On the surface it would appear that people buy games simply because they are interested, but there are deeper seated reasons why they are willing to buy certain games. Analyze how someone's expectations, interest, and ultimately choice in games is affected by their loyalty to a series or nostalgia for a previous game. Do people buy games simply because they enjoyed the previous one or because they enjoy a certain series?
I can safely say I have a whole bunch of games that I am generally quite nostalgic toward, and I understand that some of them haven't exactly aged well. When it comes to buying modern games from a classic franchise, or perhaps "HD remasters/remakes," I think it's common for someone to think back to their experiences with a franchise at a young age. I would suggest looking into the idea of "nostalgia blindness" as well, which is when a person ignores or outright denies any flaws in something they have a of nostalgia towards. This could have a profound effect on how they determine which games to buy. – Filippo9 years ago
No matter how corny and outrageous the Resident Evil series gets I still play every game. I also enjoy playing every one (that includes Resident Evil 6 which wasn't well received). So, yeah, I defiantly think loyalty and nostalgia play into choosing games.
I think it would also be interesting to not just look at series of games, but also individual games and see how nostalgia plays into choosing to play a new IP. – Lexzie9 years ago
I actually think that a lot of the nostalgia towards games aren't actually directed towards story or universe, but rather, mechanics. For example, Final Fantasy isn't set in the same universe at all, but each addition to the series includes a variation of the typical turn-based fighting style. Other examples include the Tales of Series, Fire Emblem, and arguably Legend of Zelda. – ChristelleMarie Chua9 years ago
It's certainly something to factor in. One thing to be careful of is letting those things be used against you. It's one thing to try to bring the games you loved as a kid into the present, but it's quite another to take an old and venerated game and use it's rotting corpse to make money. Nostalgia can just as easily get us a Grim Fandango remaster as it can get us Dungeon Keeper Mobile. – Seakibble9 years ago
As Filippo mentioned, nostalgia certainly plays a part in me buying HD Remakes. The original version of FFX on the PS2 came out when I was only 11, and since then it has been one of my favorite games. Naturally, when it was remastered for the PS4, I immediately dished out my $40 for it. Was it stupid to spend that money on a game I already have? Maybe. But I like remastered graphics and I love the game, so it was worth it to me. And when the PS22 comes out and they re-release it for the hundredth time, I'll probably buy it again because it is one of the best games I've ever played. – Christina Legler9 years ago
Nintendo, the trailblazer for video games, has reported to be falling short in comparison to Sony and Microsoft. Most of Nintendo's successes are derived from old franchises: Fire Emblem, Legend of Zelda, and Mario. Thus, their success is fueled by the nostalgia of older gamers. Notably, they've fallen short in the expansion of certain franchises, such as Metroid. However, Nintendo's latest success, Splatoon, shows the company's potential versatility. How can Nintendo generate interest in new crowds? How will the company's transfer to mobile gaming and the new console, the NX, affect them? What steps should Nintendo take to expand their fanbase?
It does seem like a good topic. There is potential for Nintendo to make a comeback in the console industry. The Wii, for instance, is still notable for keeping Nintendo up and running but with the rise of the Virtual Reality sets of both Sony and Microsoft, there is also the aspect to consider of how Nintendo can adapt to the changing climate of the console industry. However, like SEGA, there is also potential for Nintendo as a software entity. SEGA's titles are up for grabs on both Sony and Microsoft, and although by saying this I am committing the single vilest heresy of 90s era retro gaming, I think that Nintendo's NX may even prove to be an interesting experiment for Nintendo to have an arsenal of SEGA Games. Either way, the potential for Nintendo can improve if they realize: 1) the current gaming generation wants graphics, and there isn't a significant majority who put importance to story or character development (With some notable and important exceptions. Onimusha, Gears of War, God of War, DMC (the original PS2 series), Ways of the Samurai, Shadow of the Colossus, and Halo for instance.) 2) the current gaming generation wants a game that is playable yet adaptable: it thinks outside the box rather than use tricks from that box. Citing some examples from my list: God of War had the approach of interactive cutscenes with a system of weapon improvement that was dynamic - a step up from the DMC or FF style of upgrading; likewise, Gears of War had the gameplay aspect (which was sufficiently difficult) combined with a good story that helped sell it. 3) the current gaming generation will need... if all else fails... pleasure for the pervs. :P I dare anyone to mention one game from 2014 onward on the consoles (PS4, PS3, XBox 360) THAT DIDN'T HAVE SEXUALISATION IN IT! This is why Nintendo is having a hard time as well - their games are for a generation which respected the importance of imagination as well as a blank slate approach to gaming - its fun, but its challenging as well, with a strong and resonant feeling once the game has been concluded. In this respect, the only games I can think off which fulfills these criteria are Onimusha, Shadow of the Colossus, Spartan: Total Warrior, Halo, and even Final Fantasy 7 and 8. I hope this note was helpful. :) – shehrozeameen9 years ago
Will there come a point where systems and consoles are obsolete and the franchises migrate to online instead. We’ve seen it happen with Legend of Zelda and Elder Scrolls. Might this happen with Pokemon? Kingdom Hearts? Will this repel some fans or bring in new ones?
Skylanders, Disney Infinity, Lego Dimensions, and Amiibos — all are variations of the new phenomenon in gaming, interactive game figures. Skylanders and Disney Infinity have been around for years, creating new starter packs and new figures to expand their 50 collection of figures. Lego Dimensions creates a new spin on the IGF concept, creating a base game that will last for the next 5 years and additional packs to assemble to add more content onto the game. Amiibos, Nintendo's rendition, are treated more like collectibles, but also add additional bonuses on games across Nintendo franchises.
How does the proliferation of these figures into the industry affect the economy and reputation of the industry? Is it simply an add on to the discourse of microtransactions? Which company implements their IGFs most effectively?
This is an excellent topic, original and so in sync with what is happening in the industry! It will be important of the writer to explain clearly what interactive game figures are as it is complex to grasp. – Rachel Elfassy Bitoun9 years ago
Resident Evil Remake and Resident Evil Zero were remastered recently. Resident Evil was considered the historically significant game which led to the immense popularity of zombie horror, and survival horror as whole. But is it still effective? Does Resident Evil's formula still deliver tension and scare as it used to? If so, what does it say about the horror game genres of today? What can the current horror games learn from Resident Evil Remake's strengths and weaknesses?
Well, that depends. Are you asking if it could scare somebody who played through the original, or somebody who is either new to the franchise or that particular entry? I think that the answer depends on who you are trying to scare. If you are trying to scare somebody who played the original, then no because they already played the game and know when the scares are supposed to happen and what they are supposed to be. However, if you are trying to scare somebody who has never played the original, then yes it would more than likely still manage to deliver the intended scare. Maybe this requires a bit more of an in depth look. – Aarogree9 years ago
In my experience, Resident Evil 4 was the last successful game in the RE franchise. This was largely because of the developers' new approach to gameplay and its emphasis on storyline. All titles that followed after were not as successful, because they did not build much further on this new formula. However, Resident Evil as a franchise set the standard for many of its contemporaries and developers that came later. Atmosphere and environment were always major factors. Resident Evil 4's new camera angle (as opposed to the traditional fixed angle), which followed directly behind the protagonist, allowed for the player to appreciate the environment more wholesomely and assume a more immersive role in the game. This new approach can easily be traced to more recent titles like the 'Dead Space' series and 'The Evil Within'. One aspect of Resident Evil 5 that substantially hurt its "horror factor" was introducing a multiplayer option. This significantly diluted the feeling of isolation and desperation that contributed to Resident Evil's success as a horror game. – DoultonSchweizer9 years ago
With a lot of buzz surrounding VR (Playstation VR, Oculus, etc.), what do you think will happen to traditional console gaming and traditional pc gaming? Do you think that VR will be so revolutionary that the majority of gamers will move on from a controller or mouse and keyboard? Or do you think that VR will fall by the wayside like motion controls (Move, Kinect, Wii)?
Whether it be Assassins's Creed or Call of Duty, The end of Mass Effect 3 or the content in Destiny "The Internet" seems to hold a singular idea of what is occurring. This has led to extreme amounts of hate and discontent on the internet against many, is this to be expected or this possibly a fire moving towards gasoline.
I would add a question mark at the end and clear up the subject of "many," but otherwise great question. I think it's a particularly relevant topic to those who have been on certain sites such as reddit, which many refer to as an "echo chamber" because dissenting views are so heavily downvoted. – Connor Gregorich-Trevor9 years ago
The content of the post suggests to examine the impact of games in relation to people's discontent on the internet, but the title is more general. – aferozan9 years ago
The Legend of Zelda has always been about Link. Link is generally a young boy/man setting out to save Hyrule from the forces of evil, most of the time that being Ganondorf. However, the identity of Link is sometimes called into question. Is Link a young boy or a man? Ocarina of Time used both, but the Toon games like Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks use a young boy. Originally, it is well known Link is a boy. What changed for the creators to make him a man in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess? And what changed to make them change him back again? What does this do for the franchise? Does it help or ruin it?
It might be helpful to refer to the timeline given by the game creators in the Hyrule Historia: which also brings up the question, are they all the same character at different times, or different characters united by striking similarities? – Luthien9 years ago
They're different. Wind Waker practically confirms this. – SpectreWriter9 years ago
This could be really interesting if the article takes a slightly different direction and discusses the perception of Link's masculinity and how that changes based on his age. In some of the games where he is depicted as younger, his relationship to the female characters in the game is different than when he is older. When he is depicted as a young man, there seems to be somewhat of a bachelor's complex going on: most of the female characters are in love with him, or make comments about how he is "cute" and whatnot (examples: TP, OOT). This is a conscious decision made by the creators of the game. How does it play into perceptions of heroic men? How does Link's performance of masculinity change based on his age? How does his relationship to women change? Ocarina of Time would be a particularly good study because it shows his growth from a child to a young man. – Emilie Medland-Marchen9 years ago
For anyone writing this, research into the timelines is really important as well. It's sort of been made official by Nintendo in Hyrule Historia, but before that was released there were many theories about the different Links and their relationships to one another floating around online (check Zelda Universe). You'd have to decide whether to use the official Nintendo timeline (which is not accepted by some game theorists) or explore the other in-depth theories.
– Emilie Medland-Marchen9 years ago
