Why I need a break from LEGO games1/1/2016 They say when life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get, but in fact that’s a lie - you know exactly what you’re going to get: bite-sized chunks of tasty treat which should all be tasty but in fact some are nutty, some are a bit odd, and about half of them aren’t to your taste after. As it turns out I did enjoy the game (as you may have read), but it had fallen victim to diminishing returns. Jumping back into that world didn’t have the same thrill and for every good idea injected into the game there were two bad, making it feel bloated and directionless by comparison, which is impressive when comparing to an open world game. Now though, I’m certain. Recently we got our first look at LEGO Jurassic World, TT’s next release, and as much as it looks like it should be fun, the same worrying ethos is there - throw some stuff in, see what sticks. I’m actually looking forward to the film, I’m not expecting a revelation but it should be fun - even though all they’ve really done is rehash the plot from the first film just with people in the park - but despite my heart’s instinct to get excited for the game, my head says otherwise. We all know what it will look like now (i.e. no different from the other titles), we know what it will play like and so we know what it will feel like. Apart from ‘being a dino’ I can’t see where they are going to break their own well-used mold. Then there’s LEGO Dimensions, which should really appeal to me as a fan of physical LEGO itself (I even used to work for Legoland in fact, I’m fully indoctrinated), and yet all it seems to offer is a LEGO twist on the Skylanders formula (which Disney has already stolen and arguably made more popular). There’s elements which I like about these games, namely playing in split-screen as that is such a rarity these days, but where can they go now? And why should I care? You could argue it’s a problem with a lot of games. Call of Duty is the easiest target, in this difficult position where even when they do innovate, they are said to be copying other games (see also Advanced Warfare and Titanfall) and equally the latest Assassin’s Creed reveal is being criticised for apparently moving away from the parkour element which has made all the other games so successful. These games are the epitome of escapism and becoming your heroes, and that isn't something that should be lost. When you get something as popular as all of these things though, what choice do you have? In a nutshell you innovate, diversify or die. History is littered with properties which have failed to do this, and since innovation is the hardest nut to crack, it’s no surprise LEGO has gone for the latter, grabbing as many properties as possible to hook people in. The fact that people enjoy the games, and I’m sure there will be plenty who enjoy this one, isn’t a bad thing by any means, but at the moment the studio is churning them out so rapidly (four or five a year) that Call of Duty-esque franchise fatigue can’t be far away for everyone, and that would be a shame. What’s the answer? Diversify in a different way, into other genres. I’m not saying arbitrarily jump into first-person shooters or something which just wouldn’t fit, but a third-person MOBA like SMITE might offer some variety which fans of the LEGO titles haven’t already experienced. Of course, effectively stealing from other genres and franchises is part of the problem, so what we really need to see is LEGO break out on its own, using the strengths of the games it has under its belt to effectively create a new sub-genre. I’m not sure I know what it is, something that draws from the love of creation which makes Minecraft so popular is a starting point, but it needs to happen soon. These games (particularly Lego Marvel Super Heroes) are the epitome of escapism and becoming your heroes and that isn’t something that should be lost, but the last thing I want to be saying is that Batman has become boring, he’s such an interesting character with so many layers and we haven’t seen that in LEGO’s world just yet. So that’s my take, but what do you think? Is there hope left for LEGO games yet? Are there more franchises you’d like to see it smash up with? Let us know on the forum.
Has gaming become overly negative?1/1/2016 Online communities have always been a hive of heated discussion and debate, regardless of the subject matter. I've genuinely seen an argument over whether or not a lady should fold her knickers before she puts them away in a drawer. Seriously. But none of the venom spewed online bothers me half as much as that involving my biggest hobby: gaming. as I sit down, it signs me in and says hello. Without touching a thing I can navigate menus, apps, games and movies. My games look like something I'd of only dreamed of a few years ago, and I can control some of them with my voice and hand gestures. So, naturally, it baffles me that there's a very vocal percentage of gamers who are still so negative about the hobby, about what developers produce, and about what the companies providing the services we use to play games offer. Granted, I am of an age now where I can remember a lot of things about gaming that younger people can't, so perhaps I'm biased – but really, we have it pretty good, don't we? With games becoming more and more aesthetically pleasing and technology becoming something we take for granted, I've noticed people are turning into the gaming equivalent of Veruca Salt. 'I want... I'm entitled to... you should give me this because I pay you money for another service...' I'm hearing these things more and more often and frankly, it disappoints me, because people seem to forget both where gaming came from and also how far it has come, as well. Gamers have become... well... spoilt. do you really, honestly, deep down give a hoot what speed it runs at, or whether the console you don't own plays it better? I know, I know, a lot of the hate and vitriol that goes on now is not all new. Console wars? It used to be Sega or Nintendo instead of Playstation and Xbox. The advent of the Web has done much to increase the negativity, of course – a sense of entitlement with the added element of relative anonymity hasn't done logical, sensible discussion any favours – but it really, really bugs me that positive gaming stories are so hard to come by. From comment sections filled with hate to reams of articles about pixels, frames per second and whether or not DLC is the same as buying a car and being sold the steering wheel as an added extra, there's a general sense that people have forgotten why most of us started gaming in the first place – we enjoy it.
Is the game fun? Do you enjoy playing it, does it bring you joy? These are the things that should be asked first and foremost – not does it play at 60fps, and does it run at 1080p? Those things should be secondary concerns. The real question should be “am I enjoying this game?” and if you are, do you really, honestly, deep down give a hoot what speed it runs at, or whether the console you don't own plays it better? Sadly, the negativity runs deeper still, and gets personal. Of all the other gamers I know, most of them – and I can include myself in this – will only play online with people they actually know. They won't have contact with randoms in a lobby, or play with strangers. The reason? Guys and girls, some of you can be complete nutjobs online. Insults, swearing and even personal threats – over a game? It's unnecessary. There's a time and a place for negativity, constructively and politely given. Save the effort for something that actually warrants it. And remember, Veruca Salt was a bad egg, and she ended up going down the garbage chute. No good ever came from being spoilt. |
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