Hey-Lo Episode 1: Freakin’ F’ed Man

Oh well, check out what Reggie showed off in this morning’s Nintendo Direct, and feel your emotions appropriately, however that may be:

That’s right. My mom invented strategy guides in 1987!

If I were to write a retrospective of my life as a gamer, there are a few titles that would likely be mentioned more than once: The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Final Fantasy, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tomb Raider, Grand Theft Auto, Halo, and Madden, just to name a few. Over the years, these titles have basically shaped my opinion on what constitutes a good game. There’s nothing I cherish more than my memories of playing the original Legend of Zelda, for example. It’s a memory of both joy and love, as my family would sit with me for hours, watching as I adventured through the land of Hyrule for the first time. My mom even helped out in the age before strategy guides by drawing maps of each dungeon — highlighting important items and writing the solutions to puzzles that my young mind had a little trouble comprehending and retaining. (I’m looking at you Lost Hills!)

These mega-franchises, many of them flagship properties for their respective developers and/or publishers, helped mold an entire generation of gamers and laid the groundwork for what mainstream gameplay mechanics and genres would be for the next couple of decades. Other than the obvious contributions these games made to the emerging art form itself, they have become absolutely essential to the big players in the industry. Games are becoming increasingly costly to produce, and therefore, must rake in more and more profit to continue their propagation. While I can see the necessity in this, I also fear it is becoming a cyclical dilemma that will eventually end in tragedy (i.e. a slow limping into irrelevance) for our beloved franchises. So, I propose an idea that will likely be anathema to most life-long gamers, but hear (read) me out — it’s time to sink these flagships.

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that “sequel-itis” is hampering innovation in the industry. Just look at the Gears of War franchise for example. While all of these titles have been successful both critically and financially, you could graph the “sameness” of each game with a fairly straight line. Assassin’s Creed is currently suffering from this plague more than almost any other series, and as a result, I hope (and suspect) that Ubisoft will try to wrap up their cash-cow fairly soon. (Maybe by finally sending Desmond on the modern-day assassin’s tale that everyone has been waiting on!). On the eve of the upcoming “next generation,” many developers could potentially transition to all-new properties (as many have in the past), but it seems that this phenomena is slowly dying in the age of the Halos and Call of Dutys, though it is nice to see games like Watchdogs, The Last of Us, and Remember Me in the pipeline.

“…we’re seeing a great surge in the indie community as it draws from both the past and present of gaming culture while stirring in an ample amount of innovative concepts.”

As mentioned before, I recognize the importance of these flagship titles in the continuing business of games, but it seems possible, even likely, that keeping the same old gamers coming back time-after-time is a losing strategy. For one, there will always be drop-off as peoples’ lives change and time for playing games is taken up by other things, but this cliff is likely to become more steep as innovation erodes. Even dedicated gamers may find other hobbies if the industry becomes too creatively bankrupt. In order for continued success, the market for games must progress in traditional ways as well as widening to include more new players. (Nice try with the Wii, Nintendo. Now, focus on nailing down foundational functions that gamers have come to expect, and we’ll talk about your innovations in a more positive way.) In this way, we’re seeing a great surge in the indie community as it draws from both the past and present of gaming culture while stirring in an ample amount of innovative concepts.  Unfortunately, many indie games are hampered by a lack of funding and end up being interesting experiences only for the few days they grasp your attention. (I know there are exceptions, but it seems this way to me: an admittedly mainstream console gamer.) So there really is something to be said for high production values, especially in their ability to draw in the maximum amount of players.

The captains always go down with their ships.

Killing off its big stars seems like a simple, if difficult, decision for triple-’A’ publishers to make. In order to entice new consumers, their games must innovate and create something new and novel in the same way that many indie games do. At the same time, they must retain the larger base of faithful gamers that appreciate a game for its story, graphics, and often, sheer fun-factor. Sending Mario and his buddies down to mingle with Davy Jones may seem like a bad idea, until you realize that at one point in the past, there was no Mario. Every franchise had to begin somewhere, and these beginnings pluck our nostalgic heart-strings (which, in turn, are directly connected to the wallet-grabbing tendons). While it may be unpalatable for some (read: fanboys) to consider, there is now a gigantic space for the “next big thing(s).” These future classics will have an easier time being born if the gaming fore-fathers get out of the delivery room (if you take my meaning).

“At this pivotal point in their history, games must not become beholden solely to the bottom-line…”

Now, I’ve talked rather extensively about why the popular franchises of the world should meet their end, both for the good of the industry and gamers, but what about the games themselves? We are finally entering into the age when some games are crossing the threshold into art, (though people continue to argue that it started long ago or has yet to even happen) and art is an ever-evolving creature — gobbling up new ideas while balancing on the successes of the past to produce new and exciting things. At this pivotal point in their history, games must not become beholden solely to the bottom-line; they must transcend to a higher significance in which they are heralded as examples of humanity’s attempt to rationalize the world, whether internal or external. It’s hard for Zelda to really speak to that when she tells the same story time-after-time. Concurrently, there should also be games-for-games’-sake. It’s hard to argue that every entry in this newly evolving art-form must communicate a high-minded meaning when some are just so damn fun. But it will be hard for games to do either if they remain stuck in the current rut of never-ending sequels.

So, put Mario in rehab for his mushroom addiction. Let Zelda finally become a real legend. Make the next fantasy truly be the final one. It’s time for gamers to expect more, the industry to produce better, and for games themselves to push beyond the trivial and predictable. It’s time to seal the franchises up, allowing them to truly become classics. It’s time to sink the flagships to make way for a newer, and hopefully, even better fleet.

So, apparently, the Arena Gaming League is having a tournament today and tomorrow in my fair city, and I had NO IDEA! I probably would have tried to cover it otherwise.

Oh well, I can always watch the competition on Twitch (http://www.twitch.tv/ArenaGamingLeague), and you should too! Unless of course, you’re a responsible Nashvillian gamer and are there in person.

]]> http://www.southerngamer.net/agl-nashville/feed/ 1 http://www.southerngamer.net/halo-effect/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=halo-effect http://www.southerngamer.net/halo-effect/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 02:26:14 +0000 Chris Robertson http://www.southerngamer.net/?p=755 more »]]> So… sheesh, what about that last post, huh? Pretty bad. Anyway, today I bring you a cool bit of content that showed up on my newsfeed in Facebook. Specifically, this came from the amazing guys over at Stony Props (if you’re into Halo costuming, seriously, check these guys out!) I think its bad-assery speaks for itself:

A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I could build someone Halo 4 Scout helmet. What made it unique was that they wanted it to look like it could be used in the game Mass Effect.
I guess you could call this a Mass Halo Effect helmet.
< Jim >

This really makes me wish I had time to get my Halo 4 foam armor underway… *sigh*

Southern Gamer: First of all, let me just say what an incredible honor it is to be interviewing you, Miyamoto-san

Shigeru Miyamoto: Thank you very much.

SG: Thank you for being with us. You know, I’ve followed your career since I was a child and your work has been very inspirational to me. You might say that you helped me grow up.

SM: Well, I hope you grew well. [laughter]

SG: Again, thank you for being here Professor Miyamoto… umm… may I call you Professor?

SM: No.

SG: Doctor?

SM: No.

SG: Okay, sorry. I’ll just stick with Miyamoto-san.

SM: Uh, no. You may refer to me as Mr. Housecleaner or Janitor Man. [laughter]

SG: I’m sorry… I’m a bit thrown for a loop. You want to be called… Janitor Man?

SM: Oh, I apologize. I may have spoken too soon. [glances at PR] They are not telling me “No,” though, so I guess I can reveal the next title from Nintendo. It is going to be a partnership with a great household brand in America known by many housewives. I will now be joining them in the cleaning; specifically, the bathroom.

SG: The cleaning?

SM: Yes. As you may know, Mrs. Miyamoto is a crazy stickler for cleaning. While I am off all day drawing Mario and coming up with the next big thing for Nintendo, she is taking care of the cleaning. I will now join with her to benefit my obligation to share in the chores.

SG: So, this is a cleaning game? And I guess I’m hearing that it was inspired by your life, once again? [Zelda was inspired by Miyamoto-san's country-side exploring as a child, and Pikmin was inspired by his new gardening hobby. - Ed.]

SM: Yes. What it will be, is… well, I guess I will reveal the title now. It will be called Mr. Scrubbing Bubblesu.

SG: Mr. Scrubbing Bubbles?

SM: No, no, no. Mr. Scrubbing Bubble-SU.

SG: Oh, I’m sorry… so that wasn’t just a cute Japanese thing. There is a “su” on the end?

SM: Correct. We tried to get the license from SC Johnson, but were unsuccessful. In light of that, we chose to collaborate with SG Johnsor’s generic cleaner – Scrubbing Bubblesu.

SG: Wow, alright. That’s great. Can you explain the game to us a little perhaps?

SM: Ah, now here is where it gets exciting. You, the player, have a bathtub that has been taken over by The Green. It is invading Bathroom Land. The land must be cleansed thoroughly for peace.

SG: So, I’m assuming this is a Wii U game, or perhaps a 3DS title?

SM: Yes and no. This is a new stand-alone initiative and peripheral for the Wii U. This is to help the man with the cleaning… to make fun. For him.

SG: Okay, so it’s a peripheral. Is it a broom of some sort that the sensor bar can track?

SM: …

SG: I’m sorry. Just help me clear this up a little bit.

SM: We are not ready to speak too firmly about specifics… but let me be specific. It will be a peripheral for the hand. It’s a brush. With sensors.

SG: Does this have anything to do with the Life Sensor announced at E3 2009?

SM: Uh, no. Nothing at all. [blank stare]

SG: So, would this fall in line with your other training games perhaps, such as Brain Training? Are there gameplay hooks and incentives to clean? High scores? Leaderboards?

SM: [delay] We are hoping to implement these new technologies, but for now, it is simply a brush. With sensors. Turn your Wii U on, connect, and scrub your bathtub.

SG: I see. So, wow… the next big thing from Nintendo! I must say, I can’t wait to scrub my tub!

SM: We hope you enjoy it.

SG: Finally, is Mr. Scrubbing Bubblesu the final title? Are you considering something else for America.

SM: Uh, no. Mr. Scrubbing Bubblesu is the title in America. In Japan, it will be known as… [long pause] Monster Hunter 4 Extra Plus – GO!

SG: Wow. Alright. Ummm… well, I know you’re a busy man, so I’ll let you get back to it. Thank you so much for sitting down with me and for revealing your next big hit!

SM: Domo.

So there you have it. Looks like Nintendo is taking its training series to the next level with Mr. Scrubbing Bubblesu. Keep an eye out for more details as they become available!

Update: I just had the incredible (dis)hono(u)r of being corrected by none other than Ben Paddon from Game Journalists Are Incompetent Fuckwits (actually, it was his off-topic blog, but whatevs.) Thanks for pointing out that I’m dumb!

Original critique below:

    One thing that has been universally panned in this generation of consoles is the use of points instead of, you know, real money, for the consoles’ online digital storefronts. Sony, despite its failings with the Playstation 3, is to be commended for introducing and offering PSN content at recognizable price points (such as $9.99, $29.99, etc.) from the get-go; Nintendo, to a lesser degree, as they used a one-to-one conversion between points and cents on the Wii, and then followed Sony’s lead with the Wii U’s eShop. Microsoft, while leading the pack in almost every other way, really dropped the ball in this respect with its wonky 80-points-per-dollar spacebucks. So imagine my surprise when I booted up my 360 to check out Microsoft’s special deals this week and saw this: While there have already been reports that the Windows 8 real-currency system would make its way to Xbox Live, I didn’t expect to see it until they unveil the next Xbox. Now I’m just wondering what kind of problems they might have in taking both points and straight dollars. Will Microsoft make the transition for all of its Live content now, or is this just a quick test for the model before Durango is revealed. I guess we’ll see soon (whether that’s at Microsoft’s rumored pre-E3 event or this holiday when we get our hands on the new hardware ourselves.)

Why in the hell do I generally suppose that I’m even remotely in decent shape or the least bit healthy? I need to just throw out all of my junk food and get healthy snacks. Hell, even go down to the gym every once in a while. I think maybe my social phobia and depression keep me apartment-bound, but then, I’m not even motivated to do something as easy as light workouts in the apartment!

I’m like this, scared of an early heart attack, because I both eat like I do, and don’t generally have anything physically exhaustive happen during the day. I know that now. So this is my mea culpa to myself. I’ll use this post as a turning point. A digital means of holding myself accountable to the night I made a vow to get healthy. To stop letting myself go, as I have these past few years. So I can both (hopefully) live longer and feel better about myself when I look in the mirror. So here we go with a little external motivation. *crosses fingers*

Nobody wants an unfit Spartan, right?

P.S. To any of my friends who follow me here on my blog and didn’t particularly want to know what I looked like shirtless; I apologize!

The game with the most votes gets my attention for the next video review. So, vote away!

Whew!… now, only two more acts and a bunch of ancillary bits to finish up. =\

See you guys in a few months!