Moving Forward and Looking to Indies, Not Better Graphics

I have to admit, I was blown away by the visuals coming into this generation. However, there's something about older games and indie games that seem to have more heart. I'm not saying companies and developers back then cared less about money (that would be ridiculous!) but they did seem more willing to take risks. It's good to see there's still this kind of "wild frontier" on hand helds and with indie projects.

The way things are looking right now I am guessing that the Wii U will end up beating the other two consoles no matter if you like it or not. There are just some things that are better with a touch screen or second screen. I can see  game like Silent Scope or a mech game where youj need to use the two screens to be able to fight optmumly. I can also see an RTS/tactical rpg working very well. lastly, people seem to discount the Wii U has having graphics from this generation, but what they seem to miss is the fact that the Wii U has to render twice as many graphics (one set for the TV and one for the controller), and then stream it to the controler. It is also clear that Wii U hasn't come close to maximizing its graphics capiblity or innovations.

I see the PS4 and the 720 battling it out to see who has better graphics, online capibilites etc. Lastly, I can see the PS4 either making or breaking streaming games technology.

From what I gathered the entry to consoles for indie developers is pretty steep but I also recognize that many indie games just plain suck; to the point ai can't even imagine how they were placed on say Xbox Arcade.

In that regard none of the console makers has to make concessions for them. But its gamble. Its kinda of like sifting for gold. How much unattractive rock are you willing to allow through before you find those few nuggets of gold to tout on your system? Seems like simple case of ROI. I can charge a high price to attract fewer yet willing and able customer or charge peanuts and get every nut in the gallery, the sum of which my not make nearly as much as for me by any stretch than focusing on a smaller market segement of developers.

Two things caught my eye in particular in this article:

1) Kickstarter can potentially be an indie devs best friend. As long as they realize they need to be likek any other startup looking for investments; routinely update your progress and show revelant images of your plans for the future of the game. Including concet art, test gameplay whatever.

2) XNA will no longer be supported. Saw this a mile away. Devs should learn/stick to eitehr Lua or C++. Those aren't going anywhere. Save yourself the headache of adopting a IDE or suite marketed to "to make it easier" for you. Usually this means it makes it easier for "them." C++ is portable therefor you can go multiplatform. So as an indie developer don't take the proposed easy road. Look beyond the game you are developing. Learn C++ and aim to sell on every console starting with the one where your projections look the brightest. C++ isn't hard there just some you programmed their ip poorly with it, and from what I've heard around the net Capcom is no exception...10,000 lines of code for silly stuff that really should have been OOP'd.

The main disappointment with Sony's presentation, I think, is that the shown games lack the "OMG Factor"--they don't feel next-gen because they represent genres and categories we've already seen, despite being far beyond contemporary graphics and presentation.

In the 32-bit/64-bit generation, we had Mario 64.  There was nothing even remotely like it; the game was a true revolution in game design and development.  Similarly, if not quite as significantly, we got the first truly workable console FPS in Halo for the succeeding era, along with advanced and/or groundbreaking titles like FFX and GTA3.  And a bit later, RE4.

This generation has also had its eye-openers, from Uncharted to Portal to Bioshock--games that, while not necessarily new genres, still greatly improved or reimagined what came before.

But the PS4 presentation, as Mr. Pereira states, didn't provide anything to illicit the wonder these earlier games conjured so easily.  I have no doubt that, in time, that one "special" game will emerge to get us excited.  But in the meantime, yeah, all we can do is hope.

I get so tired of people wanting more indie games and developers. Sure, there are a few good indie games here and there, but compared to the sheer number of indie "developers" and "games", the ratio of good indie games to terrible indie games is like 1 : 1,000,000. 

Let's face it -- a lot of indie developers just want to get into the business for the money (and after all, it is a business). While the developers of AAA titles may think the same way, at least they have the finances and manpower to put together a game with a substantial amount of content. 

Very few indie games are actually good, and the ones that are good typically don't have the amount of content that a good AAA title would have. Within an hour or two of playing it, the game is finished, and that's just not the type of experience I want to invest my current and future game consoles in. I want to be able to see a few new AAA developers come up with some new, innovative AAA titles that will soak up entire months of my time. I want to be able to continue to play new Metal Gear Solid games, and spend the same amount of time on then as I've spent on the previous entries.

Indie games and developers are fine. But let's not get carried away by giving them the reigns to our gaming future. Just take the best indie developers and support them, help them get the good stuff out there, and that will be good enough. Have you seen the indie games store on the Xbox Live Marketplace? Taking a brief glance at it would show you that most indie developers only care about getting the game out there to sell, and not about making a great game. Indie "games" like No Luca No, Try Not to Fart, and A Game You Can't BEAT are just a few examples. These monstrosities have absolutely no content, but the developers try to sell them anyway.

At least mots big-budget titles have enough content to warrant a purchase. Although I could do without Call of Duty. And whoever made Operation Raccoon City should be put out of business as well, if they aren't already.

I'm just saying. Just because Amnesia and Unfinished Swan were good, that doesn't warrant an "Indie Revolution" or whatever.  I'm all for people using their talents and ideas to make new, innovative games, but that just doesn't happen most of the time.

I get so tired of people wanting more indie games and developers. Sure, there are a few good indie games here and there, but compared to the sheer number of indie "developers" and "games", the ratio of good indie games to terrible indie games is like 1 : 1,000,000. 

Let's face it -- a lot of indie developers just want to get into the business for the money (and after all, it is a business). While the developers of AAA titles may think the same way, at least they have the finances and manpower to put together a game with a substantial amount of content. 

Very few indie games are actually good, and the ones that are good typically don't have the amount of content that a good AAA title would have. Within an hour or two of playing it, the game is finished, and that's just not the type of experience I want to invest my current and future game consoles in. I want to be able to see a few new AAA developers come up with some new, innovative AAA titles that will soak up entire months of my time. I want to be able to continue to play new Metal Gear Solid games, and spend the same amount of time on then as I've spent on the previous entries.

Indie games and developers are fine. But let's not get carried away by giving them the reigns to our gaming future. Just take the best indie developers and support them, help them get the good stuff out there, and that will be good enough. Have you seen the indie games store on the Xbox Live Marketplace? Taking a brief glance at it would show you that most indie developers only care about getting the game out there to sell, and not about making a great game. Indie "games" like No Luca No, Try Not to Fart, and A Game You Can't BEAT are just a few examples. These monstrosities have absolutely no content, but the developers try to sell them anyway.

At least mots big-budget titles have enough content to warrant a purchase. Although I could do without Call of Duty. And whoever made Operation Raccoon City should be put out of business as well, if they aren't already.

I'm just saying. Just because Amnesia and Unfinished Swan were good, that doesn't warrant an "Indie Revolution" or whatever.  I'm all for people using their talents and ideas to make new, innovative games, but that just doesn't happen most of the time.

with the first part of your argument. PS4 is just a High Graphixz PS3. Except, this isn't anything new, I had the exact same feeling a couple of years into the 7th generation: PS3 is just High Graphixz PS2. People Just don't want innovation anymore.

I don't agree with the second part. I just don't see how more indie games can make PS4 better. Indie doesn't mean good. There is just about as much innovation in indie games as it is in published games. Most indie games are just copies of each other IMO. The kickstarters that are funded most are the ones that try to copy some other game, and they are being funded by the fans of said game.

It's just this, people don't want innovation anymore.

Check out characters on horseback or pega...si? They're missing their feet too, and they're not on the ground. It's not a clipping issue, just a truly, truly bizarre design choice.