Simplicity isn’t always a bad thing
Minimalism is a style that the gaming world seems to ignore all too often. The nostalgic thought of “simpler times” can often bring a tear to the devoted gamer. Development costs are high and undoubtedly rising, so 2D gaming may not be a horrible choice for some companies. Series like Castlevania and Kirby have, for the most part, remained true to their predecessors and to this day they are doing very well. I’m certainly not advocating the idea of all games becoming 2D, but an increase in them would always be invited.




Online leader boards should never be regarded as an “online experience”
A lot of developers seem to think that comparing your scores against a bunch of people you have never met warrants promising “online play” to the gamer. There are far more exciting online components that could be added to a game. Perhaps it’s just me, but does anyone actually care about online leader boards when the game itself has no online play?


Stunning graphics do not always mean that a game is great
Far too many frat boys go around swearing that Gears of War is the most amazing thing since Beer Pong. When asked why, they excitedly respond that it has the best graphics out there. While Gears definitely is an excellent game, graphics only play a minor part in shaping the experience. It is clear why so many developers are striving to create the best looking game imaginable, but that should never be the sole thing they devote their work to. The power to create amazing graphics is there, so of course it should be used to it’s full potential; but in order to achieve an excellent experience, great gameplay is needed as well.


Games based on movies have a chance of being decent
Remember the good old days where games titled after movies didn’t warrant a look of horror and disgust? I’m serious here. There was a time when a game could be based around a movie, and it didn’t have to suck. The Lion King for SNES and Sega Genesis, for example, was based on a movie and it was an excellent platforming experience. No one would have guessed that climbing hippos and riding down the neck of a giraffe could ever be fun, but Disney made it happen.

There is still a chance, though. If developers who get stuck doing games based on movies instilled themselves with the spirit of the gaming pioneers, then they would have a fighting chance to make a decent game. No more shitty minigames or quests where all you do is collect random items. Why not make a decent platformer? Its not that hard, really. In fact, there’s a clear formula to follow.


Downloading games instead of buying them is a definite option
All three of the next-gen systems have some form of game downloads. Whether it be the classics available on the Wii or the games of up-and-coming developers on the PS3 and 360, getting your download on is an easy task. With such a great opportunity presented, it’s surprising that there has been no consensus to convert to downloading games instead of purchasing them in shitty places like Gamestop. There are a few snags in the overall idea, though. The main issue is that not everyone has the internet. In other words, there are still cavemen among us. To that, I suggest the option to order directly from the company. In this way, we save a lot of plastic as well as rescuing millions of wild discs whom we kill and force to hold data.


Constant advertising should lessen the price of games
If a a game is going to force-feed brand names down your throat while you play, then it would make sense that said game were either free or greatly reduced in price. In a just world, agreeing to allow a company to advertise in your game could be motivated by nothing more than to make the game cheaper to those who would like to play it. Instead, we’re forced to pay full price for games that constantly try to sell us shoes, or phones, or car insurance. Fuck you Geico, I don’t like to be reminded of the dangers of car crashes when I am in the midst of a virtual world.


Gamestop is the devil
Gamestop has gotten away with their corrupt ways for far too long now. Their employees practically never know anything about video games, they charge more than suggested retail, and they repackage used games and call them new. A company as corrupt as this should surely topple over, but sadly they have a monopoly on the gaming world, as the few other places where one can purchase games are sparse.