Nah, no such thing as too far. I mean, we are adults and can decide if we wanna buy something mature or not. think about the alternative - someone saying that mature type games cannot be made, Me, I'd rather have a choice to buy or not to buy that no choice at all. And just look at Jetboots post, clearly there are just about the same amount of realistic compared to cutesy ones so maybe everyone just thinks that modern gaming is going to far and games are too serious and realistic because those games get more recognition for the depth of them than the cutsey type which we have been seeing for years now. Nothing new to see in the cute games but extreme realism is pretty new to gaming.
0
Cuteness... the gaming industry's newest taboo
Started by Jess Ragan, Jul 14 2003 5:07 PM
30 replies to this topic
#27 OFFLINE
liveinabin
-
-
- 6,430 posts
Painty Man!
- Location:The Viking bit of England
Posted Thu Jul 24, 2003 1:09 PM
@Jetbootjack
I'd 'unbold' Xenosaga from that list - it may have anime type characters (apart from the forthcoming part 2) but it has loads of blood, VERY adult overtones, a deep religious plot...man, the Xenosaga/ Xenogears series is about as adult as it gets.
I'd 'unbold' Xenosaga from that list - it may have anime type characters (apart from the forthcoming part 2) but it has loads of blood, VERY adult overtones, a deep religious plot...man, the Xenosaga/ Xenogears series is about as adult as it gets.
#28 OFFLINE
liquid_sky
-
-
- 15,446 posts
Quad-Strainer
- Location:Tex-Ass
Posted Thu Jul 24, 2003 1:11 PM
and oh so fun!
#29 OFFLINE
mos6507
-
-
- 4,728 posts
River Patroller
Posted Sun Jul 27, 2003 1:28 AM
I think the main problem with the videogame industry is looking at the games themselves as an assembly line of product.
It's impossible to keep that assembly line moving at full throttle without repeating yourself, either through sequels, remakes, or ripoffs.
If you further constrain your creativity by omitting entire genre of videogames because they are deemed too old-school (i.e. 2D gaming of any kind) and if you look at Hollywood as your model, then you get today's videogame industry.
There isn't enough diversity of product in the game business because although the market has diversified, the creative staff hasn't caught up enough to recognize that there are more gamers out there than pre-teen nintendo fans and teenage blood-and-sex fans.
Plus, at least in the console business, the barrier to entry is so high that you will never have the equivalent of an art-house or B-movie make its way onto the store shelves.
Before there were videogames in the home the only other industry like it was the board game industry and aside from a spate of 70s board games themed from TV shows and movies, I don't think there was anything like the videogame industry as far as the sheer volume of product.
The idea of creating new games at this pace is a new one.
The classic concept of a game is something that is invented and then played for generations, like Chess, Checkers, team sports, and so on.
You aren't just creating a theme for the game, you are creating all new rules and mechanics as well.
There aren't many new sports or board games being invented anymore. There are only so many ways to throw a ball around or move pieces on a board or do different things with a deck of cards.
However, companies still make money selling sporting goods, chess boards, and cards... ...but it ain't like the videogame economy.
The videogame industry is the way it is because it rests on the back of Moore's Law. As technology improves, it opens up things you can do with that technology. Most of these are superficial, but interesting enough to the consumer to justify buying the latest and greatest racing game, FPS, etc...
All the better when you have a constant stream of movies to tie into also.
It would be like if you were a chess fan but felt compelled to buy a whole new chess set every year. You're still basically playing the same underlying game with a different look to it. That's all.
It's impossible to keep that assembly line moving at full throttle without repeating yourself, either through sequels, remakes, or ripoffs.
If you further constrain your creativity by omitting entire genre of videogames because they are deemed too old-school (i.e. 2D gaming of any kind) and if you look at Hollywood as your model, then you get today's videogame industry.
There isn't enough diversity of product in the game business because although the market has diversified, the creative staff hasn't caught up enough to recognize that there are more gamers out there than pre-teen nintendo fans and teenage blood-and-sex fans.
Plus, at least in the console business, the barrier to entry is so high that you will never have the equivalent of an art-house or B-movie make its way onto the store shelves.
Before there were videogames in the home the only other industry like it was the board game industry and aside from a spate of 70s board games themed from TV shows and movies, I don't think there was anything like the videogame industry as far as the sheer volume of product.
The idea of creating new games at this pace is a new one.
The classic concept of a game is something that is invented and then played for generations, like Chess, Checkers, team sports, and so on.
You aren't just creating a theme for the game, you are creating all new rules and mechanics as well.
There aren't many new sports or board games being invented anymore. There are only so many ways to throw a ball around or move pieces on a board or do different things with a deck of cards.
However, companies still make money selling sporting goods, chess boards, and cards... ...but it ain't like the videogame economy.
The videogame industry is the way it is because it rests on the back of Moore's Law. As technology improves, it opens up things you can do with that technology. Most of these are superficial, but interesting enough to the consumer to justify buying the latest and greatest racing game, FPS, etc...
All the better when you have a constant stream of movies to tie into also.
It would be like if you were a chess fan but felt compelled to buy a whole new chess set every year. You're still basically playing the same underlying game with a different look to it. That's all.
#30 OFFLINE
Clock
-
-
- 2,293 posts
River Patroller
- Location:Australia
Posted Sun Jul 27, 2003 3:05 AM
It's just a sign of the times.
Games are like films and music and work in fashion cycles (usually due to current technology). If you hear a song or a see a film you can almost guarantee know which decade it was made...... It will have that 70's feel or whatever. Games are similar and go through these fashion cycles. The current thing is that everything needs to be 3d and realistic. (the cute thing was just so 90's.
)
But I agree there is nothing wrong with a bit of variety and as someone has pointed out there are a good few cute games around.
But I think Foxy Cleopatra hit the nail on the head when she said if the game plays well then she'd play it, no matter what the style of game.
Also just a footnote.... I'm an old bugger too, and I've been gaming ever since I discovered Space Invaders in the 70's..... I'm 32 now and still playing most days
Games are like films and music and work in fashion cycles (usually due to current technology). If you hear a song or a see a film you can almost guarantee know which decade it was made...... It will have that 70's feel or whatever. Games are similar and go through these fashion cycles. The current thing is that everything needs to be 3d and realistic. (the cute thing was just so 90's.
)But I agree there is nothing wrong with a bit of variety and as someone has pointed out there are a good few cute games around.
But I think Foxy Cleopatra hit the nail on the head when she said if the game plays well then she'd play it, no matter what the style of game.
Also just a footnote.... I'm an old bugger too, and I've been gaming ever since I discovered Space Invaders in the 70's..... I'm 32 now and still playing most days
#31 OFFLINE
Jetboot Jack
-
-
- 1,447 posts
Stargunner
- A W A Y
- Location:Disconnected
Posted Mon Jul 28, 2003 1:48 PM
I'd unbold Xenosaga if....
The western gamer's understanding of Japanese modes of representation were clearly understood, and sadly they are not so games like this are branded "Anime" and left for the 14 year old boys
And I thought that the themes it dealt with were handled maturely, but they are not in my opinion, just clumsily lumped in ideas, typical of an immature narrative -- not that I have anything against the content, I just find that series uninspired...
sTeVE
The western gamer's understanding of Japanese modes of representation were clearly understood, and sadly they are not so games like this are branded "Anime" and left for the 14 year old boys
And I thought that the themes it dealt with were handled maturely, but they are not in my opinion, just clumsily lumped in ideas, typical of an immature narrative -- not that I have anything against the content, I just find that series uninspired...
sTeVE
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
