1up's 4 remaining previews [Archive]

JobivanHiob

12-29-2008, 07:22 AM

the 4 remaining yet unknown previews (http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3171537)

The Games of 2009
Before we head into 2009, we're bringing you a full month of exclusive previews on some of next year's biggest games (and a few smaller ones). It's not a comprehensive list of everything coming out in 2009, nor a list of our most anticipated games, but rather a countdown of of exclusive previews highlighting many of the year's most promising titles. We've got something new to reveal every weekday in December, so keep checking back for brand new info and must-see videos and screens all month long!
we will get the previews from Dec 29/08 up to Jan 1/09.
So lets start guessing. :)
My guess is that the preview on Jan 1/09 will be the highlight due to the countdown remark. :D

Echo Black

12-29-2008, 09:11 AM

We've been through this over at Duke4.net. There's a possibility Jan 1's preview is that one game. It could be a million others, though.

avatar_58

12-29-2008, 09:23 AM

I'm taking up my usual 'meh' approach because 9 times out of 10 it's nothing special. Especially since 'exclusive preview' just means they get to play a game we don't, not some mega announcement.

JobivanHiob

12-29-2008, 09:29 AM

so what other games could be in the Jan 1 preview?

SyntaxN

12-29-2008, 10:26 AM

so what other games could be in the Jan 1 preview?
Doom 4 :D (i doubt it, but i would like to see that as well^^)
Knowing the game press, it could also be something totaly lame and uninteresting.

Yatta

12-29-2008, 10:54 AM

I hope it's Doom 4! :)

LadiesAndGentlemen

12-29-2008, 11:02 AM

They put Diablo 3 in the middle of nowhere, so I don't really see how DNF will be that one game.

alexgk

12-29-2008, 12:21 PM

I doubt DNF will be in there... but you never know!

JobivanHiob

12-29-2008, 12:48 PM

Doom 4 would kick ass, but it's even more unlikely than Duke. Maybe one of those secret PS3 games.

Echo Black

12-29-2008, 12:56 PM

Rage, perhaps?

JobivanHiob

12-29-2008, 01:20 PM

the preview for today is Tenchu Shadow Assasins for the Wii (http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3172069) :p

peoplessi

12-29-2008, 01:27 PM

That, I have waited for a long time :) Highly anticipated! In all reality, whaat. Upcoming gameslist for Wii doesn't look too good.

Also, I do to hope that Doom 4 is on that list.

Echo Black

12-29-2008, 01:31 PM

They've been billing some seriously underwhelming Wii titles as "most anticipated".

JobivanHiob

12-29-2008, 01:36 PM

They've been billing some seriously underwhelming Wii titles as "most anticipated".

thats true but they also got some big names like Diablo 3 and Heavy Rain or Dragon Age in there. And its still a countdown as they said. So the last title must be as big as those titles or even bigger! :o

Kristian Joensen

12-29-2008, 01:40 PM

Well they DO say:

It's not a comprehensive list of everything coming out in 2009, nor a list of our most anticipated games

So it is not even THEIR most anticipated games, just anticipated games. I am sure at least some people anticipate each one of those games :)

JobivanHiob

12-29-2008, 01:43 PM

Kristian delivers as always! :)

Kristian Joensen

12-29-2008, 01:44 PM

Not really, just putting an emphasis on something that is already found in your first post :)

avatar_58

12-29-2008, 02:06 PM

the preview for today is Tenchu Shadow Assasins for the Wii (http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3172069) :p

Christ, sometimes I wish I were wrong. :mryuck:

Steve

12-29-2008, 02:37 PM

Haha. Yes, it's always crap I don't want. You don't want. Other people don't want.

YAY!

Echo Black

12-29-2008, 03:09 PM

1up Guy 1: "We gotta cram some Wii titles in, lest we be called biased!"

1up Guy 2: "Such as? The list is almost over"

1up Guy 1: "MURAMASA: DEMON BLADE"

Nihilanth

12-29-2008, 03:29 PM

Ah, the great previews. :rolleyes: Yeah...

Anyway, if anything, I want DOOM 4, hands down. :) No surprise I guess.

Mountain Man

12-29-2008, 04:27 PM

They've been billing some seriously underwhelming Wii titles as "most anticipated".
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat looks pretty fun.

psyborg

12-29-2008, 09:09 PM

1up Guy 1: "We gotta cram some Wii titles in, lest we be called biased!"

1up Guy 2: "Such as? The list is almost over"

1up Guy 1: "MURAMASA: DEMON BLADE"

If that game isn't highly anticipated it definatly should be, one of the most beautiful looking games I've ever seen.

LadiesAndGentlemen

12-29-2008, 09:14 PM

You should play Devil May Cry 4

Damien_Azreal

12-29-2008, 09:37 PM

I would damn near kill for any insight into Craig Hubbard's new, unannounced, game. :) Shogo 2... dear god please be true.

Malgon

12-30-2008, 02:16 AM

I don't see it being Doom 4, as it's still a bit early I think for id software to be showing stuff, even though I'd love it if it was. It'd be just as awesome if it turns out to be DNF, but I still think it's very unlikely. We'll just have to wait and see! :)

Nihilanth

12-30-2008, 03:19 AM

Maybe HL2E3...

Tang Lung

12-30-2008, 04:19 AM

Actually the Wii Tenchu game is one of the few Wii games that actually interests me. Everything else looks like the same old same old. I'm glad they're previewing some lesser known titles.

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 04:26 PM

the next preview is StarCraft II
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3172090&p=1

If it gets only bigger from now on, we can hope for a real higlight on Jan 1. :)

Steve

12-30-2008, 04:31 PM

If it gets only bigger from now on, we can hope for a real higlight on Jan 1. :)

Sims 3. Oh, you think I'm kidding, eh?! :o

Montykoro!

12-30-2008, 04:34 PM

+1 Sims 3 for Jan 1

Sorry Guys but Jan 1 is not Duke...

Steve

12-30-2008, 04:35 PM

Actually, I'd like to see more of The Sims 3 :o

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 04:35 PM

Sims 3. It was already covered http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3171960

btw I tried to hack into the source text via firefox but it seems there are no thumbnails of the upcoming 2 previews on their servers or I can't access them. :p

Steve

12-30-2008, 04:40 PM

Sims 3. It was already covered http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3171960

btw I tried to hack into the source text via firefox but it seems there are now thumbnails of the upcoming 2 previews on their servers or I can't access them. :p

Yeah, that view--->page source is hacking at its best! :D

Oh damn already covered, eh? I must have a look :) Also, I'm guessing most of the 3D Realms staff are on holiday :p so... I don't think they will be showing anything. :D

Nihilanth

12-30-2008, 04:46 PM

So if it's any of the titles, what can it be? DOOM 4, Duke Nukem Forever, Rage, Half-Life 2: Episode Three, Alan Wake, BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams, Deus Ex 3...

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 04:47 PM

as George or Joe said: We'll see you on the flip side of the holidays
Does anyone know when the 3DR holidays are over? And btw I guess Joe could handle us fans from his home. He only needs an internet connection and his admin status. :)

Wamplet

12-30-2008, 04:49 PM

Thief 4 \o

Steve

12-30-2008, 04:50 PM

as George or Joe said:
Does anyone know when the 3DR holidays are over?

End of 2009, I believe. Don't quote me on that, however. :o I just can't see DNF in this up and coming preview. George usually hints at something.

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 04:51 PM

So if it's any of the titles, what can it be? DOOM 4, Duke Nukem Forever, Rage, Half-Life 2: Episode Three, Alan Wake, BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams, Deus Ex 3...

my guess for tomorrow is either Rage or Bioshock 2. The preview for the First of January could be Deus Ex 3, Alan Wake or DNF :o

Sang

12-30-2008, 04:52 PM

Does anyone know when the 3DR holidays are over?

Definitely NOT before New Years Eve and the day after that.

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 04:53 PM

End of 2009, I believe. Don't quote me on that, however. :o I just can't see DNF in this up and coming preview. George usually hints at something.
End of 2009???? :D that made me chuckle! Or was it serious? :o :p

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 04:58 PM

End of 2009, I believe. Don't quote me on that, however. :o I just can't see DNF in this up and coming preview. George usually hints at something.

and wasn't the 1up prev not a hint? :) Could George be that mean??? :(

http://twitpic.com/img/pjhi-f45d3715f08718d7b0866000455158d6.495aa8a4.jpg

Kristian Joensen

12-30-2008, 05:23 PM

Yeah, that view--->page source is hacking at its best! :D

Oh damn already covered, eh? I must have a look :) Also, I'm guessing most of the 3D Realms staff are on holiday :p so... I don't think they will be showing anything. :D

I am pretty sure these previews are done way before they are posted on this website. If it is DNF(NOT saying that is the case, I would be as surprised as the rest of you) then 3DR and 1up have already arranged it/done it, maybe even agreed to a date and it is simply a matter of 1up hitting the upload button so to speak.

That would go for any game actually. All the studios are bound to have their holidays on January 1st.

JobivanHiob

12-30-2008, 05:45 PM

http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3171537 huh why did the placeholder for Jan 01 disappear?

Steve

12-30-2008, 05:47 PM

http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3171537 huh why did the placeholder for Jan 01 disappear?

Because it will be done when it's done.

Echo Black

12-30-2008, 07:05 PM

Today's is Starcraft 2.

Wtf @ Jan 01 slot vanishing. :confused:

KaiserSoze

12-31-2008, 12:12 AM

NO :censored: for you!

alexgk

12-31-2008, 03:23 AM

DNF chances: 0

Rage chances: over 9000!

LadiesAndGentlemen

12-31-2008, 03:24 AM

Rage looks boring as hell.

Nihilanth

12-31-2008, 03:35 AM

Because it's 25 of the most anticipated games and with Jan01 it would make total of 26?

I guess it's gonna be Rage (if it's interview, I hope for some DOOM 4 bits :D) or HL2E3. Could be Alan Wake or BioShock 2 as well. Or DNF if they go for something really special. I wouldn't really bet on DX3 because it's a 2010 title as far as I remember.

I'm gonna be off until tommorow evening so I hope things will become clear before I'm back. :)

DerricktheW

12-31-2008, 05:04 AM

I was seriously hoping for a Saboteur preview

Or some other games I've been desperately seeking information on

But instead we get crap like.. Noby Noby? What the hell is Noby Noby?

And whats with all the PS3/Wii exclusive games?

I think I'll stop going to 1up for a while if these are the "anticipated" titles.

JobivanHiob

12-31-2008, 06:50 AM

Because it's 25 of the most anticipated games and with Jan01 it would make total of 26?
haha they didn't realized it for 24 days. :D
From SC2 to DNF...my doubts are too high....:(
must be one of the other games Nihilanth mentioned. So George fooled us once again. If true I'm really disappointed in him. :(
But the Strange thing is that he posted his handwritten notes pile around the time the preview feature countdown showed up on 1up.com. Maybe there is a 1up DNF preview coming but just not in this list...Hope dies at last. :)

JobivanHiob

12-31-2008, 06:57 AM

I'm gonna cry now....:( :( :(
George why posting freaking messages in your handnotes if it doesn't mean anything??? :mad:

guess what? it's RAGE!
http://www.1up.com/flat/Features/Best2009/on/sp_rage.jpg
http://www.1up.com/flat/Features/Best2009/on/sp_rage.jpg (check the URL and compare it with the ones from the other preview pics and you see it's true)
so my hacking skills weren't useless :p

Echo Black

12-31-2008, 09:18 AM

What the hell, the Jan 1 slot reappeared for me.

avatar_58

12-31-2008, 09:21 AM

I'm gonna cry now....:( :( :(
George why posting freaking messages in your handnotes if it doesn't mean anything??? :mad:

Look I don't want to be mean here but what did you expect? I don't have any fingers left to count how many times these preview threads have shown up and people accuse it of being DNF.

DNF is *not* going to be shown like this. Just stop looking for it around every corner and it will come when it comes.

Mountain Man

12-31-2008, 09:30 AM

Yeah, when it's time to announce DNF, 3DR will do it themselves with a big media push. It won't suddenly appear without fan-fair in some "most anticipated games" list.

The Stinger

12-31-2008, 09:45 AM

Remember this image? DNF is going to be announced like that, well at least that's what I think. When we debated which game it could be, someone here photoshopped a 2nd pic of it with the crowbar broken and it saying DNF with a release date.
http://www.cs-linka.com.ar/linka_crowbar.jpg

Steve

12-31-2008, 12:50 PM

DerricktheW

12-31-2008, 02:57 PM

Flower?

Flower is today's game?

Wow, what a frieking rip.

Hurray for a "2009's best" countdown which only featured PS3 and Wii exclusives.

Stupid 1up

Atleast there's Rage to look forward to

Kristian Joensen

12-31-2008, 03:17 PM

You GOT to be kidding me. This is a complete insult to gamers. " Was there a specific event or impetus behind the "flower in the wind" gameplay? Was seeing a flower petal in the wind an answer to a design question you had, or was it the foundation from the very beginning?"

What the **** ? This is just BIZARRE. Ohh well I guess it goes with the whole non-game theme of the article.

axion

12-31-2008, 03:18 PM

Seriously. Flower?

Echo Black

12-31-2008, 03:28 PM

Haha, seems like it wasn't much of a "countdown" to anything. Happy new year y'all.

LadiesAndGentlemen

12-31-2008, 03:43 PM

Those guys can't be serious.

LadiesAndGentlemen

12-31-2008, 04:59 PM

They took it down.

ryche

12-31-2008, 06:42 PM

Flower is still up for me ha ha...that's gay

peoplessi

12-31-2008, 06:47 PM

Honestly what the f*ck :DD That would be hilarious, if it wasn't true :(

The Stinger

01-01-2009, 07:05 AM

Flower?

Flower is today's game?

You GOT to be kidding me. This is a complete insult to gamers.

Seriously. Flower?

Honestly what the f*ck :DD That would be hilarious, if it wasn't true :(

Maybe you guys haven't noticed yet, but gaming isn't the same as it was 10 years ago. More people with different tastes and a wider age range play games these days. So it shouldn't be a surprise that there will be more games released which don't thrill the average "shoot 'm up" or "action" gamer.

Tang Lung

01-01-2009, 08:30 AM

seregrail7

01-01-2009, 08:51 AM

Flower is a PSN game and will probably only be €10.

The Stinger

01-01-2009, 09:25 AM

Gears of War and all that shit still sell far more though as far as I know. Plus the whole gaming media is the same as the movie media..focus on the shitty blockbusters and leave the good stuff to float under the radar.

Still, I would rather blast the shit out of a walking rip off with a big gun than pay 50 euro for a minigame.

The Sims sold almost 4 times the copies that Gears of War sold, so shooters
aren't the top selling games anymore.
The "good stuff" that floats under the radar is mostly likely stuff you like and which the majority of the gamers isn't looking for. It's, like you said,
just like movies, but what you call shitty is an other persons top movie.

Nihilanth

01-01-2009, 10:37 AM

You guide a petal... floating in the wind... from flower to flower... Thanks but no, thanks.

Phait

01-01-2009, 11:10 AM

Now that'd be some fun coop.

:tinyted:

peoplessi

01-01-2009, 11:46 AM

How many other Sims do you have? There are games for everyone, but I doubt the people who are interested in such "casual" games read 1UP. Another pointer is, that there are more shooters, and combined the go beyond the sales of Sims. Sales aren't the only point you weigh games. Another pointer, it's not a big title no matter how much you twist and turn in your seat.

Scream

01-01-2009, 11:54 AM

No pleasing some of you guys. In one breath you bitch about how uninspired big name titles like GoW are, but in the next you dismiss a small unique game simply because it uses flowers rather than guns as it's elements to create it's gameplay.

Anyway, I had a look at some of the vids, and this game looks like a puzzler/railshooter (minus the shooting of course). Looks like it has something to do with collecting items to reach some goal. Graphically it looks quite nice. Music seems nice and relaxing. The atmosphere reminds me somewhat of Shadow of the Colossus. Solitary and a little lonely. If the gameplay is solid then I see no reason why it couldn't be an enjoyable experience, and since it will be a relatively inexpensive download, it may be worth trying. If it's simply the title and "character" you play (i.e. a bunch of flower petals) that is turning you off, well, what can I say? Grow up and get a little more secure in your manhood. ;)

As to whether it belongs in this list that I haven't bothered to really look at, don't know. Seems like it's just a list of previews, not a list of "THE GREATEST GAMES OF 2009!!!" or even "THE MOST ANTICIPATED GAMES OF 2009!!!" The opening of the article even states it's just about promising looking games being released this year. And, there's 25 of them. If there was only 5, I might agree that a downloadable budget title was an odd choice, but I don't think with a number that high that too much is being excluded because this unique looking little title got some attention. :)

Kristian Joensen

01-01-2009, 12:10 PM

Scream

01-01-2009, 12:22 PM

Don't knock it until you try it, that's all I'm saying. No doubt there will be some kind of demo for this game, so I'd be far more interested in opinions once people have actually played it. :)

All this stuff is a matter of taste. Oblivion and MGS4 seem to be garnering much in the way of Game of Year attention for 2008, and while I'm sure they are both quality titles, you'd never catch me playing either as their gameplay elements simply aren't enjoyable for me. Everyone has different preferences.

I think that we should all be happy about smaller games like this getting some attention. It gives back some power to a small developer that's been lost over the past several years to EA, Ubisoft and the like. Downloadable content like this through Live Marketplace and the PSN are great for creativity IMO. Creativity has been lost because the cost of game development has skyrocketed and these big name publishers are unwilling to risk anything on an unproven formula. Small games like this taking advantage of a new distribution and marketing method is fantastic IMO. Doesn't mean I'm going to like every $10 game that is posted for download, but I am happy some attention is being given to them regardless. :)

Kristian Joensen

01-01-2009, 12:28 PM

"All this stuff is a matter of taste."

Ohh I agree but it is often sounds like that is not the case around these parts, liking some games(They tend to be FPS games) and disliking others(They tend to be RPG game or games with so called "RPG elements) is really frowned upon. Frequently games are criticized for being "mainstream", "generic"(What the heck that is supposed to mean anyway, basically it seems to me to mean disliked by the person calling a game that), etc

So see people using a term like "Yet Another FPS", as if being an "FPS" is a bad thing. Those buying these game being seen as a sort of "plebe" or something.

Actually I think your sig captures my attitude REALLY well: "Those who automatically discount what is popular are sheep of a different colour from those who automatically embrace it. They are still sheep however."

Sorry for the rant(s) but this is something that has been bugging me(ALOT!) for QUITE some time now(years).

Scream

01-01-2009, 12:46 PM

I couldn't agree more. Most of what I enjoy tends to be mainstream, with the odd "outside the norm" thing sneaking in making me a unique person with unique tastes. I do have a problem with people seeming to enjoy putting down ANYTHING that is perceived to be mainstream. There are gaming snobs just like there are music snobs, and there always will be it seems. Some people seem to have a real problem simply saying "I don't like it" and always feel the need to instead say, "Nobody should like it". It would be a boring goddam world if we all thought the same about everything. No such thing as personal expression and ultimately anything artistic would cease to exist in favour of simple "group think".

What's ironic is that people who are "anti-popular" are simply doing EXACTLY what it is they pretend to be fighting against. Judging something based on it's status, rather than it's qualities, is the same kind of sheepish mindset regardless of whether you judge it positively or negatively. That's what my sig tries to point out. :)

peoplessi

01-01-2009, 01:08 PM

KJ, overly generalizing isn't good either. Even if that's majority, it's certainly not all.

LadiesAndGentlemen

01-01-2009, 01:27 PM

I only play FPS because of the graphics and the art.

Kristian Joensen

01-01-2009, 01:30 PM

peoplessi, I wasn't addressing anyone in particular, but only an attitude.

Scream, then we agree :)

The Stinger

01-01-2009, 05:54 PM

Another pointer is, that there are more shooters, and combined the go beyond the sales of Sims. Sales aren't the only point you weigh games. Another pointer, it's not a big title no matter how much you twist and turn in your seat.

Comparing every sold FPS game with The Sims is a bit over kill don't you think? ;)
And I doubt a publisher will go "Oh this game only sold 10.000 but it had a ton of reviews with 8.5, we must make a remake to rake in more money.".
Truth is, publisher weigh the games by the amount sold, more sold = more money.
Saying The Sims isn't a big game is like saying Mcdonald's isn't a successful company.
You may, or may not like their food, but the amount of people eating at Mcdonald's says how successful and big they really are.

DerricktheW

01-01-2009, 06:15 PM

Maybe you guys haven't noticed yet, but gaming isn't the same as it was 10 years ago. More people with different tastes and a wider age range play games these days. So it shouldn't be a surprise that there will be more games released which don't thrill the average "shoot 'm up" or "action" gamer.

I never said "WHY ISN'T THE LAST GAME A SHOOTER ITS A STUPID MINIGAME WOW THEY SUCK ROAR"

I hate that the last (unless Rage was the last) game revealed/previewed is some simple stupid exclusive-to-one-system game that's novelty will last no more than a week, instead of a game the majority of people are actually looking forward.

Give us Brutal Legend. Give us Episode 3. Give us anything new on Portal 2. Or how about Postal 3? What about Bioshock 2? Or Overlord 2? Whats gonna be in Guitar Hero: Metallica?

Ok, so sure most of those are violent games, but even still. :P

peoplessi

01-01-2009, 07:43 PM

The Stinger

01-01-2009, 08:10 PM

Stinger, I didn't say Sims wasn't a big game, but you are too keen to dismiss the "otherside" too. I only said that there is a comparable market alongside Sims, and if someone doesn't like Flower - so be it. I wouldn't call it exactly "most anticipated" on any scale - since "most" implies something else.

You mentioned the Sims and said "Another pointer, it's not a big title no matter how much you twist and turn in your seat.", hows that not calling the Sims not a big title.

Over the course of December 2008, we rolled out a month of exclusive previews on some of 2009's biggest games (and a few smaller ones). It wasn't designed as a comprehensive list of everything coming out in 2009, nor a list of our most anticipated games, but rather a countdown of of exclusive previews highlighting many of the year's most promising titles.

Flower and the other games weren't posted as most anticipated games, but as most promising titles.

peoplessi

01-01-2009, 10:07 PM

I meant Flower, not Sims. Also, the 1UP site titles the section in one sentence "25 of the Most Anticipated Video Games of 2009". As usual, highly misleading but still. Be it down to 1UP or whoever, Flower isn't a "most anticipated" title, nor a big title.

DerricktheW

01-02-2009, 06:50 AM

The Stinger

01-02-2009, 07:37 AM

peoplessi

01-02-2009, 08:24 AM

To make it clearer, I'm not to downplay Flower as a game, but the way 1UP handled that list.

avatar_58

01-02-2009, 08:28 AM

I'm just constantly amused that folks around here won't listen and still hype up every last one of the magazine or website previews/announcments. You guys are like the mice that continue to grab for that piece of cheese even after losing both arms, legs and 50% of their tail from previous attempts.

Kristian Joensen

01-02-2009, 09:14 AM

avatar_58 the difference this time around being this: http://www.twitpic.com/pjhi and its mention of "1up prev".

avatar_58

01-02-2009, 09:24 AM

So what, the trap was upgraded to include lasers and a digital camera - you still aren't getting that piece of cheese.

peoplessi

01-02-2009, 10:01 AM

"1UP pre..view, remember to say no" :)

Nihilanth

01-02-2009, 02:42 PM

FireFly

01-02-2009, 04:31 PM

"In one breath you bitch about how uninspired big name titles like GoW are"

I would never do that. I am solely on the side. If there is one pet peeve of mine it is use of certain terms like bland, generic, mainstream(not liking something because other people DO like it, etc. I typically LOOOOVE the games and movies that are absolutely hated on these forums(and shacknews, other places on the net) using such terms to disparage them. IMHO those terms should be completely totally and utterly eleminated from gamer vocabularly. Since most of the stuff that is hated upon using such terms are GOOD things.
Good things by what measure? I mean if people are expressing a genuine subjective preference for novel or unique (i.e non-mainstream) forms of gameplay and presentation, on what basis can you object to that? Certainly some of the criticism 'mainstream' titles face is a result of the desire to 'look down on' others, but surely not all of it is.

Is it not the case that when overused, mechanics can become tired, that titles that stick to the same 'genre standard' art style and colour palette may well seem less visually interesting than those that break the mould? And that clichéd storytelling, poorly implemented mechanics taken from other games and uninspiring art are part of what make titles mediocre in the first place?

In this regard aren't terms like "bland" or "generic" perfectly suited to describe such (commonplace) failings?

Travis

01-03-2009, 08:49 PM

it's more difficult for games to be indie than it is for bands to be indie, so the mainstream argument is sometimes a bit futile. it is getting easier, somewhat. with more tools and distribution. and sometimes these titles are less afraid to break from a formula, but of course they're not automatically better.
but yeah, bland and generic seem like fine words to use when things get a little too unoriginal. if we don't step up and say things are bland when they are, we may have to be content with boring art direction.

isn't "I typically LOOOOVE the games and movies that are absolutely hated on these forums" ironic in the fact that people who like unpopular things for the sake of it would say something like that also? haha.

Reaper

01-04-2009, 03:56 AM

I think that we should all be happy about smaller games like this getting some attention. It gives back some power to a small developer that's been lost over the past several years to EA, Ubisoft and the like. Downloadable content like this through Live Marketplace and the PSN are great for creativity IMO. Creativity has been lost because the cost of game development has skyrocketed and these big name publishers are unwilling to risk anything on an unproven formula. Small games like this taking advantage of a new distribution and marketing method is fantastic IMO. Doesn't mean I'm going to like every $10 game that is posted for download, but I am happy some attention is being given to them regardless. :)
You seem to have a high opinion of digital revenue streams. I've read that devs that use those services (XBLM, PSN, Steam) don't make nearly as much money as one would hope (compared to boxed sales).

Scream

01-04-2009, 02:53 PM

You seem to have a high opinion of digital revenue streams. I've read that devs that use those services (XBLM, PSN, Steam) don't make nearly as much money as one would hope (compared to boxed sales).

I'm sure that's true, however for some of them it gives them an opportunity to make SOME money where they'd have no chance to make anything through conventional distribution methods. Since the costs for the distributor are relatively low, the risk for them is relatively low, so it gives an opportunity for the small game maker to put out a product that is different than what it might be if they were working through conventional channels, with less interference from a publisher or distributor just because they would normally be providing more significant financial backing. Some people just want to make a piece of software, and don't want to deal with distribution and everything that goes with that.

The whole thing is similar to the opportunity people have distributing their small apps for cash for iPod for example. Also allows small developers to be seen, and recognized, maybe allowing them to move into bigger and better things, or just make a few extra bucks for something that might just be a hobby. It's not for everyone, but I think it opens up a market where there was none before.