Oh No, Did Hideo Kojima Just Start A New, Nasty Trend?
Now that I had a chance to sit with Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes for awhile and while reflecting on the whole execution of Hideo Kojima’s plan; it definitely feels closer to a demo than a stand alone game, (which I believe most gamers expected the latter from the first part of this two part series) I concluded that while everyone’s focused on the price vs the content justification factor we may have a bigger problem on our hands.
Looking back it went from at first not knowing who the developer was, to now knowing the developer; with that, the full name of the game — Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain, only to be confused by what this meant for a previously MGS: Ground Zeroes announcement, to the understanding that this is a “two part” execution — something to be released on separate dates, something by the way that could’ve had history making potential — dropping two blockbuster Triple A titles in one year. Now, this unique “execution” could potentially birth a nasty trend that other developers will take advantage of.
We all seen the end of this movie, Developer A makes something phenomenal — from a pure and most sincere place — if you will, for the gamer to prolong/enjoy, all for the purposes of advancing the culture. Then the “evil one” with “evil intent” swoops in — Developer B, comes in and takes said idea; the idea that was once meant for good in the world and perversely manipulates it and uses it for one’s own selfish gain. This my friends is what we more commonly know as the “nickel and dime” effect.
That process in a nutshell could very well rear its ugly ahead again via Kojima. Now Developer C, D and E say to themselves “Hey, now we can make more money and still have more time to work on the game if we release this demo and call it a game”. This trickle down effect now could potentially see the whole gaming industry releasing “two part” — separate date games, the first game really being a demo.
Specifically, we’ve already seen it with DLC, we’ve already seen it with online passes, we’ve already seen it with patches.
DLC which started off as a way for developers to prolong a gamer’s experience in a unique way became a ugly, nasty, dollar making trend. Patches which were genuine fixes to fix issues (after thorough rigorous testing by the way) unseen before release now became convenient ways to release unfinished product and deal with the issues after the fact.
In DLC’s case sometimes content is even cut on purpose just so they could come back and add a fee for add-ons that was already locked away on the game’s disc or in the Developers plans from the beginning to be a part of the original game itself.
Instead of its original intent these great inventions became nasty trends allowing developers to now take the lazy way out and get away with not releasing a game “perfect”; it’s unfinished, unchecked, and in some cases unplayable. This ultimately denies giving Us gamers what we deserve.
Kojima — something he said he didn’t plan by the way, unbeknownst to him may have set of a new kind of trend — a trend that will not benefit gamers at all. Will other developers follow suit?
It may have been an interesting approach by Kojima and Co. and I believe — giving his track record he had the greatest intentions but I’m hoping this doesn’t become trendy where developers won’t even do half the job and overcharge for these glorified demos that are masked as so called games.
Do you believe this new approach Kojima has shown the game industry is in danger of becoming yet another nickel and dime trend? CCU wants to hear from you.
