The game industry is dying

[Xero_Kaiser]

Originally posted by gamevet
They become jaded, when every game they purchase, plays just like the other 2 they bought before it. What happened to the innovation?

same place it's always been. it's not like innovative games were coming out left and right back in the 8-16 bit days.

besides, I fail to see the connection between "innovative" and "good". just because something is creative doesn't mean that it's worth buying

[Thief Silver]

Ok from looking at this problem lightly I wonder, would it just take lower budgets and higher sales to fix things? OR even after such a thing would companies still not take a risk, using whatever just raised their sales, and milking it until sales drop again.

Maybe it's just time new companies started coming forward, or as noted, independently created games should start hitting the market. Maybe we need some new writers, or perhaps just a simple petition to give the companies a kick in the pants (Simplest thing, no real idea there).

I believe Final Fantasy X sold well and was accepted publicly correct? (If not ignore the rest of this paragraph) So now Square makes a Final Fantasy X2, though I do wonder if they had already planned this, which is possible. They go with what works, less risk involved (Not to say Squaresoft takes many risks) possibly.

Now let's say the industry does start to pass on sequels. Then part of the public asks why? Saying "It was a great game and there should be a sequel". Which is more important? Risky new ideas (That don't suck) but cost more, or risk less milking of a series?

By which is more important, I mean which is more important to both the public, and the gaming industry. Personally I would rather companies get some more funds backing them up, and then empty out part of the pool for a new idea. While I wait for these new ideas to come, I go and play all the other games I have.

[xS]

Bah, I wuv the large market. Mass market= more niche games.

[Frogacuda]

Originally posted by MarsKitten
Well if business model is what you're worried about the music industry has the same problem. New talent is risky, old talent is bankable and formual success (nsync, 98', all boy bands...)
Yeah formual successes are teh "gay" to us pretenous game consumers but fuck they work. They make the cash cows of today. But as for new ideas and talent, tough shit for you. So long as there is money and some stupid hacks with "skillz" i doubt the industry is in trouble. Stupid corpate fuckwits yes. Trouble, no, but those who don't evolve are doomed to make Army Men games till the gamers cry out "No more!" That or someone makes a l33t mod for the game ^^

that's the thing... these things really aren't working as well as they used to. Not only are sales dropping in japan and the US, but alot of major publishers are in financial trouble. It's time for the industry model to change. This multi cnsole first party crap isn't working any more.

[BebopCowboy16]

I don't think that the industry is dying. After all, it is STILL the most profitable industry in it's day. I think if anything, the industry is in a slup, creation wise. I think back and honestly I'd rather play old N64 games than dive into the next GTA. It's all about what a company is doing for it's fans, and at the moment, that is getting to be a weak aspect. I have no doubt that it will get better though.

[NeoZeedeater]

I'm with Frogacuda on wanting the console industry model to change. The traditional/current model has always held the industry back.

[Drewbacca]

Originally posted by Saint of Killers
Yeah, a crash would do wonders for the industry. Less money, less games, less developers, and less publishers willing to take a risk on something different. Sounds great.

Yep. Less money - less games - less developers.

You're looking at this the wrong way, or maybe just wrong to what I'm saying. Quality titles should sell and will sell if they're fun, bottom line.

The crappy companies will fade away and the gems like HAL, Capcom, Namco, and SquareEnix will be able to hone in with the developers which have quality assurance and standards, since this will be the games that are sold.

It does sound great. Every game a potential 5 star! It does, however, have its downfall. Some middle of the road games may be corrupted and not see the light of day.

But for all intents and purposes, it would do alot of good.

[NeoZeedeater]

A crash will cause crappy companies to fade away while the good ones remain?

I'm sorry, but industry crashes aren't caused by the divine intervention of some god of quality gaming. An industry crash would kill good and bad developers. Wanting the industry to crash is ridiculous.

[Drewbacca]

I said there would be some sacrifices. But all in all the bad companies would be burned by their makers. Quality games will sell and fun games will sell. If you're moving units then you're selling.

Some business with shitty marketting may go under, but the industry would be better off for it, creatively and in the end financially.

EA will still be around, since it is the biggest contibutor to its profit.

[NeoZeedeater]

Think about the '83/84 console crash. It wasn't just the shitty companies like Xonox that suffered. Great game companies like Imagic and Coleco did as well.

It's a good thing the industry crash was limited to A)consoles and B)the North American market. Many great developers like Nintendo, Sega, and Origin might have died early deaths if there had been a true industry-wide crash.