@loafofgame said:
What would I like to see innovated? Gameplay mechanics. I'm tired of the same old, same old formula that most, let's say, first person shooters follow, for example. There hasn't been anything truly innovative in an FPS game as far as I can tell in aeons. An FPS title with a Day-Z framework, Fallout-style RPG elements, procedural missions and a day and night cycle would be great. It would be like Elite/Star Citizen, but in FPS form. Now that's something I would call innovative in concept. It hasn't been done before. It doesn't necessarily have to be something we haven't seen before, but packaged in a fresh way.
Aren't Destiny and Borderlands 2 basically FPS's with a lot of RPG elements? Here we are already getting into blurry territory. I wouldn't call those ideas innovative, at least not substantially. Those are just existing formulas combined into something different. You're basically asking for something that feels fresh, but isn't actually fresh. I thought we were talking about something that redefines how it feels to play an FPS (something like the dismemberment mechanic in Dead Space, but even more substantial). If this is the kind of innovation you want, then I think we're getting plenty of that, just not in the genres you like, nor when it comes to the game elements you value. When I look at The Swapper I see a unique game mechanic that develops during the entire game (it's not just a gimmick) and that also has a narrative purpose. On top of that I see unique art design. At least, in my experience. When I look at Faster Than Light I again see original visuals and audio design, but also deep and original gameplay that is very satisfying. At least, in my experience. I can agree that there might be a lack of innovation in certain genres or certain elements of those genres (for example, narrative variety in 1st and 3rd person shooters is rather disappointing in my opinion), but I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that there is a general lack of innovation. Unless you want a unique, industry changing experience every single game.
Sorry, but I don't see how we're getting into blurry territory. I gave one example where I grouped some established concepts into an innovative package. I'm not proclaiming to be a vault of original ideas, but I can certainly see when something is 'fresh'. I'd argue that some of my other ideas are actually innovative.
"I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that there is a general lack of innovation." / "I would refrain from claiming there's a general lack of innovation"
I didn't say that...
I don't disagree that there are scattered micro-innovations across various genres, but "I think the industry desperately needs a new era of innovation" where new standards of gaming are developed. I said as much in post #20. Obviously that will be much harder to accomplish, but it isn't out of the realm of possibility.
Oculus Rift is an innovative technology, the motion tracking to be sure, but I've yet to see any innovative gameplay from it as of yet.
Project Spark is an innovative tool. People will have the freedom to be expressive and possibly even innovative. This is something I'm genuinely excited about.
I think my main issue is the rate of innovation on consoles is way slower than on PCs which doesn't make sense to me. Hardware is the 'snap', go-to reasoning PC gamers would put forward, but that shouldn't be a limitation for innovative concepts. It's as if console developers aren't even trying. I won't be able to play most of those games I listed because my PC won't be able to handle them. What's left for consoles? It's depressing...
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