Serious Blogging Episode 1: Is creative still cool?  

To answer your question: no, creative was never cool. In just about every period of gaming history, developers have milked the hell out of genres with little thought; the only difference is that now, it's just one. Sad, but not as sad as many think.

" @Video_Game_King: Those were not a problem because they didn't sell well for the most part.  They were just low tier platformers that did not take up that much shelf space. "

Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games.
 
This stuff is just off the top of my head and exclusive to Xbox 360. Most of these games are successful and feature multiple iterations. I could have also included shooters that aren't first person but didn't. (Gears, Resident Evil, etc.) 'Shooters' are probably the most popular genre. But they still make up a small fraction of games released today and are all very unique from one another.

" @Video_Game_King: Id agree and disagree.  In SNES days, creativity was a huge part of developing a game, but yes formula's have been milked to hell, especially with some Nintendo games.  Although now, the biggest sellers are the milked ones. "

" Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games.  This stuff is just off the top of my head and exclusive to Xbox 360. "

" @carlthenimrod said:

" Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games.  This stuff is just off the top of my head and exclusive to Xbox 360. "

Most of those aren't exclusive to the Xbox360.  Forza and Fable is a different matter. "

" @Godwind said:

" @carlthenimrod said:

" Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games.  This stuff is just off the top of my head and exclusive to Xbox 360. "

Most of those aren't exclusive to the Xbox360.  Forza and Fable is a different matter. "

You misinterpreted me. I wasn't talking about system exclusives. I was just mentioning non-shooters on the Xbox 360 platform including multi-platform. I could on about other platforms like Infamous, LBP, and Rachet on PS3 but I just kept it to the Xbox since that was what the topic creator was talking about. "

"He was talking about the Xbox360 specifically.  He was talking about games in general.  It wasn't used as his opening statement.  The word Xbox360 was only used to refer to HIS Xbox360, not the Xbox360 as a whole.     Also, I didn't misinterpret anything.  You said specifically "exclusive to Xbox360".  Which would refer to a condition in which software is only usable on a specific platform, in this case, the Xbox360.  This is in contrast to better selection of words such as "available" or "playable". "

" @Godwind said:

"He was talking about the Xbox360 specifically.  He was talking about games in general.  It wasn't used as his opening statement.  The word Xbox360 was only used to refer to HIS Xbox360, not the Xbox360 as a whole.     Also, I didn't misinterpret anything.  You said specifically "exclusive to Xbox360".  Which would refer to a condition in which software is only usable on a specific platform, in this case, the Xbox360.  This is in contrast to better selection of words such as "available" or "playable". "

This is stupid and off-topic. My point was obvious. There is a large selection of non-shooting games on Xbox 360 that he can go buy. All of which I listed are awesome. "

"  When I used to go to a game store, it would be hard to choose which game to pick because they were all so unique in their own ways. Now it is a question of which shooter should I get on my Xbox360."

"  I must point out the obvious exceptions: Prince of Persia, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Viva Pinata, and Banjo and Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. What a short list, and even Bioshock and Fallout 3 are FPS games, but they deserve recognition for being unique shooters. My arguement is that there are to many of them that do not stand out at all. I think the biggest example of this is Call of Duty 4 and Call of Duty: World at War.  "

" No, your just misleading.  He was referring to the industry as a whole more than the Xbox360.  How the industry has become less creative and diverse. He was using it as mere rhetoric.  
 
To state how different his shopping experience for video games has changed.    
"

My eyes are very blurry due to drinking so i could not read the origningal topic typing, but i think originality within games are of utmost importance

" I fail to see how the industry, as a whole, has become less creative and diverse. "

" I just listed off a ton of games that all feature the creativity and diversity you desire for one single platform. "

" Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games. "

@carlthenimrod

"   It's not like there weren't a bagillion brawlers on the 16-bit systems. "

@carlthenimrod

"   It's not like there weren't a bagillion... plat-formers, as someone before noted. "

" Fable- An RPG with a sandbox setting.  Sounds like Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
 Forza- Gran Turismo for the Xbox360
Dead Rising- Beat em up in 3D?  Next.
Assassin's Creed- Prince of Persia for the next generation consoles?
Street Fighter- Its still light punch, medium punch, heavy punch and a varation with kicks.  How is that creative?
Oblivion- See Fable.
Batman- So creative that they used a non-video game based character to make a game based on the character.
Splinter Cell- Wow, your looking desperate.
GTA- Beating up dudes in a sandbox scenario.  How many games are in the series and how many variations are there anyways? 
Rockband- Guitar Freaks was released in 1998.
XBLA games- Instead of being on a disc, its a game on a hard drive. "

 " And it isn't true with Shooters today?  In addition, there is a fair amount of beat em ups still in existence. "

" Like Adventure games of old, games have evolved from platformers.  Adventure games are designed with action oriented gaming instead of using classic text.  Platformers have evolved to action adventure games.  Their not gone, they just evolved. "    

 
Whoever said they were gone? New Super Mario Bros and Splosion Man say 'ello. Action-adventure is a completely different genre altogether. Not sure what you're going on about anymore.

" @Godwind said:

" Fable- An RPG with a sandbox setting.  Sounds like Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
 Forza- Gran Turismo for the Xbox360
Dead Rising- Beat em up in 3D?  Next.
Assassin's Creed- Prince of Persia for the next generation consoles?
Street Fighter- Its still light punch, medium punch, heavy punch and a varation with kicks.  How is that creative?
Oblivion- See Fable.
Batman- So creative that they used a non-video game based character to make a game based on the character.
Splinter Cell- Wow, your looking desperate.
GTA- Beating up dudes in a sandbox scenario.  How many games are in the series and how many variations are there anyways? 
Rockband- Guitar Freaks was released in 1998.
XBLA games- Instead of being on a disc, its a game on a hard drive. "

Those are some gross over simplifications of great games. Some of which are completely inaccurate. Dead Rising a 3D beat em' up? Wuht?  
"

" @Godwind said:  
 
 

 " And it isn't true with Shooters today?  In addition, there is a fair amount of beat em ups still in existence. "

 
That is exactly my point. So how has the industry become less creative when this type of stuff has been going on since the original NES? Instead of deciding between Mario or Sonic, you are deciding between Halo or Killzone.
 

" @Godwind said: 

" Like Adventure games of old, games have evolved from platformers.  Adventure games are designed with action oriented gaming instead of using classic text.  Platformers have evolved to action adventure games.  Their not gone, they just evolved. "    

 
Whoever said they were gone? New Super Mario Bros and Splosion Man say 'ello. Action-adventure is a completely different genre altogether. Not sure what you're going on about anymore.

"

Congratulations, you have been able to refute all my points without articulating real points. 

  Games, even as clones, tried to be different enough during that era.   Clones today don't do a lot to break up the game.

 Completely?  Are you to say that inFamous doesn't share a fair amount of platforming?  Assassins Creed?  It's not platforming focused, but utilizes the mechanic.

My second one is up: 
 
http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/general-discussion/30/serious-blogging-episode-2-save-your-money/267783/#2   

I agree. Too many FPS

" @Godwind said:

Congratulations, you have been able to refute all my points without articulating real points. 

I'm sorry, but most of your points are shitty and completely wrong. Calling Dead Rising a 3D beat em' up is completely inaccurate and just laughable. "

 

  Games, even as clones, tried to be different enough during that era.   Clones today don't do a lot to break up the game.

I couldn't disagree more. Something like Killzone 2 and Halo 3 couldn't be further apart from each other. They just share some few core game-play elements. "

"
 

 Completely?  Are you to say that inFamous doesn't share a fair amount of platforming?  Assassins Creed?  It's not platforming focused, but utilizes the mechanic.

Yes,completely. A good example of a Action-Adventure game is Zelda. The games you listed are probably best categorized under the sub-genre "Platform-Adventure" and are a hybrid of the two genres. "

"
 

 Completely?  Are you to say that inFamous doesn't share a fair amount of platforming?  Assassins Creed?  It's not platforming focused, but utilizes the mechanic.

 Many games encompass elements from various genres. Just because I can make a guy in Madden Football and level him up doesn't make it an RPG. Two completely different things sir. "

It's kind of simple really, and I'm going to apologize in advance if this is something already mentioned, but games companies simply want to make games that will sell, and a lot.  Ever since the advent of Halo and now more recently MW, people are obviously way into shooters, and as such, these companies are going to make shooters.  Same thing is happening with music games. People are into music games, so companies are going to make them. 

" I agree. Too many FPS "

" SO REFUTE.   Explaintion on why I am wrong?  Mowing over Zombies with lawn mowers?  Beating them with bats, TVs and what not as an alternative to weapons.  Still care to explain?  Your statement without evidence is just laughable.  Ho Ho, I can say suck my cock.  My Ego is shooting through the roof. "
 

 Still waiting for an explanation.  No articulated arguments.  Just stuttering statements. 

 " Stat building doesn't equate to an RPG.
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_video_game "  

"  Gameplay elements strongly associated with this genre, such as statistical character development, have been widely adapted to other video game genres. For example, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, an action game, uses resource statistics (abbreviated as "stats") to define a wide range of attributes including stamina, weapon proficiency, driving, lung capacity, and muscle tone, and uses numerous cutscenes and quests to advance the story. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, a real-time strategy game, features heroes that can complete quests, obtain new equipment, and "learn" new abilities as they advance in level. "

FPS is the mainstream. People like them & play them.  This is no different from music where someone gets bored with what is popular by the masses & wish to listen to something else.  Nobody is twisting your arm to play it. Hell, back after Doom & Duke Nuke'em there was a flurry of FPS games that came out after that.  I got burned out on FPS games & quit playing them back in the late 90's. I didn't bother playing an FPS again until I was exposed to Halo 2 maybe 3-4 years ago.
 
There are tons of different games out there.  Also, if you don't like the current outpouring of games, there is a huge 15-20 year back catalog of old games you can look into until the current gaming popularity changes & the prices are usually cheap.
 
I would probably feel like you if JRPGs were the mainstream.  I'd probably hate gaming if that were the case..lol...as it is, there is gamer glut out there, more games than there is time to play them.

" @Godwind: godwind, i can't believe im wasting a perfectly viable 100th post on your ass

"

" you're just straight-up a goddamn idiot.

" @Godwind: you think that there are no creative games being developed?

" @Godwind:  Im not quite sure what you mean by creative, is it in the sense that the developer does something that is entirely, completely, 100% new and innovative? because to do that, a developer would have to create a new genre, or perhaps a new avenue for games to be played (like the Wii!).

 "

" 

@Godwind:
ok, soooo.  Fable is not creative or original because its in the same genre as oblvion?  " 

 

" 

@Godwind:
  Forza  is not creative or original because it not only provides you with 400+ cars to play with, and the means to customize any of them to your hearts content? Not to mention the robust community elements and the accessibility of the driving. "
 

 

" 

@Godwind:
  Dead Rising is not creative or original because (someone that's actually played the game may have to argue this point for me) ? "

 

" 

@Godwind:
  Assassins Creed  is not creative or original because it took a revolutionary 3D platformer and next-genned it, as it were, and implemented a decently compelling story to boot?  "

 

" 

@Godwind:
   Street Fighter is not creative or original anymore. I'll give you that one, but the reason it hasn't changed is because its a winning formula to begin with. "

 

" 

@Godwind:
  Oblivion is not creative or original because, according to your point, it is similar to itself? I'm not quite seeing the rationale behind that one, sweetie. "

 

" 

@Godwind:
  Batman is not creative or original because they took a licenced character and built an amazing game around it? Haven't actually played it but I hear it is rather not bad. "

 

" 

@Godwind:
  You didn't give a reason for Splinter Cell, I'm assuming its because you like men."

 

" 

@Godwind:
  GTA is not creative or original because you beat up dudes in a sandbox? Well, if you don't take into account the amazing story or the technology behind the game, I suppose that makes sense."

 

" 

@Godwind:
   Rock Band is not creative or original because some shitty guitar sim was released a decade before it? Granted, the franchise is no longer really original, but when it came out, it revolutionized music games, y'know, with the whole full-band thing, and all the DLC."

 

" 

@Godwind:
   I don't know what the fuck you even mean by the whole XBLA quip. Downloadable games aren't creative because they don't come in a box? "

 

" 

@Godwind:
    Are you fucking retarded?  "

 

" 

@Godwind:
    Or do you just hate games "

 

" 

@Godwind:
    I can't really see you sittin' down with a brewski and a copy of any game and having a good time."

 

" 

@Godwind:
    Not to be mean or anything, brah, but you should probably rethink your life. "

" @Godwind said:

"He was talking about the Xbox360 specifically.  He was talking about games in general.  It wasn't used as his opening statement.  The word Xbox360 was only used to refer to HIS Xbox360, not the Xbox360 as a whole.     Also, I didn't misinterpret anything.  You said specifically "exclusive to Xbox360".  Which would refer to a condition in which software is only usable on a specific platform, in this case, the Xbox360.  This is in contrast to better selection of words such as "available" or "playable". "

This is stupid and off-topic. My point was obvious. There is a large selection of non-shooting games on Xbox 360 that he can go buy. All of which I listed are awesome. "

" @carlthenimrod said:

" @Godwind said:

"He was talking about the Xbox360 specifically.  He was talking about games in general.  It wasn't used as his opening statement.  The word Xbox360 was only used to refer to HIS Xbox360, not the Xbox360 as a whole.     Also, I didn't misinterpret anything.  You said specifically "exclusive to Xbox360".  Which would refer to a condition in which software is only usable on a specific platform, in this case, the Xbox360.  This is in contrast to better selection of words such as "available" or "playable". "

This is stupid and off-topic. My point was obvious. There is a large selection of non-shooting games on Xbox 360 that he can go buy. All of which I listed are awesome. "

?Dare you say Dead Rising is not a shooter?LO0L! "

" @leky1 said:

" @carlthenimrod said:

" @Godwind said:

"He was talking about the Xbox360 specifically.  He was talking about games in general.  It wasn't used as his opening statement.  The word Xbox360 was only used to refer to HIS Xbox360, not the Xbox360 as a whole.     Also, I didn't misinterpret anything.  You said specifically "exclusive to Xbox360".  Which would refer to a condition in which software is only usable on a specific platform, in this case, the Xbox360.  This is in contrast to better selection of words such as "available" or "playable". "

This is stupid and off-topic. My point was obvious. There is a large selection of non-shooting games on Xbox 360 that he can go buy. All of which I listed are awesome. "

?Dare you say Dead Rising is not a shooter?LO0L! "

DR is not at all a shooter.  What is it with people in bumping my old blogs? "

" @demontium said:

" @leky1 said:

" @carlthenimrod said:

" @Godwind said:

"He was talking about the Xbox360 specifically.  He was talking about games in general.  It wasn't used as his opening statement.  The word Xbox360 was only used to refer to HIS Xbox360, not the Xbox360 as a whole.     Also, I didn't misinterpret anything.  You said specifically "exclusive to Xbox360".  Which would refer to a condition in which software is only usable on a specific platform, in this case, the Xbox360.  This is in contrast to better selection of words such as "available" or "playable". "

This is stupid and off-topic. My point was obvious. There is a large selection of non-shooting games on Xbox 360 that he can go buy. All of which I listed are awesome. "

?Dare you say Dead Rising is not a shooter?LO0L! "

DR is not at all a shooter.  What is it with people in bumping my old blogs? "

How?You shoot?Check!Not believe it or yes that is all there is to the genre! "

1. Learn your grammar
2. No, it is a survival horror game. Or an action game. Either way, it has shooting in it, but is not a shooter.

" Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games.  This stuff is just off the top of my head and exclusive to Xbox 360. Most of these games are successful and feature multiple iterations. I could have also included shooters that aren't first person but didn't. (Gears, Resident Evil, etc.) 'Shooters' are probably the most popular genre. But they still make up a small fraction of games released today and are all very unique from one another. "

" @carlthenimrod said:

" Fable, Forza, Dead Rising, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, and don't get me started on XBLA games.  This stuff is just off the top of my head and exclusive to Xbox 360. Most of these games are successful and feature multiple iterations. I could have also included shooters that aren't first person but didn't. (Gears, Resident Evil, etc.) 'Shooters' are probably the most popular genre. But they still make up a small fraction of games released today and are all very unique from one another. "

.....are you an idiot?    Dead Rising (the 2nd one least), Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, Oblivion, Batman, Splinter Cell, GTA, Rock Band, are all on the ps3 too  "

" ?Dare you say Dead Rising is not a shooter?LO0L! "

" @demontium:   Actually it's almost never cool to be creative. Unless being creative gets you money And then you wont continue to be creative because your on a quest for those dolla dolla billz yo.  Look at everything. From Movies, Video Games, Music, TV Shows and other things. "

No, Creative is no longer cool. iPods are much better.

" No, Creative is no longer cool. iPods are much better. "

" @demontium: You have no idea what you're talking about. You haven't even played Modern Warfare have you? "