Shakey-Lo on 17/12/2008 at 16:35
(
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3884/gamasutras_top_20_trends_of_2008.php)
Interesting article, talking about both the positive and negative trends we've seen in the game industry this year.
Something that struck me was its mention of both
Far Cry 2 and
Mirror's Edge - two games that I think highly of, FC2 especially - as being examples of games that pushed for quality and yet underperformed at retail. It does seem that EA made a strong push for high quality, original IPs this year, and I was cheering them the whole way, but now the games are out and nobody's bought them. I just find it disappointing, knowing that the old approach of cranking out sequels is now only going to be encouraged, and EA are already scaling back their adventurous approach.
On FC2, this line in particular struck me:
Quote:
Do players really want a living world, or do they just want scripted events that convince them they are playing in one?
I am very much in the former camp, and have little patience for the smoke and mirrors of scripted events, but I have to agree based on general reaction to FC2 that most gamers
don't seem to care, and would rather have an interactive movie.
That's why I also found it interesting when they point out:
Quote:
Steven Speilberg's deal with EA resulted not in an overblown cinematic project, but Boom Blox -- a game that truly took advantage of the Wii.
Also have to agree with their thoughts on outsourcing and the blurring between indie and pro developers as leading to a "Hollywoodisation" of the industry - meaning a freelancing, nebulous industry rather than a studio-based one.
Anyway just thought it was an interesting and well-considered article that could lead to some discussion, there's a wide range of topics covered in there.
denisv on 17/12/2008 at 17:57
FC2 was just a very awful game. I don't think its reception means people prefer corridor shooters.
mothra on 17/12/2008 at 18:49
I'd rather read an analysis why/how the supposed "push" for quality games did fail to produce them. what they got was average, not daring and innovative. if they now start to claim that they tried and failed I couldn't help but laugh about the irony of it. they just don't get it......imo
fc2 and mirrors edge aint no grim fandango (and didn't sell that poorly)
Koki on 17/12/2008 at 18:56
I think both of them were quite innovative.
Just because you have innovashun doesn't mean you have a good game though.
Shakey-Lo on 17/12/2008 at 19:53
Quote Posted by denisv
FC2 was just a very awful game.
FC2 is my favourite single player FPS in a
long time.
denisv on 17/12/2008 at 21:14
Quote Posted by Shakey-Lo
FC2 is my favourite single player FPS in a
long time.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Fringe on 17/12/2008 at 21:19
I'm sorry for your face.
suliman on 17/12/2008 at 22:31
I don't think far cry 2 is the best example of a living, breathing world. It's been a while since I played it, but what else is there besides guys driving around in cars trying to kill you?
Besides, most of the criticism i've seen levelled against it has to do with it being repetitive and all that stuff everyone's heard about already. I never heard anyone complain about far cry 2's living, breathing world because, again, it's not really there:erg:
Chade on 18/12/2008 at 01:34
"Living, breathing worlds" will not initially be as rich as the scripted ones ... that's the sort of thing that's going to take a lot of experience and know-how to achieve.
I haven't played FC2, so I don't know in what state it shipped, but I do know the FC2 devs had big ambitions regarding the flexible delivery of story content, and as far as I can see no-one really noticed or gave a shit.
Which on one hand is solely the devs fault ... but on the other hand, my fear is that scripted games have raised the quality bar so high that "living, breathing worlds" just don't have a chance of being accepted.
Phatose on 18/12/2008 at 01:43
FC2's problem had nothing to do with scripting, or the living breathing world. It had to do with not enough fast travel points and respawning checkpoints out the wazoo.
