I think a more disturbing trend in all CRPGs is away from strategy and tactics and more towards "action" games." This began in earnest with Diablo and has carried on since, and now it's impossible to find a new CRPG that indulges in turn-based combat. In fact, the last ones I can remember making the attempt were Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (HORRID), and Temple of Elemental Evil (decent).
I think the "perfect" mix would be to have a way to switch between modes, so that you could run the "busywork" encounters in real-time, but slow down to turn-based for the big battles. This was implemented to some degree in Baldur's Gate and NWN, where you could pause the game to give orders, but it still wasn't as "sit back and think" the way the Gold Box games were.
I think this is a disturbing trend in ALL genres on all platforms. The only major turn-based strategy game released of recent vintage that I can readily recall is Civilization IV and its various expansions (latest expansion just released), and even that is hinting at moving to more real-time stuff with the next iteration for consoles and handhelds. It's interesting, but it's almost like the shift we saw from text-based games to all graphics games in the mainstream, and from 2D to 3D. It seems like another shift can be seen from turn-based to real-time or modified real-time. It seems as technology continues to progress, there is more focus - or need if you will - on/to "flashier", more "motion-based" elements. Just like the other shifts, this almost complete shift away from any type of turn-based play is not true progress, not fully a good thing. And also as with the other shifts, some things just work better the "old" way.
I'd love just once, regardless of genre, for a major publisher to create one uber mainstream game in an old style, be it a 2D turn-based CRPG with an epic scope, a 2D platformer with an epic scope, a ultra-intelligent text-based game, etc. Go all out with the art, sound, writing, advertising, etc., as applicable, and really see what happens. Costs would at the very least approximate or in some cases come in lower than equivalent 3D epic games and the uniqueness would probably move product, at least the first time. And yes, I know that indie developers and publishers still do this, but frankly they'll never match the reach or the name recognition of an EA or Activision, as just two examples. It will also never happen, regardless, but I'd still like to see it.
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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
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*************************** Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
I think a more disturbing trend in all CRPGs is away from strategy and tactics and more towards "action" games." This began in earnest with Diablo and has carried on since, and now it's impossible to find a new CRPG that indulges in turn-based combat. In fact, the last ones I can remember making the attempt were Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (HORRID), and Temple of Elemental Evil (decent).
I think the "perfect" mix would be to have a way to switch between modes, so that you could run the "busywork" encounters in real-time, but slow down to turn-based for the big battles. This was implemented to some degree in Baldur's Gate and NWN, where you could pause the game to give orders, but it still wasn't as "sit back and think" the way the Gold Box games were.
I think this is a disturbing trend in ALL genres on all platforms. The only major turn-based strategy game released of recent vintage that I can readily recall is Civilization IV and its various expansions (latest expansion just released), and even that is hinting at moving to more real-time stuff with the next iteration for consoles and handhelds. It's interesting, but it's almost like the shift we saw from text-based games to all graphics games in the mainstream, and from 2D to 3D. It seems like another shift can be seen from turn-based to real-time or modified real-time. It seems as technology continues to progress, there is more focus - or need if you will - on/to "flashier", more "motion-based" elements. Just like the other shifts, this almost complete shift away from any type of turn-based play is not true progress, not fully a good thing. And also as with the other shifts, some things just work better the "old" way.
I'd love just once, regardless of genre, for a major publisher to create one uber mainstream game in an old style, be it a 2D turn-based CRPG with an epic scope, a 2D platformer with an epic scope, a ultra-intelligent text-based game, etc. Go all out with the art, sound, writing, advertising, etc., as applicable, and really see what happens. Costs would at the very least approximate or in some cases come in lower than equivalent 3D epic games and the uniqueness would probably move product, at least the first time. And yes, I know that indie developers and publishers still do this, but frankly they'll never match the reach or the name recognition of an EA or Activision, as just two examples. It will also never happen, regardless, but I'd still like to see it.
======================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
======================================
***************************
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.