lectronic Arts head man seems to think that the 'sequel' and the 'unoriginal' titles are hurting gaming.  He seems to believe that we need more novelty in gaming... Quite Ironic considering EA is the biggest SEQUEL maker of all time.   I pose the question (and please do respond below), are games stale?  and if so, WHAT will make games more novel in the future?  Read on to hear my thoughts on this...

First, let me say, I know from the emails that  lots of you are waiting for installment #3 of the Series on LLR2... it is coming... and it will be the best one yet.  In the meantime, I think that EA may have a good point... what is going to be Novel about games of the future?

Lets think about this from a genre perspective: in the FPS genre, will 'prettier graphics' help?  I think yes.  Crysis is a good example.   Will 'more explosions' matter [e.g. physx?] I think no.  The physics game demo's I've seen just don't inspire me.  Could somebody make something 'inspiring' using more physics?  Maybe, but games already have physics, and physics alone does not make a game.  Audio? No.  What about Networking?  Well, frankly, no.  The only area where "better networking" will help is in # of players per server.  Imagine an FPS with 1000 players.. Cool?  HELL YES!  [if you are following this blog about LLR2, you may know that such a thing is EXACTLY what Bigfoot Networks is working on!].

Moving to MMO Games, what makes an MMO Game novel?  Better graphics?  I think no... without the 'speed' of an FPS game, better graphics doesn't "feel new".  More physics?  I think not. MMO Games just don't use physics like an FPS game today.  Audio? No.  One VERY interesting idea is better AI: Check out THIS COMPANY: Online Alchemy.  More interactive AI... imagine yourself in a town where the people you interact with 'react' to what you do.  and even more intersting a RAID where people react and HELP you, or hinder you....   and opposing RAID Parties with Factions of NPCs helping or hurting... THIS is something that can add an extra DIMENSION of novelty to MMO Games.  There is a problem though: raw processing power.  I think LLR2 will help there.  (I'll explain why in another post)...  speaking of Networking, what about it?  THE BIG WAY Networking can change MMOs is if LLR2 can enable an MMO Game to play MORE like an FPS game.  Think MMOTwitch or MMOFPS.  That is revolutionary.  Perhaps the most so.

RTS, Strategy, Sim guys, sorry, I don't have ANY ideas there.  Physics, no.  Graphics, no.  the only idea i have is to make a SIM/Strategy or RTS MORE MMO-LIKE in scope.  (Think Air Warrior with thousands of planes).  or think RISK with 100 players [somehow]....

What are your thoughts?  Agree/disagree?  What else adds another DEGREE of novelty which game designers can use to make games better?  Feel free to discuss here (below) or in our forums!

Tytus