IGN rant blaming gamers for loss of innovation

[dark]

The creativity is all being done at indie/small studios these days.

While sega and the dreamcast had really great creative titles, I've been revisiting the PS1 and sega genesis libraries over the years and there is a colossal amount of dreck that was super popular at the time in the 90s, but which is essentially shovelware and embodies a similar stagnation in creativity by big budget studios that the article talks about. For everyone of us who had a collection with quirky Japanese games like Ikaruga and Chu Chu Rocket, there were 100 other gamers who's PS1 or dreamcast libraries consisted of annual team sports games, 3Xtreme or the later Coolboarders games.

[Roel]

Interesting read, but I do think the article has some problems.

The author treats "gamers" as a single entity, apparently assuming that the people who decry the lack of originality are the same ones who keep buying run-of-the-mill games. I don't think that's accurate. It may be true in some cases, but I'd hazard a guess that they are actually two different groups of people, where unfortunately the one that doesn't care for originality represents the most revenue. I'm sure the "it's your own fault" angle helped the article get more views, though, even if it is nonsense.

Secondly, the author named some "unoriginal" franchises that were actually pretty innovative when they started. Or were guitar-shaped controllers actually quite common before Guitar Hero, and I somehow never noticed? If innovation is so underappreciated, then how did these games become huge franchises?

I'm not saying the author doesn't have a point, just that it could have been better argued.

[mazonemayu]

For everyone of us who had a collection with quirky Japanese games like Ikaruga and Chu Chu Rocket, there were 100 other gamers who's PS1 or dreamcast libraries consisted of annual team sports games, 3Xtreme or the later Coolboarders games.

That’s because of Murica mate the rest of the world really doesn’t care that much about sports games, or they only do to a lesser extent. Soccer would be pretty much it, eg: we don’t care for hockey, baseball, american football, basketball etc, etc…in most cases here in Europe and Asia. Just look at how few sports games are made in Japan

[cloofoofoo]

For everyone of us who had a collection with quirky Japanese games like Ikaruga and Chu Chu Rocket, there were 100 other gamers who's PS1 or dreamcast libraries consisted of annual team sports games, 3Xtreme or the later Coolboarders games.

That’s because of Murica mate the rest of the world really doesn’t care that much about sports games, or they only do to a lesser extent. Soccer would be pretty much it, eg: we don’t care for hockey, baseball, american football, basketball etc, etc…in most cases here in Europe and Asia. Just look at how few sports games are made in Japan

Ehh konami had team osaka dedicated just to sports like snowboarding and other olympic crap. Pretty sure as did others like sega with smilebit with horse racing, baseball ,soccer . So no , japan cares alot for sports games or at least used to.

[mazonemayu]

For everyone of us who had a collection with quirky Japanese games like Ikaruga and Chu Chu Rocket, there were 100 other gamers who's PS1 or dreamcast libraries consisted of annual team sports games, 3Xtreme or the later Coolboarders games.

That’s because of Murica mate the rest of the world really doesn’t care that much about sports games, or they only do to a lesser extent. Soccer would be pretty much it, eg: we don’t care for hockey, baseball, american football, basketball etc, etc…in most cases here in Europe and Asia. Just look at how few sports games are made in Japan

Ehh konami had team osaka dedicated just to sports like snowboarding and other olympic crap. Pretty sure as did others like sega with smilebit with horse racing, baseball ,soccer . So no , japan cares alot for sports games or at least used to.

I didn’t say they didn’t, it’s just a different approach. The average western Joe is happy with playing the same game for a decade, as long as they update the roster every year. I never saw an annual horse racing franchise that went on for decades on end, like Madden or NFL LoL.

[cloofoofoo]

That’s because of Murica mate the rest of the world really doesn’t care that much about sports games, or they only do to a lesser extent. Soccer would be pretty much it, eg: we don’t care for hockey, baseball, american football, basketball etc, etc…in most cases here in Europe and Asia. Just look at how few sports games are made in Japan

Ehh konami had team osaka dedicated just to sports like snowboarding and other olympic crap. Pretty sure as did others like sega with smilebit with horse racing, baseball ,soccer . So no , japan cares alot for sports games or at least used to.

I didn’t say they didn’t, it’s just a different approach. The average western Joe is happy with playing the same game for a decade, as long as they update the roster every year. I never saw an annual horse racing franchise that went on for decades on end, like Madden or NFL LoL.

Like you said different strokes, but i say same monotony. Derby stallion says hi, its gone from what? The snes to an android game last year? Not to mention their many variations of baseball games. Its the same thing.

[mazonemayu]

Perhaps…I just ignore all sports games with a passion coz I hate sports in real life too (which is ironic coz I’m a lifeguard)

[Motoracer5]

Starting the article saying gamers failed Sega.... Guess this person wasn't young with limited money for video games and bought a Sega CD, 32X or Saturn. I remember regretting the CD and 32x so much, felt like Sega just wanted to trick me and get my money. Maybe if Sega didn't have a history of $hitting on people that supported them it wouldn't have ended up like this. See they are into NFT now, as if they didn't scam fans enough in the past.

I liked the Genesis and loved the Dreamcast(still do). But implying that innovation somehow died is ridiculous. I kind of quit gaming or keeping up with current games in 2007 or so, until last year. Purchased a PS5 and couldn't have been more pleased with the variety, quality and innovation in the games. Sure there are cookie cutter Call of Duty and sports games every year, but implying thats ALL there is seems ignorant.

[beanboy]

Purchased a PS5 and couldn't have been more pleased with the variety, quality and innovation in the games. Sure there are cookie cutter Call of Duty and sports games every year, but implying thats ALL there is seems ignorant.

I'm curious, what are some of the games on the PS5, that are so innovative? Because surprisingly, I hear otherwise from ridiculously staunch sony fans boys.

[Motoracer5]

Haha, I hope you aren't implying I'm a fanboy. Have Sega, Sony and Nintendo systems hooked up to my TV. Also occasionally game on PC.

Games that I have played recently that felt evolved in ways I didn't imagine 20 years are... Returnal, Dreams, The Last Guardian, Superhot, Valheim, Manifold Garden, The Outer Wilds. Other games I have found also have a depth of play mechanics that seemed impossible back then. Bloodborne, Hitman games, Ghost of Tsushima, Demon's Souls, Control... I could keep going, but it seems pointless honestly.