Thursday, May 22, 2014

The Artistic Value Seen In Next-Gen Video Game Design

By Rob Sutter


There is a tremendous amount of attention given to the "next generation" of gaming and it's not hard to see why. While there's a lot of excitement surrounding platforms like the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, it's clear that there is a concern within the video game industry involving cost. After all, the price that consumers pay in retail is just one of many layers to take into consideration. After reading an interview with Capcom, I had to ask, "Game design shouldn't be this expensive to go about, right?"

Masaru Ijuin, the Senior Manager of Technology Management at Capcom, did an interview that talked specifically about development costs. It goes without saying that the last generation of video game consoles required a certain degree of effort but it seems as though the generation that we are currently in, according to Ijuin, called for "eight to ten times" more. This goes without saying, though, especially when given the levels of power tied to the latest consoles from Microsoft and Sony alike. Game developers simply want to utilize as much power as possible.

Video games that are seen in the mainstream are doing as much as possible to push realistic graphics to the utmost degree. While these visuals can be very stunning, I'd like to think that there are certain titles which make the effort to stand out. Those who have been in schools that specialize in art can attest to the fact that there are many different styles to take into consideration. In my view, the styles in question help to make video games that much more interesting as a creative platform.

For example, most of Nintendo's standout titles are not exactly ones that can be considered "realistic." Even still, they are able to stand out, which is the most important aspect of any game; if it doesn't look as though it can hold your attention, it will not attain success. For example, "Super Mario 3D World" was impressive, to me, because of how warmer it appeared and the lighthearted atmosphere it possessed. When it comes to realism versus a lack of realism in gaming, it's a matter of apples versus oranges; it all comes down to opinion.

As I am sure many fans of the game will attest to, the PlayStation 3's swan song of sort has got to be "The Last of Us." With a moodier aesthetic along with a more mature storyline, it's clear that this game had the desire to stand out for these reasons. This does not mean that the choice is right or wrong; it was simply the best choice that could have been made given the material. If you ask me, and hopefully Capcom will agree, "next-gen" does not have to be detailed so much as simply polished.




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