G-pinions

There is a reason that some genres disappear forever. What makes for a simple, fun gaming experience in the old days simple does not translate well to what is fun today. For instance, as good as something like Alien Hominid is, the 2D shooter genre is all but dead because technology cannot improve on it at all. Sure, you can add bigger explosions and transparency effects, but the gameplay will remain unchanged. Alien Hominid doesn't play any better than the original Contra, even though it came out about a million days later. Essentially, these games hit an evolutionary brick wall the second they were made. There isn't anything inherently wrong with these games, but I have very little problem seeing their dead carcasses lying on the side of the road while games that actually can take advantage of new technology are released. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these games - they are fun. But I already own Contra and games of its ilk, there really isn't any point in rehashing past hits. There is a system for all these old school games - the Gameboy Advance. If you're putting the time and money into developing a title for a new system, it sure as hell better be worth it. So either give me something new or release a "Tour of the Past" disc with a bunch of old school games wrapped in today's technology.

Want to know what isn't worth it? Spikeout Online. I thought this was actually a sequel when I first heard about it, but apparently there is no other Spikeout title for any other console. Still, this is basically the same game as Dynamite Cop - a game that sucked when it came out on the Dreamcast years ago - only this one has online play. Do we really need online play in a beat 'em up? These games failed because it's almost impossible to improve on the original design... and the original design was fairly limited. Remember when Fighting Force came out for the PlayStation? That game was fun for a few hours... but then I finished it and moved on to something else. And I don't think anyone is surprised that Rare hasn't made a new Battletoads since the SNES era. These are some of the most mindless games around, and are probably a genre that will be even worse with online play.

The whole point of playing online is going up against other people. I'm sure there are a few games that are fun co-op, but mostly it is about killing your opponent in the coldest way possible. You don't need to care about them because they are only a piece of meat for you to plow through. But with a game like Spikeout, you're actually going to have to work together. You'll have to use certain low level strategies to get through areas alive. I don't know how many of you have played a game on Live, but I can tell you that the average player is a moron. The average player is not going to be fun to have to team up with. They are the putrid crap of the industry, and building a game with the focus of working with these heathens sends a chill down my spine.

There is a place in the industry for "Old School" games that are unlike anything else. The concept of Katamari Damacy is old school but offers something that no other title has. Same thing with Pac Man Vs. If you're going to resort to the golden years of gaming for your muse, make sure you aren't simply updating old games with better graphics or online play.

Sega, I know people don't like you anymore. But this is no way to get back into the industry. Regurgitating an old idea and adding online play is not going to win you any points. Why not actually make something worthwhile. Make a new NiGHTS. Only the four richest sultans in Europe actually played the original. Or how about a Sonic game where you, I don't know, actually play as Sonic? Or just make a brand new friggin' game that doesn't rely on gimmicks, Neo or distant memories from long since jaded gamers. Just stop churning out crap that no one wants.