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Why the Hardcore and Casual Claims are Nothing More Than a Myth
GEN 01/26/09
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
We have been hearing that this is casual, that that is hardcore and so on since all of the current generation of consoles were released. I never believed those claims. To be honest I didn't want to since I always fancied myself to be a hardcore gamer, but I wanted a Wii. In these current times, especially in 2008, "hardcore" and "Wii" don't go together in the same sentence. Two years since the launch of the Wii and the word casual is being used more often than the name of the console itself.
Here's my story and how I came to the conclusion that in fact there is no such thing as a hardcore/casual game/gamer.
GEN 01/26/09
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
We have been hearing that this is casual, that that is hardcore and so on since all of the current generation of consoles were released. I never believed those claims. To be honest I didn't want to since I always fancied myself to be a hardcore gamer, but I wanted a Wii. In these current times, especially in 2008, "hardcore" and "Wii" don't go together in the same sentence. Two years since the launch of the Wii and the word casual is being used more often than the name of the console itself.
Here's my story and how I came to the conclusion that in fact there is no such thing as a hardcore/casual game/gamer.
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A Critical Look Back at Dead Space
GEN 12/31/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
EA's Dead Space launched on October 21st to rave reviews. Kombo.com gave it the nigh perfect score of 9.5, and today its Metacritic rating stands at 89. It seems that people don't have enough good things to say about Dead Space. Much of this praise is well earned as Dead Space is the best next-gen survival horror game now on the market. EA's Redwood Shores Studio has completed a massive achievement in launching a critically and commercially successful new franchise. However, it all seems slanted, major reviews don't critique in a meaningful manner. Since Dead Space has already been confirmed to be the first in a series, we the gamers are integral in helping the developers "fix" their game. If they look to the major outlets reviews they won't find much help. I won't say any names, but most reviews simply nitpicked to find their critique on the game. One prominent review actually named a flaw and then justified its existence! It seems a little ridiculous.
GEN 12/31/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
EA's Dead Space launched on October 21st to rave reviews. Kombo.com gave it the nigh perfect score of 9.5, and today its Metacritic rating stands at 89. It seems that people don't have enough good things to say about Dead Space. Much of this praise is well earned as Dead Space is the best next-gen survival horror game now on the market. EA's Redwood Shores Studio has completed a massive achievement in launching a critically and commercially successful new franchise. However, it all seems slanted, major reviews don't critique in a meaningful manner. Since Dead Space has already been confirmed to be the first in a series, we the gamers are integral in helping the developers "fix" their game. If they look to the major outlets reviews they won't find much help. I won't say any names, but most reviews simply nitpicked to find their critique on the game. One prominent review actually named a flaw and then justified its existence! It seems a little ridiculous.
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Nintendo and the Problem of Perception
GEN 09/09/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
The problem most core gamers seem to have with Nintendo right now is basically one of perception. They perceive that Nintendo is abandoning them in favor of casual gamers. However, things are not always as they appear. To illustrate this, let's look back at Nintendo's history and their previous perception problems, as well as the factors that influenced them then and now.
"Too Kiddy"
This perception problem can actually be traced back to the SNES era. Back then, arcade versions of Mortal Kombat generated accusations of violence from concerned parents to the levels of GTA. When the game came to consoles, Nintendo and Sega had a choice to make, censor the game or not. The Genesis version came with blood intact. However, the SNES version replaced the blood with a confusing strange, grey sweat. By the time Nintendo attacked Sega for releasing the controversial Night Trap, the damage was done. Nintendo was seen as safe and family-friendly, while Genesis was edgy and cool. "Genesis does what Nintendon't". But look where that got them. Then came the N64. The expensive cartridges limited the amount of games produced for it. Most of the N64 games were hardly "mature" (except games like Conker and GoldenEye,) even though they were very good. This coupled with the Pokemon Explosion of 1998 only added to Nintendo's kiddy image. The next generation the games improved with titles like Resident Evil 4, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, and Eternal Darkness. However, the problem worsened due to some peculiar hardware aesthetics. The GameCube and the Game Boy Advance both looked like cheap plastic toys compared to their competitors. The GameCube had a handle attached to it, making it resemble a child's lunchbox. Finally, the primary color scheme for both of them was purple. With the launch of the Game Boy SP, Nintendo products started looking good again. While there are not as many mature games on Nintendo's consoles, the argument of them being "too kiddy" has gone down in recent years, what with all the old people playing them. Still, children do play an important role in the video game industry. They buy a lot of games and they also may become core gamers when they grow up, expanding that limited market. All of the kids brought up on Pokemon, now know how to play RPGs a very complex genre. Bringing kids into our world is important and Nintendo is the one doing it the best, but that is only one part of their plan.
GEN 09/09/08
The problem most core gamers seem to have with Nintendo right now is basically one of perception. They perceive that Nintendo is abandoning them in favor of casual gamers. However, things are not always as they appear. To illustrate this, let's look back at Nintendo's history and their previous perception problems, as well as the factors that influenced them then and now.
"Too Kiddy"
This perception problem can actually be traced back to the SNES era. Back then, arcade versions of Mortal Kombat generated accusations of violence from concerned parents to the levels of GTA. When the game came to consoles, Nintendo and Sega had a choice to make, censor the game or not. The Genesis version came with blood intact. However, the SNES version replaced the blood with a confusing strange, grey sweat. By the time Nintendo attacked Sega for releasing the controversial Night Trap, the damage was done. Nintendo was seen as safe and family-friendly, while Genesis was edgy and cool. "Genesis does what Nintendon't". But look where that got them. Then came the N64. The expensive cartridges limited the amount of games produced for it. Most of the N64 games were hardly "mature" (except games like Conker and GoldenEye,) even though they were very good. This coupled with the Pokemon Explosion of 1998 only added to Nintendo's kiddy image. The next generation the games improved with titles like Resident Evil 4, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, and Eternal Darkness. However, the problem worsened due to some peculiar hardware aesthetics. The GameCube and the Game Boy Advance both looked like cheap plastic toys compared to their competitors. The GameCube had a handle attached to it, making it resemble a child's lunchbox. Finally, the primary color scheme for both of them was purple. With the launch of the Game Boy SP, Nintendo products started looking good again. While there are not as many mature games on Nintendo's consoles, the argument of them being "too kiddy" has gone down in recent years, what with all the old people playing them. Still, children do play an important role in the video game industry. They buy a lot of games and they also may become core gamers when they grow up, expanding that limited market. All of the kids brought up on Pokemon, now know how to play RPGs a very complex genre. Bringing kids into our world is important and Nintendo is the one doing it the best, but that is only one part of their plan.
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How Microsoft Could Do It: Portable HD Xbox Gaming
GEN 05/07/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
TeamXbox's conception of a portable Xbox
Let's call it the Xbox 180. It won't be a gaming platform, and games will not be developed for it. It will be capable of playing games with levels of technical prowess no other portable can even touch. How can both those things be true at the same time? It's called a dummy terminal.
The 180 is a full 360 controller couched around a beautiful HD resolution screen, with virtually no processing power or storage space, but extremely powerful wireless communication protocols. The 180 won't have its own games because it doesn't even have its own hardware. It's simply a means of playing 360 games at a distance. Your 360 does all the legwork, and your 180 connects to Wi-Fi, WiMax, and your cell phone's 3g connection via Bluetooth (and seamlessly switches between protocols as needed) to receive video and transmit controller input.
GEN 05/07/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
TeamXbox's conception of a portable Xbox
Let's call it the Xbox 180. It won't be a gaming platform, and games will not be developed for it. It will be capable of playing games with levels of technical prowess no other portable can even touch. How can both those things be true at the same time? It's called a dummy terminal.
The 180 is a full 360 controller couched around a beautiful HD resolution screen, with virtually no processing power or storage space, but extremely powerful wireless communication protocols. The 180 won't have its own games because it doesn't even have its own hardware. It's simply a means of playing 360 games at a distance. Your 360 does all the legwork, and your 180 connects to Wi-Fi, WiMax, and your cell phone's 3g connection via Bluetooth (and seamlessly switches between protocols as needed) to receive video and transmit controller input.
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Pushing the Envelope: What Will Rockstar Do Next?
GEN 04/10/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
This guest editorial was written by former Kombo columnist The GameCube Guy. This piece contains satirical writing and may contain both offensive or controversial themes.
My first time in Vegas I came face to face with a real prostitute. Now, I'm not one that would usually pay for that kind of thing, but the thought hit me: I could pay for the services, kill the prostitute and steal the money back. Everybody wins. But, in the end, I looked at her hard and decided I couldn't do that to my own mother.
Oh, and I remembered this was reality, not Grand Theft Auto.
Oh GTA, the game where hooker-slaughter daydreams were born into life. I appreciate the artistic contributions the series has brought thus far, I really do. Rockstar has certainly shown more balls than any game developer in history who before them even played with the idea of bringing rampant policeman and civilian slaughter to the mass market? Mugging and killing prostitutes? Thoughts of these activities used to imply insanity, now you don't even have to feel ashamed for them. It's like a modern-day civil rights movement for dirty desires. So, I thank Rockstar for that.
GEN 04/10/08
This guest editorial was written by former Kombo columnist The GameCube Guy. This piece contains satirical writing and may contain both offensive or controversial themes.
My first time in Vegas I came face to face with a real prostitute. Now, I'm not one that would usually pay for that kind of thing, but the thought hit me: I could pay for the services, kill the prostitute and steal the money back. Everybody wins. But, in the end, I looked at her hard and decided I couldn't do that to my own mother.
Oh, and I remembered this was reality, not Grand Theft Auto.
Oh GTA, the game where hooker-slaughter daydreams were born into life. I appreciate the artistic contributions the series has brought thus far, I really do. Rockstar has certainly shown more balls than any game developer in history who before them even played with the idea of bringing rampant policeman and civilian slaughter to the mass market? Mugging and killing prostitutes? Thoughts of these activities used to imply insanity, now you don't even have to feel ashamed for them. It's like a modern-day civil rights movement for dirty desires. So, I thank Rockstar for that.
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The Problem With Release Dates
GEN 04/03/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who is tired of getting shafted by release dates. Personally I got so sick of them falling through I stopped paying attention to them entirely, but they're still driving me crazy. Time and time again release dates are missed, and people still set them and assume they're going to work out. I remember once upon a time I didn't know whether to buy Tribes 2 because Team Fortress 2 was "coming out" that summer and I knew I wouldn't want to divide my time. You can probably guess what helped me pick Tribes 2. I realize that marketing is a huge deal and timing pre-release marketing is crucial. And I understand that a publisher doesn't want to keep funneling money into a developer and not know when a game is coming out (Duke Nukem Forever, anyone?). But Halo 2 managed to "I Love Bees" the world for over a year, and id Software has never missed a "when it's done" date. Just because you need to set a theoretical date for development purposes doesn't mean you have to set the public up for disappointment.
GEN 04/03/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who is tired of getting shafted by release dates. Personally I got so sick of them falling through I stopped paying attention to them entirely, but they're still driving me crazy. Time and time again release dates are missed, and people still set them and assume they're going to work out. I remember once upon a time I didn't know whether to buy Tribes 2 because Team Fortress 2 was "coming out" that summer and I knew I wouldn't want to divide my time. You can probably guess what helped me pick Tribes 2. I realize that marketing is a huge deal and timing pre-release marketing is crucial. And I understand that a publisher doesn't want to keep funneling money into a developer and not know when a game is coming out (Duke Nukem Forever, anyone?). But Halo 2 managed to "I Love Bees" the world for over a year, and id Software has never missed a "when it's done" date. Just because you need to set a theoretical date for development purposes doesn't mean you have to set the public up for disappointment.
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How to Submit an Editorial to "Your Turn"
GEN 03/17/08
Kombo.com accepts editorials from all readers. Opinions of all kinds are welcome, but your topic should be related to video games or the video game industry for consideration of being published. There is no minimum or maximum word length, but we recommend shooting for the 650-word range. Furthermore, your editorial must be exclusive to Kombo. As a rule of thumb, we do not re-publish editorials that have been published elsewhere on the Internet. If you plan on submitting an editorial, you should read Letter from the Editor: Explaining "Your Turn" before submitting.
If we are interested in running your editorial, we will contact you within two weeks of receiving it. We are unable to respond to all submissions, so if you do not hear back from us within two weeks, you can assume that we will not be publishing your article. We apologize in advance, but we cannot publish or respond to every editorial we receive.
Reader editorials should be sent to the site editor-in-chief at the e-mail address below.
KenCauley@kombo.com
Please include your full name, a phone number we can reach you at and any other information you feel is important. Additionally, please title your e-mail "Your Turn."
We look forward to your submission.
GEN 03/17/08
Kombo.com accepts editorials from all readers. Opinions of all kinds are welcome, but your topic should be related to video games or the video game industry for consideration of being published. There is no minimum or maximum word length, but we recommend shooting for the 650-word range. Furthermore, your editorial must be exclusive to Kombo. As a rule of thumb, we do not re-publish editorials that have been published elsewhere on the Internet. If you plan on submitting an editorial, you should read Letter from the Editor: Explaining "Your Turn" before submitting.
If we are interested in running your editorial, we will contact you within two weeks of receiving it. We are unable to respond to all submissions, so if you do not hear back from us within two weeks, you can assume that we will not be publishing your article. We apologize in advance, but we cannot publish or respond to every editorial we receive.
Reader editorials should be sent to the site editor-in-chief at the e-mail address below.
KenCauley@kombo.com
Please include your full name, a phone number we can reach you at and any other information you feel is important. Additionally, please title your e-mail "Your Turn."
We look forward to your submission.
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Why Third-party Games Don't Sell on the Nintendo Wii
GEN 03/03/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
They have become the hot topic of magazines, websites, and podcasts that span the video game industry. They are courted by every console manufacturer and are often enticed for exclusives, either completely or timed. They deliver some of the biggest high-profile games that release on all gaming platforms.
Who are they? Third-party developers and publishers, of course.
Nobody can doubt the power and influence that third-party development has on a system's public image and staying power. For the past two generations, Nintendo has seen the least third-party support among all console manufacturers, and has paid for it in terms of sales and perception. Microsoft's meteoric rise from rookie to industry heavyweight has been aided by the courting of these third parties and the promises and deliveries of titles such as, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Devil May Cry, and Guitar Hero. Sony's dominance last generation and recent momentum in this one both come from third parties as well.
GEN 03/03/08
They have become the hot topic of magazines, websites, and podcasts that span the video game industry. They are courted by every console manufacturer and are often enticed for exclusives, either completely or timed. They deliver some of the biggest high-profile games that release on all gaming platforms.
Who are they? Third-party developers and publishers, of course.
Nobody can doubt the power and influence that third-party development has on a system's public image and staying power. For the past two generations, Nintendo has seen the least third-party support among all console manufacturers, and has paid for it in terms of sales and perception. Microsoft's meteoric rise from rookie to industry heavyweight has been aided by the courting of these third parties and the promises and deliveries of titles such as, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Devil May Cry, and Guitar Hero. Sony's dominance last generation and recent momentum in this one both come from third parties as well.
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Do Some Video Games Need to Be Banned?
GEN 02/12/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
In today's society, realism has become a pillar of popular entertainment, with TV programs dealing with tougher issues and darker themes appearing in all forms of media. Unfortunately, this has become a scapegoat for government and annoyed adults to blame the behavior of young people on.
One game developer has been at the centre of the controversy of the explosion of popularity in violent games, Rockstar, the creator of criticized series such as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt.
The studio, originally based in Dundee, Scotland, has unquestionably produced some of the most criticized games in recent years, most notably being the game Manhunt, which was banned from sale in various stores in the UK and Europe, due to its connection with the murder charge of a teenage boy.
GEN 02/12/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
In today's society, realism has become a pillar of popular entertainment, with TV programs dealing with tougher issues and darker themes appearing in all forms of media. Unfortunately, this has become a scapegoat for government and annoyed adults to blame the behavior of young people on.
One game developer has been at the centre of the controversy of the explosion of popularity in violent games, Rockstar, the creator of criticized series such as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt.
The studio, originally based in Dundee, Scotland, has unquestionably produced some of the most criticized games in recent years, most notably being the game Manhunt, which was banned from sale in various stores in the UK and Europe, due to its connection with the murder charge of a teenage boy.
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The Console Wars: It's in Our Blood
GEN 02/06/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
Polarization between groups of people is evident on all fronts, but is particularly poignant within the enthusiastic gaming community. At its most basic level, this gaming family is as dysfunctional as any--divided in part by petty disagreements and unrelenting opinions. The most recognizable of these (perhaps the most evident to someone who would be reading this site) is the online bickering that ensues between fans of the three major console producers, and to an extent, the PC gaming crowd. Maybe it's part of the culture that we all live in: an "us" versus "them" mentality that has become evident in politics, economics, race, gender, and other aspects of popular culture. Or maybe it's just part of the game.
GEN 02/06/08
The following editorial is a part of Kombo "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of Kombo or its staff.
Polarization between groups of people is evident on all fronts, but is particularly poignant within the enthusiastic gaming community. At its most basic level, this gaming family is as dysfunctional as any--divided in part by petty disagreements and unrelenting opinions. The most recognizable of these (perhaps the most evident to someone who would be reading this site) is the online bickering that ensues between fans of the three major console producers, and to an extent, the PC gaming crowd. Maybe it's part of the culture that we all live in: an "us" versus "them" mentality that has become evident in politics, economics, race, gender, and other aspects of popular culture. Or maybe it's just part of the game.
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On Being a Fanboy
GEN 12/17/07
The following editorial is a part of AMN's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of AMN or its staff.
Hardcore gamers are an argumentative bunch. In some respects, we as a group are much worse than football fans, films buffs or book groups. We slave over our art, constantly analyzing and cross analyzing it, finding faults or singing the praises of each new installment of our favorite series as they are released, hoping they will live up to our lofty expectations. However, it is not until you visit the battleground of the hardcore gamer, the Internet forum, that it becomes clear the true animosity felt between fellow gamers.
The fanboys sign in to their chosen battlefield, falling into one of the three armies, Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Battles are slowly begun with off the cuff comments, attempting to get a rise out of the opposing fanboy, normally involving waving around pointlessly or a fan heater in the corner masquerading as a games console.
GEN 12/17/07
The following editorial is a part of AMN's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of AMN or its staff.
Hardcore gamers are an argumentative bunch. In some respects, we as a group are much worse than football fans, films buffs or book groups. We slave over our art, constantly analyzing and cross analyzing it, finding faults or singing the praises of each new installment of our favorite series as they are released, hoping they will live up to our lofty expectations. However, it is not until you visit the battleground of the hardcore gamer, the Internet forum, that it becomes clear the true animosity felt between fellow gamers.
The fanboys sign in to their chosen battlefield, falling into one of the three armies, Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Battles are slowly begun with off the cuff comments, attempting to get a rise out of the opposing fanboy, normally involving waving around pointlessly or a fan heater in the corner masquerading as a games console.
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Doing the Wright Thing: How Phoenix Wright is a Reminder of the Good Old Days
GEN 11/15/07
When I was a child, I loved to watch "Perry Mason."
For those of you under the age of, say, 50, let me explain. Perry Mason was a black and white 1960's show (and for the record, I watched it on reruns so I'm not that old). The story revolved around Perry Mason, Attorney at Law, his hawt (well, for the 1960's) secretary Della Street, and his private detective Paul Drake. Paul would be out gathering evidence that the police missed, Perry would interview people on the witness stand, and Della would provide wise cracks. The setup was usually the same: a group of characters are introduced, they provide who is going to be murdered and why, and then Perry Mason steps into the scene to defend the accused. Maybe it's the son of a wealthy man who wants to marry a poor girl, and the father tries to buy her off. The son, upset, screams out "I wish you were dead!"
GEN 11/15/07
When I was a child, I loved to watch "Perry Mason."
For those of you under the age of, say, 50, let me explain. Perry Mason was a black and white 1960's show (and for the record, I watched it on reruns so I'm not that old). The story revolved around Perry Mason, Attorney at Law, his hawt (well, for the 1960's) secretary Della Street, and his private detective Paul Drake. Paul would be out gathering evidence that the police missed, Perry would interview people on the witness stand, and Della would provide wise cracks. The setup was usually the same: a group of characters are introduced, they provide who is going to be murdered and why, and then Perry Mason steps into the scene to defend the accused. Maybe it's the son of a wealthy man who wants to marry a poor girl, and the father tries to buy her off. The son, upset, screams out "I wish you were dead!"
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Nintendo's Wii Little Space Problem
GEN 11/07/07
The following editorial is a part of AMN's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of AMN or its staff.
Several weeks ago, after reading the incredible reviews for the N64 import, Sin and Punishment, I made a virtual trip to the Nintendo Virtual Console store to download Treasure's masterpiece for myself, but I received an unexpected surprise after clicking the "Download" button—not enough Wii memory available for the purchase.
I knew that this day would come eventually, but I always counted on a solution arriving before my need for space became an issue. The SD slot was a bust because it required swapping out files through the system menu rather than direct access from the channels, and the external hard drive solution that was hinted at early and often is now clearly going to be a no-show.
GEN 11/07/07
The following editorial is a part of AMN's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of AMN or its staff.
Several weeks ago, after reading the incredible reviews for the N64 import, Sin and Punishment, I made a virtual trip to the Nintendo Virtual Console store to download Treasure's masterpiece for myself, but I received an unexpected surprise after clicking the "Download" button—not enough Wii memory available for the purchase.
I knew that this day would come eventually, but I always counted on a solution arriving before my need for space became an issue. The SD slot was a bust because it required swapping out files through the system menu rather than direct access from the channels, and the external hard drive solution that was hinted at early and often is now clearly going to be a no-show.
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The Microsoft/Bungie Split: Why it Happened and What it Means
GEN 10/12/07
The following editorial is a part of AMN's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of AMN or its staff.
Microsoft's big black box would've tanked in the marketplace if it weren't for a little gem called "Halo."
Ever since Halo's release alongside the launch of the Xbox in 2001, Bungie has been one of Microsoft's star players, carrying its master above the competition in the midst of massive gaming flood. Remember being torn apart between Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2, Halo, and Super Smash Bros. Melee in late 2001? Or how about when it happened again with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, Halo 2, and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes in 2004? Although gamers themselves never stopped arguing about which of these games was better than all the rest, Halo always sold. And it's still selling.
So, now it's 2007 and once again Halo is sure to dominate. This year it hardly even faces the same competition it has before; both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Grand Theft Auto 4 have been pushed back into 2008, along with the recently-delayed Smash Bros. Brawl. The game has already broken the opening day sales record, which its own predecessor held (funny how it seems like only Halo is strong enough to compete with Halo). So, why all of a sudden has Bungie left Microsoft? Nobody expected this, nobody believed the rumors when they first surfaced earlier in the month. It just came out of the blue.
GEN 10/12/07
The following editorial is a part of AMN's "Your Turn" guest editorials series. This editorial does not express the opinion of AMN or its staff.
Microsoft's big black box would've tanked in the marketplace if it weren't for a little gem called "Halo."
Ever since Halo's release alongside the launch of the Xbox in 2001, Bungie has been one of Microsoft's star players, carrying its master above the competition in the midst of massive gaming flood. Remember being torn apart between Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2, Halo, and Super Smash Bros. Melee in late 2001? Or how about when it happened again with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, Halo 2, and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes in 2004? Although gamers themselves never stopped arguing about which of these games was better than all the rest, Halo always sold. And it's still selling.
So, now it's 2007 and once again Halo is sure to dominate. This year it hardly even faces the same competition it has before; both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Grand Theft Auto 4 have been pushed back into 2008, along with the recently-delayed Smash Bros. Brawl. The game has already broken the opening day sales record, which its own predecessor held (funny how it seems like only Halo is strong enough to compete with Halo). So, why all of a sudden has Bungie left Microsoft? Nobody expected this, nobody believed the rumors when they first surfaced earlier in the month. It just came out of the blue.
NEXT »
November 20, 2009
