Just to say it before I start writing all the details. This is not a rant or just an opinion.
But my goal is to save what we have left for now in the video game world.
I might put some context in my view on the past/present and then say
what I aim for as someone who is trying to become a game developper myself.
-What is a video game-
Well, in obvious respond to that. A video game is a program to entertain us.
To have fun, to be distracted. To get "out" of the real world and to lost ourself
"in" a world we care.
It's like a in-universe, where we feel disconnected to the real world's problems.
-What is a video game industry-
It is mainly based on making a profit on a large group of people, aiming mostly at what will stick on the wall
and people will be impressed enough to buy it. Since video games started for like nearly 50 years.
The industry settled with standards, moderation and even laws to enforce what is produced.
-What is the limits of a game-
A game is mostly limited to the size of the file it can be in, or by the moderation or the thematic
it has been involved with. In general, one de factor that limits the game is the creativity of its
creator(s) and who push them to do so.
-Who control the gaming industry-
The gamers. No, not the companies or the developpers and so on. A game is a game if someone plays it.
If not, it is just a mere object to be left in the dark. Companies seems to not understand this very well..
Even after 50 years of data that can show how it works right.
-Why creativity is dying-
Because the creativity is mostly too costy for.. Well, how can I put this in a very meaningful way.
Oh yeah, the shareholders of a company that gives zero fuck about creativity.
Or something similar that goes in that same lenght, video games are not what they used to be.
Outside world view is being shoehorned in the "In" world. Which destroy the immersion.
Then the people in control of the IP force the developpers to put things that will never
work as intended.
The few developpers that remain creative. Are those who do everything by themselves.
Minecraft started by being a indie game.. Funny enough. The moment the IP got
sold to Microsoft, all the creativity became very superficial.
More into aesthetic and avoiding new game mechanics.. Ever since Notch left the house
and sold the key to the greedy new owner.
-What is the future of gaming-
It will depends on the gamers entirely. What they buy, is what they want.
This is the core of the video game industry, if money didn't existed in that
equation. Gaming wouldn't be as impactful as it is.
Let's not forget "Fun" is the predominant factor that change the whole formula.
If a company remove the gamers the rights to own their games after buying.
Why the fuck would they buy it?
If the company put a higher price to one game/console. That is too high for the
majority of the gamers..
Why would they buy it?
It is simple, gaming is entertainment. Not. A necessity for survival.
Just a way to relax after a hard day at work were everyone gives a shit about you
or what you may wish to enjoy.
A game is about enjoyment. Either comfort, feeling good, empowered and or horrified
regardless of the outside world.
Game is about feeling emotions that you only experience from video games.
It never was about the profit or the numbers that show how much you
are worth in Wall Streets.
In the video game world, money is not the question.
Having fun is.
Do I have fun in a game that makes me grind to fight a boss that I won't even remember
after I beat it? Nope.
Do I have fun to buy a 90$ game like Mario Kart. That I only play for 5 minutes and then feeling like
I wasted money on. Nope.
And the problem with all these thing is the fact most of these "mediocre" games aim at
what is relevant. Not at the experience. Some use nolstagia or use stereotypes
to stay some what here in the sea of video games..
But never remain as good as the former games gen did.
We are losing the fundation of gaming.. Through the people who give zero fuck
about gaming at all.
Creativity need to come back from where it was. In the garage where daddy
work on his new bike. Where nobody but his kids or wife can enter to see what he
is doing by himself.
Then when the day comes, he test it out if the bike can ride far.
And if it doesn't, he put it back in the garage. Go make love his wife
then return later next month to make the bike better again.
Creativity isn't hard. It just take time and patience.
I fucking hate companies who bat an eye on my opinion and
want just to see something that sells quick.
A true masterpiece is made by someone who knows the shit out of it
and follow their guts.
Who ever have an idea that is brilliant in video gaming. Need to make it real.
-Companies are trying to control everything-
Warner Brothers. Patented the nemesis system. A concept so fucking good.
That they have the rights to it.. And literally destroy the developpers who
made it and will never fucking use the nemesis system, ever.
Nintendo sue anyone who use Mario or anything Nintendo related..
Even the concept of catching creatures with a ball or something similar enough.
And, we are losing the right to hold the games we have.
Fuck. Even CD or catridge are going to become empty husk
that won't have the whole fucking game in it.
Just to make physical games obsolete.
Companies are ruthless with the control scheme. Banning the smash mod community.
Stopping the emulation/game history preservation.
I mean, companies do not want the history to be preserved and then the young people
realise they are being ripped off..
The writing is on the walls.
Those who are taking control initiatives, are really trying to kill off the freedom we have..
Well, almost used to have. It's in progress right now.
Once Nintendo set the Switch 2, this is going to be 2x or 4x harder.
Only Steam is going to make this freedom we have just a little bit longer.
But once he pass out. It's over.
Even Internet History is being attacked, emulation sites are getting shut down.
But not all is lost yet.
I wish this was not silently being push and ignored by the powerful. But they
won't even bother about it.
The non-gamers see games as a distraction, even a child's habit some may even say.
But the real problem is about who is in the right to remove such freedom to own
what you bought.. Literally theft with extra steps.
If this translate to the whole industry of ownership, like housing. Cars.
Parenting and your free will. (I doubt it will as far as this.)
But if everything you buy, isn't yours.
Do you really want something that is as hollow as this illogical?
Not me. I think the time is right for developpers to create games
that are not expensive, great in the experience and that creativity
florish.
Balatro did a good job so far. Game all made by himself and he won an award
for it !
I hope more developpers aren't going to sell out and do something like ConcernedApe
or LocalThunk did.
We need more of these guys in the video game life blood.
Personaly, I think the big companies are struggling to
stay relevant.
And I am all happy to see them, of all the bunch. To fucking fail !
