I see no changes, all I see is racist faces; misplaced hate makes disgrace to races. What? Oh sorry, I was just spitting some rhyme. Or something.
You see, Kris is taking a week off from TheSixthAxis and he’s asked me to write this Lunchtime Discussion for him. So here I am and the topic I’ve chosen is “Changes”.
The topic was inspired by the fact that a few things are changing around TSA right now. Zuler has stood down from his position with us as Trophy Co-Ordinator and Lunchtime Discussion is going to be taking a break for the at least the rest of this week. Two bits of sad news.
Luckily, Kris is going to come back from his break and assume his new position with TSA as Features Editor. Part of that role will include deciding how best to round-out Lunchtime Discussion and perhaps innovate with new features. So that’s a good change, we think.
Recently Sony showed a trailer for inFamous 2 in which they’d changed the protagonist’s appearance and voice. Is this a step back or is it an innovative move which will make him more approachable for a wider audience?
Microsoft, too, are making changes. Their new-styled Xbox 360 seems to have divided opinion. Is it a sleek, angular masterpiece or the result of a design department opening up an image of a six-year-old Alienware PC and hitting the “resize to 50%” button?
Basically, I’m asking: Is change always a good thing or do we have to be careful when trying to innovate for fear of spoiling something which people love?
mynameisblair
I like change in gadgets and technology, change is good. People changing is not good, I dislike that.
For example: The 3DS is a great change, one of your friends suddenly becoming stereoscopic 3D is BAD. Very bad.
Roynaldo
In general i dont like change. Mostly changes are made for changes sake and there are very few who do it properly.
A few examples are inserting online play to a game that doesnt need it or adding vehicles or bonuses to online that over complicate it.
Il go to what i know best as a good example of change…. Final Fantasy. Every game is different but keeps it enough the same to still make them enjoyable and immersive.
I would rather see new IP than people twisting existing IP until it winds up a mess of its former self.
teflon
But then there are the games the change for the better.
Uncharted 2’s addition of Multiplayer was complete genius. But for every UC2, there’s a Bioshock 2, where the MP is largely pointless.
Across the industry we’re seeing everyone jump on the co-op bandwagon. But isn’t that a good thing? Who doesn’t like a bit of co-op?
But yeah, making changes for the sake of it is stupid.
Roynaldo
Its funny you say that coz i only like the coop online on Uncharted 2.
I love coop. MASSIVE fan. I get a greater feeling of accomplishment to have achieved something with someone else than going solo. I suppose its why i love Killzone so much with the TSA guys.
bunimomike
Change isn’t necessarily a good thing. For me, I like progression and evolution. The changes to inFamous seem to be made for the reasons you speak of but will alienate the patriotic crowd from the first one. However, most of us will ultimately be looking out for a great game, regardless. Will they win over a greater portion of folk with the new Cole? I simply can’t see how given what sort of creatures and characters we play as in all manner of other titles.
Add to this that Cole was really quite an excellent character (assuming you liked the game). The comic-strip cut-scenes working well with his voice being particularly strong.
bunimomike
Oh, yeh. Have a nice week off Kris! God knows how to keep the lunchtime discussions going without us repeating topics but you’ve done an insanely good job so far. Top stuff.
theDAZBOMEGATRON
People say change like its a bad thing. It’s not it can also mean improvements.
I dont mean to disrespect Zuler, but who’s to say that it’s a bad thing, it could be good all round.