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I don't know if this should go here, but I need to get something off my chest. I've been noticing a trend in video games these past years. I've been gaming for ten years (no joke. My dad let me play Super Mario Bros. 3 on our old NES when I was 5 and I was in love biggrin ). It used to be games were all about creativity. Now, not so much. Let's look at some examples.

First-person shooters...used to be a cool type of genre. Now, they're the bane of my existence as a gamer. WWII shooters were okay after the first few. Now STOP MAKING THE DAMN GAMES!!! We are all tired of the exact same game as the last one. I'm also tired of uber-bloody gorefests with little to no storyline. You know ther ones I'm talking about. The ones that have the enemies with pressurized blood pumping through their bodies? Where when you shoot them in the leg, a hundred gallons of blood spurt out. Beleive it or not, FPS games used to be good. Goldeneye and Castle Wolfenstein are some examples. Okay, my rant on FPS's is done, let's move on to another genre.

RPGs! This genre was almost unknown before FFVII. Now, almost every self-proclaimed "RPG gamer" doesn't even know that FF isn't the only rpg in existance. They also don't seem to have the capacity to realize that there were Final Fantasy games before 7. Now almost every RPG in existance seem to have to have a spiky-haired, angsty teen hero with an oversized sword who has to save the world against impossible odds, all while trying to balnce their suddenly booming love life. But then, out of the realm of mediocre games, a ray of light shines through. A little game called Tales of Symphonia is born. While this game isn't very publicized most of the people who have played this game have nothing but praises to sing of it's name. Most of the standard RPG cliches, ToS takes them and smashes them. With a unique battle system, unique storyline full of double-, triple-, and quadruple crosses, and well-rounded characters made this a great game. But all of these things all equal one thing=CREATIVITY.

So gamers, raise your voices. Let yourself be heard. We don't want anymore crappy generic games. We want to see the ToS of other genres. Give us an FPS where you'll be penalized for killing to many people. Give us an open-ended adventure game. Anything to break the monotony. Now, I know that it is a gamble to think to far outside the box (speaking from independent game developer's point of view), that if it's too far out of the ordinary might not sell. But I can also speak from the gamer point of view. I know that I'm not the only gsmer who's sick and tired of all the cliches. So please, make something enjoyable rather than something everyone's played before.

Yeah, I'm done with my rant. Anyone agree? Also, please keep this as an intelligent debate thread.

Sadly, what you say about game companies is true. Something else that seriously limits creativity, though, is that there are precious few plots that are truly original. I wish that were different, however.

*applauds Ran-Chan* Good luck!!

RPGOtaku, you're words have made me break down in tears. Partly because of the beautiful way you have described the very essence of gaming, and partly because I fear you are right. But do the cliches only reflect how the gaming industries view us, the die-hard gamers? Now that would be truly sad. And as you so eloquently put it, that is why I love Tales of Symphonia as well. This 'game' has become so much more to me than just a simple form of entertainment. The storyline of hope, betrayal, and the blurring lines of good and evil; the characters with their individual quirks and scars, trying to overcome their own problems; the issues of discrimination and advancement; all of these mean something. Plus, it has brought together a whole community of people for one common purpose. Tales of Symphonia has gone worlds above and beyond that of a normal game.

whee If I am anything, I am a fan. Sometimes people don't take me seriously, i.e. teachers, friends, relatives, etc. because of my fan-ness. They seem to think that just because it's a video game, it doesn't matter in the least. They don't understand how deep Tales of Symphonia is. I'm sure if it was a book, they would think much better of it... Being only 13 may have something to do with it, too...

I'm looking into that as well. I'm busy learning different types of programming as well as taking a programming class sometime next year. I pretty much have BASIC down, I'm currently working on VB, and after that, I'll probably look into C/C++. I'm not very good, but I can program a Paper Rock Scissors game onto a TI-83+ Graphing Calculator biggrin xd rofl . Sorry for getting off-topic redface .

You're right, that there's something about video games that is distinctly different from books, anime, or movies. You're there. Sometimes, when I'm playing ToS late at night when no one else is awake, I feel totaly in-tune with the game, like an out-of-body-experience. I'm no longer just holding a controller, but I'm there, solving puzzles, running, fighting. I don't even have to think about which buttons to push, or anything at all. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about??

Yeah, and that's the reason why everyone doesn't seem to like it. Because it is an out of body experience. People seem not to like it. ToS... as well as many other RPGs that I love oh-so-dearly happen to have that effect with me. Sometimes, I get really into it, and I feel like I'm beside the group. When I'm there fighting, I think I'm more... being the assistant. I'm in charge of the items... sweatdrop since I can't fight... but I am a part of the conversations, though I can't talk to them... I'm so close, yet I'm so ******** far...! This is why they call me "crazy".

I completely agree. However, I never insinuated that RPGs were the best type of games. I just took 2 different genres of games and pointed out flaws suited to that particular genre.

Also, if you'll reread my post, i suggested that game developers deliver the ToS of other genres to us. Yes, creativity doesn't make a game necessarily good, but it sure as hell makes it interesting. And some games lacking creativity are good, but if you'll notice in that list you posted, all of the games in those series added new features to their already good, solid gameplay.

Take Tony Hawk, for example. Out of all the Pro Skater games they have made, each one added something new to the mix. THPS 4 added spine transfer moves, 3 added manuals (I think), and so on. Tetris didn't exactly do anything new besides making two-player features. On the flip-side of that, they didn't do anything wrong either.

As for me not picking up the right games, I don't pick up games very often. Before I do, however, I do research on the type of game it is, total hours of gameplay, replay value, etc. I even borrow some of my friends' games if they happen to have it and get their opinions on it. It might seem like a waste of time, but you'd be astounded at some of the games you can pick up for $20.00 or less that you might have passed over on your way to finding the "next big thing," that will provide you with a good 60+ hours of gameplay the first play through.

As for the game you're describing, it is called "Cubivore." Definetley not for the average gamer. However, my friends seem to like it because they're not average gamers. Creativity doesn't make a game good, but it's definetly opens your eyes up to a new level of thinking and playing. Maybe another designer can take the same concept and execute it better.

All in all, I think it boils down to the concept of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Certain things appeal to certain audiences.

I applaud you for your well thought out and organized answer and your willingness to state your own opinion. And thank you for keeping this an intelligent debate.