Sequels, Rehashes, and Remakes Oh My!

     

     Ladies and gentlemen, we are in trouble. The games industry as of late has been absolutely inundated with sequels, remakes, rehashes and all sorts of lazy inspiration-lacking nonsense. Publishers like Activision tend to view their games as product first and foremost. The Call of Duty series and the Guitar Hero series are perfect examples. While it may be a smart business decision to release a new version of the previous game with a few new additions, I can't help but shudder when I think that I'm paying 60 U.S. dollars for essentially the same game when I would much rather pay a few bucks for some DLC. (as I'm sure everyone would)

     We consumers get so hooked on one game that we would much rather purchase the next entry into the series instead of trying anything new. And that, my friends, is exactly how they want it. We buy into it and we will continue to do so as long as the Call of Dutys and the Guitar Heros and the Rock Bands keep coming. It's painfully obvious that consumers (me included) are dumb enough to keep shelling out the cash and that scares the living Kratos out of me.

     I've got no problem with a company trying to make money. That's the goal after all. But It's far too easy to pump out the same game over and over again for an easy buck. I say take the talent that you have behind your games and create something new and fresh. Your studios have got to be sick and tired of hashing out copy after copy of one game. We need new content. Your consumers would appreciate it. That I can guarantee.

     While a C.E.O.'s job is to satiate its share holders, it's far more important to maintain a squeaky clean image with the community at large. Bobby Kotick, for example, has failed at this endeavor. His relationship with the consumers of his products is in tatters. But, guess what, that doesn't matter because the momentum of the Call of Duty series and the Guitar Hero series seems to overshadow his nasty attitude towards his consumers. Activision is the only company that can seem to get away with demeaning statements towards us gamers because we need and crave its games. It's safe to compare Activision with the local drug dealer. We are addicted to its product and if it were to ever go away, we would all surely die from withdrawal. That is, of course, unless we find ourselves a new drug. One that is a bit better for you.

     In this age of online entertainment there is one fundamental component of video games that is too often overlooked. Single player campaigns are generally skipped for the likes of the online portions of our favorite games. I promise you, if you take a moment to begin a campaign in a game like Call of Duty: Black Ops you will not be disappointed. It may even lead to something beautiful. Like trying a different game for once!


Chris Adcock
PSN ID: Darth_Doomguy
Xbox 360 Gamertag: Darth Crouton