Paramount has released the first two photos from Jack Ryan, the studio's reboot of the Tom Clancy CIA hero that just began filming in Manhattan under the direction of Thor's Kenneth Branagh. Chris Pine plays the title character and Kevin Costner plays his field agent mentor.
Jack Ryan opens Christmas Day 2013.
Sometimes, boring games sell well. That is why they are made. Corporations that produce tedious, repetitious drivel are merely fulfilling their function, which is to enrich shareholders. They measure success in sales numbers and margins. They like predictability.
But even the most undemanding, conservative consumers eventually grow tired of formulas, and so games publishers seek to innovate, to try new things in order to build blueprints for the future.
This is the constant friction-point in the business of games, the drive to churn out games that will hit quarterly targets now, and the fear that failure to try new things will severely impact the quarterly results of the future.
'Gamer fatigue' is a phrase used this week by Dishonored co-director Harvey Smith, to describe what happens when the marketing guys gain too much power over the creative process. This is what happens when the corporations' need for quick returns outweigh both concerns about the future and the artistic vision of the game-maker.
But his message is a positive one. He points out that, even at the tail-end of a console generation, we are seeing artistic, interesting creations. Games like Dishonored, Beyond: Two Souls and The Last of Us are leading the charge against the AAA standards that fill the shelves of GameStop, while digital experimentation through XBL, PSN and Steam is a source of much that is challenging and new.
In an interview with GI Biz, Smith said, “You could attribute it to gamer fatigue. How many games have been released now where you're a soldier, or a space marine, or you're surrounded by elves and wizards, or you're robbing a bank in L.A.? I'm still an optimist, and I still have a great time playing games, but...most stuff is just variations on things we've seen before. If you've been around for a while you've seen it over and over and over."
There have been times in the past when it seemed that the marketers were taking too much creative power. The argument went that the ‘market’ should dictate what was produced, and there are still people who believe that consumer buying patterns are the ultimate measure of artistic endeavor.
But markets are not open and free systems, and in gaming’s past this was especially the case. It wasn’t that long ago when the only realistic way to get a game into the hands of the public-at-large was through one of a limited number of powerful publishing companies. Even now, we do not live in a utopia of creative freedom, but things have definitely changed, giving more power back to the people who actually know how to make games, and want to try to expand the form.
Looking back at the bad old days, Smith says, "I remember working at companies where people would tell me that role-playing games don't sell. I once had an executive tell me that first-person games don't sell. It can fly in the face of reality.”
He adds, “There are many ways to be successful. You could go out and aim for a very mainstream story...and you can capture an audience that way and be very successful. On the other hand, you can be completely rock 'n' roll about it and say, 'F*ck it, we're gonna do everything different from everyone else’. We're driven by this one impulse creatively. At a certain point, I came to mistrust formulas, because I've seen so many examples of people failing or succeeding by following a certain blueprint.”
Most of us are guilty of perpetuating formulas. We buy games that we know will be enjoyable, but that fail to surprise or even particularly delight us.
But what we really want is to be taken to new and unusual worlds, to be shocked and amazed at new experiences.
Sometimes, boring games sell well. That is why they are made. Corporations that produce tedious, repetitious drivel are merely fulfilling their function, which is to enrich shareholders. They measure success in sales numbers and margins. They like predictability.
But even the most undemanding, conservative consumers eventually grow tired of formulas, and so games publishers seek to innovate, to try new things in order to build blueprints for the future.
This is the constant friction-point in the business of games, the drive to churn out games that will hit quarterly targets now, and the fear that failure to try new things will severely impact the quarterly results of the future.
'Gamer fatigue' is a phrase used this week by Dishonored co-director Harvey Smith, to describe what happens when the marketing guys gain too much power over the creative process. This is what happens when the corporations' need for quick returns outweigh both concerns about the future and the artistic vision of the game-maker.
But his message is a positive one. He points out that, even at the tail-end of a console generation, we are seeing artistic, interesting creations. Games like Dishonored, Beyond: Two Souls and The Last of Us are leading the charge against the AAA standards that fill the shelves of GameStop, while digital experimentation through XBL, PSN and Steam is a source of much that is challenging and new.
In an interview with GI Biz, Smith said, “You could attribute it to gamer fatigue. How many games have been released now where you're a soldier, or a space marine, or you're surrounded by elves and wizards, or you're robbing a bank in L.A.? I'm still an optimist, and I still have a great time playing games, but...most stuff is just variations on things we've seen before. If you've been around for a while you've seen it over and over and over."
There have been times in the past when it seemed that the marketers were taking too much creative power. The argument went that the ‘market’ should dictate what was produced, and there are still people who believe that consumer buying patterns are the ultimate measure of artistic endeavor.
But markets are not open and free systems, and in gaming’s past this was especially the case. It wasn’t that long ago when the only realistic way to get a game into the hands of the public-at-large was through one of a limited number of powerful publishing companies. Even now, we do not live in a utopia of creative freedom, but things have definitely changed, giving more power back to the people who actually know how to make games, and want to try to expand the form.
Looking back at the bad old days, Smith says, "I remember working at companies where people would tell me that role-playing games don't sell. I once had an executive tell me that first-person games don't sell. It can fly in the face of reality.”
He adds, “There are many ways to be successful. You could go out and aim for a very mainstream story...and you can capture an audience that way and be very successful. On the other hand, you can be completely rock 'n' roll about it and say, 'F*ck it, we're gonna do everything different from everyone else’. We're driven by this one impulse creatively. At a certain point, I came to mistrust formulas, because I've seen so many examples of people failing or succeeding by following a certain blueprint.”
Most of us are guilty of perpetuating formulas. We buy games that we know will be enjoyable, but that fail to surprise or even particularly delight us.
But what we really want is to be taken to new and unusual worlds, to be shocked and amazed at new experiences.
"Don't get too close to me. 'Cause I've got an itch you can't believe. I think something laid eggs on me."
Yes, THR is reporting that Henry Winkler will be back for a handful of episodes on the new season of Arrested Development - coming Spring 2013 on Netflix!
Winkler will be reprising his role as Barry Zuckerkorn, the insanely incompetent family lawyer for the Bluths. Winkler even recently tweeted: "I am supposed to be memorizing an Arrested Development scene with Maybe for today … don't tell anyone I was here OK?????"
Winkler also recently tweeted out a picture of himself with actor Scott Baio, who plays attorney Bob Loblaw (of Bob Loblaw's Law Blog), from the set!
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
WipeOut – ($1.99)
ABC's summertime game show is a guilty pleasure for sure, as countless hapless contestants get themselves beaten up and bounced off of big red balls in ridiculous obstacle courses. Its antics have now been adapted into a new game, so you can find out how high you can bounce off those same balls. (Without the accompanying embarrassment or physical pain.)
Total Recall - The Game - Episode 1 – ($1.99)
Though there's a new film with the same name currently running in theaters, this game kicks of a playable, episodic adaptation of the original movie starring good old Arnold in the lead role.
Final Fantasy Dimensions – (Free*)
Square Enix's homage to its classic era of 8- and 16-bit RPGs has finally gone live in the App Store, and though it shipped with a glitch that kept players from being able to access in-app purchases, that bug has now been fixed through a quick update push. Final Fantasy Dimensions Version 1.0.1 now works as intended, letting you download and play through the story's Prologue content for free and then only asking for cash if you want to progress further through Chapters 1 through 4. So give it a look, play the Prologue, and see for yourself whether you're up for the full experience.
The Walking Dead: Episode 2 - Starving for Help – ($4.99)
Telltale Games' adaptation of the popular zombiepocalypse comic/show continues with the App Store debut of Episode 2. This isn't a separate download from the first Walking Dead app, but rather an in-app purchase from that one central hub – you'll have to put down $4.99 to get into the action with Episode 1, then #2 is a second investment of a separate $4.99. Spoiler Warning! Don't watch this trailer if you haven't completed Episode 1 yet:
Dead Space for iPad – ($0.99)
Electronic Art's massive Labor Day sale is still going strong through this weekend, so make sure to check out anything published by EA – like, say, Dead Space for iPad – to take advantage of massive discounts down to $0.99.
Max Payne Mobile – ($0.99)
EA isn't the only company hoping to take advantage of this long weekend with some deep game discounts, though. Rockstar's getting in on the action too by knocking the app version of Max Payne down to that same price.
iBomber Defense Pacific – ($0.99)
And here's one of Chillingo's budget options going into your Labor Day, a tower defender inspired in part by World War II's Pacific Theater.
Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation – ($0.99)
And then we have Gameloft's offering, its homage to the Call of Duty series, Modern Combat 3. This one earned an 8.5 "Great" rating and an Editor's Choice Award in our review last fall.
Virtua Tennis Challenge – ($0.99)
If you'd prefer to spend your dollar bill on something a bit more sporty, Sega's got you covered there.
Tilt to Live – ($0.99)
The title of this one should do a pretty good job of describing its gameplay for you. Also 99 cents right now.
Avernum: Escape from the Pit HD – ($4.99)
Normally priced at $9.99, Spiderweb Software's retro dungeon crawler has had its price slashed in half.
Drawn: The Painted Tower HD (Full) – ($2.99)
This under-the-radar point-and-click might never have caught your attention before, but it's one of our App Store favorites – it scored a 9.0 rating of "Amazing" and its own Editor's Choice Award in its review in late 2010. Give it a look, especially since its full version has now dropped all the way to $2.99 from its $9.99 starting point.
Diner Dash Deluxe – ($0.99)
Lastly, PlayFirst's prolific Diner Dash franchise. This version's offering up a free new restaurant to play once you take the 99 cent plunge for the app itself.
Pizza Boy – ($1.99)
A couple of in-game Updates to highlight to round out our App Store Update, starting with ACNE Play's Pizza Boy. This 16-bit-ish platformer now has Game Center support and new achievements to earn, courtesy of the launch of Version 1.2.
Plague Inc. – ($0.99)
Finally, the game that lets you direct an outbreak of global disease has been updated with a new infectious option, the Neurax Worm. Unleash it upon the world's unsuspecting population and laugh as the worm burrows into their brains. (Good fun, right?)
That's all for now! And I'd also like to apologize to you readers for the timing of this update – technical issues kept me from being able to get it delivered to you all on time yesterday. Rather than just skip a day and take it as a loss, though, I wanted to push through and make sure this Update got out to you – even if it's arriving on Saturday morning instead of Friday afternoon. So once again, sorry for the delay. And I hope your long weekend is enhanced by a new app or two. :)
If you haven't already, remember to subscribe to the App Store Update via email for extra convenience:
Lucas M. Thomas is IGN Nintendo's longtime champion of downloadable titles across the Wii, DSi and 3DS. He's happy to now be helping Justin round up the best options for App Store shoppers. You can follow him on Twitter.
