Monopoly of The Multi-platform

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I have seen many discussions regarding platform-exclusivities of games in recent times, and I have heard many arguments both for and against.  Some argue that the focus of games should be on the games themselves, and that one should not be confined and restricted by their choice of platforms.  They advocate the breaking down of the platform barrier, and suggests that all games should be available across all platforms, accessible by all – some extremists are even calling for the one single platform system.

I, however, sit on the other side of the fence.  While I do agree that focus should be on the games, and not on the platforms, I personally think that multi-platform gaming is having a negative effect on our gaming.  In my opinion multi-platform is a type of monopoly, and monopolies tends to have a negative impact on competition, on innovation, on brand loyalty, and on the industry in general.  Yes, I understand most people can’t afford multiple systems, and I do agree it is neat being able to play a game for the sake of the game no matter what you own.  But I am still against multi-platform gaming for the monopoly factor alone.

With multi-platform games you usually end up with slightly different experiences anyways, due to the hardware and the different way the games were developed.  I’m sick and tired of having one version with higher rez textures, another with different lighting, while yet another with different bugs or sometimes different playmodes and chars.  I want games developed with particular systems in mind, with focus on that systems capabilities and userbase.  I don’t want games which were developed with the median or the lowest common denominator in mind, with controls that don’t quite work on any of the platforms, and patches and DLCs which comes at different times.

Competition also drives innovation, plus, system exclusive titles (for the most part) just have so much more personality, and I find myself caring a lot more about them than I do with a lot of these big name generic sequel-breeders nowadays.  Modern games I am finding are just becoming so generic, so forgettable and lacking in personality nowadays.  I really do miss the olden days of the old console wars, of the big mascots, where each of the platforms had distinctive personalities.

This is why I am loving the fact that David Cage of Quantic Dream is popping up all over the internet, singing praises about the PlayStation 3, and pledging his loyalty to the platform. This, in my opinion, is great news indeed, not just for fans of Sony and the PlayStation brand, but also for gamers like myself who (as you know) are worried about the current state of the gaming industry, and for the future of gaming in general.  Cage may not be single-handedly revolutionising the gaming world perhaps, but at least he is helping to delay the monopoly, and for that, he has my gratitude and my support.

Recently Played: Project KARA/The Casting

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This would be old news for gamers everywhere, but recently at GDC 2012 developer David Cage from French studio Quantic Dream unveiled this stunning short film, an early tech demo for a proprietary engine developed by his team.  Amazingly the video was captured directly off a PlayStation 3 running in real-time, and quoting Cage himself, “It’s not CG, it’s not pre-rendered, it’s really the game”.

As gamer and a tech lover, I am obviously impressed by the technology shown, however, as with tech demo video from 2006 for his previous game ‘Heavy Rain‘, I was more impressed by the writing, the music, the lighting, the camera work, and most of all, the actresses’ performance.  What wowed me was the emotions shown by the characters, and the humanity that radiates from every single frame.

I just wanna say I am personally sick and tired of all the flashy million-dollar gore, sex, and violence  in our media.  Not going to go too much into the story here, in case you have not seen the clip yet, but ‘Project Kara’ is the perfect example of the kind of things I want to see in our games and our films instead. The beauty of a simple song; the sparkling of en eye; the joy of an innocent smile…  It is the humanity, and all the little things that tugs at your heartstrings and speaks to your soul.

Anyways I will also embed below their previous demo clip, titled ‘The Casting’. Both of these clips are not only amazing tech demos, but are also amazing short films in their own right.  Watch and enjoy!

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