Does anyone agree there's a serious lack of innovation in games these days? They're going the way movies have been going for over a decade now. i appreciate that gaming is now a multi million dollar industry and there has to be some familiarity to secure a return on their investment etc. but I'm sick of these tedious souless licence cash ins.
Some however are gems (see Star Wars KOTOR) can anyone think of any other genuinely innovative licenced games?

I think this is really more about Video Games in general, so *Moves*

But yes, I agree. But the sad part is, people keep buying them. And when the innovative games come out, people don't buy them. The Prince of Persia Sands of Time is a great example. It's a really good and fun game, but it didn't sell that well. Then for it's sequel they made everything edgier and gorier. (which I refused to buy) and it didn't sell well either. Which made me glad, because the first game was better.
Then you have Viewtiful Joe. It was pretty cool. And quite original. It sold ok, but not great.

But then we have GTA VC and SA. I thought GTA III was ok. It was the games first venture into 3d. However the next two, didn't really add much.

Metal Gear Solid, actually surrprisingly has kept it fresh. They could of easily run it into the ground, but they kept it very fresh, adding major things to MGS 2 and 3.

Shenmue was a one of a kind game, but it didn't sell well.

That is the way it seems to be a lot of times. The innovative games just don't sell as well, no matter how good of reviews they get. Some times some repitition is a good thing. But now it's just to a point where there is too much of the same. (Which is why I'm looking forward to the Revolution.)

I read a speech by a guy a quakecon. I guess thats a quake festival/company tpe of day thing. But anways he explained why this was.

He said a game nowdays takes about 40 MIllion dollars to make. Thats why the companies want to go with suure things than venturing out and having humoungous flops. I'd say Sega has had more revolutionary games that nintendo anyways. I mean comeon Seaman Vs. Nintendogs? Gimmeabreak.

And thats what made led sega into their demize..

I would have to agree, i was actually gunna make a thread on this, but thought that i would pave my own way to critizism..so i didnt.

Although there are some good games out there, they are none that intise me to play them..i mean, madden...they make a new football game every year, they include one or two more features and they expect me to buy it and play it? Gimme a break

And, its sad that most of the games made in 2005, so far, have been sequels

Yeah, even though Halo 2 is the best game ever!!!


And we all know how badass the 10 madden games and the 11 final fantasy's have been!!!! - Note my ENTIRE lack of SARCASM..... and satire..... and subliminal messages.

Zylo is right. With the increased cost to make games, no one is taking any risks and trying anything new. Although there are sitll a few developers who do.

I think the heyday of gaming was in the late 80s and early 90s when games were made by groups of buddies with active imaginations and programming skills rather than executives in board meetings looking at sales trend flow charts. That said there are still developers with the old school production ethic. British company Revolution are a good example of people who make games that are innovative, original, creative and commercially successful. I'm thinking of the Broken Sword series here. I love those games so much.