Editorial: Games Being Made More for Advertising Than Playing

[The Ghost of RubangB]

SaviorX said:
I will say this:
I was recently playing Tomb Raider: Underworld (which I got for free from a Gamestop deal) and I felt ripped-off. I remember the commercials for the title and reviews were at least decent. However, what I experienced when I played was terrible.

I don't think I ever played a game that was so poorly produced in my entire life. Gaming is meant to be exciting and at least somewhat passive/entertaining. TR:U was possibly the worst thing I ever played in my life and I don't even exaggerate. I was literally stunned- it was one of several titles I have played this gen that have just flat out disappointed me (The Conduit included)

Then I realized I had 5 Wii demos, one of which I did not play, and that was Beat Trip Beat. In one simple premise I actually found myself smiling and enjoying a game in its most basic nature. No hype, no PR bravado, but just simpler gaming.

Before the new year began, I wanted to end 2009 with a great game being my last of the year.I had some heavy games in my possession (Smash Brawl, Gears 2, etc,.) but I plugged in my SNES and played Super Mario. Almost 20 years after release, I still find myself going back to such games to "deride" pleasure.

Finally, I remembered one PS1 game I own that was scratched beyond all repair- Azure Dreams. I couldn't play it so I downloaded the ROM (I'm not encouraging piracy, but my game doesn't work any longer). The graphics were even poor when I first played it (released 98', played 2002) and it took 3 minutes to adjust to them now. Somehow in the last 2 days, I have spent 10 hours playing it, well into the night (3AM) and the addicting qualities I found in it when I was 10 suddenly returned, and I can barely put it down.

In summary lol, I find myself returning to simpler gaming, and shying away from what the industry is forcing on us as the next big thing. Gaming is still alive behind the mega-millions and PR stunts.I just thank God I can find ways of still enjoying it.

Yes!

I think BIT.TRIP BEAT is one of the greatest gaming experiences I've had this generation.  So simple, anybody can jump in for 4-player co-op, but it's so insanely difficult and fun and has awesome bosses.  Everything I'd want out of a game, and it was made by only 3 people, and only costs six bucks.  And it's doing well enough so they can afford to make 5 sequels to it, but every single one of them is completely different.  Aksys is basically the perfect game developer.  I love 'em.