them.
Labels: jeff blankenburg, suck, video games
4 Comments:
commented by 
Tim, 11:07 PM
Tim, 11:07 PM
In the same mode as Guitar hero are the Dance Dance Revolution games, which I really enjoy.
Totally agree about the sports games - the 2 I have are ones that I bought used the year after they were purchased for like 10 bucks, because what's the difference between Madden 06 and Madden 07 or 08 or 09?
Totally agree about the sports games - the 2 I have are ones that I bought used the year after they were purchased for like 10 bucks, because what's the difference between Madden 06 and Madden 07 or 08 or 09?
I gave Guitar Hero to my son home from college as a Christmas gift. We had friends and family over for dinner that night and his piano teacher, an opera singer, was bobbing her head as she tried to hit the right chords. Of course I got a video of it!
So can I have my copy of Bioshock back now? :D
New games come out every week, just like movies. It's not like there aren't great websites (or short programs on local radio *cough*CD101 Tuesday mornings @ 8:45*cough*) to help you sort through the games that are coming out.
I get what you're saying about the focus being on graphics over gameplay but I do question what games you're playing. Sure there are a lot of rote shooters, racers, and fighting games but this last year has seen some of the best games ever, not just in terms of graphics but in terms of innovative gameplay.
Games (like everything else), evolve over time. Looking at the sports games the dynasty modes have evolved to where you get to manage all the detailed crap in the game, you don't have to to play the game but you can. In a way they are a lot like the Office suite. The base stuff never really changes but they just keep adding features so they can release a new version. Do you really use all the new features in Word or Excel? I've been buying Hockey games for the last 7 years and I've yet to touch the prices of hot dogs in my stadium, I'm just focusing on winning games.
The damage in racing games isn't a limitation of the developer but if a game uses licensed cars or not. Most car manufacturers will not let the game companies show their cars to be damaged (which is why the Burnout series doesn't use them).
I think the core of your argument is the whole casual vs. hardcore thing which is something the entire industry is struggling with right now. Casual games are the ones that you can pickup in less than an hour and drop in and out of without having a large learning curve. Every game you cited is a casual game. Nothing wrong with that but calling everything else crap is a bit closed minded.
Sure there was a lot of crap this year but you also had great games like Uncharted:Drakes Fortune, Ratchet and Clank, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Assassins Creed. Next year has some really great stuff as well. (go to gametrailers and search for Little Big Planet). what really makes a good game is good gameplay, storytelling, and immersiveness (audio and visual). As long as you have two of the three you're going to have a good game. For the record Mario (and Zelda) both have crap stories. Seriously, rescue the princess? How many times do we have to do that...Mario is (and always will be) about the gameplay.
New games come out every week, just like movies. It's not like there aren't great websites (or short programs on local radio *cough*CD101 Tuesday mornings @ 8:45*cough*) to help you sort through the games that are coming out.
I get what you're saying about the focus being on graphics over gameplay but I do question what games you're playing. Sure there are a lot of rote shooters, racers, and fighting games but this last year has seen some of the best games ever, not just in terms of graphics but in terms of innovative gameplay.
Games (like everything else), evolve over time. Looking at the sports games the dynasty modes have evolved to where you get to manage all the detailed crap in the game, you don't have to to play the game but you can. In a way they are a lot like the Office suite. The base stuff never really changes but they just keep adding features so they can release a new version. Do you really use all the new features in Word or Excel? I've been buying Hockey games for the last 7 years and I've yet to touch the prices of hot dogs in my stadium, I'm just focusing on winning games.
The damage in racing games isn't a limitation of the developer but if a game uses licensed cars or not. Most car manufacturers will not let the game companies show their cars to be damaged (which is why the Burnout series doesn't use them).
I think the core of your argument is the whole casual vs. hardcore thing which is something the entire industry is struggling with right now. Casual games are the ones that you can pickup in less than an hour and drop in and out of without having a large learning curve. Every game you cited is a casual game. Nothing wrong with that but calling everything else crap is a bit closed minded.
Sure there was a lot of crap this year but you also had great games like Uncharted:Drakes Fortune, Ratchet and Clank, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Assassins Creed. Next year has some really great stuff as well. (go to gametrailers and search for Little Big Planet). what really makes a good game is good gameplay, storytelling, and immersiveness (audio and visual). As long as you have two of the three you're going to have a good game. For the record Mario (and Zelda) both have crap stories. Seriously, rescue the princess? How many times do we have to do that...Mario is (and always will be) about the gameplay.
Jeff Blankenburg is a Developer Evangelist for the Microsoft Corporation. I have a passion for user interface technologies, including CSS, 
Today...I'm not a huge fan beyond sports games. (I'm a sports fan, it's natural for me.) I played Doom for weeks on end, so other than the technology advances, what's the difference between it and Gears of War? I do enjoy Guitar Hero, and I blame you for that.
What I really want to see is more games take a Wii Sports approach to the Wii controller. At the top of that list, I want to see EA release NHL '09 where you use the Wii-mote as a hockey stick. Snap a wrister off, make passes, load up a slap shot...play goalie by using the nunchuck as your glove. So many possibilities for games with the Wii-mote...