Something I've read many times about the X360 is that people are getting deja vu. They feel like they're seeing Xbox games but with better graphics and sound. They obviously feel disappointed that they're not getting clearly "next gen" games to go along with their "next gen" console.
My question is: do you agree with these people? Do you feel like there should be a clear demarcation between current and next gen games? And I'm talking about next gen here, not just about the X360.
I don't agree with them, but let me explain why. I see two general ways in which games progress or stagnate. One is the interface/move set/feature set. Splinter Cell 3 getting the ability to switch hands when firing is an example of this. SC3's co-op is also an example. Pretty much anything directly tied to the gameplay fits here. The second is content. The story, cutscenes, dialogue, animation, rendering features and such fit under content.
So when people talk about not being impressed with a next gen game, I'm pretty sure they mean they see no clear upgrade to the interface/feature set area. For games that are heavily or totally focused on this, I can understand. Madden and Burnout are two good examples. If they don't continually tweak and expand the feature set, even the fans will see no reason to buy the new versions.
When I switch the topic to content-driven games, though, I do not understand these people. For the X360, Mass Effect is a great example of what I'm talking about. Games like ME are not properly judged by generation. They're too timeless for that. If the story is good and is convincingly told, it does not really matter what vehicle is used to bring it to the player.
Going back to feature set dependent games for a second, slow genre or franchise evolution is too often ignored. Just think of all the things that people look for in FPS games today that weren't expected back in the Wolfenstein 3D/Doom days. Vehicles, CTF, rigid body physics, friendly AI, etc. One way I think about it is that I got my Xbox to play Xbox games. Why would I not get a better Xbox to play better Xbox games? I've already clearly voted with my wallet that I like Xbox games. So when I get the chance to play Xbox++ games, why not?
A small addition I think important here is that each current gen console has some unique titles on it. Stranger's Wrath, Beyond Good & Evil, Katamari and so on. So painting a picture of a next gen platform's entire game library as "been there" will almost surely be inaccurate.
An interesting related point is that Nintendo has managed to make every game on their next gen platform have a different interface/feature set. Note that I said "different." It will most likely turn out to be for the better, but to be honest, we don't know for sure yet. It creates an immediate and recognizable jump that people can identify as "next gen."
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. What do you think about it?
My question is: do you agree with these people? Do you feel like there should be a clear demarcation between current and next gen games? And I'm talking about next gen here, not just about the X360.
I don't agree with them, but let me explain why. I see two general ways in which games progress or stagnate. One is the interface/move set/feature set. Splinter Cell 3 getting the ability to switch hands when firing is an example of this. SC3's co-op is also an example. Pretty much anything directly tied to the gameplay fits here. The second is content. The story, cutscenes, dialogue, animation, rendering features and such fit under content.
So when people talk about not being impressed with a next gen game, I'm pretty sure they mean they see no clear upgrade to the interface/feature set area. For games that are heavily or totally focused on this, I can understand. Madden and Burnout are two good examples. If they don't continually tweak and expand the feature set, even the fans will see no reason to buy the new versions.
When I switch the topic to content-driven games, though, I do not understand these people. For the X360, Mass Effect is a great example of what I'm talking about. Games like ME are not properly judged by generation. They're too timeless for that. If the story is good and is convincingly told, it does not really matter what vehicle is used to bring it to the player.
Going back to feature set dependent games for a second, slow genre or franchise evolution is too often ignored. Just think of all the things that people look for in FPS games today that weren't expected back in the Wolfenstein 3D/Doom days. Vehicles, CTF, rigid body physics, friendly AI, etc. One way I think about it is that I got my Xbox to play Xbox games. Why would I not get a better Xbox to play better Xbox games? I've already clearly voted with my wallet that I like Xbox games. So when I get the chance to play Xbox++ games, why not?
A small addition I think important here is that each current gen console has some unique titles on it. Stranger's Wrath, Beyond Good & Evil, Katamari and so on. So painting a picture of a next gen platform's entire game library as "been there" will almost surely be inaccurate.
An interesting related point is that Nintendo has managed to make every game on their next gen platform have a different interface/feature set. Note that I said "different." It will most likely turn out to be for the better, but to be honest, we don't know for sure yet. It creates an immediate and recognizable jump that people can identify as "next gen."
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. What do you think about it?
