Snowball Effect

Well this is my first blog post, so excuse me if I come off a bit awkwardly. One topic that has really been bothering me the past couple of days is about video games in general. But why would it bother you Chris, I mean you love your video games as much as the next gamer. So why should a fun passtime and hobby be a bit of a stress monger for you? It's all quite simple: There is no god damn innovation with games anymore. Maybe it took me 8 Mario Parties to figure it out, or perhaps the fact that every third party sequel that comes along just sticks something new into the same old formula and sends it out of the factory as a "different" game.

I'm going to get a lot of flak for this but take GTA for example. From its humble beginnings that stemmed from its first two outings, the series evolved into GTA3, a game which revolutionized and innovated the series with a great plotline (did the first 2 even have a plot? Oh well who cares! lol) and cool graphics. The series finally came into its own. But if you look at the sequels that came after GTA3.......did much of this formula really change? Sure you could travel on boats, swim, have CPU-controlled friends help you out, but the core game ultimately stayed the same, didn't it? A lot of series seem to have this problem, where they milk the same gameplay elements for 3-4 installments before making any significant changes to the mix. If Rockstar really wanted to do something different with the series, why not change the mechanics of the game rather the simply adding stuff on. Like making unarmed combat much more in depth, or giving the game's story multiple paths. Even adding a co-op or multiplayer option can go a long way in terms of revolutionizing the series. This is but one example of third-party sequels that don't quite fit what they should be and they know this very well.

When the almighty buck keeps coming in, why should they care what they churn out as long as people are willing to pay for pretty much the same deal every year or so. WWE, Onimusha, Tekken, and other such series have gone through a process I like to call the "Snowball Effect", where each sequel adds very little with each installment and still keeps on going slightly downhill on the slope of appeal (Except the overhyped Halo series. God talk about overrated!). Wait, didn't Clover Studios under Capcom make Okami, which was revolutionary and had promise to make innovative changes had it continued? Sure did, but look what happened to Clover Studios afterward.......companies just don't seem to get what we truly crave. Are we really that resistant to change these days? Don't you like the idea of being able to play a sequel to a game you loved to play and come out of it feeling like you went through a new experience? Proof that money is exactly the reason why this effect keeps happening.

But what about first-party stuff? Hasn't some of that been more or less the same thing? Not so much the case, especially when looking at Nintendo, for example. At least they still care about somewhat about the innovation, making games more interactive and engaging through fun motion-sensitive gesturing (And don't call me a fanboy, because I'm just using them as an example, not as the only example one could illustrate). While Zelda: Twilight Princess, retains much of its N64 feel throughout its 3D outings, on the Wii it changes some of the mechanics, namely the controls (obviously). Even this change alone can mean a lot to the fellow gamer. Being able to ride a horse and fight with a sword simultaneously is also a nice addition. Breaking the "somewhat FF" formula where every game is a different story and making reference to Ocarina of Time, adds story and purpose to the quest. Being able to become a wolf creature that is necessary to complete parts of the game and integrating it well in the scheme of the game rewards the player for utilizing all tools at his disposal appropriately. These kind of touches make a product more flexible and endearing to those who pick up the Wiimote and play the games on the Wii, as well as more accessible for those who weren't that hardcore into gaming. Nintendo realizes that innovation in gaming is their ticket to the top, and more companies should seize these opportunities.

But then what happens when third-parties come into the mix? Ports that are unchanged entirely save for a couple of gimmicky wave movements that accomplish very little ompared to using the Wavebird. Couldn't they have just made a new game and actually tried to get off their lazy butts to do something new? Like a FPS Megaman or a Mortal Kombat that takes FULL advantage of the Wii's interface. Will companies ever stop this pitfall from happening is anyone's guess. But there are some promising things on the horizon. Soulcalibur Legends seems promising as it takes the story into an adventure forray. Ninja Gaiden looks to make an impact on the DS with its stylus-navigated controls and frantic gameplay. And I know there are others, but I'm tired so if anyone wants, they can add some titles of their own that feel either need drastic change or seem to be on the path to rebirthing themselves, feel free to drop a line on my Facebook. This Cheap Pop Man saying: "Have a nice day!" :)