Build it up, don’t knock it down…
Posted on Feb 15, 2008 under Main |
At the risk of upsetting any purists out there I think it’s safe to say that 2007 was a good, nay great year to be a games fan. A quick glance at the release schedule for this year (come on - you know the ones I mean) shows 2008 could be even better. Yet, a glance around the Interweb will reveal many an unhappy gamer. Have we always been such a capricious bunch?
The world of video games is an ever-evolving creature. Technology progresses relentlessly onwards and we, as gamers, reap the rewards. A simple look at the depth and complexity of AAA titles and even the cleverer PSN gems available shows just how far we have come. A natural consequence of this is those games that really raise the bar (and are applauded for doing so) simultaneously raise our expectations. We are spoilt, for want of a better word, and sometimes don’t appreciate the silver controller in our mouths.
Let’s take an example: the mandatory install for DMC4. I know, I know, a 22 minute pre-game install is hardly an ideal introduction to an eagerly anticipated title. But let’s keep things in perspective shall we: it’s a one-time deal and in exchange you get reduced loading times. I happen to think that’s a fair trade. Does anyone else remember playing games on cassettes? Those bad boys had a 15 minute load up every time you played.
These days if a developer announces a change, set back or alteration certain elements of the gaming fraternity descend into juvenile lambasting that would make a sailor blush. Don’t get me wrong - it is right and proper to push developers to help them make the best games possible. But let’s keep the criticism constructive.
We’re all on the same team here!
