Selling video games is an odd business, and in recent years it has
become perhaps its most unusual in all of its history. Where the old
terms of better graphics and more high tech conponements meant the
difference in winning a console war or not a few generations ago,
today, it is all down to innovation that makes games and systems sell.
An example of this would be the optomistic Wii, which has been changing
everyones perspective on gaming for the last year or so it has been in
business. Problem is, it is because of the Wii, the job of selling
games has become a much harder task, especially for eastern game
producers. How does a strategy work for everyone in gaming? How can
games be altered to suit all audiences world wide rather than just one?
Back in the past, games were almost completely changed for the
western audience when this question arised. Take Contra for example,
the game was shaped into almost a different game when it was released
as "Probotector" in Europe. The design was changed almost everywhere on
everything! Interestingly enough too, into robots! Another example is
the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games. Both of these had scenes of
kissing and romance cut out as well as a few references due to the
audiences Square were working with over in America. We as gamers, we're
too serious and edgey about the content in our games, and with Japanese
audiences being mainly open about subjects we darn not to discuss, we
sadly missed out on key features and devices in several games.

Today
however, that story almost seems the absoloute reverse. It is something
that really isn't necessary now. Games in Japan are being changed there
in bizzare ways. Infact take a look at Soul Calibur 4, it almost lives
and breaths fanservice the way characters have been presented in the
game. Namco have gone to use some skimpy revealing clothes, similar to
something found in Dead or Alive simply to sell a few extra copies of
the game. What the hell?
Now Soul Calibur 4 is actually a good
game, no doubt about that, but when it comes down to developers doing
changes like this for the sad, sad perverted gamer something seriously
has changed in gaming. Whether its for the better, I seriously don't
know. But all that outrage about explicit content in games has been
thrown out the window now. Don't get me wrong on this, explicit content
should be in games, if it is a gameplay element or realistic element,
but this is a mainstream game we're talking about!

Just
imagine it yourself, what if your favourite game was changed just so it
could suit everyone? Rememeber the Jak and Daxter games? The game was
originally a cutesy, beautiful 3D platformer, and it took the old
platformer roots from Mario, Crash and Sonic making a fantastic game
just by mixing the 3. Yet with its sequel, everyones jaws dropped when
they saw how gritty the game had become. Jak now had a gun, he now had
a voice, he now swore his head off! And the whole plot of the first
game was just ripped up to shreads. In fact, the game was no longer a
platformer following this change, but rather an action adventure game.
It followed as a GTA clone, something that became increasingly popular
following Jak's release.
This seriously effects Japanese games.
Not long ago, a game known as Okami was released. The game was a wonder
for those few people who played it. The game had a tranquil atmosphere,
it made a few unique touches to be a game worth remembering but sadly
it sold very poorly. That isn't the end of it though. The Katamari
games, also unique of a game, and an excellent game indeed, also did
badly as far as sales were concerned due to how different it was.

Gamers no longer like something that is original, there I've said it. We no longer want to experience anything that is different or unique, but rather for assembling our love for guns and boobies. The reason I say this is because there are just so very few new games in developement and many more sequels in the works. Sequels can be good, but the sequel list was through the roof this E3. Call me mad or crazy for saying that I don't want a sequel to Fallout, I don't want a sequel to Metal Gear Solid and I don't want a sequel to Halo but is that really the only future for gaming? Sequel after sequel?
I could be wrong, but unless change is made for soon we could be developing a fatal pattern to an eventual downfall in gaming. It has already begun in the platform and puzzle genre and it is slowly working its way through the fighters. I could be just paranoid but look carefully at what games you're buying this year, just tell me, how many sequels are on that list? Is there anything starting, fresh as baked bread that you'd actually play? Because I honestly can't think of just one game off the top of my head.
Thanks for reading anyway though.
Take care guys!
Loopy_101
Well, there isn't much point explaining who I am, since I've already done that (look above) but I figured I'd explain what I plan to do here on Giant Bomb. Firstly, I made the move because I've been left dissapointed by nearly every other forum I've been in so far. The over forums have simply not impressed by because of their rules, their flaws (e.g. copy + paste issues) and lack of activity. I chose Giant Bomb simply because I know people will be here and I know that the contributions I'll be making (which I will be explaining in my next paragraph) would get alot more attention here than in the other forums.
So anyway, I plan to make a new blog here every week as a result. That's right, a new blog. I'm not going to rehash anything you guys might have seen in the past, aside from reviews. What I plan to do with these blogs are more or less discussion topics, depending on my mood. I will make a few updates on several events I took up, such as EightBitWarrior's famous "Retro Revival Week" and My "Mission to Saturn" many of you have kept tabs on for the past few months. I also plan to post my video and audio reviews/blogs here when I can and once it actually is possible.
For now though, I'll be surfing the forums for some good topics and try to make contact with the people I befriended in other forums, since I know they're here. I've already found a few cool people who've made the change, and I'm down for the way this site has set itself up. Overall, I can't wait to find out what happens next. Keep watching my profile for more blogs.
Take care guys! :)
Loopy_101
| Date Joined: | July 21, 2008 |
| City: | Sheffield |
| Gender: | Male |
| Alignment: | Neutral |
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