There are strange days ahead of all of us. I think, it's a safe estamation, that we will not be able to play a full game ever again. Used to this wouldn't be a given but please give me a second to explain.
Not unlike how music has become, video games will be broken down to their parts and sold one piece at a time. I don't think we will ever have a complete game ever again. Turning gaming into a more episodic art form and possibly completely destroying it.
The biggest fear we should have about this, is that the medium will be broken and disconjointed to the point it's barely recognizable. Cell phone games have championed this but the DLC culture of gaming is taking this over as well. That's why cheat codes and unlockables have gone the wayside, because there is money to be made on content expansion.
Picture having to buy a game by level, by each stage you play, you have to pay 5.99 or whatever. That's kind of a cool idea, you buy the first level and then decide whether or not you want to buy the rest of the game but certain play styles suffer for this. I don't think we will see a turn based RPG, if this is how the market becomes redesigned.
While many hate the turn based RPG, I do appreciate a certain few. That rare few that aren't heavily produced pieces of shit, but in this generation there aren't that many left. Even with the promise of a new Final Fantasy game every year, it doesn't mean that we are going to be getting the games we really want.
We also need to consider ending more series perminately. Mario, Metroid, and oters might need to go the way of the dinosaur in order for us to acheive a newer potential in what a game is. There also should be some consideration into the "serious game" market.
Serious games, are becoming highlighted more and are become cultural staples by bringing awarness to certain problems. Darfur Is Dying, is a prime example of how these games are actually over take what we see the art form as. It's just odd to me, to see certain people taking an approach to gaming and being recognized but I think this is far from what needs to happen in gaming.
I think we will see demos go to the wayside very soon. Much like how some move have stopped allowing critics viewings, demos maybe something that we just talk about. There is a possibility of freeware becoming the new medium.
Angry Birds, has proven this more than anything else. I have to say that it's kind of nice to know that you can get the full playable game for free, then decide whether or not to donate to the cause. Many people will decide not to because of economic and other restraints. This is actually a major fear of the big three, that free ware will over take the traditional gaming market.
Strange days are ahead of us. There are multiple invisible wars being faught on battlefields we can neither see or hear. I cannot decipher if there is a side I should be on in this one because I am afraid that no matter who I back. I may see the death of something that I have held near to me for the longest time. The love of a good game, good friends, and that bond of plastic we all share.
