A realization I had

[MrPopo]

So I just noticed something after the discussion about RE4 and how good it looked on the Gamecube. Way back in the day we have the video for Dire Straits' Money for Nothing, with its incredibly primitive prerendered 3D graphics and kickass music. Now we have our Halo 3s and Crysises with their pretty graphics and generic music. Am I the only one that things we need to move back to the way things were? More awesome music and less graphical emphasis! Maybe some Bad Company or something.

Video for reference:

[Paul_B-C]

I was reminded of this article - http://www.nerve.com/CS/blogs/61fps/arc ... -love.aspx

[peglegs]

Thats so funny I was watching that video last night.

I can see where you're coming from but why can't me have both? or at least get rid of horrible menu music annoying techno and Jpop are not what I should have to be subjected to after paying for any video game.

I like this version better though

[jfrost]

That's a good point. The other day I read a text somewhere saying that the evolution of sound chips for gaming consoles paradoxically led to worse music. Composers have much more freedom to work and, for that reason, don't feel the need to make those catchy tunes we remember from older games. (Granted, I think that's our perception because only the best old games tended to survive to this day. Crap games with shitty music are largely forgotten. But anyway, I think there is a point, since nobody today even talks about the music the best AAA titles of today.)

Generally, graphics still need to be compelling, but music does not, since they're seen more as accessory rather than fundamental to a game.

[corn619]

Theres a saying that kind of pertains to this conversation. "A person with less is bound to be more creative than a person with it all." In other words having less inspires creativity and innovation.

[PGchris]

This is why the next generation of gaming could be very exciting because companies can't just pump out nicer looking versions of the same game every year cause graphics have no where to go, so they're going to have to depend on innovative gameplay and design. At the same time this also scares me though cause it's kind of looking like they might just make some kind of gimmicky thing like project natal every couple years to please the masses.

[lisalover1]

That Dire Straits video looks like it was rendered on a 32X. :p But, I know what you mean when you say restrictions make creativity. When I read modern game reviews, I rarely, if ever, hear the words "The game had fantastic music", and if I do, they're usually not referring to the game being reviewed, and in fact is an older game. Actually, the only game music we really hear about anymore is from famous composers that have already cemented their reputations early on [i.e Nobuo Uematsu]

[Citizin]

At the same time this also scares me though cause it's kind of looking like they might just make some kind of gimmicky thing like project natal every couple years to please the masses.

Exactly what will and is already happening. Microsoft now following the Wii with it's motion sensing crap, it will be short while before Sony goes for it too meaning the main form of play is as far away from traditional game playing as it ever was.

The main selling point is not having a controller? WTF That is worse than guitar controllers. I can't believe how many "gamers" are giving bastards like project natal and wii positive attention.

[MrPopo]

Theres a saying that kind of pertains to this conversation. "A person with less is bound to be more creative than a person with it all." In other words having less inspires creativity and innovation.

Restrictions breed creativity. This comes up time and time again in Mark Rosewater's articles on the Wizards site. Having complete freedom is intimidating, so you are more likely to stick with what you already know.

[Snickerd00dle]

i love dire straits