I feel that videogames are kind of in a rut right now. Production costs are through the roof, but I cant really say that their has really been a recent game that has really stuck with me either visually or from a gameplay point of view. In the 80's you had Donkey Kong, Mario and Pacman. In the 90's you had Sonic and Lara Croft. Even the early 2000 had characters like Master Chief. When you think about games today what really stands out? Especially when your talking about characters. It's funny the word cinematic is thrown around a lot, but to me when I go to watch movies one of the most important elements to whether I like a movie or not is whether I think the characters in the film are memorable.
Are Videogames Less Memerable
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No, games are just way more diverse now.
Those big names got traction while gaming was still niche. You had these certain games to play and you either played them or you didn't play video games.
The same thing happened with TV when you had five channels to watch and had to get up to change them; there are still just as many memorable characters on TV but I'm watching this show while my Mom is watching that show and my co-worker is watching that other show and you're watching that other other show.
Gaming is going through the same thing now.
Those big names got traction while gaming was still niche. You had these certain games to play and you either played them or you didn't play video games.
The same thing happened with TV when you had five channels to watch and had to get up to change them; there are still just as many memorable characters on TV but I'm watching this show while my Mom is watching that show and my co-worker is watching that other show and you're watching that other other show.
Gaming is going through the same thing now.
As ever with these sorts of topics, define 'memorable'.
Oh, and all those characters you mentioned are still around, sooo... I think Lara, in particular, is doing just fine as well.
I've been gaming since around '86, and for me, the medium's never been stronger, more diverse, or more ambitious. Sure, the triple-A market's frequently irrelevant, but there's so much else to pick from if that doesn't float your boat. I personally don't really care about icons, either, which is what you appeared to list. Telltale's games are rocking superbly written narratives, there's all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff on the indie circuit (across PC and, to a lesser extent, consoles), and the gen just passed gave us Dark Souls and frikkin' Spec Ops The Line - auteur art to match anything created before this era.
I think Dragon Age Inquisition is massively flawed and hugely overrated, but if we're talking memorable characters, then I think Cassandra and co stick out for being well rounded and fascinating creations, brought to life to an extent past gens just couldn't manage (BioWare still need a better engine... or more time to get used to it. the Lego hair's a particular faux pas).
BioShock Infinite didn't really make any sense... but I think it's a masterpiece of art design and production values, and Elizabeth's sure as hell going to be remembered fondly in years to come.
Commander Shepard might not be a fully formed character in the more traditional sense, but the Mass Effect trilogy was a remarkable achievement, and FemShep, in particular, sticks out as great addition to the ranks of iconic game leads past and present.
I could go on. But nope, I think videogames are better, smarter, darker, funnier, more beautiful, and weirder than ever. When I think of games of this recent and current gens, I think of an artform finally beginning to really stretch its legs.
Oh, and all those characters you mentioned are still around, sooo... I think Lara, in particular, is doing just fine as well.
I've been gaming since around '86, and for me, the medium's never been stronger, more diverse, or more ambitious. Sure, the triple-A market's frequently irrelevant, but there's so much else to pick from if that doesn't float your boat. I personally don't really care about icons, either, which is what you appeared to list. Telltale's games are rocking superbly written narratives, there's all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff on the indie circuit (across PC and, to a lesser extent, consoles), and the gen just passed gave us Dark Souls and frikkin' Spec Ops The Line - auteur art to match anything created before this era.
I think Dragon Age Inquisition is massively flawed and hugely overrated, but if we're talking memorable characters, then I think Cassandra and co stick out for being well rounded and fascinating creations, brought to life to an extent past gens just couldn't manage (BioWare still need a better engine... or more time to get used to it. the Lego hair's a particular faux pas).
BioShock Infinite didn't really make any sense... but I think it's a masterpiece of art design and production values, and Elizabeth's sure as hell going to be remembered fondly in years to come.
Commander Shepard might not be a fully formed character in the more traditional sense, but the Mass Effect trilogy was a remarkable achievement, and FemShep, in particular, sticks out as great addition to the ranks of iconic game leads past and present.
I could go on. But nope, I think videogames are better, smarter, darker, funnier, more beautiful, and weirder than ever. When I think of games of this recent and current gens, I think of an artform finally beginning to really stretch its legs.
Nope.
Personally, if someone were to ask me to list the first ten game characters that come to mind, Donkey Kong, Pacman, Sonic and Lara Croft wouldn't even enter my mind. Master Chief certainly wouldn't, dull lump of armoured wood that he was. I know who they all are, obviously, but to me they are not go-to examples of game characters. Mario might make it in, considering that he's basically the public face of gaming, whether I like him or not.
Thing is, you've just listed a handful or characters that were the best of the best in their time, or at least come from the best of the best games. Games that are widely considered to be classics.
Notice how you didn't mention, oh, say, Red Baron and Blue Max from Sky Kid (1985). Or 'Kissy' from Alien Sector (1985). Or the Paperboy from Paper Boy (1986?). Or the nameless security guard from the Marathon games (1994-96). Or Croc from Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (1997).
I could go on.
See, the old days had tons of non-memorable characters as well. It's just that they've fallen out of the general memory. Y'know, due to them not being memorable.
Personally, if someone were to ask me to list the first ten game characters that come to mind, Donkey Kong, Pacman, Sonic and Lara Croft wouldn't even enter my mind. Master Chief certainly wouldn't, dull lump of armoured wood that he was. I know who they all are, obviously, but to me they are not go-to examples of game characters. Mario might make it in, considering that he's basically the public face of gaming, whether I like him or not.
Thing is, you've just listed a handful or characters that were the best of the best in their time, or at least come from the best of the best games. Games that are widely considered to be classics.
Notice how you didn't mention, oh, say, Red Baron and Blue Max from Sky Kid (1985). Or 'Kissy' from Alien Sector (1985). Or the Paperboy from Paper Boy (1986?). Or the nameless security guard from the Marathon games (1994-96). Or Croc from Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (1997).
I could go on.
See, the old days had tons of non-memorable characters as well. It's just that they've fallen out of the general memory. Y'know, due to them not being memorable.
It's the same with songs, films and television series, only the most obscenely popular entries or memorable ones will be remembered come ten years time.
Overexposure and past-popularity are the only reasons Sonic is still remembered, the games of the franchise have been very hit-and-miss in terms of critical reception since the millennium started and he as a character has got nothing going for him besides his appearance which is constantly tweaked anyway.
Overexposure and past-popularity are the only reasons Sonic is still remembered, the games of the franchise have been very hit-and-miss in terms of critical reception since the millennium started and he as a character has got nothing going for him besides his appearance which is constantly tweaked anyway.
Eh, think of a FPS that was out when DOOM came out. You had DOOM, DOOM2 or Wolf3d. Maybe Quake. I could get the one you were going to say in 3 guesses.
Think of a FPS out now. I'm not going to guess anytime soon, cause there are zillions.
...
As an aside, did anyone else wonder if the OP meant "memerable", instead of it being a typo? That should be a word.
Think of a FPS out now. I'm not going to guess anytime soon, cause there are zillions.
...
As an aside, did anyone else wonder if the OP meant "memerable", instead of it being a typo? That should be a word.
Ehh I think if the game was good enough, you'll probably not forget it just because it was so good.
Like, i've not played Persona 4, Ace Attorney or Grisaia no Kaijitsu for ages but I can list practically the entire cast off the top of my head easy mode. You've got Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Rise, Teddie, Naoto, all listed in chronological order, naturally. Phoenix, Maya, Mia, Gumshoe, Edgeworth, Manfred Von Karma, Franzy, Godot, Apollo, Athena... that samurai guy? Blackquill I think? That rockstar guy also. The games outside the original trilogy never stuck as well with me, i'll admit.
Finally you have Amane, Makina, Best Girl Michiru, Sachi, Yumiko with JB and Chizuru for side characters. Yes, I also remember their surnames but cba lol. Obviously i'm leaving out Kazami Yuuji, the god that he is cuz who forgets the name of the main character. You have to say his full name every time because it rolls off the tongue so well try it, Ka-za-mi Yuu-ji, and i'm reading it in Michiru's voice now apparently.
[sub][sub]Kazami Yuuji... gah, what a painfully dull name, how am I supposed to make this fun...?[/sub][/sub]
Like, i've not played Persona 4, Ace Attorney or Grisaia no Kaijitsu for ages but I can list practically the entire cast off the top of my head easy mode. You've got Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Rise, Teddie, Naoto, all listed in chronological order, naturally. Phoenix, Maya, Mia, Gumshoe, Edgeworth, Manfred Von Karma, Franzy, Godot, Apollo, Athena... that samurai guy? Blackquill I think? That rockstar guy also. The games outside the original trilogy never stuck as well with me, i'll admit.
Finally you have Amane, Makina, Best Girl Michiru, Sachi, Yumiko with JB and Chizuru for side characters. Yes, I also remember their surnames but cba lol. Obviously i'm leaving out Kazami Yuuji, the god that he is cuz who forgets the name of the main character. You have to say his full name every time because it rolls off the tongue so well try it, Ka-za-mi Yuu-ji, and i'm reading it in Michiru's voice now apparently.
[sub][sub]Kazami Yuuji... gah, what a painfully dull name, how am I supposed to make this fun...?[/sub][/sub]
I don't think they are less memorable. I just think that they aren't old enough for people to start looking at them through nostalgia goggles.
Well, "the cake is a lie" was pretty darn well known. There was also that arrow thing.thaluikhain said:
But on the other hand, The Old Days[sup]TM[/sup] owned all our base, so I wonder how much weight the argument holds.
It's funny that you claim one of the most important elements are the characters, then proceed to list a group of "memerable" characters with absolutely no personality. Aside from Sonic, who else in that list even manages to have a mediocre personality? Could you describe Pac-Man without describing his appearance? What about Donkey Kong?
Personally, my measure of a good character is one who sounds interesting without making reference to appearance.
I think part of the difference between then, and now, is that there is significantly more variety available to everyone. We don't all have to head down to the arcade and pick out the one or two good games from the handful of available, we can instead play countless games at any moment.
Personally, my measure of a good character is one who sounds interesting without making reference to appearance.
I think part of the difference between then, and now, is that there is significantly more variety available to everyone. We don't all have to head down to the arcade and pick out the one or two good games from the handful of available, we can instead play countless games at any moment.
I think, in my case anyway, is that certain genres and niche types of games have hit a bit of saturation. For example, military shooters and zombie games have become maybe just a fun thing to play, but not much else. However, when one actually goes out of it's way to do something different, it sticks with you (in my case Spec Ops: the Line).
Other games that don't come out as often, like GTAs, Elder Scrolls, some Telltale games, RTS like XCOM, might stick with you for a bit longer. Or even really short but meaningful games such as FTL or Hotline Miami. Because there is such a diversity, it's harder to be unique is all.
I do know what you're feeling, I had the same thing with the Sierra Quest games (Heroes, Kings, Police, Space etc) when I was a kid, being adventure games they each seemed to be so well thought out, although were quite short when played head to tail. But they each left a hell of an impression. Nowadays what I do is put those games I know will just be a quick romp with hardly any replayability and will be forgotten soon at the bottom of the "To Play" list.
Other games that don't come out as often, like GTAs, Elder Scrolls, some Telltale games, RTS like XCOM, might stick with you for a bit longer. Or even really short but meaningful games such as FTL or Hotline Miami. Because there is such a diversity, it's harder to be unique is all.
I do know what you're feeling, I had the same thing with the Sierra Quest games (Heroes, Kings, Police, Space etc) when I was a kid, being adventure games they each seemed to be so well thought out, although were quite short when played head to tail. But they each left a hell of an impression. Nowadays what I do is put those games I know will just be a quick romp with hardly any replayability and will be forgotten soon at the bottom of the "To Play" list.
I 100% stand by that angle of analysis when discussing movies, but I don't think it stands with games. Games don't need well developed characters. They barely need even a character portrait.FirstNameLastName said:
A recent example for me was Legend of Grimrock II, and the "characters" in there where whatever portrait you selected. They still took on a personality or sorts through gameplay, because you knew who they were through their strengths and weaknesses. They are still characters, but being able to say who they were was pointless. The game fucking rocked as it was.
There are plenty of good characters, but there is a lot more options so they don't stand out too much.
I'd say Shulk, Ellie and Wheatley are all as good as the characters you mentioned.
Also the damn mole from animal crossing is memorable. Made me sell the damn game three days after getting it because I was sick of his bullshit.
Was pacman high all along and we didn't know?
I'd say Shulk, Ellie and Wheatley are all as good as the characters you mentioned.
Also the damn mole from animal crossing is memorable. Made me sell the damn game three days after getting it because I was sick of his bullshit.
Super hungry, easily spooked.FirstNameLastName said:
Was pacman high all along and we didn't know?
IF games were not memorable, you would not get nostalgia or retro gaming. Since that is a thing that there's even a niche market for, games are memorable.
"Memerable". Great neologism, I like it! It's going to be a thing now.
As for games being less memorable, that's probably an effect of the pursuit of "realism" in character depiction and game design over the overdetermined iconicity of simpler designs like Pacman. Game characters are becoming more generic by the addition of typically shallow "personality". That shallowness being the result of the overriding priority of mass appeal, ie. the lowest common denominator.
Mind you, I have no solid argument as to whether this is really what is happening. But if it was, that would like totes be the reason. And that's how we do "cultural criticism".
As for games being less memorable, that's probably an effect of the pursuit of "realism" in character depiction and game design over the overdetermined iconicity of simpler designs like Pacman. Game characters are becoming more generic by the addition of typically shallow "personality". That shallowness being the result of the overriding priority of mass appeal, ie. the lowest common denominator.
Mind you, I have no solid argument as to whether this is really what is happening. But if it was, that would like totes be the reason. And that's how we do "cultural criticism".
Some games are memorable.
Metal Gear Solid.
Silent Hill 2.
Resident Evil 1.
Crash Bandicoot 2.
SimCity.
Tetris.
The Last of Us.
Bioshock.
Rome: Total War.
Final Fantasy 7.
Pokemon Red and Blue (and Yellow)
Civilization.
Assassin's Creed 2.
Minecraft.
Kingdom Hearts.
Walking Dead S1.
Mass Effect 2.
Portal.
These are all games that I can look at now and recognise a still image shot from on command. But yeah, games are beginning to swirl into a muddly mess in which all is brown and cover based or KPop people killing god by taking turns hitting each other, but in such a massive medium, you don't think that certain titles are still standing heads and shoulders above all others? In fact, with so much crap everywhere, games which everyone know are even more widely recognised.
However, I think a better test is this; outside of gaming, who do people know?
Pokemon is fairly well known. Mario is. Pacman is. Maybe Lara Croft.
And then there is Angry Bird, Plant and Zombie, they're well known.
Perhaps Minecraft guy is known? I doubt it.
But no one who doesn't game knows who GLAdOS or Marcus Fenix are, so maybe they are less memorable?
Metal Gear Solid.
Silent Hill 2.
Resident Evil 1.
Crash Bandicoot 2.
SimCity.
Tetris.
The Last of Us.
Bioshock.
Rome: Total War.
Final Fantasy 7.
Pokemon Red and Blue (and Yellow)
Civilization.
Assassin's Creed 2.
Minecraft.
Kingdom Hearts.
Walking Dead S1.
Mass Effect 2.
Portal.
These are all games that I can look at now and recognise a still image shot from on command. But yeah, games are beginning to swirl into a muddly mess in which all is brown and cover based or KPop people killing god by taking turns hitting each other, but in such a massive medium, you don't think that certain titles are still standing heads and shoulders above all others? In fact, with so much crap everywhere, games which everyone know are even more widely recognised.
However, I think a better test is this; outside of gaming, who do people know?
Pokemon is fairly well known. Mario is. Pacman is. Maybe Lara Croft.
And then there is Angry Bird, Plant and Zombie, they're well known.
Perhaps Minecraft guy is known? I doubt it.
But no one who doesn't game knows who GLAdOS or Marcus Fenix are, so maybe they are less memorable?
definitely not all of them, or even most of them.
For instance, i barely recall COD, but i remember the Bioshock games well.
so gameplay and atmosphere help.
Also difficulty is a factor.
old games had limited lives, so when the counter was 0 no mistakes were permited.
now often you die, and respawn at an autosave point just a couple of meter back.
For instance, i barely recall COD, but i remember the Bioshock games well.
so gameplay and atmosphere help.
Also difficulty is a factor.
old games had limited lives, so when the counter was 0 no mistakes were permited.
now often you die, and respawn at an autosave point just a couple of meter back.