Is ultrarealism killing creativity?

I've been noticing a sharp decline in creative and imaginative locales in games of late. In this desperate race for hyperrealistic graphics and blockbuster titles, have developers lost the will to create truly unique and alien virtual worlds? Even the latest scifi games such as Mass Effect and Halo 3 borrow so much from older films, books and games that they arent really engaging us.

Has this obsession with getting the perfect water, grass, trees and any other real life environments taken precedence over creating something completely new, completely alien that comes straight from the mind of the persons creating the game? I recall playing games in my youth and being awed by what I was seeing. Yes, looking at those games now they are very blocky, pixelly messes that would make any young gamer laugh....but there was something about the way it made you feel like you entered a different world that made them very memorable.

I'm starting to think a part of that fondness lies in the fact that while these titles did not have great graphics, they did have a completely different look than what we see out in real life. They didn't look real, but that was part of the attraction, wasn't it?With games nowadays, it feels less like an escape because it all just looks so similar to what we see in our everyday lives. Is it just me, or is the gaming industry just stuck in a creative rut at the moment?

You have a very good point, but I think there's a combination of things at work here. First of all, I think you are 100% correct about game companies going for the flash and glamor. Many of the younger gamers, who want something pretty to look at, will use their eyes to pick out a game, and not thier gaming experience. So, just like sex, graphics sell...

However, I think there is a second force at work as well. While it may have seemed like games of the past were completely outlandish with their ability to create entrirely foreign worlds, I don't think the games of today are quite so far behind (for the most part, they are still behind though...). I think what has changed is a gamer's expectation of outlandish. I can guess that a society from a single planet (in RL) is only capable of creating so many, semi believable, yet completely foreign concepts without stepping too close to something that's already done.

So, even if it is still possible to create entirely original alien content, the process becomes exponentially harder as ideas are used up. I feel your pain, but I fear most companies are not willing to expend the extra effort on something that is often a two edged sword. You can go off the deep end creating a unique world, and end up distancing people too far from reality... Let's hope some will though so we can reward them for their dedication!

I wouldnt say ultrarealism is killing creativity, the artistic directors and the technical aspects of the game are two different entities. We just need better writers with original creative ideas, to me it seams we have this "ultrarealism" you are talking about but not enough "creativity". Bioshock is an example of a game that has utilized both creativity and ultrarealistic graphics. I agree with your point on Mass Effect though, the whole time I played I felt like I was in the star wars universe.

Two words: Brutal Legend

No, I don't think ultrarealism is killing creativity. Look through the games on all current gen systems and handhelds - there's still creative stuff...

I also don't really remember games ever being totally jaw dropping creative either way though. xD

It all depends on what is the developer trying to achieve - if they're working on a highly realistic tactical FPS, then blaming them for keeping the graphics as realistic as possible simply doesn't make sense. I think technology enables developers to go with the realistic route, but also try to make their wildest dreams come to life. There's some fantastic recent "high art" stuff out there like Okami, Katamari Damacy and Team Fortress 2. Also, realism can be married with art - I find games like Half-Life 2, The Witcher, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Homeworld 2, Mafia II and Mirror's Edge awesome in both regards.