A reader thinks they know why there are so few triple-A video video games set within the fashionable world and worries that the scenario would possibly by no means change.
GameCentral ran a really fascinating article not too long ago about why there are so few GTA clones these days, which isn’t one thing I had actually considered earlier than. There was once loads – the latest resurgence of curiosity within the PlayStation 2’s The Getaway was a enjoyable little bit of nostalgia – however now there are mainly none, although open world video games are extra widespread than ever.
I’m not a giant fan of GTA although, so this was actually solely of passing curiosity to me, till I learn additional and acquired to the purpose about there being only a few video games of any form set within the modern-day, actual world. Basically, there’s simply Call Of Duty, then sports activities and simulation video games… and that’s it.
There’re outliers like Life Is Strange, and quite a lot of indie video games, however by way of huge funds mainstream video games they’re extraordinarily uncommon. None of the highest titles in the mean time are set in the true world, and even ones we used to see pretty usually, like Far Cry and Watch Dogs, have gotten more and more uncommon. I discover this very fascinating and really unusual.
The first assumption is that it should be cheaper to make fantasy worlds, however I actually don’t see how. As GC factors out, it’s a must to invent a fantasy world from scratch and make a brand new one once more for every franchise. Make a photorealistic metropolis and you may copy and paste that into any actual world setting you want, with minimal modifications.
You don’t should make up monsters or background lore with a modern-day recreation or provide you with bizarre weapons and automobiles. You don’t even should get actual world licences to make issues look lifelike, as a result of GTA doesn’t trouble with that and Rockstar may simply afford it in the event that they thought it was essential.
One of the primary causes this appears so unusual to me is that fashionable video video games are sometimes obsessive about being seen as critical and ‘grounded’ (oh how I hate that phrase) and but it’s at all times within the context of a fantasy world. Final Fantasy 16 is probably probably the most excessive instance of this with, its depressing Game of Throne type world, which is vastly much less fascinating to discover than the whimsical strangeness of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
If you’re so obsessive about telling a critical and believable story, why don’t you simply set it in the true world? It’s not as if that stops you from having any motion. Does Call Of Duty not have motion? If you wish to have a look at motion pictures you don’t even should be tremendous critical like Heat, as a result of one thing like James Bond or Mission: Impossible (okay, possibly not the final one) are nonetheless much more lifelike and ‘grounded’ than 99% of video video games.
The query of why publishers don’t make extra GTA clones mainly comes all the way down to the expense and the truth that Rockstar has a stranglehold in the marketplace, which is honest sufficient. But why does that imply no real-world video games or crime thrillers in any respect?
Sadly, I feel the explanations are extra pathetic than even GC realised. I feel it’s as a result of there’s nobody else to repeat and since there are not any previous franchises that try this, that you would be able to be part of. Video video games, similar to motion pictures, are all based mostly on nostalgia and present properties these days. Publishers would reasonably remake a recreation for the third time than create a model new one.
But most older video games, particularly ones going again many years, aren’t set in the true world and in order that truth by no means modifications. But even when somebody was courageous sufficient to make one thing new, they’d at the very least like to repeat one thing else that’s widespread. They can’t try this with GTA although and in order that leaves… Pay Day?
It’s an actual disgrace and all of the worst as a result of there’s no apparent means out of the rut. For the entire business’s speak about interesting to a extra fashionable, grownup viewers most video video games are nonetheless residing in a fantasy world. When Silent Hill 2 is among the most grounded and lifelike video games of the 12 months that one thing isn’t fairly proper.
By reader Orion
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