The future of video games. A Cry for Help

When video games came into the world they were of the most simple type. Even the classic game 'Pong' was a pretty bold breakout considering that many games before that didn't even have a graphical output. As technology increased so did out ability to map the functions of the human mind (through the use of inputs such as the keyboard, mouse and game pad) into a game and make it more reactive. The original Mario was astounding mostly because the character had a tremendous ability to jump when we pressed the B button.

As the tech became greater so did our ability to move our digital avatars. This super responsive style of gaming followed a steady trail with milestones such as Street Fighter 2, Mario 64 and Descent. 

We finally reached a point where our intentions for movement were reflected back in our ability to make game choices. The new genre of the FPS allowed the mouse to become the head, and the keyboard to become the feet. It seemed like our new digital appendages where about to break into a whole new level of input.....

Than Assasin's Creed came out.

While many other games are to blame, I find AC to be the prime example of taking one step forwards and three steps backward. Now, instead of having full control of a character, the use simple guides their digital avatar into the right location and hits the corresponding colored button. Suddenly the avatar is running up walls, doing back flips and all sorts of rather impressive acrobatics but you may put the controller down while he does them, you certainly have little to do with it. 

When did games become so focused on graphics as the core element? Gameplay was supposed to be the point of a game, not watching a digital movie...that is what movies are for. Is it true that a reflex based game with a high degree of user input ensures that not everyone can be great at the game? Yes it does. But it is those hard to reach goals that make us all work harder for them, and the work is much more enjoyable.

I fear the future of gaming, I see what amounts to no more than digital movies where there are pauses so someone 'playing' can look down and hit a button on a controller than has only one button...

Try watching Die Hard and pretend you are Bruce Willis. Pause the movie before the action than hit play and you are now playing the new Die Hard Video game of 2015...I am sure everyone will love it...

To those of us who are entering the field of gaming, let's save our industry!