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5 Gaming Trends Which Need To Change
Perhaps in the future all these annoying little foibles will sort themselves out...maybe.
Written by Andy Griffiths, 10 May 2010
You know here at GamerZines we love playing games just as much as you do, but sometimes there are things which still drive us absolutely crazy. What follows are a handful of those annoying habits which are exclusive to our unpredictable hobby:
DRM -
Piracy is a massive problem and for developers there must be few things more infuriating than people enjoying what you've put your heart and soul into without getting the payment you deserve. There's always the argument that illegal downloaders will occasionally buy the products they try for free but honestly how often does that happen? Adding to the problem is the often stringent use of DRM with some publishers forcing players to be online all the time whilst playing their games, even though they require little to no online implementation, Assassin's Creed 2 for example. What publishers really need to do is try to understand the issue and not punish those who purchase their products. Utilising fairer DRM methods such as Steam and abandoning their own would be a good start.
Trash Talking Executives -
We enjoy a nice, juicy quote as much as the next news site but sometimes comments bashing your competitors does nothing other than provoke embarrassment. There are plenty of high profile examples, especially from the major console manufacturers with Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg being particularly skilled. Let's be honest most corporations are guilty of a little baiting, but it doesn't do our industry any favours in the respectability stakes. Some comments will always bite executives in the bum later on and perhaps it would be best if some of them remembered that.
Analyst Predictions -
Don't get us wrong, investment analysts know a lot about the financial market, but when it comes to video games their collective record is a little sketchy. How about when Strategy Analytics proclaimed in 2006 that the PS3 would destroy the Xbox 360 and Wii or a more recent claim that Infinity Ward will close despite Activision assuring the world that one of gaming's most valuable names would stay open. It is fun to speculate, after all that is essentially an analysts job, but unlike the days of ink and newspaper pages, inaccurate predictions are only a google search away.
Fanboys -
There isn't anything wrong about having console allegiances but there's a big difference between liking a developer/publisher/console and blindly defending every action they take. Rampant fanboys plague the comments section of any website you care to mention, especially when a platform exclusive title is being reviewed or previewed. Any corporation associated with gaming only really cares about one thing - profit. They don't care about Joe Bloggs and his dedication to their brand, only how much money he spends.
Motion Controls -
Last but not least we have an area of gaming which all of the big three are clamouring to corner, motion sensitive gaming. Whether you're talking about Natal, Move or the current champion the Wii, each is supporting a style of gaming which the average player doesn't seem to want. Don't misunderstand us, there is room for this casual gaming trend, but we are yet to be sold on its merits. We prefer playing on the sofa utilising minimal muscle movement to interact with games and it says a lot that some of Nintendo's best efforts - Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros Melee, New Super Mario Bros. - allow players to use the standard d-pad controls. Hopefully console gaming will outgrow this fascination with gimmicky control methods and concentrate on crafting amazing experiences with a standard gamepad.
