Next Gen: Getting Real?

Depending on what side of the gaming fence you are, lets admit it, the next generation of videogames are coming and it starts with the XBOX 360. At least it does for me.

Now there is one thing odd that I have been noticing about people’s standards when it comes to the next generation. First, they the next gen perception is heavily influenced by traditional CG cut scenes. Second, next gen expectations always fall somewhere along the lines of being “realistic”.

With regard to the XBOX 360 games, I have seen a lot of people throw praises at realistic looking games such as Call of Duty 2 or Project Gotham Racing 3. While I have no problems with these things and no doubt the praises are well deserved by those games, the idea behind realism affects the way other ‘unrealistic’ games are perceived.

Take a look at the first party game called Kameo. Simply enough the character is a female fairy elf that can transform into a variety of cute looking characters as she walks through a fantastical looking environment. But despite the graphical achievements in this game, some people simply discount it as a kiddie game unworthy of their attention. Since when has a game where the character is not wearing a military combat suit a kiddie game? While in the end it’s a matter of preference, the perception of realism appears as a hindrance for some people into trying out a different genre.

Next stop, Perfect Dark Zero. A lot of people have voiced displeasure at the ‘unique’ art style of the game which look like the ones you see in comic books rather than the default facial features you will see in your default military games. Not only is the art style the thing that is being critiqued the character physics and environment interaction as well, everything from rag doll physics to blood splatters.

I guess with all this next gen thing, people are expecting too much realism. With realism, the expect games that look like the way the ‘real world’ does. While this is good, not all games that do not fall within the realistic category should be scrapped as a lesser game. Personally, I appreciate games that are non-realistic. I have considered games to be as a means of escaping real life woes. I would much rather be transported to a magical colorful world like Kameo’s rather than be sent to some war torn desert. I hope more gamers realize that next-gen offers more than realistic facial features and environments, it also pushes the limits of the developers imagination to create new immersive worlds that are totally unlike the ones we live in today.