You need a fire in your belly to create art of any value. Failing that, a fire under your arse is a good substitute. Charles Babbage, for instance, invented the computer because he was trying to figure out how to cheat at gambling. Money talks, and bulldust walks.
But extinguish that fire, and what have you got? The burnt toast of a seven-out-of-ten. You can play such games, but you always regret it. Trying to ignore the short play time, camera issues, uninspired gameplay, tepid dialogue and/or complete lack of innovation is like trying to salvage a scorched slice by scraping away the black stuff. No matter how hard you try, you can never get it all off. You’re better off throwing the slice away, and eating something else. Or even going hungry.
Even the finest creative minds can churn out the odd dud. Recall that record that Monty Python made solely to wrap up a contractual obligation. They called it 'Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album.' Sure, there wasn't really anything wrong with it. But it was just a re-hash of all their old stuff. The gibbering, quote-spurting Python addicts lapped it up, choking down raw charcoal with their vegemite.
It's not the end of the world when this happens, for there is always choice. Nothing compels you to spend time on any particular game, movie, or album. You can always do something else.
And when we anticipate a game will be drivel, and it lives up to our expectations, there's no harm, no foul. But when an artist you know, and love, and deeply trust lets you down, it always leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Thus we come to the announcement of the second downloadable content pack for Grand Theft Auto IV. Granted, the gaming world was stunned when news first broke of Microsoft's US$50 million dollar deal to make two slabs of GTA DLC exclusively for the Xbox 360. For Microsoft, the hype alone may have been worth that price. But if we're being honest, this deal did not cause a stampede of gamers to choose Microsoft’s console over Sony's. Neither will The Ballad of Gay Tony. Why? We can think of at least three good reasons.
Firstly, there's the grim reality that The Lost and Damned was not a killer app. It did not re-invent the very essence of gaming. It was fun, and fresh, and dandy and fine, but it did not set the world on fire. All things being equal, its successor won't either.
Secondly, there's the obvious fact that Rockstar North is already working on the next Grand Theft Auto. With the world economy in tatters, we may not see another console generation for four or five years. That means that Rockstar can get through GTA V, and probably GTA VI before the PS4 and Xbox 3 hit the market. That means they can re-use the incredible GTA IV tech in two more games (and their DLC), saving the cost of coding a whole new engine from scratch — money for old rope.
That means millions and millions of dollars in extra profits. Ergo, they'd be very wise to dedicate all the resources they can muster into getting GTA V dusted and done. Concordantly, if that means a few teeny tiny corners are cut on Gay Tony, so be it.
Thirdly, and most important of all: Rockstar already has Microsoft's money. Like a petty government clerk who does the minimum possible work to avoid getting sacked, Rockstar could very well just phone it in. For the games industry doesn't just sell entertainment, it sells dreams. Since the experience can never live up to the anticipation, Microsoft was never really buying DLC — it was buying a promise.
Even if The Ballad of Gay Tony turns out to be nothing but five hours of driving a dildo delivery truck, it will have served it's purpose. For right up to the moment of truth, anything, anything at all is possible.
Sweet dreams are made of this. Who are we to disagree?
Tell me what you guys think. Dont agree? Post your opinion then.
Article Link----------> http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/CottesJam9.aspx?Page=1
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