Gamertorial: New is not necessarily better

A look at Web sites and publications picks for game of the year strongly shows the preferences of consumers: gamers don’t necessarily want something new; they want the best of an already established archetype.

One of this year’s biggest winners was the Playstation 3 exclusive, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The game does not introduce any new elements to the world of digital entertainment. It does, however, refine almost every facet of action games: running, shooting, jumping, etc., and puts it all together in finely polished piece of blockbuster fun.

New experiences will come from downloadable titles, but those are incomparable to the impact of a disc-based game.

Perhaps the reason for this lack of innovation is that it’s very tough to be trailblazer. The first is always bound to get a little lost and injured. But as the path continually gets hacked away, it becomes easier to find the goal. Mirror’s Edge, by DICE, was the premier first person freerunning game. While it was a fine product, it stumbled in its over-reliance of combat toward its conclusion. Perhaps if a sequel is developed, or another company takes on the freerunning mantle, gamers will be one step closer to digital parkour bliss.

It can also be a big gamble for publishers to take a chance on something new.

Conversely, the most anticipated games of 2010 are established franchises and new entries in familiar genres. Of course, God of War III builds upon the principals of the first two games, which were culled from some of the finest elements of action platformers that preceded them. Dante’s Inferno is nothing more than a re-skinning of God of War. Other upcoming sequels include Blizzard’s Diablo III and Starcraft II, Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2 and Super Mario Galaxy 2. These entries will no doubt refine the elements of their popular brands.

Scouring most anticipated lists for 2010, it’s near impossible to find an entry that isn’t a sequel.  Heavy Rain, the newest game from Quantic Dream, is the closest thing gamers will have to a new experience, depending on how similar it is to the developer’s last game, Indigo Prophecy.

This isn’t a problem. As long as there are quality games on the market, consumers will have plenty of choices. And when that little unique gem comes along to establish another archetype, many gamers will be waiting, payment in hand. Then again, something better will always come along a few years later.

(Does this column have a point? Let me know!)

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