c0r version (you aren't in c0r, read the whole thing you lazy fuck): I think the downloadable games market on current gen consoles will bring a return to developers putting an emphasis on some classic game archetypes.

I am not a PC gamer. I never really have been beyond WoW, a few old FPS, and WarCraft.

I can, however, acknowledge that PC games are generally what will always push the limits as far as the technical capacities of any piece of hardware people are gaming on. In my mind, there is no arguing that PC gaming (in terms of technological innovations in graphics and sound) is always going to be at the front of the pack when it comes to developers trying to use new technologies to enhance game play.

PC gamers have always also had any number of "quick play" games, but many genres that work well on consoles have, for one reason or another, not made much of a dent in the PC world. The biggest example of this I can cite is platformers - they've always been kind of "second class citizens" for PC's, even in the heyday of the original Duke Nukem and Commander Keen. Perhaps I've just missed out on a ton of really, really outstanding platformers for PC - but in my mind, it's a genre that has been all about consoles from the beginning of home gaming.

Moving on the Wii, 360, and PSN all have networks that offer downloadable games, and all three will have original and unique content (though there is obviously some overlap). It now seems like each of these three companies is becoming all too eager to sign and announce games that will be download only. Lots of multiplayer games, platformers, and other kinds of action/arcade games are already announced - many of which have my interest piqued (like Bionic Commando: Rearmed).

This trend towards downloadable content and taking somewhat classic gaming formulas but putting a modern twist on them (as far as graphics, sound, extra content, etc.) really has me excited. It seems like it's been since the Super Nintendo/Genesis days where people were really focusing on taking some kinds of loose schema's of gaming archetypes and giving them a very, very modern feel.

Simply put, I'm tired of the emphasis on technology based innovations in gameplay - they seem to pay off one in ten times. This isn't to say I don't really, really appreciate games like GTA4 and Bioshock, but a lot of times I feel like developers are using technology solely for the sake of using technology - and the results range from barely playable nightmares to "barely more than a tech demo."

So what do you guys think? Are you happy to see some classic game play styles coming back in new form?

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last minute disco dot net

Also, one other thought - we used to pay $50-$60 for old NES platformers and think "Man, awesome!"

Now we pay $5-$15 for brand new games and still get to say "Man, awesome!"

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last minute disco dot net

Um.... rain check till when I'm not totally fucked up.

mario galaxy is the first platform title that excited me since the original sonic on megadrive. cant say i care too much for a return to ye olde classics too much. as i enter my 27th year of playing games in 2008 im after the new type of game, rather than any throwbacks (no matter how good).

whilst i agree that the evolution in gaming tends to be more about "tech demos" than exciting new gameplay elements, there's still a question mark (at least for me) over how much more innovation in games we're really going to see.

take FPSs for example- how many ways can there be to make you shoot stuff? whilst bioshock makes my top 10 shooters of all time list, it was merely a refinement of system shock obviously.

we all clamour for innovative gameplay, but if i had to sit down and tell you how to improve my fave genres, i'd struggle to name any concrete ideas.

and yes, downloadable content is great (assuming after you purchase the game, the new stuff is free). ive fallen in love with grabbing games off sites coz its so much quicker than ordering (especially for those titles that are out of stock or not in australia yet).

and can i just say that forged alliance is the most innovative strategy game of the new millenium. ive been playing supcom since beta in late 2006, and im still not sick of it.

and we have alone in the dark and spore to look fwd to

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I think I might not have been as clear as I should have - I'm really not looking for much more innovation from a gameplay standpoint, I'd be just fine with classic 2D platformers coming.

I think even within that realm there are so many options - and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss 2D games.

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last minute disco dot net

you prob were clear. but its a public holiday today and im off chops

yeah, see i don't miss the 2d. river raid circa 1984 anyone?

i played a heap of scrolling shooters, but they just didnt have enough meat for me after a while. then again like you said, there havent been any good platformers on the PC and i havent had a console for 15 years so perhaps ive missed out. watching the mario galaxy vids i feel im missing out there.

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Classic gaming retreads are among my favorite, only because it takes me back to the simplistic days when a storyline and orchestrated musical score were yet to exist. Seeing remakes and re-releases of Castlevania and Bionic Commando on Live and the PSN puts a smile on my face.

Think of the downloadable gaming market as what Hollywood is currently going through: remaking older titles, but with a modern twist. Now, whereas in Hollywood, people get annoyed by this kind of shit, in the gaming world, it's veeeeeery welcome. Imagine remakes of these classics with new additions, such as online multiplayer, and original content not present in the first versions. Goldeneye on Live? Timesplitters 2 on PSN? Sign me the fuck up.

So to answer your question, RJT, yes, I am happy to see classical forms of gaming get a facelift and re-invention for the 21st century. Despite my owning a 360 and PS3, I honestly dont game all that much. Hell, I spend more time discussing the industry rather than actually participating in it. For this reason, quick games that have small sit-down times are great for me, and with Live and the PSN, that sort of playstyle is getting popular once again.

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quote:

Originally posted by RJT c0r version (you aren't in c0r, read the whole thing you lazy fuck): I think the downloadable games market on current gen consoles will bring a return to developers putting an emphasis on some classic game archetypes. I am not a PC gamer. I never really have been beyond WoW, a few old FPS, and WarCraft. I can, however, acknowledge that PC games are generally what will always push the limits as far as the technical capacities of any piece of hardware people are gaming on. In my mind, there is no arguing that PC gaming (in terms of technological innovations in graphics and sound) is always going to be at the front of the pack when it comes to developers trying to use new technologies to enhance game play. PC gamers have always also had any number of "quick play" games, but many genres that work well on consoles have, for one reason or another, not made much of a dent in the PC world. The biggest example of this I can cite is platformers - they've always been kind of "second class citizens" for PC's, even in the heyday of the original Duke Nukem and Commander Keen. Perhaps I've just missed out on a ton of really, really outstanding platformers for PC - but in my mind, it's a genre that has been all about consoles from the beginning of home gaming. Moving on the Wii, 360, and PSN all have networks that offer downloadable games, and all three will have original and unique content (though there is obviously some overlap). It now seems like each of these three companies is becoming all too eager to sign and announce games that will be download only. Lots of multiplayer games, platformers, and other kinds of action/arcade games are already announced - many of which have my interest piqued (like Bionic Commando: Rearmed). This trend towards downloadable content and taking somewhat classic gaming formulas but putting a modern twist on them (as far as graphics, sound, extra content, etc.) really has me excited. It seems like it's been since the Super Nintendo/Genesis days where people were really focusing on taking some kinds of loose schema's of gaming archetypes and giving them a very, very modern feel. Simply put, I'm tired of the emphasis on technology based innovations in gameplay - they seem to pay off one in ten times. This isn't to say I don't really, really appreciate games like GTA4 and Bioshock, but a lot of times I feel like developers are using technology solely for the sake of using technology - and the results range from barely playable nightmares to "barely more than a tech demo." So what do you guys think? Are you happy to see some classic game play styles coming back in new form?

Christ u really over-analyze everything. What is the point of all that rambling only to ask do we like classic game styles in new releases?? Waaaaaaay too much going on there mate. No this is not an attack so don't take it there

You can boil just about anything down to bare basics, but that takes all the fun outta talking about it. I didn't really think he rambled all THAT much. You must be too used to the c0r

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quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN mario galaxy is the first platform title that excited me since the original sonic on megadrive.

You lost me after that. So you were more excited for Mario Galaxy than Mario 64?

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*can't imagine it feelin' much better...
i wish it would just last forever.
and so, to feel like that?
i'd pay any price just to get that back.*

quote:

Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY Christ u really over-analyze everything. What is the point of all that rambling only to ask do we like classic game styles in new releases?? Waaaaaaay too much going on there mate. No this is not an attack so don't take it there

No, I just like to have conversations that go above the level of "OMG I luv this soooooo much! l337 g4m3 is l337!"

I'm sorry it's over your head, but I don't play to the kiddie crowd. If you don't like it you're more than welcome to fuck off.

And no, this is not an attack, so that's not where I took it.

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last minute disco dot net

I could kill for a new, original 2-D Mario made by Miyamoto and the same team that did Super Mario World for the SNES. Imagine how amazing the graphics would be if the entire PS3/Xbox 360 processing power was put into the animations. Silky smooth hand drawn animations...millions of colors..beautiful 3-D backgrounds and particle effects...but that same classic 2D gameplay that made the series great.

The same goes for old school RPG's like Chrono Trigger and the Final Fantasy games. I never was into RPGs back when they were released...but from what I hear they had some of the best stories ever. These games are unplayable to me today due to how ugly they are, but I honestly wouldn't mind a 2D top-down adventure if there were a few fancy effects and smooth animations for the characters..

Classic 2D games with the full power of modern systems behind them would kick ass.