The valuable genre.

[juyunseen]

It seems that every five years or so, a specific genre becomes the valuable type of game to make. In the late nineties, 3d platformers or PC shooters were the thing. Early 00s? Games trying to be halo. Post COD:MW? MW clones.
Well, it's been five years. What genre do you people think/want to be the next big one?

I personally think its time for a golden age of story based shooters, or maybe a resurgence of platformers.

 

[Lilani]

I don't think the word is "valuable." I think the more accurate word is "easy." Platformers were easy to make in the 2D era, that is why there were so many. It was a formula that was both easy to make and was safe and familiar to the masses. Anyone could pick one up and know exactly what sort of game they were dealing with.

And nowadays the same goes for FPS's. With engines like Unreal all preloaded and ready to make a FPS they are easy to make, and they know people are familiar with FPS's and buy them.

 

[Mr Thin]

I reckon the MMOFPS is gonna hit it big time pretty soon.

Modern attempts haven't really pulled it off, because you need much better connectivity for an FPS than an RPG. Can't afford any lag if you're aiming for a headshot.

But as for what genre I want to hit it big, I'd say stealth games. And not Assassin's Creed stealth, where stealth means killing your target in the middle of a crowd, then running off to your brightly bannered HQ. I mean Tom Clancy stealth, where getting 100% on a mission means no-one knowing you were ever there.

Can't think why it would, though. Hit it big, that is. Stealth is doing alright as is, there seems to be enough supply to meet the demand.

 

[DoPo]

It seems that every five years or so, a specific genre becomes the valuable type of game to make. In the late nineties, 3d platformers or PC shooters were the thing. Early 00s? Games trying to be halo. Post COD:MW? MW clones.

So, we have shooters, shooters and shooters. Hmm, maybe if we get shooters again, we can set a trend.

 

[Hazy992]

FPSs? Other than Call of Duty and Conduit 2, Wii FPS games are pretty damn scarce.

Because the 360, PS3 and PC don't exist, amirite?

OT: Modern military shooters and fantasy RPGs are a dime a dozen these days, I wish devs would try something else. What that should be exactly I don't know but it'd be refreshing to see something different.

EDIT: I know they do try new ideas but a lot of publishers just seem to go 'meh just make another military shooter'

 

[sextus the crazy]

It seems that every five years or so, a specific genre becomes the valuable type of game to make. In the late nineties, 3d platformers or PC shooters were the thing. Early 00s? Games trying to be halo. Post COD:MW? MW clones.

So, we have shooters, shooters and shooters. Hmm, maybe if we get shooters again, we can set a trend.

Exactly. We'll probably have shooters as a dominant genre for a long, long time, just like how JRPGs never go out of style in Japan.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

Survival horrors or possibly 3rd person pseudo-RPG's with gameplay stolen either from Gears or Ninja Gaiden...

 

[shrekfan246]

FPSs? Other than Call of Duty and Conduit 2, Wii FPS games are pretty damn scarce.

Because the 360, PS3 and PC don't exist, amirite?

OT: Modern military shooters and fantasy RPGs are a dime a dozen these days, I wish devs would try something else. What that should be exactly I don't know but it'd be refreshing to see something different.

Do you mean like:

LittleBigPlanet 2
Mass Effect 2
Dead Space 2 (Boy, a lot of sequels though)
Magicka
Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
de Blob 2
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2 - Retribution
Total War: Shogun 2
Yakuza 4
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy
Lego Star Wars III: Clone Wars
Dynasty Warriors 7
Patapon 3
Portal 2
L.A. Noire
inFamous 2
Alice: Madness Returns
FEAR 3
Shadows of the Damned
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
Bastion
Catherine
From Dust
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Achron
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine (I suppose could be lumped in with "military shooter" if you have a very broad meaning for it, but eh)
Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection
Might & Magic Heroes 6
Batman: Arkham City
Dungeon Defenders
Kirby's Return to Dreamland
Sonic Generations
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Super Mario 3D Land
Cave Story 3D
Rayman Origins
Saints Row The Third
Minecraft
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Serious Sam: BFE
Mario Kart 7

And that's all just from the year 2011. (Mass Effect 2 counted because of the PS3 port.)

I would argue more that people need to stop being afraid of starting new IPs than being afraid of making something that isn't a "modern military shooter" or "generic fantasy RPG".

 

[Trivun]

I personally think its time for a golden age of story based shooters, or maybe a resurgence of platformers.

So... Halo again, then?

Seriously, Halo does have a great story. One of the best I've seen in the genre for a long time. It's just a shame people can't see that because they look at the series without playing them and think "huh, space marines shooting aliens again...". Not saying you're one of those people, I'm just mentioning it...

Anyway, as far as a new 'golden age' goes, I want to see a return to the awesome RTS games and point-and-click adventures of the late Ninties/early Noughties. At least I have the reminder that hopefully Dreamfall Chapters will be on its way soon, after the release of The Secret World. Come on Funcom, don't let me down...

 

[ThePS1Fan]

FPSs? Other than Call of Duty and Conduit 2, Wii FPS games are pretty damn scarce.

Really? You want to know something? Of course you don't, I could tell you anything and you wont listen but here goes. You know why Wii has very little in the way of FPS? Because Nintendo marketed the Wii as the family friendly casual gamer platform. It's library is over saturated with crappy mini-game games and gimmicky motion controls. Your prized Wii is toy for families and a way for babysitters to distract kids so they can relax.

 

[Guffe]

I think games (looking at you Nintendo) are going back to the golden age, the Rayman Origins game was absolutely fantastic and Skyward Sword was really great.
For other I think a Skyrim / RPG thing is the next big thing, isn't there DA3 and Diablo3 coming?

 

[mental_looney]

MMOs still seem pretty popular once they get the micro transaction thing nailed so that it will be as popular in the west as it is in eastern markets I can see there being a lot more.

 

[Aerosteam]

The 'valuable' genre will still be in first-person, bug-budget, cinematic/movie-like and lots of explosions. And Modern Warfare fit the bill perfectly, so it's getting copied numerous times. MMO is the ever-lasting genre, so having the mix of both might be the future.

And F2P is the future.

I reckon the MMOFPS is gonna hit it big time pretty soon.

Exactly, STALKER 2 was cancelled to start work on an MMOFPS.

Not exactly lol. The devs didn't have much choice in the matter.

They're still doing it, and that's what really matters. And I really meant stopped in development, not cancelled.

 

[Xangba]

Hmm...well I guess I wouldn't necessarily want them to be the next big thing that everyone does, but I would like to see a rise of several things.

-Tactical shooters: Anyone remember Rogue Spear? The thing where you got pinned down and hoped you could avoid getting shot because there was no regenerating health or health packs, and if you tried to bust into a room of hostages and timed it wrong with your team half the hostages and your squad died? Then those talented weapons experts could not be used again for the entire campaign due to, y'know, being dead and all.

-Good stealth games: We've had some good ones in the past, so I don't see why we don't have any recent stealth games. AC does not count. Deus Ex let you play stealth pretty well, but that's the only one in years I can think of. Splinter Cell turned into an action game unfortunately.

-Survival Horror: Again, just something I'd like to see more of. Not many can actually make me jump at anything in the game, and so many give you a weapon. Putting a gun in my hand does not make me feel scared. With severely restricted ammo it's doable at least. Maybe a feature where with a pistol I have to have magazines loaded ahead of time, and you can only carry a certain number of magazines. Even with ammo, if you don't have any loaded magazines you're screwed. Better time your reloads well!

-Mount and Blade type game: I like Mount and Blade, but there's still more that can be done with it. Unrealistic to hope for I know, but things I'd love to see are improved combat, vastly improved kingdom and political system, better character interactions, better siege battles, the capability of commanders dying and new ones coming in, the king dying and a new one claiming the throne (even several claiming, possibly splitting a faction into civil war), commanders improving instead of being static, A.I. that won't run in circles around a besieged castle and not freaking help me defend it, actually better A.I. in general, and more but I've gone on long enough.

I'm sure I'll think of more things I'd like to see later.

 

[distortedreality]

And F2P is the future.

I reckon the MMOFPS is gonna hit it big time pretty soon.

Exactly, STALKER 2 was cancelled to start work on an MMOFPS.

Not exactly lol. The devs didn't have much choice in the matter.

I think the bigger thing is how easy they are to play, not to develop. Thats why FPS are so popular these days. Easy to play.

Is amazing how true that is.

I booted up CSS for some lols tonight, haven't played in years (used to play competitively). Compared to CSS, any recent shooter is an absolute cakewalk. Makes me really look forward to CSGO.

Back OT - I can't see shooters losing the throne as the go-to game type anytime soon.

 

[Woodsey]

My heart hopes it will be immersive sims. My head says it'll be something I don't have that much interest in.

 

[ThePS1Fan]

FPSs? Other than Call of Duty and Conduit 2, Wii FPS games are pretty damn scarce.

Really? You want to know something? Of course you don't, I could tell you anything and you wont listen but here goes. You know why Wii has very little in the way of FPS? Because Nintendo marketed the Wii as the family friendly casual gamer platform. It's library is over saturated with crappy mini-game games and gimmicky motion controls. Your prized Wii is toy for families and a way for babysitters to distract kids so they can relax.

No, the Wii is a system for everyone, including hardcore gamers. The Call of Duty games and Conduit 2 have proven how good an FPS can be on the Wii, it's just not a lot of developers are doing it. I guess the Wii's potential for gunless action is more attractive to them, and with titles like Clash of Ninja Revolution 3, Maramasa, and Sengoku Basara, that's understandable.

Nintendo marketed the Wii towards families and developers developed games for families. It could have more games geared towards hardcore gamers it just doesn't. I hope Nintendo doesn't do the same thing with the WiiU. I'd like to see Nintendo do better next generation.

 

[Richardplex]

I have a feeling it's going to be free to play mmos. But the last one was caused by Modern Warfare coming out of nowhere, so maybe something similarly unpredictable will happen again.

 

[Austin Howe]

I'd say JRPGs in the late-90's to early-00's. Starting at Final Fantasy VII, and ending probably at Xenosaga Episode III as an outlier, what has become the "traditional" big-idea-filled-but-character-driven JRPG was the genre to develop in, which is why their are so damned many on the PS1. Legend of Dragoon anyone? To be fair, I'd venture to say most of them were pretty damn good, even cheap imitators like the aforementioned Dragoon. (Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It's actually pretty hard to go wrong with those guys.)

Personally, I'd like to see a resurgence of that. Some of the best modern JRPGs are handheld ones that have subtle twists on the gameplay forumla of old, like Radiant Historia. I'm not terribly bitter about the way gameplay has gone in the genre for the most part, I'd just love to see HD PS3 graphics applied to an old-timey gameplay system.

I guess this is where I hawk an FFVII remake, but a new Final Fantasy that returns to the core gameplay aspects of VI-IX would be wholly more satisfying.

That said, I still want that remake.

 

[Xangba]

I personally think its time for a golden age of story based shooters, or maybe a resurgence of platformers.

So... Halo again, then?

Seriously, Halo does have a great story. One of the best I've seen in the genre for a long time. It's just a shame people can't see that because they look at the series without playing them and think "huh, space marines shooting aliens again...". Not saying you're one of those people, I'm just mentioning it...

Anyway, as far as a new 'golden age' goes, I want to see a return to the awesome RTS games and point-and-click adventures of the late Ninties/early Noughties. At least I have the reminder that hopefully Dreamfall Chapters will be on its way soon, after the release of The Secret World. Come on Funcom, don't let me down...

I decided to bold that. "In the genre." Well FPS' don't really have much competition story-wise. It has a decent story at best. Compared to other FPS games it's a great story, but as far as stories in general go it is mediocre. It's nothing against Halo, I enjoy the game, but I hear enough of the "amazing story" from my friend who loves it. I think one of my issues is that Chief is so infallible. He's basically god in human form.