July 05, 2008

Jahanzeb Khan discusses the current gaming scene, what gamers look for in a video game, the impact of technology and the importance of online gaming in console gaming.

Gaming has come a long way going through countless evolutions and revolutions since the 1970s. The current gaming scene is quite different from what it was in the past; not only has the technology changed, but gamers themselves have changed their preferences and play in style over the years. Expectations that people hold for a video game have changed considerably and this has made developing games quite challenging and expensive. Various technological leap in the hardware spawned new video game genres, but several genres are now nearly extinct because since they either could not evolve anymore or gamers simply outgrew them.

The Blu-ray DVD versus HD DVD war not only had a significant impact on the movie industry, but it also made quite an impact on the video game industry. Sony supported the Blu-ray DVD format by making the Playstation 3 (PS3) the only console in the market that could run Blu-ray DVDs, and PS3 games were hyped as being bigger and better because of the large storage capacity the Blu-ray disc potentially offered. The massive storage space it offers allows developers to develop games that would otherwise have been held back by the now outdated DVD 9 format. It also removed the need for having multiple discs to support a large game. The PS3 is the most expensive of all seventh generation consoles, but the reason why it is doing well from a commercial stand point is because of its well-established brand name and also because the PS3 is currently the cheapest Blu-ray DVD player in the market.

On the other hand one is bound to ask the question: does format really make any difference? While it is true that a larger storage capacity will allow for better-looking games that run smoothly, shorter area loading times, and would also remove the need of having multiple discs to support a large game, but do gamers really care? It goes without saying that traditional/hardcore gamers only care about the core gameplay experience in the end regardless of whether the game comes on cartridges, CDs, DVDs or Blu-Ray discs. However, the format used (if used properly) can make quite an impact on the graphical and technical aspects of a game.

The recent release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on the PS3 is perhaps the most significant Blu-Ray DVD game release (period). The game alone is a true testament of what developers can accomplish with the PS3 hardware and the Blu-Ray format. From a graphical and technical standpoint the game is an unbelievable sight to behold, so amazing that it could bring anyone to their knees. That game alone has silenced biased fans of Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

The comparison of Ninja Gaiden Sigma (PS3) and Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360) is another example of how the format can actually influence a game. Ninja Gaiden Sigma came on Blu-ray and it was a smooth and flawless experience from a technical stand point. Ninja Gaiden 2, on the other hand, came on DVD 9 and while it is a fantastic game in its own right, it does suffer from some noticeable technical issues that perhaps exist because of the inferior format.

Online gaming has made quite an impact on gaming since 2004, so much so that gamers today now value the online multiplayer component of the game more than the actual offline content. Video games are very expensive these days and online multiplayer adds a lot of life and value to the expensive purchase. Instead of tossing aside games after one short single player campaign, gamers can now play their favourite games against players all over the world and give each game over a hundred hours worth of playtime.

Online multiplayer has encouraged social interaction among gamers who now prefer a more social gaming experience rather than sitting all alone in a room with a 50-hour-long offline RPG. Gamers also prefer to play live against human opponents within the comfort of their rooms without the need of calling people over. Also, they no longer care about Artificial Intelligence in games especially when online multiplayer is possible. The 2007 smash hit Call of Duty 4 has a short five-hour-long single-player campaign but it is still acclaimed and widely played for its impressive and addictive online multiplayer component.

Gamers also expect downloadable content and updates for the games they buy. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft now offer their own online networks where they offer a wide range of services and downloadable content. The content includes new modes, difficulties, maps, levels, skins and other significant additions and refinements. Some content is free while some content can be purchased with points and/or money.

Casual gamers have now become an important market segment for game developers and perhaps the main reason why Nintendo is doing so well these days is because they have targeted casual gamers more than Sony and Microsoft. Hardcore gamers are a dying breed and most people today are part time gamers who enjoy playing simple and easy games and this explains why most of the games on Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii have been targeted towards casual gamers. Hardcore gamers generally boo Nintendo for their current market strategy and feel that the company has “sold out” by catering to casual gamers. They prefer the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Playstation Portable over Nintendo’s Wii and DS consoles since Sony and Microsoft continue to cater hardcore gamers by churning out games with too steep a learning curve for mere casual gamers, with Metal Gear Solid 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 being the latest examples.

Speaking of casual gamers, what once was considered to be a young male exclusive hobby has now become a hobby for people who never even bothered holding a controller! People of all ages and backgrounds today are playing video games, regardless of whether they are hardcore or not. Free Java-based games that are available online and even on mobile phones are enjoyed by many people, and almost everyone seems to enjoy playing the many causal games available on the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. Families get together to play party games that are available on Nintendo Wii and many new gamers simply purchase the console because they see it as a fun social activity. Nintendo certainly does deserve kudos for taking advantage of unexplored territory.

Before the seventh generation era, Nintendo dominated the handheld gaming market with the Gameboy, it had monopoly power and it crushed Sega’s Game Gear and SNK’s NeoGeo Pocket quickly and swiftly and enjoyed a long reign. But things changed when Sony entered the handheld gaming market with the Playstation Portable. The console features PS2 quality graphics and multitude of multimedia features that gives non-gamers an incentive to purchase the console. Nintendo discontinued the Gameboy brand and introduced the Nintendo DS (Dual Screen). The console features two screens and the bottom screen makes use of touch-screen technology, this feature alone makes up for the DS’s weak graphical capabilities as it introduced some really creative and innovative games that made excellent use of the touch screen and stylus, thankfully the DS and its games do not feel gimmicky at all.

Handheld gaming altogether has evolved from a part-time alternative for gamers into a platform that can stand side-to-side with console gaming. Games like Crises Core, The World Ends with You, Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, God of War: Chains of Olympus, etc are games that are so good that it is unbelievable that they are on handheld rather than console. Handheld video games are no longer cheap/part time alternatives because they are now solid stand alone video games in their own right.