Welcome, welcome to Blog Banter, the monthly blogging extravaganza headed by bs angel! Blog Banter involves our cozy community of enthusiastic gaming bloggers, a common topic, and a week to post articles pertaining to said topic. The results are quite entertaining and can range from deeply insightful to ROFLMAO. Any questions about joining Blog Banter should be directed here. Check out other Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!
This year has been bountiful both with successes and also failures. From the deterioration that is E3 to the evolution that is PAX, from some games falling flat on their faces to other games fearlessly surpassing their potential, 2008 brought gamers intense joy along with frustrating disappointment. Last year to mark the passing of yet another year, I wrote up a list of Halo-themed resolutions. This year however, I decided to ask you, The Video Game Industry, for just one thing. As I am somewhat of a demanding person (who am I kidding, I’m a high maintenance bitch), I initially had an entire list written out for you. Things such as a universal save system, the ability to cross-platform game, and delaying your titles until all the kinks are worked out instead of constantly patching after the fact. But ultimately I decided to focus on just one simple but important request: please continue giving us original IPs.
Humans are creatures of habit, and gamers are not immune to that. We like what we like, and we want more of what we like. That is why we bought Halo 2 and Halo 3 after falling in love with Halo CE. That is why we continue purchasing the Madden series 20 years after the first title was originally released. That is why Mario has appeared in over 200 games since his initial creation. Things that are familiar are comforting and safe.
Brand new IPs, on the other hand, are dangerous, risky, and far from a guarantee. However innovation is not just a good thing, but it is the reason why we first got our hands on Halo. And Madden. And Mario. 2008 has seen the introduction of some amazing (and some not so amazing) IPs. Dead Space was welcomed with tentative arms. Mirror’s Edge wasn’t exactly well received but broke such incredible ground that it was immediately forgiven. Left 4 Dead wasn’t perfect but still provided an amazing cooperative experience. Boom Blox completely flew under the radar but has provided hours of entertainment to those brave enough to buy it. Amidst all the sequels are some original gems that, regardless of how many copies they did or did not sell, deserve to be praised for breaking new ground in an industry that is wallowing in 2s, 3s, 4s, and beyond. I personally was a little bit hard on Mirror’s Edge, but that does not mean I am unable to appreciate the contribution it made to the industry as a whole. The importance of that cannot be underestimated. Innovation is important and deserves to be applauded.
I regularly read a blog written by someone in the industry and one of her recent posts was about a project that she was working on. It was an original IP in an unfamiliar genre and because of that risk, the entire thing was abruptly canceled. The current state of the economy is considerably less than optimal. Seemingly untouchable companies like EA continue to have layoffs. Consumers are not purchasing as much, and businesses are all too aware of that. I understand that will impact the video game industry and the production of original IPs. I just hope the effect on it is minimal. Because as much as gamers enjoy Fable 2, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Call of Duty 5, we do want new titles as well.
Keep on building the new IPs. We will come. I promise.
Other participants!
What I want in 2009, The “Roxanne” Edition, Dear Gaming Industry, if the industry gave us all presents this Christmas, Demands for the industry, Santa, Don’t Bring Me Toys I Have To Share, All I Want for Christmas Is…, My Wish for the Year, Crossing Over, Checkpoint Unobtained. errr., Loading Requests, LISTEN BITCH!!!, One Wish, More games like Portal and Braid, Imagine, Dear Video Game Industry, A Wish for 2009!, Gaming Industry Wishes, My wish for next year
Posted by DeepCee on December 13, 2008 at 4:57 am
Reading the blog you highlighted…She seems to predict the fact that due to the current economic climate we’ll be seeing a lot of sequels. Hmmm…
Universal save system Angel? Not familiar with that.
Posted by Tentimook on December 13, 2008 at 6:18 am
Very insightful, I hate it when a new game has such prospect and falls short of what it *could* have been.
Great piece angel!
Posted by PsycheDiver on December 13, 2008 at 7:08 am
Wonderful and enlightened banter. Please add me to the list of people who want to participate in your banters from here on out.
Posted by BSG Daffy on December 13, 2008 at 7:14 am
It’s interesting to hear someone say the economy is affecting the video game market in a negative way. I’ve heard so many others claim that the video game industry is solid, despite the economy.
Links:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/technology/news/e3i418dddc577c320a4485d767bd82d8b92
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10107412-52.html
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071127-esa-gaming-industry-an-economic-powerhouse-outgrew-us-economy-by-4-to-1.html
Of course, it stands to reason if the economy was better, the video game industry would be even stronger.
Posted by bs angel on December 13, 2008 at 10:32 am
From a personal standpoint, the economy has very much affected my video buying habits. I can’t remember the last title I bought at release at the full purchase price. It was probably something back in spring or earlier. I went from preordering every title that caught my eye to now waiting to buy games until after their price drops significantly.
As far as its effect on original IPs, I doubt the article I linked is an isolated case unfortunately.
Posted by Qix on December 13, 2008 at 11:05 am
Of corse the economy is going to effect every market in some way, even positively for some (shoe/watch repair, since less are buying new). I think it’s just that video games are hurt a LOT less than most other markets.
Posted by Ken Raves on December 13, 2008 at 11:11 am
EA has never been real nice to their employee’s, layoffs on their part is a given.
Posted by Ken Raves on December 13, 2008 at 11:16 am
I have heard rumors about the game industry having ups and downs, but not utterly failing like some business’. I think that due to recent increase in gaming and the consumers demand for entertaining video games and consoles, that this is the one thing expected not to bankrupt.
Then again, lots of games (Including ones that suck.) are still at launch price and that’s no good.
Posted by bs angel on December 13, 2008 at 11:27 am
I agree Ken. Gaming is just such an expensive hobby these days. I’ve saved a lot of money since I’ve gone to not buying titles at launch, and I’ve probably gotten more games too! I have a few good ones waiting for me at Christmas that I’m stoked about getting my hands on finally.
And PsycheDiver, I added you to the list!
Posted by SonofMacPhisto on December 13, 2008 at 2:56 pm
We know that Bungie is working on original IP. Do we think then they left Microsoft in order to do this? By that I mean, so Microsoft can’t axe their projects because they are nervous about its economic viability?
On a side note, I think Valve is another great developer that continues to produce new IP. They will *probably* wrap up the Half-Life IP with HL2: Episode 3. In the meantime however, they have shown commitment to new ideas, such as Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Left 4 Dead. Portal is one of the most original games ever. TF2, while a team based shooter and sequel, is completely different from the standard ‘realistic’ fare and shows COMPLETELY new life can be breathed into existing IP. Left 4 Dead could be considered the finest execution of a real ‘zombie shooter’ (ok, maybe not that ‘original,’ but no one else has come up with like it).
And your right, Mirror’s Edge is brilliant if only because it was an experiment. Like ZP says, even though it didn’t work, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth something significant.
(Yay Bungie, btw.)
Posted by Dan on December 13, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Ha, your post is essentially the complete opposite of mine :D
(though not really, of course, since I cited games like Age of Booty as new IP that has the same feel)
Posted by silvercube on December 13, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Wow, just spent like an hour reading everyone’s posts :)
They were cool. Some of us asked for similar things… great minds think alike ^_^
Happy Holidays.
Posted by RuneOfRed on December 13, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Hey I added mine, but you still haven’t linked it!
Posted by bs angel on December 13, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I just checked my gmail and I don’t have an email from you with the title and link. Did you send it to me and it just got lost somewhere?
Posted by Ken Raves on December 13, 2008 at 7:09 pm
@Macphisto
I think that might have something to do with Bungies seperation with Microsoft. Then again, the scriptures tell us they had this planned.
Also, I think HL: Ep. 3 will be like Halo 3: It’ll wrap up that main story but not the entire series.
Posted by CdawgOwnd on December 13, 2008 at 9:54 pm
A great example of that is Assassin’s Creed. IT was supposed to be the revolutionary game ever made. So new and interactive nothing could touch it. Then after the release it was mediocre if that. The fighting sucked and after all of the interaction in one place it was exactly the same everywhere else. boo.
Posted by Lou on December 14, 2008 at 2:02 am
New IPs have a really good chance nowadays; if anything they get as much buzz as the established franchises. I think the general gaming public will get to a point where we’re so bored of those familiar names that we reject them. It seems to already be happening with the likes of Guitar Hero World Tour, which I think sold far below the expected numbers.
The only problem is these new IPs then become franchises of their own, so the love-hate cycle continues to chase its own tail. lol.
Posted by deckard47 on December 14, 2008 at 8:47 am
Yes! As someone who loved EA’s two big new IP’s, I couldn’t agree with you more. This goes for Boom Blox, and basically every other new game out there. We need you!
Posted by Ken Raves on December 14, 2008 at 9:28 am
According to Kotaku EA didn’t do as well as expected, leading to their lay-offs and less games next year.
Posted by ResilientMonkey on December 14, 2008 at 6:41 pm
“Build it and they will come”. I agree with your rant BS Angel, I felt you hit the nail right on the head. While we do enjoy our old favorites in new ways, those very old favorites at one time were brand new IP’s!
Game companies must make new stuff. Look at how small-time companies and individuals are taking a risk and making new and different games that are compelling and fun. Games like The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, Narbacular Drop (Portal), Fez and more.
Don’t worry big companies, make a new IP, make it well, build on the shoulders of those that came before. We will buy it. If we enjoy it, we will buy more. Make new control schemes, play with new dimensions, listen to us gamers about your games.
Innovate.
We are waiting.
Posted by DethPwn on December 15, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I totally agree, Macphisto. Valve, Ninja Bee and other developers are just what we need, especially during a recession where all we can truly rely on is another goddamn WWII game or some movie spinoff. However, Valve has given us gems like Portal and L4D, and with such games as Eat Lead, Dante’s Inferno and Brutal Legend coming out next year, I remain optimistic that we have a long run of original games before they start pushing Halo 4: Grunty’s Revenge on us.
Posted by Angela on December 16, 2008 at 3:12 pm
This year was certainly one filled with sequels and not enough newness. Last year was filled with more fantastic IPs and that’s why I think this year almost completely sucked. It felt like I had played everything already.