I really think the term 'generic' for video games is stupid. 'Generic' is a term used to give to consumer items that don't have a brand, like for example 'generic peanut butter' instead of say, Kraft Peanut butter.
Simply put, if a game has a brand, signiture style and is part of a major recognized franchise... it can't be generic. Plus, given the many varieties of game out there (shooters, rpgs, puzzles, platformers, RTS, sandbox, stealth, third person shooter, hack and slash, sports, arcade and fighting games) the idea that there could ever actually be the 'most generic game' is just absurd on the face of it. Because there simply CAN'T be such a thing.
In fact, until they make a video game that's just called 'Video Game' that was developed by 'Anonymous third party' with boxart being a blank white page with no pictures and gameplay that is almost non existent, yet at the same time... somehow, incorporates the basic features of every game ever made... there's just no such as a generic game.
As it stands, with almost all of gaming now having recognized icons and franchises and varying from genre to genre, the argument that there could be a MOST GENERIC GAME EVER, is idiotic. Even if such generic games did exist there's no way to rate 'genericness' on a scale of one to ten.
Generic unbranded cheese is generic unbranded cheese. There's no cheese that's more generic and unbranded.
I just get really sick of seeing posts that call games 'generic' because sometimes it seems like people have forgotten entirely what that word really means and have used it to just mean 'game I don't like'.
For instance, generic is not the same thing as 'bland'. It's also not the same thing as 'mediocre'. It's also not the same thing as 'brainless' or 'uninspired'.
Generic just means something isn't a brand or anything with it's own style. Hence when I hear people say:
"Halo is sooooo generic!"
I want to ask the following questions:
1. Can you recognize Halo's protagonist in a lineup?
2. Would you recognize the Halo theme if it was played on a radio?
3. Is Halo not one of the most well known shooter franchises out there?
4. Is Halo a huge franchise that has spawned lots of merchendise?
If you can answer 'yes' to any of these, by definition Halo is not generic. That doesn't mean you have to like it, but it does mean that Halo is an established franchise that is recognized as both a series and a brand. Hence, it cannot be generic.
(also for the record I really don't understand what it's done to deserve being labelled the anti christ who is dragging gaming down into the bowels of hell)
Seriously, just quit using the term 'generic'. It just makes no sense. Use words like 'formula' or 'paint by numbers design' or something like that. Those make sense.
But still since I'm here I will call out Duke Nukem Forever, not for being generic but for being a poorly designed and uninspired shooter with weak, uninteresting design attempting to ape other games that are superior to it in every way. It's not fun to watch or even very exciting to play in terms of action gameplay.
About the only thing that makes it stand out as a signiture thing is the sexist jokes and imagery and that's the stuff that makes me want to set it on fire. 'Capture the babe' and that whole hive business as well, really awful stuff.
Duke, mock the Masterchief as much as you want. He's still better at releasing games then you are, and his attitude regarding women is MUCH less appalling.
