25 very long years. That's how long we've been fortunate to have access to the greatest hobby in the world. We've seen 8 bits, we are seeing 128 bits. We've held a rectangular block controller, we'll be holding a tv remote. We've played consoles stacked on top of each other, we've seen game storage media evolve. What I'm getting at here is gaming has advanced an insane amount over the course of two and a half decades. Unfortunately a problem is looming, and truthfully it's already taking effect. What in the world happened to focusing on the fundamentals of gaming? It seems like everything we gloat over with our electronic devices is making way to consoles and handhelds. What gives?
Electronics is a huge industry in this world. People use them every day whether they realize it or not. We've practically become dependent on them, by no real fault of our own. We wake up in the morning to the sounds of an annoying alarm clock. A computer is installed in the very car you drive to school, work, or elsewhere. We use televisions to watch our favorite shows. Microwaves are the preferred method of preparing meals among college students. Since the 20th century, technology has advanced at an almost frightening speed. Just about every month we are hearing of the latest in whatever technology.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the advancement of technology and the cool gadgets we're fortunate enough to utilize on an every day basis. However, how it's been integrated in the gaming industry truly scares me. This especially deals with Sony and Microsoft. How they've become so obsessed over it and downright sacrificed any kind of change to their interface makes me ill. The future of gaming is looking just a LITTLE bleak. Technology advancing at an alarming rate, little change to gameplay and reliance on popular IPs. Why does it seem like Nintendo is the one that cares the most?
Now be forewarned, this is an EDITORIAL. That means it's MY opinion. If you don't like it, tough. Feel free to agree or disagree with me, but arguing is futile. Simply understand my thoughts, that's all I ask.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm pretty much against all that is not for gaming in a videogame system. That includes your CD players, your microwave ovens, your toilets and just about everything else but the kitchen sink that doesn't involve pure gaming. Then of course you have your way overhyped microchips sitting on the motherboard that can do more math calculations in ten seconds than 50 million Albert Einsteins.
What I'm getting at is why do Sony and Microsoft insist on pouring millions if not BILLIONS into advanced technology that is so unnecessary? I have a laptop and CD player that can play my music. I have a DVD player and this laptop that plays my movies. Millions of other people have their MP3 players and iPods. We have microwave ovens....well, you get the point. You can tell me this is 'convenience' all you want. But in the end, I'd actually like to KEEP some of the funds I worked so hard for during the afternoon. Oh, and the fact that MS and Sony really haven't changed much with how their systems play irks me to no end. The 360 controller is a smaller Xbox one with a new button and two different button placements. Well whoopdee doo!
Sony, don't even get me started on your PS3 controller with handles that look like they should be detachable. Plus, has anyone noticed that since the Playstation they've barely changed their controller design? The PS and PS2 controllers are virtually identical...and the PS3 is...well, just read my first statement again. Computers are called 'computers' for a reason. They are MEANT to multitask, videogame consoles are called that for a REASON, that's all they should do!
Nintendo on the other hand, actually seems to care about something this coming generation. Well, more than just something, a lot of things. One happens to be changing their interface for the better. Their controller is brand new and COMPLETELY different. Their transition between N64 and GCN was a little disappointing, but that could be dealt with. But having something resemble a simple device like a tv remote that gives us much more interaction with games has me giddy. I realize it may be intimidating and strange to some...but I'm sure once you get a chance to experience it, you won't want to turn away.
Another is appealing to as big of an audience as possible. Sony and Microsoft are still focusing mainly on their hardcore fan base. With the games the 360 has seen and what we're seeing for the PS3, how could that be argued? Kutaragi (that's the Sony head honcho for you), just because your weak PS2 managed to sell over 100 million units doesn't mean its successor already has that achievement in the bag! You want to know why? Nintendo is doing what they can to keep shady punks like you from causing another industry meltdown! There's a reason games like Nintendogs and Brain Age are phenomena, there are those that want something UNIQUE!
It's bad enough that next generation production costs are going to make us all cry when we have to pull out our wallets. Come on, $400 and more just for a console, accessories and couple games? I prefer to not have my pockets on fire thank you very much. Oh and Sony, I don't care if the 500 euro price is just a rumor, it still doesn't take away that your next console is going to destroy people's bank accounts. Well, ok, destroy may be a little dramatic, but I do wish to own a house in the future.
Then we have our precious developers. Now I understand that the ones that still exist have to outdo themselves from one generation to the next. That requires a bit more investment capital in terms of game production. But not only are we suffering for it, they are too. $60 is a heart wrenching price considering how much other forms of disc media run for. Then if some of our big name developers *cough* EA *cough* make one huge mistake with a crappy game, they could be in huge financial trouble. Midway is a great yet unfortunate example of this. Not only do we have the chance of losing some really awesome developers next generation, we have to work harder just to obtain their products. Could you really look me into the eye and say that you're going to spend that kind of money at a console launch and in future years without having a slight twitch? Obviously those of you who can rival Bill Gates or something don't apply.
Another thing. Does it ever puzzle some of you how Sony can claim they'll have games with real-time CG graphics? If you ask me, it's just not possible. At least not in this day and age. Why do I think that? Look at Hollywood. Hollywood is practically the dictator of modern media entertainment. They make movies, music and whatever else. Have you ever wondered why the only things we've seen in constant CG rendering are movies? It's because we don't INTERACT with them. Movies are simply shot and recorded on sets with various actors and actresses. People then go to the theater to watch them, and that's all they do...watch them. If we could literally interact with movies like we do videogames, do you think they would be produced as quickly and cost as much money?
Videogames are fully interactive forms of electronic media entertainment. For anyone, not just Sony, to claim they can have real-time CG graphics using today's technology, they're blowing a lot of smoke. There are no microchips powerful enough to handle that kind of activity...at all. Cell is not even close to powerful enough to allow constant interaction between a player and a game while producing constant CG graphics. It's simply not possible. Quite frankly, the day and age we get to when that is possible even scares me. High definition doesn't mean constant CG output.
Nintendo is truly the only entity here focused on bringing us the latest in a pure GAMING experience. Not the latest in ungodly processing speeds, not the latest in pretty pictures, not the latest in multi-functionality. Yeah they do have an online service and an optional DVD player, but that pales in comparison to the other big two. The Revmote offers no frustration with sensitive analog bullcrap, no pressing four different buttons in a certain sequence to chain a punch/kick combo. It's all done with the simple movement of our wrist, and I'll take that over pressing buttons in succession any day. Don't get me wrong, button pressing isn't bad, but it's really becoming exhausted. If things stay this way over the next few generations, I'll feel the same nasty feeling buying games and such as when I fill up my gas tank at $2.80 a gallon. I sincerely hope Nintendo continues to do what they're doing.
I'm so thankful that Nintendo is stressing the ideal of 'bigger ideas over bigger budgets'. Obviously it can't ALWAYS be like that, but granted I'm sure it can be that way most of the time. Being an aspiring developer for the Revolution and DS, there's simply no way my team could afford a cataclysmic endeavor. We can get capital necessary to start a project, but if we would fail because we didn't have enough, bye bye us. The Revolution SDK is about $2000 and the DS one $1000. That already is very pocket friendly for a small but financially supported team.
Were it not for Nintendo, we would have to drop our dreams altogether. I truly respect Iwata wanting all developers to come onboard with them and create their big idea. If that weren't the case even now, we wouldn't have Killer 7, Geist, Beyond Good & Evil and Odama. Oh and spare me that these games may have gotten crappy reviews. I'm speaking of originality here, not execution. The DS is proving it as well. Truly innovative hardware that is relatively cheap to develop for, and we are seeing excellent title after excellent title. There's a reason it's demolishing the PSP. The PSP is nothing more than a PS2 portable with ports that have insane load times and frame rate issues. It may have its notable software, but it pales in comparison to the DS. I don't want functionality that I have better access to elsewhere...I just want to play games, and fresh ones!
Please, spare me the supercomputer technology and all the incredible microchips that can do more things than I've even heard of. I just want to play videogames. Nintendo is focusing the best on that next generation, why is it so difficult for the other guys? I don't need discs that can hold 50 GB worth of data when most games this generation carried around 5. I don't need a processor with eight different cores and pools that can do billions of things at once. I also sure as heck don't need accessories that will cost me as much as games do this generation. I'm a hardcore GAMER for a reason. I thank you for taking the time to read this if you did. I'm sorry if you were offended in any way, but considering I targeted no one but the Big 3, there should be no problem. Discuss what you will, but remember you will not change my opinion.
Electronics is a huge industry in this world. People use them every day whether they realize it or not. We've practically become dependent on them, by no real fault of our own. We wake up in the morning to the sounds of an annoying alarm clock. A computer is installed in the very car you drive to school, work, or elsewhere. We use televisions to watch our favorite shows. Microwaves are the preferred method of preparing meals among college students. Since the 20th century, technology has advanced at an almost frightening speed. Just about every month we are hearing of the latest in whatever technology.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the advancement of technology and the cool gadgets we're fortunate enough to utilize on an every day basis. However, how it's been integrated in the gaming industry truly scares me. This especially deals with Sony and Microsoft. How they've become so obsessed over it and downright sacrificed any kind of change to their interface makes me ill. The future of gaming is looking just a LITTLE bleak. Technology advancing at an alarming rate, little change to gameplay and reliance on popular IPs. Why does it seem like Nintendo is the one that cares the most?
Now be forewarned, this is an EDITORIAL. That means it's MY opinion. If you don't like it, tough. Feel free to agree or disagree with me, but arguing is futile. Simply understand my thoughts, that's all I ask.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm pretty much against all that is not for gaming in a videogame system. That includes your CD players, your microwave ovens, your toilets and just about everything else but the kitchen sink that doesn't involve pure gaming. Then of course you have your way overhyped microchips sitting on the motherboard that can do more math calculations in ten seconds than 50 million Albert Einsteins.
What I'm getting at is why do Sony and Microsoft insist on pouring millions if not BILLIONS into advanced technology that is so unnecessary? I have a laptop and CD player that can play my music. I have a DVD player and this laptop that plays my movies. Millions of other people have their MP3 players and iPods. We have microwave ovens....well, you get the point. You can tell me this is 'convenience' all you want. But in the end, I'd actually like to KEEP some of the funds I worked so hard for during the afternoon. Oh, and the fact that MS and Sony really haven't changed much with how their systems play irks me to no end. The 360 controller is a smaller Xbox one with a new button and two different button placements. Well whoopdee doo!
Sony, don't even get me started on your PS3 controller with handles that look like they should be detachable. Plus, has anyone noticed that since the Playstation they've barely changed their controller design? The PS and PS2 controllers are virtually identical...and the PS3 is...well, just read my first statement again. Computers are called 'computers' for a reason. They are MEANT to multitask, videogame consoles are called that for a REASON, that's all they should do!
Nintendo on the other hand, actually seems to care about something this coming generation. Well, more than just something, a lot of things. One happens to be changing their interface for the better. Their controller is brand new and COMPLETELY different. Their transition between N64 and GCN was a little disappointing, but that could be dealt with. But having something resemble a simple device like a tv remote that gives us much more interaction with games has me giddy. I realize it may be intimidating and strange to some...but I'm sure once you get a chance to experience it, you won't want to turn away.
Another is appealing to as big of an audience as possible. Sony and Microsoft are still focusing mainly on their hardcore fan base. With the games the 360 has seen and what we're seeing for the PS3, how could that be argued? Kutaragi (that's the Sony head honcho for you), just because your weak PS2 managed to sell over 100 million units doesn't mean its successor already has that achievement in the bag! You want to know why? Nintendo is doing what they can to keep shady punks like you from causing another industry meltdown! There's a reason games like Nintendogs and Brain Age are phenomena, there are those that want something UNIQUE!
It's bad enough that next generation production costs are going to make us all cry when we have to pull out our wallets. Come on, $400 and more just for a console, accessories and couple games? I prefer to not have my pockets on fire thank you very much. Oh and Sony, I don't care if the 500 euro price is just a rumor, it still doesn't take away that your next console is going to destroy people's bank accounts. Well, ok, destroy may be a little dramatic, but I do wish to own a house in the future.
Then we have our precious developers. Now I understand that the ones that still exist have to outdo themselves from one generation to the next. That requires a bit more investment capital in terms of game production. But not only are we suffering for it, they are too. $60 is a heart wrenching price considering how much other forms of disc media run for. Then if some of our big name developers *cough* EA *cough* make one huge mistake with a crappy game, they could be in huge financial trouble. Midway is a great yet unfortunate example of this. Not only do we have the chance of losing some really awesome developers next generation, we have to work harder just to obtain their products. Could you really look me into the eye and say that you're going to spend that kind of money at a console launch and in future years without having a slight twitch? Obviously those of you who can rival Bill Gates or something don't apply.
Another thing. Does it ever puzzle some of you how Sony can claim they'll have games with real-time CG graphics? If you ask me, it's just not possible. At least not in this day and age. Why do I think that? Look at Hollywood. Hollywood is practically the dictator of modern media entertainment. They make movies, music and whatever else. Have you ever wondered why the only things we've seen in constant CG rendering are movies? It's because we don't INTERACT with them. Movies are simply shot and recorded on sets with various actors and actresses. People then go to the theater to watch them, and that's all they do...watch them. If we could literally interact with movies like we do videogames, do you think they would be produced as quickly and cost as much money?
Videogames are fully interactive forms of electronic media entertainment. For anyone, not just Sony, to claim they can have real-time CG graphics using today's technology, they're blowing a lot of smoke. There are no microchips powerful enough to handle that kind of activity...at all. Cell is not even close to powerful enough to allow constant interaction between a player and a game while producing constant CG graphics. It's simply not possible. Quite frankly, the day and age we get to when that is possible even scares me. High definition doesn't mean constant CG output.
Nintendo is truly the only entity here focused on bringing us the latest in a pure GAMING experience. Not the latest in ungodly processing speeds, not the latest in pretty pictures, not the latest in multi-functionality. Yeah they do have an online service and an optional DVD player, but that pales in comparison to the other big two. The Revmote offers no frustration with sensitive analog bullcrap, no pressing four different buttons in a certain sequence to chain a punch/kick combo. It's all done with the simple movement of our wrist, and I'll take that over pressing buttons in succession any day. Don't get me wrong, button pressing isn't bad, but it's really becoming exhausted. If things stay this way over the next few generations, I'll feel the same nasty feeling buying games and such as when I fill up my gas tank at $2.80 a gallon. I sincerely hope Nintendo continues to do what they're doing.
I'm so thankful that Nintendo is stressing the ideal of 'bigger ideas over bigger budgets'. Obviously it can't ALWAYS be like that, but granted I'm sure it can be that way most of the time. Being an aspiring developer for the Revolution and DS, there's simply no way my team could afford a cataclysmic endeavor. We can get capital necessary to start a project, but if we would fail because we didn't have enough, bye bye us. The Revolution SDK is about $2000 and the DS one $1000. That already is very pocket friendly for a small but financially supported team.
Were it not for Nintendo, we would have to drop our dreams altogether. I truly respect Iwata wanting all developers to come onboard with them and create their big idea. If that weren't the case even now, we wouldn't have Killer 7, Geist, Beyond Good & Evil and Odama. Oh and spare me that these games may have gotten crappy reviews. I'm speaking of originality here, not execution. The DS is proving it as well. Truly innovative hardware that is relatively cheap to develop for, and we are seeing excellent title after excellent title. There's a reason it's demolishing the PSP. The PSP is nothing more than a PS2 portable with ports that have insane load times and frame rate issues. It may have its notable software, but it pales in comparison to the DS. I don't want functionality that I have better access to elsewhere...I just want to play games, and fresh ones!
Please, spare me the supercomputer technology and all the incredible microchips that can do more things than I've even heard of. I just want to play videogames. Nintendo is focusing the best on that next generation, why is it so difficult for the other guys? I don't need discs that can hold 50 GB worth of data when most games this generation carried around 5. I don't need a processor with eight different cores and pools that can do billions of things at once. I also sure as heck don't need accessories that will cost me as much as games do this generation. I'm a hardcore GAMER for a reason. I thank you for taking the time to read this if you did. I'm sorry if you were offended in any way, but considering I targeted no one but the Big 3, there should be no problem. Discuss what you will, but remember you will not change my opinion.
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