Is it time to start mixing genres?

Most games in any genre today try to find a way to "stand out" from their brothers. Normally, the changes consist of technical advancements or gameplay enhancements that attempt to prevent the game from being considered generic in its genre. The genre to experience the generic tag the most would be shooters of any kind.

Shooters receive the generic tag the most because of its inability to change dramatically from what it is. However, it seems like shooters are trying to take advantage of the other genres by blending in with it. The most recent example:

Borderlands

It mixes the FPS genre with an RPG genre to "feel right". This game is still a true to the heart FPS, but mixes RPG elements that do not make it feel like a regular FPS. Amazingly, a lot of people have yet to consider this game generic despite some minor shortcomings.

Borderlands seems to be well received when "compared" (using this term loosely) to a game like:

MAG (Massive Action Game)

Despite extending its player limit to 256, it still plays and acts like a shooter just like Borderlands. Based on some opinions around this game, a lot of them feel that this game is generic, or doesn't bring anything new to the table other than the lobby room size.

Although both games are in the FPS genre, so far Borderlands seems more accepted than MAG based on Borderlands' inclusion of RPG elements. While there are not many possibilities of every genre blending with every genre, do you believe games can get more interesting based on the genres it decides to use, otherwise, do you believe that there are genres that can be mixed to be more interesting?

maybe MAG should be a sports fps? MASSIVE ATHLETICS GAMERichymisiak

this made me chuckle :lol:

RTS and shooter (done right) NAO PLEAZ!!!

The only problem with the idea of doing something in order to keep from being "generic", is that if it catches on, eventually that becomes the new generic.

Also, yes, I love the mixing of genres. RPG and FPS seem to be great because they've made masterpeices like Deus Ex, Borderleands, and Mass Effect.

Yeah, sports games with RPG elements will be killer. Be a Pro with a storyline? yes please! I mean, you already have the experience system in place. But then, the storylines can get a little ridiculous...

Borderlands aint anything new. "looks at Fallout3" Clearly a better game.

And MAG lol. Just look at Beta responses, clearly it's just a lackluster fps. The whole 256 players at a time ain't going to sell the game by itself.

Sting started without you. http://www.gamespot.com/pages/company/index.php?company=13193

Borderlands aint anything new. "looks at Fallout3" Clearly a better game.

And MAG lol. Just look at Beta responses, clearly it's just a lackluster fps. The whole 256 players at a time ain't going to sell the game by itself.

Crossel777

They're too different to compare. Borderlands is much more FPS oriented than Fallout 3.

Tons of developers have been mixing genres for years.. Where have you been?Couth_

I mean even more than now.

[QUOTE="Couth_"]Tons of developers have been mixing genres for years.. Where have you been?Valiant_Rebel

I mean even more than now.

[QUOTE="Valiant_Rebel"]

[QUOTE="Couth_"]Tons of developers have been mixing genres for years.. Where have you been?Couth_

I mean even more than now.

I know not every game has to do it. I never said that.

FPS/RPG hybrids have always been a lot of fun for me. I want more FPS/RTS'es.tagyhag

More??? Tell me about just one because I'm not aware of any :?

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]FPS/RPG hybrids have always been a lot of fun for me. I want more FPS/RTS'es.GreenGoblin2099

More??? Tell me about just one because I'm not aware of any :?

Command and Conquer Renegade, Natural Selection, Soldiers: Heroes of WWII, the Battlezone series, and Savage.

That being said, I'm REALLY looking forward to the sequel of Natural Selection. :)