My diligence has not been strong right now. Thesis work and independent studies have consumed too much of my time and I am really feeling a bit burned out, thus I have not been doing updates. However, a recent excursion with my new Gameinfo magazine has led me to today's slightly hypocritical post: sequel mania.
One of the main articles in the magazine feature the top 50 games to premiere at E3. While many of them will likely be stunning titles, I couldn't help noticing that nearly all of the games are simply sequels, remakes, or extensions of previous games. Where was the host of new IPs that are not simply motion sensor gimmicks? Now, I am a bit biased, being a total Shin Megami Tensei fanboy, but even I must ask where the hell are all of the new games without the guaranteed series backing. This fits into a much larger discussion of the distinct hole plaguing many artistic venues, as it seems that there is an initiative in place that stifles and/or discourages any active movement toward risky new properties.
I have watched this phenomenon develop throughout the course of the horror movie genre, which has only shown a few moments of punctuated equilibrium, characterized by radical shifts in the genre. During the rest of the time, one can find hundreds of imitations and copies that simply do not take any risks or cash in on a prevalent trope without any useful exploration.
While I will likely partake in a few of the titles, I will simply hold out for the next new, innovative title, or Persona 4 Portable...
