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We need a revolution- WARNING: THIS IS A RANT
We need a revolution- WARNING: THIS IS A RANT
May 11, 2006 4:20PM PST
Now, I am tired and hungover and certainly grumpy- so I may go too far with this, but it seems to me that the only thing that's changed in the games on display here from last year to this, is the graphics. That's it. In fact, the only thing that's really changed in the games on display here for the past FIVE YEARS is the graphics.
And if you visit Nintendo's booth, not even that much has changed. Wii games look barely different to Gamecube games. And I'm not at all convinced by the controller, either. It feels gimmicky, and nowhere near as interesting as it looks. Sure, tennis is fun with it, and the tiny acid-munching alien scientists that dreamt up Super Monkey Ball must have seen the future, because the Wii controller is PERFECT for that game. Perfect. Really. But everything else, from Zelda to Mario, to Warioware to Metroid to whatevertheshit doesn't need it. It doesn't make them any more fun. Not really. And all the games on Nintendo's booth are re-treads of familiar franchises, where we're doing the same old shit to the same old enemies and bosses that we've been doing forever. And it's no excuse that Nintendo invented all that gameplay stuff in the first place- because that just reminds me of how long we've been stuck in this loop.
We have all this new technology that makes driving games look like reality, only shinier; that makes walls have textures that look a lot like real walls; that make guns eject shell casings that have real physics applied to them so that when they land on the ground they...bounce. But the games are exactly the same as they were last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.
High-res Mitsubishi Evos, Orcs, vampires, vampire-orcs, stomping mechs, slashing and hacking warriors, sexy chicks with big guns and massive tits, steroidal guys with massive guns and huge tits, boss fights, cutesy bubble-headed jumping monster fucks, growling footballers, pivotting basketballers, Tiger Woods, and Tony Fucking Hawk. Again. And again. And again.
The technology has outstripped our ability to keep up with it. Games look real, but they don't act real. AI is still a joke. And so is animation (the two are surely closely linked).
I interviewed Peter Molyneux years ago at GDC, and that was his big theme. He made the point that animation was the next big frontier and that it was going to be incredibly hard to take it where it needs to go: total realism. At E3 you can now see characters that look pretty real. A little waxey, maybe, but pretty real. Until they move or speak. Then they look fake. They look like videogame characters. And then you try to interact with them, and it's pointless, because you don't really need to. In just about every game that contains real looking characters, you will probably end up shooting them in the face in the end anyway. Or running them over in your car with rockets on top, or slicing them in half with your special (probably magic) sword.
And that can be compelling. It can be lots of fun. But it's the same fun we've been having for a decade now, and it's time we moved on. We still can't make a game that has half the wit, subtlety or level of interaction of a straight-to-video movie. Or a weeknight crime drama. And I wouldn't want to play either of those two games if we could,because they'd be shit and because games need somewhere different to go, and I'm not sure where that is. But, worryingly, neither do those whose job it is to find out. And more worryingly, if you look at the games on display for the next generation here, they're not even asking the question. They're not even trying. Someone at EA once said that they wanted to make games that make you cry. Well, mission accomplished.
E3 is turning into Groundhog Day. Maybe it always was, but the staggering lack of originality out there is surely going to damage this industry, and put the breaks on the huge gains it has made. Better graphics got us this far. Now we need something more.
Comments (81)
misery loves companyPosted: May 19, 2006 12:00AM PST by Earnest_Longchalk
... and i'll go you one further, my friend. it's the fact that with all the improved technology in the world, we've all run around going 'shiny' like a special in a hall of mirrors. and so have never developed the sophistication and subtelty to do anything with it.
so who cares how shiny it is? it's just the same old stuff. and until we concentrate on content it won't change...
take heart, discontented 1up editor, and look at the peripheryPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by jcs440
You are absolutely correct. Most of the games we see at E3 are better-looking iterations of ones we've already played to death. Most, but not all. I haven't been gaming as long as you have, but never before have I seen games like Brain Training or Phoenix Wright on the DS. Spore also seemed like a novel idea to me. If you look at the small advancements in those reiterated games, you even begin to see innovations within the monotomy. Assasin's Creed, for example. Seems like something we've played before, but the crowd control option is something truly novel. In that case, you won't be slashing those beautifully rendered faces to peices. They'll be helping you hide from those beautifully rendered faces who wish to slash you to pieces. Widen your field of view to take in the periphery, even within those games with seem to be duplicates, and you'll see innovation. Or, at least I do.
Nice rantPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by thebomb1345
I totally agree with most things you've said. And while I obviously haven't played with the Wii controller, I can get a feeling of how 360 games and PS3 games will be - this gen games with better graphics, sound, and online capabilities. And not much else.
But is that really a bad thing? Sure, rehash after rehash is terrible. But since I don't review games (and therefore, don't play an insane amount of good & bad games), I have a different viewpoint. These games, in most cases, are still fun. Would I pass up a new Metroid Prime game all because it looks almost the same as both Prime 1 & 2? No. Why? Because I'm sure it's going to be fun.
But there is a major need of originality in gaming. Hopefully, the Wii can provide it. But if not, then gaming will slowly lose its sense of fun.
Growing PainsPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by CrankyPanda
You're absolutly right. What we are seeing here are the growing pains of an emergent art form that has a unique problem. The medium was invented, created, and for the last 30 or so years, propelled by technicians as opposed to artists. This emergent art form has not truly progressed beyond the simple insertion of more complicated narrative. There has not been a true innovation in the content of video games since the concept of the "cinematic" narrative. Once a way was found to tell a simple story, the only thing that has truly changed is the trappings of the game itself.
Graphical tricks, gee-wheez visuals, higher sound quality, gimmicky controls--all these things were made by technicians. Video game creators are essentially glorified computer programmers, not artists. This isn't their fault, and people like Molyneux ALMOST get it.
The bright side, of course, is that movies have encountered (and occasionally conquered) this problem, as did live theater and music before it. These are just the growing pains. Miyamoto was the Bach of video games. We're just waiting for Mozart. Have faith, things are changing. When technology increases to a certain point (and we're very close now), eventually people with more aesthetic minds will begin to be in control of game design. Then things will change.
Finally, the audience is almost ready. There is a reason Wii is getting so much attention. Gamers like the idea of a game machine that can do something DIFFERENT, as opposed to simply MORE. Wii isn't quite the answer, but it's damn close. This is still an emerging art form, and soon we'll begin to see new minds taking over from Kojima and Miyamoto, and then things will truly begin to change.
you just need a breakPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by p4rtyB0y
... take a couple of months without looking at a game and you'll be happy to get back to it. whenever you feel like that look at videos of games you were playing 5 years ago and games now. A few companies like lucasarts will start bringing some interesting technologies such as euphoria. it takes time... people have to be patient.. and in the future gen of consoles 6 years from now nobody will care about high def anymore. It'll be about shooting stuff in holographic worlds. That might be more exciting.
Real life for youPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by mr_luga
Sounds like you need REAL LIFE, my friend, if Wii dosnt satisfy your new change in gaming, what the hell will? What you want sounds like virtual reality, and as close as you can get to that now, is .. Reality.
I dont mean to bash you down here, but Wii is giving something totally diffrent in gaming, and you still dont want it, then there is just nothing that can help you :P Becouse as the way technology is today, nothing can give you what you want unless you are a member of Area 51 or something
i've been therePosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by Darksquirrel
I've been in moods like this, but you'll find it applies to everything. You've just had too much, especially after coming back from e3, the craziest place you could have gone this year. When i feel like this i generally ask myself "what do i find fun?" then i realize i don't have an answer, nothing really seems fun. It's called burnout. You need to do nothing for about a week or so, not play games, just do nothing. Seriously sit around and maybe watch television, or like take arbitrary walks or sleep alot. that sort of deal. You'll eventually feel better, trust me i get this alot, it spurs from stress and frustration.
You are right...In your first paragraphPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by Mabork
You are getting too old for this. You are tired, hungover and grumpy. You are getting closer to turning into that old guy next door that sends your football back over the fence with a hole in it. Maybe, at your ninth E3, you are just over it. All of those things are possible. But It is it. you think the games industry is about to blow it with the next generation. But, really, you are just growing up my freind. Don't take that the wrong way. It is a good thing. Maybe you can write how much your kids like the games (if you have any). You are 34. You are in a transition. It's ok
you know what's gimmickyPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by brokenjoystiq
the fact that everyone now uses that word to describe everything in gaming, and it's a joke. you know what else is gimmicky? taking two paddles, hooking them up to a game console, and playing a game where a ball moves back and forth all the while trying to beat your friend. people thought this about pong when it first appeared, and look where we are today.
we are in the same situation with the same deal. the only way things can change is if people let them change. but that will not happen because people want to hold onto the past. they are not willing to let go, and try something new. and if they do, they call it a gimmick. now that's just sad. that is what happened with the ds when skeptics called it gimmicky. and that is happening with the wii as well.
you can call that system whatever you wish, but the cold hard fact is that it places focus on the change we need in gaming. not this non-sense with better graphics, ai, animations and crap. what really matters is the experience of gameplay. it should be about how you're playing a game, not how great it looks, or if the stupid character hides behind the toilet, in level 4 with his 50 pals backing him up, in real time, 60 fps with detailed hair and facial features.
i'm sorry, but this next-gen 360 and ps3 look is crap. and it's not even worth the cost when you really think about it all. the games aren't there, and they will not be for years. and that is clear by looking back upon the xbox, ps2, and gc. their games have only begun to be what we could call "great." then again, this happens with every system because these damn companies are money hungry bastards. and we can clearly see that now. just look at sony with their ps3.
see, money is the primary factor of everything that is gaming. considering these companies each want as much as they can get, they will do whatever they will to get it. they have become greedy. and "that" is what has changed the industry. don't believe me? well, all you have to do is compare this idea with sports. sure, not everything was great back then, but it was different. those players played their hearts out for bare pennies. now we get these lame players crying off the field when they stub their toe so they can go home to one of their 12 houses, and cash in a check of millions per year.
but that is life, so what? live on. play on. if things change, great. if they don't, whatever.
Amen brotherPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by akajetcat
I have to agree with the overall gist of your blog. After seeing what the two biggest companies that are offering "next-gen" systems have to offer us this time around, I can't really say I'm excited. I'm actually more excited about the DS. After being a gamer for seventeen solid years, after owning almost every system since the Atari 2600, after buying into each new generation of games and platforms, my next system purchase will be a $130 HANDHELD??!!
You would think that I'd be the perfect target audience for dropping four to six hundered bucks on the next big thing. But I've already bought the next big thing more than once. PS1=$300 PS2=$300 Xbox=$300 not to mention all the ones before. So to tell you the truth the "next big thing" doesn't seem that big anymore.
For example: I want to buy a new system that has a hard drive, a HD output, a free/semi-free online game service, great graphics, video playback from other media, a strong proccessor and wireless controllers.
The PS3 and 360 don't seem so much different now do they. But wait, what's that you say? "It's all about the games."
You're right. So show me which of the announced games is not just a prettier version of the same thing that was put out on current gen. GTA4 will be a lot like the first three, just prettier ala Madden, Forza, PGR, Halo and the many FFX111's.
Don't get me wrong, better graphics are awesome. But I'll wait until they announce a new Katamari game.
Yet It SeemsPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by enime
This is the lifeline of video games. You might want something new but you can't get it. Why? Cause of the way, we as gamers are supporting the game industry and how we defend our views. Luke Smith spoke about Halo lately in his blog and people are disagreeing or agreeing. Any way you see fit, Halo itself without the hype and sales, is just a basic FPS. Even at E3, regardless of how many editors say this game was great or worse, all the people can agree on is this: The Nintendo section had long lines. Even by listening to the podcast, Nintendo had long lines. I not saying that lines are important or it means it makes that system the number one spot, it seem that gamers are looking forward to the Wii because they have that hope it will change gaming expereince. Criticsm or not, what would we like to hear more: PS3 vs 360? We're tired of that.
Speaking about graphics, just because things or objects are looking good or realistic, does it really serve a purpose? Does it help the framerate or make button mashing more inituitive? Yes and No. How? Combo's and being blown away by the art. It depends on the universe and/or environment, the feeling/emotion is trying to give us, and more important if we are enjoying or will enjoy the game. Calling the Wii-mote a periphial is like calling the PS3 and 360 Controller periphails (Wavebird and Wavebird 2). What makes it hard for games and how they play needs to be unlearned and the Wii-mote will do that. Frustrating as it might be, at least Shane Bettenhausen admitted that Zelda wasn't built up for the Wii and maybe that what's causing the commotion that it didn't feel good. Miyamoto and crew are still working on the game. We have 4 to 5 months for these games.
Even by your members of this community and your staff Mr. Cox have to admit, we are stuck with what we got and risking new properties now are dangerous. If Nintendo let these independent developers release demo's they are working on the virtual console and people like it (I say Maximum 1000, minimum 500), then we can see where gaming is really heading toward. We got the graphics (and this even goes for PC). We got the formulas and control schemes. We got the two options on how to save games and how to cheat on the games. What else or what direction do we as a community and developers and publishers need to go? This E3 was about consoles. OK, we understand. The next 4 years will be about games. In that time frame, you won't see nothing spectacular and the iteration in a franchise will just keep being the same. I think we all want a conference of new game franchises and not one sequel or same title, different genre, or spin off character game being shown or included. A FreE3. Fresh Retrospective Engaging Electronic Entertaining Expo.
agreed.Posted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by Liquid_Courage
I largely agree with you, I look at the games that I am getting excited about, Gears of War, MGS4, Dead Rising, Blue Dragon, Zelda and so on, for the most part they are just the same games I have been playing since at the latest mid-90s and in some cases the late-80s when I first started.
However, I think there is hope, when people are talking about the way in Mass Effect the eyes of the characters are being used to give you a true sense of their emotions without being over blown or as it was already mentioned in Assassin's Creed with crowds actting like a crowd, these games seem like they are heading in the right direction. Hopefully as this generation progresses they will continue to grow.
Have they perfected the game types that we already have?Posted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by npnm
As far as the game content is concerned,I've got two questions for you:What's your favorite genre? What game is the perfect example?
Can you really say that it's perfect?Just personally.No?Didn't think so.That's the damn point.There's plenty of room for improvement.If you want to quit,don't let the door hit you on the way out.Make way for someone who still believes that there are still developers who have been and are still waiting on the right tools to make something we never seen before.In the meantime,I'll settle on the developers challenging one another by breaking down barriers in games we already know are fun.
How long have you got?Posted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by akajetcat
npnm said
"Make way for someone who still believes that there are still developers who have been and are still waiting on the right tools to make something we never seen before"
Buddy I'm all for it. BUt how are these maverick developers going to do this when all they get to work with is the sam old thing, just stronger.
The top two (most powerful) new systems have tools to be utilized but as we've just seen they spent a majority of the new systems horsepower for GRAPHICS.
Simon said-
"Games look real, but they don't act real. AI is still a joke. And so is animation"
Developers are the ones that decide what goes into the game and how much focus is spent in different aspects of the game, AI vs graphics vs features etc.
Online gaming is so popular because you can actully play someone who can outthink you. How much fun would Halo 2 be right now if it had only come with single player and no Live play.
No one is saying that they're throwing all there games out the window and never looking back. I know I'm not. I'm just saying that making things shinier and prettier is no longer a compelling enough reason to buy systems.
Buy a DSPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by Copious_Teraflops
Preorder a Wii. It may seem like a gimmick now, but just like the DS the Wii is already giving you experiences you've never had before and can't get anywhere else. I see little reason the Wii won't take the same trajectory as the DS, and I think playing the gimmick card is just being short sighted, like people were with the DS. It's really easy to pick Mario, Zelda and Metroid out fo the pack and say nothing is new, but you're ignoring a lot of other stuff in the process.
Not so much of a rantPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by TooJaded
More simply speaking the truth. We seemed to have reached a level were the technology in gaming offers so much, but we still have the same old experiences being dished out to us. Partly this is down to the games designers and to the industry. It's a business after all, profits to be made, shareholders to keep happy. These titles sell, so, lets make more of them, seems to be the watchword.
When playing oblivion, I was blown away by the way it looked, and how much better the AI was. After a while, I noticed that what I was doing was similar to what I had played before...and the AI wasn't all that better really, and so the desire to play on was just...ebbed away adnd I stopped playing never getting higher than level 7.
Although I still get excited by certain titles, at the back of mind is the feeling that this game will just be like the others I have played. I don't think any of the next-gen consoles are going to deliver a new gaming experience. Wii may change how you interact with the game, but from what I saw there was nothing there I haven't seen before.
The trouble is, and also the key to acceptance of this situation, is simplythat there is no way out. Even if they developed a fully immersive 3D shooter with smell-o-vision, it would still be the same old same type of shooter. And if the game developers seriously try to reach out to the mass market, the casual gamers,and the non-gamer, then you are going to see more of this old tat given a new lick of paint, polished up till it shines like new and presented to the gamer as a new concept. Don't believe me? How many versions of CSI are there at the moment? How many versions of reality TV are there? Soduku anyone? Games are ultimately influenced by our culture, by the movies we watch, favorite books, comics and by current events. We want to be the hero or the anti-hero. We want to drive fast cars or we want to have a fantasy life and do things we would never dream of doing for real. We have to accept that, and that these games will for the large part be nothing more than remakes of what has gone before, albeit better looking and a more clever AI than before.
Maybe the leap we need to see is in AI behaviour and better, certainly much bigger MMOGs? But thats a long way off as is the HOLOsuite console ;)
For now, maybe its time to leave the controller where it is and take up knitting...No? then repeat after me
I must not become bored
Boredome is the mind-killer.
Boredom is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my Boredom.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the boredom has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Now you will have to excuse me, I'm off to watch Lost.
Here's some advice for youPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by thamashino
Try to become a game designer, if nothing's happening for you...stop complaining and try to make a change. You may be the next Miyamoto or something.
Absolutely RightPosted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by eviltreemonkey
Your critique of the current status of the industry is absolutely true. I cannot tell you how disheartened I have been by the games being paraded on Xbox 360 and PS3 as "next generation". We have gotten nowhere fast in this industry by relying on the same old formulas and disrespecting true innovation. However, there was one game (or demo)in particular at E3 that gave me hope. The demo for Heavy Rain was amazing. The animations of the character revealed depth of emotion and state of mind that would have never been possible on a current-gen console. Tne character even moved realistically. Lets hope that the game retains this state of realism and artistic detail in its final version, and that games continue to head in this direction.
The problem is within...Posted: May 20, 2006 12:00AM PST by otarumx
A big problem that the industry has right now is that true innovation is barely well recieved. People want franchises, they enjoy playing the next MGS, the next Mario, just look at how people get about Halo 3.
We enjoy playing the same game over and over again, but do we?, I mean, look at the film industry, the same stories are repeated ad nauseaum and people still go to the movies. It's the same for games, so, the only thing that can be done is tweak the graphics and try to upgrade the A.I. I mean, MGS and MGS3 (or Halo and Halo 2)are esentially the same game, but the A.I. is better, the graphics are better, even the gameplay is better and people loved it. We have grown past the innovation era, we are now at the perfectioning era, the companies are using the same tired old games and giving them a whole new view. The Wii is an example, it has the same games we have always known but the new motion sensitive controller gives us a new way of playing. And little by little we see more additions and changes to the formula. I mean, even Coca Cola has mantained the same formula for years and when trying a radical change got bit in the ass by it.
It's hard to innovate when companies and gamers are at each other worrying more about "which system has the best graphics" or "This system stole this from the other" instead of trying new game experiences.
A lot of us have been playin for over 20 years now, and we've seen it all, some have left gaming altogether, some of us still remain and we still enjoy the same old games and get excited over the innovations, but in the end it's all about entetainement. If the game manages to entertain us than it's ok if it's the same tired formula with "shiny" graphics and if something really innovative comes along we should embrace it, it doesn't matter if it's Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft or if one copies the other. Innovation is advancement and if everyone jumps in then the games will bet better even if we end up playing that same thing for the next 20 years.
Is Writing another Missing Piece?Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by amano_hyo
Even the games that have supposedly brilliant writing would be laughed at if they were presented to a book publisher. I wish gamers had higher standards when it came to character development and interesting design/dialogue too.
I agree with the blog post though (and I'm not even hungover), I've been gaming since Pac Man (missed out on Pong), and it sometimes seems as if when graphics were more primitive, people were a little more free to experiment gameplay wise.
When I was twelve or thirteen and I walked into the video game aisle of Toys R Us, I would get this feeling of wonder at being surrounded by so many unique worlds. Now I walk into Funcoland and I look around and I think "I've done all of this before." I'm excited about the Wii, but I'm not excited about Metroid Prime 3 or even Twilight Princess. It's the same damn thing. Tweaked? Sure, but essentially the same thing.
Another example is Metal Gear. It was an amazing NES game, there was nothing like it. But when I play the later games, all I can think is, "I did this when I was thirteen." The most extreme examples are the FPS, fighting, and driving genres. As far as I know, the most innovative fighting game is what...Smash Bros.?, maybe Punch Out? What is the most innovative driving game? Crazy Taxi? GTA? And FPS innovation? Is there even such a thing? Half-Life maybe? That's just sad. Where is the imagination?
I also am fed up with pathetic AI and the trend toward realism. In big name games, time after time, the AI is worthless: Halo, Splinter Cell, GTA, Metroid Prime. Even Fear, the supposed high water mark for AI is unimpressive. And all the while, games continue to strive for realistic graphics. Ooooh that car looks just like a real car, oooh that blade of grass moves in the wind, Ooooh those boobs bounce... wait boobs don't really bounce like that but you get the idea.
There really is not much hope for this coming generation. I see the games industry mirroring the movie industry. A ton of big budget crappy derivative titles that make a lot of money and are quickly forgotten and a few rare interesting classics that are mostly ignored. The fact that Spielberg is getting interested in games is not a good sign. Even if he made a Wii game, he would find a way to make it a gorgeous, shallow, sentimental piece of garbage. Unfortunately since game writing is so weak, everyone will praise his game as a masterpeice thus ushering in a new era of graphics-whores.
In the end, there is really only one solution. Just consider your gaming dollar a vote. Every time you buy or rent a game, you are essentially saying "make more games just like this." So, don't spend money on lame sequels with poor writing and hope that there are a lot of gamers out there with good taste who will do the same (yeah.. right).
I guess elitist gaming snobs like myself will always be bitter and whiney, but I can remember a time when gaming was my passion, when I was excited and amazed and I couldn't wait to pick up the controller or visit the local arcade. If the DS and Wii can't bring that feeling back, I don't think anything can.
Time for a new hobby?Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by VincentPrice
Maybe, and I'm going out on a big limb here in this arena, but maybe video games aren't the be all, end all of leisure time activities. Get outside. Get a fly fishing rod or some climbing gear or a chinese cookbook.
For over a decade I've been a casual observer of video games and the fanaticism they inspire and I guess it amuses me when someone bemoans the industry's future as if some part of them will die if it ceases to amuse them. Maybe video games have always been derivative, generally unimaginative and overly dependent on flashier technology and you're just now realizing it.
I'm not saying that video games are stupid, or that anyone should quit playing them. I just think there's more to life, and if you're getting your blood pressure ratcheted up about where the industry is going, maybe it's time to branch out a little and see how big the world really is.
VincentPrice is a nonbeliever!Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by amano_hyo
Videogames not the only avenue of entertainment? Blasphemy! Seriously, though be careful what you say, 1up will hunt you down for trying to deprogram its customers. They've already given Simon a good firm talking to. You should just drink the Kool Aid like everyone else and everything will be fine in yall's neighborhood.
I agree though. There comes a time when the realization hits you that video games are one of the least constructive ways to spend your time. Shortly after that comes the realization that you sound like your parents. And then you start eating your vegetables and the fun really begins.
New IdeasPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Braynbasher
Everytime a game company try something new most of the time it doesn't work out right away and with a 15-20 million dollar investment companys want to go what with they know. For as much as Nintendo wants to say they innovating every 5years they do what? Bring out Mario and Zelda and Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart the same over and over and over. Why? Because they know that people will stand in line for this kind of stuff. With only few taking chances. The worst is Sports Titles! If a company really wanted to take a chance They make a Sport Title to last them 2 years so that they could develop a title with a better engine and more ideas but why don't they? Because they know people with stand in line like a new Star Wars movie is coming just to get there hands on a rehash of Madden that doesn't change it's Engine once every 6 years. The Videogame Industry will not be changing anytime soon.. But I do think that in 5-7 years things will change as people get older and Fresh people come into the Industry.
It is the way it is...Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by ReverendSlim
Video games are like movies: 90% of them are bullshit that you slough through so you can get the 10% that do something innovative and new. That's just the reality of it.
That said, there are movies that I want to see that I know will be the same old thing I've seen before (i.e. most action flicks), but sometimes it's necessary to turn off the ole' thinker and have a bit of dumb fun... and the same goes for games. Both types serve a necessary function.
But hey, if it has to be a rehash of the same old formula I've seen before, I'm glad it's being dressed up to look and sound its best.
a wii bit bitter, are we?Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by joe_mack_1
You come across as a very jaded person. Time to take a vacation.
To much of a Good ThingPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by matt1256
Like many hwo have commented before me, I think people who are professionals in the industry like you are will tend to enjoy the same old shit more and more because they aren't overloaded with it.
I saw Metriod Prime mentioned earlier, and though I have yet to play echoes, not too much has to change for me to enjoy it. I want to play through part of the story again. Most games, I don't give two craps about story, I just want to win, but some have a narrative value that matters.
Take a break, come back and write a post about how you feel then. I think it'll be interesting.
Nothing new?Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by k00L hAnd g1Mp
I can think of tons of new and exciting things in gaming in the most recent past and my first game was Donkey Kong JR.
Nintendo DS list of completley non traditional Games IE PR, TC, Daigasso...
Guitar Hero...
X-box Live
all of these things get me more excited about gaming than I have been in years. And ya the retreads get me going too like NSMB, MPH, MG4, Mario Galaxy because they all look to add something neww hile retaining what I liked before about them. Honestly reading your blog made me think that you are just uninspired with all of gaming in general which is not a good place to be when you supposed to be a gaming editor.
To say that nothing is changing in gaming seems crazy to me, everything is changing more and more all the time. New types of games are emerging all the time it seems these days. Maybe you should ask yourself why you game to begin with.
The Key is to take everything in ModerationPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Hylian_Knight
Of course you can't do that because your a games journalist, but for a guy who gets between 6-9 games a year, it's cool. Maybe 1 will be a sci-fi shooter, maybe 1 will be an RTS, maybe 1 will be an RPG, maybe 1 will a Mario game, maybe 1 will be a racer, maybe 1 will be a stealth game, you get the idea. Since I don't get as many games a year as you play throughly in a month, another FPS can still be extremely fun. But then I still love the originalty in games and it's extremely important. I still have my original Xbox even though I have a 360 because I still love to play Panzer Dragoon Orta and Pysconaughts, one of my favorite DS games is Kirby Canvas Curse which has originality shitting out of it's ass. So why I can see where your coming from, it's not really a problem I have.
I agree and disagreePosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by _Mako_
There is a lot of repetition but that is because those things generally sell. It is easy to yell "more innovation" when you are not putting the future of your company at stake. I would HOPE the larger developers and publishers can be a little more revolutionary, but even they have to tread carefully.
I tell you I would love to see a believeable voice synthisis system that you REALLY could not tell the difference. Voice acting is often awesome, but it would be better if everyone had thier own voice and mannerisms that could be used in game on demand. That brings me to the other part which would be a believeable behavioral AI. Havok seems to be the major phyics engine for so many games. We need someone to do for bahaviour AI that Havok has done for physics.
I want NPCs that can truely interact in believable ways. This will be a tall order, but I think systems are at a place now where they can start doing these things.
The Negetive's of being a Video Game JournalistPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by ChaosSoldier87
why is it a negetive? Because you play way too many games (duh). Now YOU may be sick of all these fighting games you have played, for example, cause they are all the same but for a person like me who doesn't play has much as you do, I still can't be bored of them. And I won't be bored of Tekken 6 or SOCOM 5 anytime soon.
I agreePosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by BreakfastPills
I barely read most of your blog before I excited thought "someone else understands!". The game industry really isn't changing for the better very much. It's just becoming overwhelming corporate like all other types of media... saturated with advertising and high costs.
huh?Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by WiiWillTriumph
did you say warioware wasn't anymore fun with the Wii remote. that just doesn't make any sense, i mean you're actually performing the actions instead of just pressing some buttons...
I kind of agree....Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Mikeyboy75
I'll agree with you that the Wii just didnt wow me as much as i thought it would. The controller is revolutionnary, but the games look.........like gamecube games. I mean they impresse us the the control methods, but the hardware capabilities are very unimpressive.
For me presonnally, i think the more the industry changes, the more it stays the same. Look At xbox live on 360 for example. I wrote an article in my blog about live going backwards. We're in the next generation, the hardware is super powerful and yet games still ship with bad AI and 8 player online games. 8 player online games on Live for 360!! Are you kidding me?? We had more on xbox1!!!!
So far, i have to admit, im not impressed. Sony showed me nothing that id spend 600+$ for and im still waiting for a 360 game that'll hook me like Halo2 did on xbox 1.
But on the bright side, Mass effect and Gears Of War do look amazing and so does Rainbow Six Vegas. So maybe we just need to be patient. One thing is for sure, 2007 will be great.
Innovativeness doesn't helpPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by MrEnygma
Because gamers don't get into it. There have many games that have gone "off the beaten path" only to be relegated to the bargain bin. As long as gamers keep clamoring for the same thing and don't venture outside the box, it'll be that way.
Someone needs a nap ; )Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Kokoru
LOL I feel where you're coming from though... Its easy to get sick and tired of playing the same games over and over with different characters, or the same characters, but little gimmicks here and there... I KNOW trust me.
But while its true that Nintendo hasn't shown anything "new" persay at E3, remember how DS started off... Basically they get the fanbase happy first, especially at E3 which is meant to get hype among the fans, then they go for all the quirky Nintendogs, Brain Age, ect. type of games...
In all reality though for the most part I agree with you big time, and think they need to hire more creative minds and I guess I can't complain too much because I have creativity oozing out of my pores, but really though I can't wait to get in the game industry as a designer and it may take years, or be really hard, but I think you'll like what I have to offer you guys in the future ;)
Beating a dead horsePosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by rabidlilweasel
What is killing the industry, besides obvious lack of innovation, is the industry itself. Video games have become big business, and has attracted a lot of attention from many different industries, like the motion picture business. And as we've seen in the past with other things (music, movies, animation, you name it) that become an INDUSTRY, big business will strip mine it until there's nothing left. So where I'd like nothing more than to tell you to chin up, Simon, unfortunately, I cannot. This is only the foreshadowing of things to come. A grim outlook, I know, but a realistic one. Truely, I don't see the gaming industry thriving beyond this generation. At least not in the incarnation we know as of now.
Come on, look at yourself.Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Evil_Kiwi
Your post made me realize how you are way too involved with games. Who says you need innovation to have fun? Have you ever played a sport? The rules hardly ever change, rarely is innovation found, but people still play them. You don't need innovation to have fun. Quit whining and go outside for a little bit.
And for those who say the wii grphics looked like the gamecube, here's why:
they were gamecubes. And who cares what the graphics look like, as long as they arent so bad that they hinder gameplay.
Again, quit whining
cry babyPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by dmm219
Pissed off that innovation isn't happening in the gaming world? Look in the mirror. Its your fault. Its the fault of most hardcore gamers. You all get EXACTLY what your asking for. Dollars do the talking and the graphics whores won. And yet you and 1up won't even give something novel like the wii a fair chance. Lets not even cover how freakin wrong you all were with the ds.
You're 34? You're too damn old to act like this. Grow the hell up. If you want innovation, stop complaining and start working on developing games that will do that.
It's not all bad.Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Angry_Jedi
Innovation still exists. However, it's not always in the most obvious of places. As jcs440 quite rightly points out, games such as Brain Training and Phoenix Wright are taking things in a different direction. Yes, Brain Training is essentially an interactive puzzle book, and Phoenix Wright is basically a retread of the point-and-click adventure genre from ten years past (in itself no bad thing) but they are taking things in alternative directions (i.e. ones which aren't viewed from a first-person perspective with a gun hanging from your chin).
It is easy to think that innovation is dead, however - because people keep lapping up the same old, same old. EA milk this to extremes with their yearly updates of Madden, NBA, FIFA and Tiger Woods. These are the "big name" games, the publishers of whom are in serious danger of disappearing up their own arses. I remember the moment I thought this - it was when I saw that the music menu in Need For Speed Underground was called "EA Games Trax(tm)" instead of, err, what was that word... "Music"! That's it.
It's not completely lost though, as I say - it's just well hidden behind all the hard-hitting publishers. I think the most innovative games at the moment are appearing on the DS - we have Phoenix Wright, Brain Training, Under the Knife, Animal Crossing... all games which break a number of boundaries, be it providing real drama (in the case of Phoenix and Under the Knife), offering a scientific approach to gaming (in the case of Brain Training) or just being outright weird (in the case of the inimitable Animal Crossing).
But think about it - the same happens in music and movies. The big name films are fairly predictable. Popular music has phases where everything sounds the same - we're in a major "guitar band" phase at the moment and I'm hard pressed to distinguish one from the other. While all this is going on, though, the underdogs do their good work, and gaming is the same.
bitch bitch bitchPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by JD-Ure
No matter how many Katamari Damacys, guitar heros, or nintendogs come out it's always easier to bitch. On the 1up podcast there was a complaint that "everything at sony's coference was shooting and driving" they left out flying , but whatever. It's funny how people call heavensword godess of war, but no one says oh halo that's just doom with aliens instead of demons. What would actually make you happy? Instead of bitching about what you don't like maybe you should try to be positive about what you do. For instance everyone is saying the ps3 controller is a joke and a gimmick, well here's a free idea for developers- I can't tell you how many times I've been playing a FPS and actually leaned around corners in real life to see if an enemy is around the corner, now with the tilt controller that could actually work.
Again what the hell would have made you happy? A virtual helmet that jacks directly into your skull, and actually makes you feel every injury? There was plenty of the same this year , but there was also plenty of new and different too. It sounds to me like your jaded eyes would'nt let you see the trees for the forrest.
It's ironic how...Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by ArtiZt
...you mention that most of Wii's games presented on E3 looks about the same as GameCube games, and you express that as a gripe, yet you understate the the graphical capabilities of the other consoles. What exactly are you looking for GRAPHICALLY during this next generation of consoles?
Also, it needs to be clearly stated that your utter lack of belief towards Wii and what it is trying to accomplish is based on what you have seen from E3. This is how many gamers foresaw Nintendo DS before it came out: simply a gimmick, and from the start, it did seem that way. But new ideas inspire others to expand what make those ideas good. As with Nintendo DS, developers will gradually get the feel for the Wii technology and expand on its gameplay possibilities.
I don't know how you feel about the DS, but most of its owners are convinced that this once-called gimmick is now the standard of pure portable gaming (though not all its games necessarily needs the stylus and touch screen, either). This is the same philosophy Wii is going by, and if you put your personal standards about Wii simply based on what you have seen from E3 rather than the possibilities it creates, then you probably are just a grumpy old man.
I disagree...Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Shiver_44
While I do admit, innovation is limited. It is not as bad as it could get. Look at the movie industry, they are in a much worse situation then the games industry is. Tons of crap horror films and unrealistic action flicks permeate the theatres. Last year, the four "big" successful movies were remakes of old movies like War of the Worlds and King Kong. This year's lineup; X-3, MI: III, Superman Returns (again) and the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel, along with the tons of slasher flicks. Throw in dwindling box office numbers, now that is a dying industry.
You're Just Jaded. ...and Hung OverPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by ShredMeister
It's inevitable that the standard rehash of Game X will come out every year. It's the bread and butter of the industry. Believe it or not, the masses LIKE reiterations of their favorite IP. Hell, so do I. But you are totally jaded, because you've forgotten all the other games that everyone else here has mentioned that are new and fresh.
That's the formula of the business: Build a strong IP that you can upgrade (rehash) every year to pay the bills, and then when you have the money, explore new ideas in gaming. That's just the way it is. Don't like it that way? Don't buy Game X. Do you enjoy the innovation and newness of Game Y? Support it with your gaming dollar.
Isn't it rather obvious?Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by darrinA
It seems, there is a lot of talk around the 1UP that the Wii controller is not living up to its expectations and has even been called a peripheral. But isn't it easy to see the parallels between the Wii and the DS?
The first games on the DS were very lackluster. But eventually we got Meteos, Trauma Center, Nintendogs, Ouedan, Cooking Mama, and Brain Age, and the DS has only just begun.
It's obvious. The Wii's library will come of age. As soon as someone figures out how to do an FPS properly with the controller, all heads will turn.
the wiiPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by TwilightPrincess
I don't have first hand experience with the wii's controller, but I think that what nintendo has done with it, is more of a revolution compared to anything sony or microsoft has come up with for their next gen systems. I think Nintendo is the only one of the bunch that is actually pushing for something neg gen and doing something new. And I appriciate their efforts.
This is all over the world.Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by FJNBK
The world and everything in it is a retread of the old. We've got a controversial movie, just like with Birth of a Nation and Fahrenheit 9/11, in the Da Vinci Code. Every reality show is a copy of American Idol. People are reading sequels after sequels of their books. There are 128 Boxcar Children books, 10 Gossip Girl books, 15 Left Behind books, and 7 Chronicles of Narnia books. For a list of the franchises in the film industry, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_movie_series.
Even history is repeating itself. Americans are protesting an unpopular and the President is suffering for it, while having his domestic policies crippled.
Face it, life is just a repeat of history. It's not just in gaming.
Yeah, this is a pretty depressing read...Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by BladeofKeyZ
But I wont let it bring me down. Nothing in the video game industry is wrong, I think it's perfectly normal. All the crap outnumber the good stuff 100 to 1. I don't play a lot of games because I know which games to buy and which to ignore. I mean, I know there wont be a point to buying the next Madden, even the Halo 3 trailer didn't surprise me or made me giddy for it, it might be just online meat and no campaign seemingly because the story's ending anyways.
But I'm getting off-track. Sadly, I think I only found true joy in Nintendo and MGS4 but so be it.
IronyPosted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by MicroGates
Quote from Cox:"And all the games on Nintendo's booth are re-treads of familiar franchises, where we're doing the same old shit to the same old enemies and bosses that we've been doing forever."
Well you can say that about any console,To target Nintendo games is almost ironic when Sony and even Microsoft to an extent have tried to copy the "Iconic mascot" type game for there respective consoles (Ratchet and Clank and VooDoo Vince come to mind).I would bring up the franchises that have "Numerous" sequeals (Like FinalFanstasy and the Metal Gear games with there "Substinance" games that are always released a year later) but at this point it would be like beating a dead horse on this site since you always give them the "Game of the Month" awards everytime they come out.Uh-oh,I stood up for a Nintendo remark,I must be a Nintendo fanboy now!!! ;)
Yeah...that was definetly a rant.Posted: May 21, 2006 12:00AM PST by Jasocorp
Good blog. Nintendo's president said the same exact thing, oh, maybe a year ago? So...not very big...news. Games ARE getting photo-realistic, and it's time things changed.
What Playstation is doing is killing themselves. They've focused solely on graphics, graphics to make the same exact games we've been playing for over ten years. And now it's going to cost us $600. No thanks. It's not about graphics, it's about being innovative, coming up with new things, new genres, like you said we all get tired of playing the same game over..and over...and over again.
The simple fact of the matter is that without substantial input change, there's only so much people can come up with. As much as I hate to admit it, we've pretty much invented everything possible using what we have to play with. The simple fact that it's the same crap over and over again is solely because the way we play games hasn't really changed for years. There's been some great advancements in gaming, like the analog stick and what-have-you, but ever since the beggining of gaming, its been button mashing.
This brings me to the Wii. Or rather, Nintendo themselves. I'm going to be completely honest and tell you I'm a tried and true Nintendo-fan, but the reasons for are exactly what you cover in your rant- gaming needs to change. Like I said earlier Nintendo said that graphics have reached the peak, and now it's time to change the direction of the business by bringing something that can change the way we play games, thus leading to totally new gaming experiences. Take, for example, Nintendogs. As far as depth goes I can't says there's much to it, but with the addition of the touch screen it's brought the ability of a sim game to a whole new level, instead of tamagotchi like button feeding and petting, we can actually PET and PLAY things like fetch and whatnot with our dogs. Things like this open the gateway to whole new dimensions of game ideas.
The same goes for the wii itself. Sure Nintendo's going to fire off it's tons of franchise's that has been around for years, but you've got to admit that the way we play these games now using the controller is going to bring a new dimension of fun to the games. Not only that, but entire new genres can be thought up, and even pre-existing ones can only better themselves with the new approach to control. Remember how the Pc ruled at FPS and RTS games because of it's flexible and precise keyboard-mouse control? now you can get the same thing with the Wii controller- except in 6 more dimensions (up, down, down-right, up-left, etc.) The fact that the way input has changed brings a wave of fresh air to the stale control of things like the playstation controller which honestly hasnt ever TRULY changed.
But what about the experiences we have with others? I'm not about to leave Microsoft out of the lot on this one. The 360 has simply the best streamlined online interface of a console machine, ever. with each coming year they've been only making it better and better. I was surprised to see how Microsoft is integrating it's online: Live-Anywhere, as this adds even more of a gaming niche to our lives, something that consoles are just now beginning to grasp.
Hell even the connectivity between things such as the psp-ps3 and the ds-wii will add a new layer of cool on top of what we've always enjoyed. So yeah, we might have kind of discovered almost every genre of gaming there is out there, and sure there may be a few more to discover, but overall, it's adding new depth to the experiences we have with the games and genres we've been playing thats the true future of gaming.
So stop ranting and get some sleep.
Can Anyone Explain This?Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by enime
What would are video game industry be without conferences like E3 or GDC or TGS? Would are expectations be at a higher value or would we go by are instincts by just having that brand? Scary to think it. Difficult to answer.
I felt guilty after E3Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by nemo83
I felt very jaded following the conferences because on the boards everyone was having fanboygasms and I was like "I want this to be fixed and I want this to be fixed and this other thing, I just don't give crap about it." I'm glad I'm not the only person thinking overall the industry is coming up a little short of my expectations with AI, animations, and simply moving gameplay forward (from the same formulas created on the NES twenty years ago). Halo (though I complained a lot about level design and plagiarism) thrilled me when Xbox launched with its AI and I thought then that games were finally moving forward but we know now that that trend just spread like a fire on the ocean.
I have to disagree about one thing, Nintendo's controller is addressing the issue at hand, the issue that games are still following Mario, Zelda, and Metroid (from when I was so young my feet still didn't touch the floor when I sat in a chair). Unfortunately, Nintendo's software did nothing new, it made the controller seem like a gimmick. The games felt like they could be done on a pad. Rather than giving you complete 3D control over the sword in Red Steel you have a set of prerecorded moves as if you were performing them with an analog stick on 360. Rather than having the character's hand on screen do exactly what you do with the remote they had you use it to activate commands, how is that revolutionary? Basically I'm looking to the media to get to the bottom of the story on this controller soon; what is its true potential, can it control in 3D or is it a gimmick. Is it like the DS where for the first year the developers will be experimenting and failing?
Absolute realismPosted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by TheKraut
I never want to see games be absolutely real. I want something fun that is nothing like what I expirience. Some games work well with it, like racing, shooting, and sports games, but games like Zelda and Mario would be ruined with too much realism. I really hope that going into the future generations more companies start looking more into making things fun, then adding the pretty graphics and uber-smart AI.
Pshh... loser.Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by Lordofchaosiori
You're just bitching 'cause you're hung over. There's a lot of new, and inventive videogames, and if you want something new and think that the Wii controller is "gimmicky" and you don't want better graphics and you don't think WarioWare is fun and inventive, you're just like a PMSing chick bitching about how her husband will never be good enough, no matter what he does. So toughen up sissy, or get a new job NOT involving videogames...
Just think of the other mediaPosted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by MrCase
True that innovation amongst mainstream gaming is probably at an all time low.
But let's consider movies for a time. How many romantic comedies have been made during the last 20 years? How many action movies where heroes with guns slay oppresors or terrorists only to get the girl in the end?
Theatre. We've been playing the same Shakespear pieces for over a hundred years.
Music. Hip-hop sounds more or less the same as it did 10 years ago. Trance-music today reminds me of my youth.
Games is definitely not one of the media genres that is worst off.
And I would argue that this years E3 promises some of the greatest changes in a long time. But then again. The dreamcast had big online goals. And motion sensoring controllers date back to at least the ps1...
But I believe.
I want to believe.
I mostly agreePosted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by ErsatzMike
I agree with your points for the most part, but not about the lack of excitement for the Wii (though the name did nothing to endear it to me).
It may be gimmicky and at least half the games released for it will be shit with three-quarters of the remaining being unplayable kiddie-garbage, but for those golden few I'm hoping we gain a depth of immersion surpassing the feel of a clunky controller gripped with claw-hands and rapidly masturbated by thumbs.
My personal bout with pessimism revolves primarily around PC gaming. I've been hearing that it was wheezing its dying breath since the SNES was introduced demonstrating graphics surpassing PC capabilities. With every iteration of console, however, we've gained superior graphics, vaguely superior sound and another couple of buttons on the controller. Has the gameplay changed much? Aside from genre-creating classics like Super Mario Bros., Wolfenstein, Warcraft 1 (et al), nothing new has been brought to the table. This holds more true the nearer we come to present day. Now shooters can't even innovate in realms of environment or era.
Returning to the Wii cynicism by way of tangent - Some months after acquiring my NDS, I purchased Oblivion (I'd actually pre-ordered before the first delay). After five hours of arguably enjoyable gameplay and being impressed by the graphics, sound, and more enjoyable gameplay (as compared to Morrowind) I haven't touched it. It's not that I've lost interest, or that it's a bad game, it's just that the "gimmicky" little console with the touch-screen grabbed my attention too thoroughly.
The majority of games for the DS suck at least as badly as most cut-rate bargain bin PC software, but the ones that stand out have addicted me so thoroughly to the underpowered but unique little device that I haven't had time for anything else (game-wise). Between Castlevania DS, MKDS, NSMB, Ouendan, Tetris, and the incredible range of homebrew software I've become rather optimistic about the Wii's potential to not necessarily impress me, but at least entertain me.
(Editing after reading through more of the comments, I spotted one that I have to adamantly disagree with - the statement that we need another Mario64-style revolution. This is precisely the type of game we don't need. It was Nintendo's first leap onto the 3D bandwagon and dragging a platformer into a 3rd-person perspective frustration-fest. Granted, they've done better than many other platform conversions to polygonal realms, but how much of the challenge was generated by asinine interfaces and frustrating control schemes? How much of that did we put up with because the graphics were pretty and Mario was 3D!(TM)? Replaying M64 on the DS, it only stands out more with the lack of an analog stick, the game was bandwagon, trend-chasing, more-of-the-same, 3D shovel-ware and I'd rather they didn't repeat their thinking on that one, thanks.)
Own BackyardPosted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by Merusdraconis
You know what doesn't help? When anyone tries to make a game with a strong focus on story, all the reviews complain about the lack of game.
We are all unoriginalPosted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by ActuatorSM
Everyone here is saying the exact same thing about this rant. What's wrong with us? Can't anyone say something original? Is this always going to be society's response to games?... and books?... and music?... and art?... and architecture?... and everything else that has ever been created by humanity?
What's the world coming to.
So unoriginal.
Let's get over ourselves, stop criticizing. Very few of us could ever do better ourselves. Either get over it or make a difference. Shut the fuck up you cry babies. In the end it doesn't fucking matter, 'cause someone will say the exact same thing about your bullshit.
Tony fucking Hawk...again...Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by RocketShoes
That franchise pisses me off more than Madden and Mario Party now. Every fucking year. Seriously, what the hell? At least Nintendo recognizes the problem and are at least attempting a change. But ultimately, it's all of us gamers faults. Nowadays, it is so risky for a company to try something new and have the public accept it. Few and far between are those games (Wario Ware, Katamari, etc) and when a company does find something that works they just start pumping out sequel after sequel. After the initial success of Katamari, we had no less than 3 Katamari games in less than 2 years. Same goes for Wario Ware. We've seen 4 Wario Ware games since 2003. And then we have absolute shit like 50 Cent: Bulletproof sell a million copies while a game like Beyond Good and Evil or Psychonauts ends up in the bargain bin collecting dust. What the fuck is wrong with people?! Even in the gaming media, magazines like Game Informer will put shit like True Crime on their cover because no one will buy a magazine off the news stand with a deserving game like Drill Dozer on the front of it. We have become so closed minded as a gaming community. It's our own fault Simon. Yours and mine included. Alright, enough with my rant...
I'm behind ya Simon...Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by BigMex
it's time to kick the tires and light the fires... the industry needs a wakeup call. There used to be more to a game, there used to be more to the experience.
As consumers we can blame no one but ourselves. We have to speak up on sites like this and speak with out wallet. If we see sequel after sequel after sequel then let the publishers that they've met their quota. It's time for something new.
Something new... that would be the day.
What matters is execution.Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by PaperTiger
How many artists have made self-portraits? a still-life? or a landscape? Would you say that since artists have been re-hashing these same "tired" genres for hundreds of years that it's time we throw it all away? Innovation is great, but don't confuse poor execution with lack of innovation.
Agree and DisagreePosted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by D-FENS
You're right - Outside of the nintendo booth there was little real change to be seen amongst games. Graphically, they aren't even that impressive. It's just a souped up PC running full options. That no longer gets me going like it once did. We've got the world of 3d sight nailed down - and sadly, it seems to be the only place games are willing to go.
But take heed, my friend - the Wii is gimmicky now - but so was the DS when it first came out. Hell - even the playstation was if you look at it right. Back then the innovation was 3D gaming - and games abused that ability without being a good game. It was a gimmick. But Just like every system, once it finds it's niche it'll be do well. Meteos, tetris DS, Warioware Touched - those games couldn't have been done nearly as well on another system - and that's where the Wii is headed, which gives me peace of mind, for the time being.
We all owe Nintendo.Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by rallee
Nintendo maybe lagging in the console wars, but if they were to pull out, the industry would crumble. Nintendo contributes about 75% of the industries new ideas. I'm not a fanboy, in fact I have fewer Gamecube games that any other current-gen platform, but I respect the big N.
I don't particularly disagree with you entirely....Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by Cyberxion!0!
...but, and this is a big but (and I cannot lie); damnit are you one jaded son of a bitch!
I can sympathize, in that I too have been hungover to the point that it's led me to blindy rant about things, but even at my worst, I'm not about to short-change Nintendo when they of all people are actually trying something different, whatever may come of it.
Calling something a gimmick seems to be the flavor of the month around these parts, but it doesn't actually take away from whatever you're attatching that already stale moniker to. For better or worse, at least Nintendo is trying to give us jaded gamers something new to play around with, and gimmick or not, it's more than can be said about a fair amount of the other players in this gaming...game.
I applaud Nintendo for trying something new. Here's to hoping it works, because if the picture is truly as bleak as the one you're painting, then I may actually have to go outside instead of playing crap games with little in the way of innovation! Oh no!
Short and Sweet.Posted: May 22, 2006 12:00AM PST by Eneru
If anyone has made it this far, I'll be easy on the eyes.
The problems this two-fold: AI and manner of play.
AI is far too easy, cheesy, and predictable. Humans move in irrational, erratic ways and it feels better playing someone then playing a computer, especially one. Instead of devoting resources to mostly that really pretty wind/grass/fire/ect. effect, maybe more programmers should go into AI programming.
Game genres change very rarely and new ones are even rarer. The manner that you play is much easier to change, and developers should try to make games easy to pick up, fun to understand, and have depth for lovers of that particular game. Wii changes gameplay. Prime 3 is a small step, but a small step in the right direction.
uhhhhh....Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by CUELLARM
Your comments and views seem really tired and disenchanted.
You may need to take a break put the controller down and take a walk. I was very impressed this year with the turn out of the show; nothing seemed out of place we do play video games thats what we do "video" i.e. TV and "games" electronic mediums this is it.Now the wii great platform who knows what nintendo will come up there nintendo how can the controller not be original its most unique controller ever and also sony+blueray=bad ass. microsoft with halo tres, grand theft.
this is our industry slow for evolution and you know i like it like that. if you want a revolution stop ranting and come up with solutions make your break. In my past gaming history ive cried(final fantasy VII) and ive been pissed off beyond normal human behavior(mischief makers) but never to the point of critizing my hobby my life that i love so much. If you have an idea wonderful if you want to bitch and moan about the industry then there is a solution stop playing no one is making you game it up.
yea, but...Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by big_vile
On one hand i agree, most of what we saw at e3 was just prettier versions of what we've been playing for yers, and with the graphical power of the original xbox, the leap seems smaller than ever. i mean seriously, have you ever played Riddick in high def? its pretty close to some of what we're being told is "next-gen" now. but on the other hand if this is true, and game makers aren't innovating, its our fault..innovation has never really sold very well. we as gamers seem to just want to have the same stuff shoved down our throats again and again.....Tekken 6! Ridge racer 7! and mega man whothehellknowshowmany! sequels are made because they sell, and innovation is considered risky.Its kinda odd of you to demand innovation, then complain that nintendo, the possible last bastion of outside-the-boxery,is being "gimmicky". make up your mind,lol.
Come, My Friend. Let Us Light Up A Blunt...Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by oni_leviathan
SIMON!!! SIMON!!! Ha Ha Ha!!! Dude, you just brought me down, man!!! I'm right there with you, brother. I know that's the case, man. There ain't much "changing" going on up in here...um...there. Anyway, there ain't much "innovation" going on either. But you know what? Um...Actually, I ain't got no clue either.
I think we both need a break...Taking it easy...Get in the car...Put on some relaxing music...Start cruising...
Or you can light one up and let the good times roll...
Here's An Idea.......Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by IronWarrior2
If you don't like videogames, don't play them. If you're tired of them, get another hobby. Me, I love them and will always play them.
OMFG!Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by MeMbEr_NaMe_OnE
There are blogs within a blog. Long ones at that!
Fuck this peace.
Animation may be the next big thing...Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by mr_steve100
... but that's also linked to technology and its advances. And let's not forget time and money.
But do you think that the games industry has covered every single genre there is to do? Maybe there's only so much out there that can be made playable without repeating ourselves, or taking bits from different genres? Thing is, I don't understand what you want to see nowadays as other than animation and emotion (which will always continue to improve, and not be invented - much like graphical effects), I can't see what else there is to do.
I couldn't agree more that the next-gen seems to be making things look prettier with current-gen content/interaction. But if anyone was to make a game that combined GTA, The Longest Journey, Max Payne, Deus Ex, System Shock 2, Sam and Max, GRAW, Oblivion, ICO (and a bit of anything else), then we'd either:
(a) never see that game ever because it'd be in development for so long;
(b) consider it shit and confused/confusing.
New stuff come through experimentation, and Ninty are doing that with the Wii. Yes, E3 may have been dull to you, but give it some time for the developers to get to grips with everything first. It's like anything that requires practice; just keep going and then you'll impress.
/has lost the plot
I agree...Posted: May 23, 2006 12:00AM PST by Antihistamine
...partially. One of the purposes of E3 is to show the gaming press what's in development, and that's what they did.
For Microsoft and Sony, the main focus was on improved, photorealistic graphics and HD gaming. So it would make sense that the focus of their presentations and demos would be on the graphics of their games. Unfortunately, many of the gaming press and E3 attendees carried this over to Nintendo, whose focus was on a new gameplay style. This is why the industry is stuck in an infinite loop of trashy games and gameplay. It makes no sense to compare an apple to an orange; in the end your feelings towards the apple, are based on your feelings towards the orange (and vice-versa). Nintendo's focus has been on creating a new gameplay experience; they also said that the graphics on the Wii would not be on par with the other systems.
If you have a problem with the Wii controller or find something wrong with it, don't rant about it here - let Nintendo know; let the developers know, so they don't turn this into a gimmick machine. Help Nintendo get this right so they can send a clear message to developers that this is what next generation is about. Also, be critically supportive of the change they're trying to make, let them know that the industry and gamers are ready for something new.
Take heart.Posted: May 24, 2006 12:00AM PST by citaro
Just think about all the outlets for crazy developer fantasies popping up. We have Steam. We have X-Box Live Arcade. We (will) have Virtual Console. These infrastructures have the potential to open the door for all the wildest fantasies that developers (even so far as homebrewers, one can hope) that the business of games has been so keen to quell in favor of the "sure thing." Of course there are Maddens, Tomb Raiders, Final Fantasies, Marios, Metal Gears. They are solid archtypes forged and put into wide use by millions of our dollars. But now that the pressure is getting greater and greater for developers to pump out these "sure things" it really instills hope in me that there exists somewhere that developers, should they choose, can test the waters on something, brilliant or not, that would get laughed away from a board meeting. We have what we need to transcend the hole the industry has bored into- All that's left is to wait for everything to click. I for one can't wait to see what happens... Of course, unfulfilled promise brings cynicism, but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Many thanks for your soldiering on, Mr. Cox. No one can blame you for getting tired of an industry that refuses to grow up, but I think that some of the biggest changes are about to come. So I guess we'll see, huh?
A jumps, B ShootsPosted: May 30, 2006 12:00AM PST by mandu_xiii
It reminds me of my feelings when I rented a Nintendo game for the 100th weekend in a row when I was 12. My father, whjo was the kind of guy who would read the instruction manual for a telephone, asked me why I dind't read the manual. No need to. I knew long before I slid the game into that weird little Nintendo flappy shelf that the A button is for jump and the B button would shoot. They always did, they still do. But I still love jumping and shooting.
Besides.... Do I really want to cry while playing a video game?
FailurePosted: May 30, 2006 12:00AM PST by LiabeBrave
mandu_xiii said:
Besides.... Do I really want to cry while playing a video game?
I do. Art should move you. If we want games to deserve the word, they better be able to compel emotion.
Right now, video games are for children.
Ahhh Kindred spiritsPosted: Jun 01, 2006 12:00AM PST by Calel
I agree with Simon and rocketshoes (except for the idea that Wii is "trying," all they are doing is crippling game developers, but thats another rant). Oh and to jasocorp, Sony and MS aren't killing themselves focusing on powerful machines, its their game development that will ultimately see one thrive or die. The first time I saw a X360 game I thought it was an XBOX game. That attests to the graphics and gameplay. Sure I guess its nice to have Madden 200x every friggin year, so we get shiny new packaging and updated rosters, but it doesn't make the game more fun. I still pop in my NFL blitz on my DC. Games like that, the 'original' PS2 GTA, PS1 MGS, PC Quake, N64 Zelda, N64 Goldeneye, those are the kind of WOW!?!?! factor games we are lacking today. It wasn't the graphics then, it was the gameplay, the fun-factor. When is the last time any of you played a new current gen game and went "Whoa" (a-la-joey lawrence)? For me it was god of war, and I play alot of new games....ALOT. For the most part they are all the same, rehashes of the same tired shit in prettier packaging. I agree with some of the other posters, for example when God of war II drops, I'll buy it and it'll be fun. But what about GOW III, IV, V, VI? Like every other 'franchise' by then I'll be sick of it. The answer may not be animation, or AI....well yeah AI, I hate stupid bots, but it will definitely be related to new IP. If gaming doesn't see new Ideas, then we are all screwed.
Write MorePosted: Nov 19, 2006 12:00AM PST by Monkey-King
So with Zelda out how do you feel about wii~mote now? It feels like it is likely not the best for many games, but maybe it could have been worse.
Double edged swordPosted: Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM PST by lucster
I think you nailed it. Now, I DO enjoy today's games incredibly, but every once in awhile I think that the popularity of this medium is dragging it throught the most cautious, repetitive, and juvenile period.
My guess is that the very thing that hobbles developers nowadays -- mainstream penetration -- will lead with each new generation (of developers, not hardware) to greater experimentation. When we've got all ages in our culture comfortable with videogames, then I think the need for insane development budgets will fade, because publishers will be able to go after a more varied target audience. It's just a thought... Japan seems to do better with developing offbeat stuff, and games are much more accepted there. Maybe there's a connection. Of course, even Japanese games follows a lot of the same well worn paths. I agree that games could be SO much more.
My biggest related beef is the business model that seems to rely so heavily on pre-release hype. Is that the best way to insure that the medium will one day be taken much more seriously as an art form (apologies to Kojima)?


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NIKON P500 focussing problem !! PLZZZZ HELP
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aghatole OP • New Member • Posts: 6
Re: NIKON P500 focussing problem !! PLZZZZ HELP
In reply to BELT_FED • Aug 23, 2011
I tried that too. My cam is never on center focus mode. I like to play with positioning of the subject so point of focus is seldom at the center. the problem still persists
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Modify the definition of the class Money shown in Display 11.8 so that all of the following are added:
a.The operators <, <=, >, and >= have each been overloaded to apply to the type Money. [Hint: See Self-Test Exercise 13.)
b.The following member function has been added to the class definition. (We show the function declaration as it should appear in the class definition. The definition of the function itself will include the qualifier Money: :.)
Money percentO'nt percent_figure) const-,
//Returns a percentage of the money amount in the
//calling object. For example, if percent_figure is 10,
//then the value returned is 10% of the amount of
//money represented by the calling object.
For example, if purse is an object of type Money whose value represents the amount $ 100.10, then the call purse.percent(l0);
returns 10% of $100.10; that is, it returns a value of type Money that represents the amount $10.01


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Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal Hardcover – November 10, 2015
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"Within the first three minutes of speaking with me, Anthony precisely identified my medical issue! This healer really knows what he's talking about. Anthony's abilities as the Medical Medium are unique and fascinating, and his book makes complex diseases that confuse even many doctors easy to understand and address. Highly recommended."
— Alejandro Junger, M.D., New York Times best-selling author of Clean and Clean Eats, and founder of the immensely popular Clean Program
"Anthony William is the Edgar Cayce of our time, reading the body with outstanding precision and insight. Anthony identifies the underlying causes of diseases that often baffle the most astute conventional and alternative health-care practitioners. Anthony's practical and profound medical advice makes him one of the most powerfully effective healers of the 21st century."
— Ann Louise Gittleman, New York Times best-selling author of 30 books on health and healing and creator of the highly popular Fat Flush detox and diet plan
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— David James Elliot, Scorpion, Trumbo, Mad Men, and CSI:NY; star for ten years of CBS's JAG
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— Scott Bakula, star of NCIS: New Orleans, Quantum Leap, and Star Trek: Enterprise
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— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of ten books, including Is This Tomorrow
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— Dick Shepard, D.C., holistic doctor, Seattle
From the Back Cover
Anthony William, the one and only Medical Medium, shares revolutionary insight—much of which science has yet to discover—into the reasons we suffer and how to finally heal from more than two dozen common conditions:
· Adrenal fatigue
· Autism
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· Epstein-Barr virus
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"Within the first three minutes of speaking with me, Anthony precisely identified my medical issue! This healer really knows what he's talking about. Anthony's abilities as the Medical Medium are unique and fascinating, and his book makes complex diseases that confuse even many doctors easy to understand and address."
— Alejandro Junger, M.D., New York Times best-selling author of Clean and Clean Eats and founder of the immensely popular Clean Program
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When you read this book, it is important to understand that there is an overall concept here that many illnesses and symptoms, that so many suffer from, are a "mystery" to current medical practices. This book does not fall into the category of following current medical practices or even current "alternative" practices. This book was not written to take "a side". This book is something completely different and therefore provides an opportunity to take a new look at old problems.
The information in this book and how this information is brought forward can trigger lots of strong feelings and emotions. Many people have had years of being sick without anyone who can diagnose them properly or help them get better. For someone who does a quick read through, with the bias of what most people believe to be true, the information in this book can appear deceivingly simple and perhaps even nothing new. It can also seem highly outrageous to some. It can trigger all sorts of responses because it is not the same old information and it does not come from a typical source.Read more ›
I am an (IFM) functionally trained nutritionist and have a super smart functional medicine MD too. Between the two of us, we chased what seemed to be SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), the fatigue, brain fog/cognitive dysfunction (and even did brain imaging at Amen Clinic in Bellevue WA), neurological symptoms, etc. In all of this, she thought it best to test for Lyme. My W Blot was negative. But b/c of my sx, she thought we should do a specialty lab. It was positive. I spent a few months thinking I had Lyme which is huge. I know enough to know there are no good answers. We bought a full spectrum infrared sauna since Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt highly rec's them for his Lyme patients. Just after the sauna purchase, I saw the free MM chapter on Facebook and followed the link. Thank God I did.
I was intrigued by the notion that Lyme was really viral and it made sense to me that THAT is why 1) antibiotics fail and in fact can make it worse and (yes, i experienced this) and 2) the sauna would work b/c it raises core body temperature which is then anti-viral. Klinghardt might be having so much success for reasons he doesnt yet understand.
I bought the book and being trained in supplements, dived right into the rec'd therapies.Read more ›
I am proud to say that I had the experience of being one of Anthony's many clients. I will never forget the first time we talked. He did not know a single thing about me except my name, and I told him nothing – yet he began to list every symptom I was experiencing. He even knew I had a slight heart murmur! What a relief to be validated, to finally be told what was causing my agony, and what exactly I needed to do in order to regain my health and my confidence. And I DID! If you are drawn to his work, please read the book and sign up for a consultation.
I am appalled and saddened by the number of people on here that seem to be making it their mission to attack Anthony's character and integrity without even knowing him, discredit the publisher, and to discourage people from buying a book that could save their lives. Out of genuine curiosity and a desire to learn what was bothering people, I read through a lot of the critical reviews and I am finding that there is so much that is entirely off base. It is one thing to give a book review, but it is quite another to call into question who the author is as a person and how he runs his practice.Read more ›
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It is a great book to read and get a lot of ideas about the way we should eat!Published 4 hours ago by Amazon Customer
Fresh approach to confusing health issues. Seems that channeled information is more trustworthy than fad solutions by arrogant educated doctorsPublished 6 hours ago by Russell C.
Incredible and life changing! I have already recommended it to many people :)Published 10 hours ago by Amazon Customer
My wife is reading this and she has been very happy with it. A lot of suggested ways of dealing with fibromyalgiaPublished 1 day ago by weezildog
Very interesting and informative. I've been getting my Spirulina - USDA Organic online from nexgenperformance, excellent service & pricing.Published 1 day ago by Sue
the book is really well written and rang true for me...it explained a lot for me in regards to my illnesses that no other doctor could help withPublished 1 day ago by Carole cobb
I was very disappointed in this book. Mr. William should not be considering himself a medical expert. It is not helpful to me, and the many Chronic Lyme sufferers. Read morePublished 1 day ago by Dory


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Buttinsky Giraffe Photobombs Sweet Promposal
Forget the nose -- this giraffe should avoid sticking his neck in other people's business.
Forget the nose -- this giraffe should avoid sticking his neck in other people's business.
One of life's little annoyances recently turned into a giant one for a poor hungry person.
Size most definitely matters.
Abilene started out as a wild-west town. However, the 'Key City' turned out to be a peaceful little town, complete with famous historical landmarks.
Screaming babies. Drunk passengers. A drink cart with no beer. Now we can add something new to the list of things that can ruin your flight.
Everyone owes a debt of thanks to the soldiers who defend our freedom. And we do mean EVERYONE.
After being crammed in a community den all winter, the western diamondback rattlesnakes of Texoma are emerging sexually driven, hungry, active -- and HUGE!
Do we really need a day to honor puppies? Yes. Yes we do.
Spring is here, which means the sun starts shining, the days get longer and the temperature warms up.
Babies are a great way to meet people.
A family's dirty laundry is suddenly a very public matter.
The internet loves a good mystery. Well, not so much a mystery as a debate about something that seems pretty simple on the surface.


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