icky

The "EA problem" is making things more noticeable, but the decline in game creativity started when EA was just a baby. It is just like books and movies. When the big flashy pictures came along, the books became forgotten, in spite of the fact that they have always told better stories. Luckily, people still write them, and the market hasn't died.

Game publishers (like EA) USED TO roam the open seas of eager developers, looking for great ideas and plucking the best of them out for publishing. Now it takes millions of dollars and years of work to create any game, so not many people get to even take a shot at it, and the pool of creativity is very shallow.

The advent of 3d graphics struck me as the most devastating hit game development ever took. I remember how my jaw dropped when beautifully crafted 2d games in the arcade were replaced by 3d blocky trash. Anyone remember Pit Fighter?

More on this later... gotta go out...

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Apophis

Spore = Maxis

That should be pretty interesting. I've always enjoyed the SimCity games from them. Hopefully they won't disappoint with Spore.

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munchkin

EA publishing Spore? RUN AWAY! RUN AWAAAAAAAAY!

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wildcat2000

Good strong post about the resolution and depending on where you play your games, icky.

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xTYBALTx

First of all, I'd like to say Icky hit the nail right on the head.

Secondly, I'd like to adress a slightly different issue; the so called problem of sequels. I think that when people say they are fatigued by the nth iteration of a franchise, that what they are really bothered by is a lack of percieved creativity. However, if you actually look at some of the more popular franchises, you'll find robust examples of creativity and innovation.

Battlefield Series: There have thus far been three iterations accompanied by multiple expansions. The second iteration, Vietnam, is generally agreed to be uninspired and uncreative - and was unsuccesful. Does that mean that the third iteration must be similarly blah? Of course not! BF:2 is unique in combining the better gameplay aspects of a MMOFPS with the convenience and adrenaline-fueled aspects a private-server game. Add in the unique gritty "feel" found in BF:2 and you have a game which is just short of revolutionary.

Or look at the Tribes franchise. After two mediocre sequels and countless expansions, Sony released Planetside, a revolutionary title. Planetside literally created an entirely new genre.

Silent Hunter III: Lauded for single-handedly reviving the long dormant hardcore simulation genre.

Lets recap the five-star games of the last couple years and you tell me if gaming is dying. Before I was playing BF:2, I was playing CS:S. Before CS:S, it was Silent Hunter III. Before SHIII, it was Rome: Total War. Before RTW, it was Planetside. Before Planetside, it was Call of Duty. Before Call of Duty, it was CS & Battlefield: 1942.

If that's what the death of gaming looks like, then keep it coming!

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Mateo

I think that we are all wrong looking for innovation from the major developers and publishers. They have to play to the bottom line, which is the least common denominator.

Innovation will come from the modders and indies, and be coopted by the major houses as they take notice of it.

Lots of innovative stuff going on, it's just not mainstream:

Gish (2D platformer)
Alien Arena (Remixed, remastered Quake 2 game)
Metastatis (SP Mod for HL2, told in episodes)
Alien Swarm (UT2004/HL2 Mod)
etc....

There are 100s of new 2D and 3D games and game mods in the pipe at linux games, Garage Games, mod-db, and others.

In fact, since most of the tools are now available via open souce, and the SDKs are available, I'd say that there is TOO MUCH going on.

RGM-79N_GM_CUstom

^^^^Not completely. Look at Nintendo and its DS and Rev. It has pretty innovative software. Of course there are games that don't take advantage of the DS's features such as Castlevania and the soon to be released Mario Kart DS. Granted MK DS is online so I guess that is taking advantage of some of the DS's features.

Unfotunately you are right I don't think EA will ever release a game that takes advantage of the DS or Rev for that matter.

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Mateo

Well, I only cover PC gaming, so Nintendo is off reservation for me. I understand their innovation though.

RGM-79N_GM_CUstom

^^^^Well in terms of PC Gaming pretty much innovation for us is refinement of existing genres and Will Wright among others.

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TG Natural Selection admin. Need anything PM me.
7th Infantry FTW!!!!!
"Snob? Nah...I consider myself more of a PC Evangelist...converting the heathens to The Way." Prophaniti
"Windows is like Pokemon you gotta catch'em all." kenshinsama1

Hero

QFT
Quoted For Truth. I CANNOT WAIT!!!

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wildcat2000

It will be interesting to experience MK DS online. I'll be one of them playing the experience this week. PC Gaming online is far the best right now.

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poe

You want innovation? Let me re-re-re-redirect you to Spore.

So everything everybody makes will be able to be transmitted to everybody else. You have your world on your game, and there will be other people's worlds, too. No, it's not exactly multiplayer... the worlds the other's created will develop on their own in -your- game.

Enough with my obsessions, though.

The biggest issue for this "lack of innovation," is that people don't look far beyond the mainstream. If we are excluding mods for games (if not, check out some of the ones for the HL2 engine. THAT is innovation), there are still plenty.

*pauses post for research*


Here's some games that I think stand out in comparison to many. (Yeah, I realize they are all sequels. :P )

This is personally one of my favorite game sagas. When was the last time you took control of a team of earthworms and did all you can to destroy an opposing force with all sorts of creative and hysterical weapons? Including the -ninja rope-. Worms 4: Mayhem
http://pc.ign.com/articles/659/659763p1.html

Here is a game I need to pick up. I played the first Black & White, and it was amazing. Definately a new type of game genre for me. It is always fun to play god, especially when raising up a creature of your own to do your bidding. No doubt this sequel is even more innovative than the first! Black & White 2
http://pc.ign.com/articles/654/654547p1.html

Old series? Yeah. But nothing quite touches upon the likeness of Myst. It is certainly a unique type of game, focused around puzzles and deep logic/thoughtfulness. I loved the first two, and I tend to be picky with my games. Myst V: End of Ages
http://pc.ign.com/articles/652/652767p1.html



Besides. Y'know what 'bout sequels? As xTYBALTx said, there are many sequels that have proved amazing. I'll buy them. I bought Half-Life 2 (which came with a sequel), Worms games, Mario Party (not PC, but eh), and many others. WarCraft III, StarCraft: BW, Diablo II/expansion, etc, etc, etc.


10-4.

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BIG-Ranger

Sorry guys...

But I have to laugh a bit about this worrying about the state of PC games.

I'm a Apple Mac user! - That's like the 'Death Valley' of game platforms! LOL

...While you are getting excited about the release of 'Quake IV' - we Mac users wet our pants if someone comes out with a new version of Tetris!



This is why I bought a PC for home - I still use my Mac for design work, but my PC is just a games machine - and I just can't keep up with teh ammount of games there are available for the PC.

I just don't earn enough to buy all the games I want that have just been released!

PC gaming is dying? You must be joking!

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Jusb

Try Ico and Shadow of the Colossus for PS2.

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Vinzalf

B&W2 is a very entertaining game. It may not be as innovative as the first. But It's got quite a number of bonuses on top of the first.

I myself, while enjoying innovation, don't require it. I enjoy seeing how it comes together as a whole.

This is the main reason why I enjoyed Half Life. Yes, it was fairly innovative to start out with, but it did not end with the release of the game. The game is still expanding through the various mods and TC's. That is what impresses me.

Tribes was similar to HL in that aspect. The company that developed the game is no longer around anymore, so updates generally don't happen. But with tribes I saw the most amazing TC of any game I've played, and even today, years later, while I don't play it, I still remember it clearly. That's more important to me than innovation.

I don't want to remember a game as "the first game to have ...". But rather remember the game for the experiences it brought.

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