Remember “Pong?”
If you don’t, give your parents a call and ask. As simple as it was -just two white bars, a dot and the infamous “Pong” sound-it changed gaming forever.
Gone are the days where you would spend countless weeks trying to beat your best score. As time goes on games are getting bigger, longer and much more cinematic.
Older games were very story driven.
Because the technology was not as advance as today’s, developers were able to focus more on stories then the actually look and presentation of the games.
However, the current systems on the market are much more powerful and can produce photo-realistic graphics that can make a gaming experience much more immersive.
As a direct result, developers must take a longer time making the game, costing millions of dollars to make but also generating huge hype and anticipation for their release.
Ethan McKelvy, freshman undeclared major, has been waiting years for his next game. “The next game that I am looking forward to is ‘Resident Evil 5.'”
“Resident Evil 5” is the fifth game in the survival horror series.
Originating back in 1996 on the original Playstation, “Resident Evil” places players in a zombie-filled scenario with little to no help. The latest in the series has been in development for four years.
“It’s definitely going to be worth the wait,” McKevly said.
Adrian Matthis, freshman computer information science major, isn’t waiting for any particular game. “When they announce ‘Rock Band 3’ I will get excited.”
“I don’t mind the wait either,” Matthis said. “They usually all live up to my expectations.”
Another popular series that just came out with a new game is “Grand Theft Auto.”
Known for its violence, the fourth installment was released last April.
Also taking four years to develop, the game won multiple Game of the Year awards in 2008.
“‘Grand Theft Auto’ is my favorite series,” McKelvy said. “Ever since ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’ was released it has always been my favorite.”
Because of the graphical enhancements made in this generation, some feel that a game’s story has taken a back seat to the game’s graphics and looks.
“I think that games 10 years ago had better stories,” Matthis said. “Games these days just have awesome graphics and that’s not what I look for.”
Game developers are finding new ways to expand their games after their release.
Rockstar Games, developer of the “Grand Theft Auto” series, developed “Grand Theft Auto 4: The Lost And The Damned,” which adds a whole separate story to “Grand Theft Auto 4.”
This extra content can be purchased online right through the game. Microsoft paid $50 million for exclusive rights to have it on X-Box 360.
“I still haven’t picked it up,” McKelvy said. “It looks awesome and I’ve been meaning to get it.”
But are these games worth the wait?
“I think they are definitely worth it,” McKelvy said. “I feel that games are just getting better as time goes on.”
