Triple A Games: The lazy big brother

Ever since I was young, video games have been a part of my life. I was one of the generations that grew up with them, and what the guy in Indie Game: The Movie said is right; I do feel a claim to them. I've grown up with franchises that were just starting out when I was in my adolescence, and provided me with incredible stories, characters, and endless entertainment that now it pains me to see how they're being used as cash-cows and not even hiding it anymore.

The first game franchise I remember was Call of Duty, and the first one I played was the variant of Call of Duty 2, titled Big Red One. I remember playing that campaign over and over again, learning all of the character's names, and watching them die only to respawn behind me after I took out the entire legion of axis soldiers in front of me. Next came Halo, which I started playing at Halo 3. The lore behind this game is so incredibly detailed and occasionally complex that you have to fight the urge to read all about it just to understand every reference. Plus, it highlights the human condition by observing Spartan 117, John, the Master Chief; your character. You never see his face, but that doesn't stop him from expressing emotion in a way I've barely seen. 

Now, those franchises have spawn multiple other sequels (some good, some bad) and are very, very far down the generational gene pool. At this point in my life, I've given up on Call of Duty and have started to dislike Halo. Their storytelling and single player campaigns are being sacrificed for online multiplayer game-types and updated specs. Even the games that are supposed to be story oriented are losing their touch because companies start to ride off of their namesake and expect it to be liked (looking at you, Bethesda). The thing is, I don't get why they can't try for both. Story is so essential to us as humans, because we've been so attached to them since our creation. Hell, even our creation is a story that we still read about! So why isn't it happening?

I mean, the indie genre has taught us it's possible, and many games in the genre have an incredible art style and still have an amazing story that people will play for hours on end. Games like So Many Me, Volgarr the Viking, Rocket League, and Gone Home are just a few that have come recently that prove it's a possibility. Rocket League is even bridging the gap between consoles and PC, soon to allow any and all players to play together from any device! However, while these games are an inspiration and are looked as a special treat, they're still being stifled by the big-name companies. 

You have companies (like EA, for example) that put in micro-transactions and limited content in their high profile games (like, say, Battlefront?) and then make you dish out even more for season passes which unlock "special content" that used to be standard in a game! DLC (or Downloadable Content) used to be extra items that you would get in addition to your full game that would be like an extra storyline. Now, it's like you have to pay to get one full story. So, it's really no surprise that these big name companies are forcing smaller studios and indie developers to "partner" with them and create rules and regulations to make sure the indie developer isn't overtaking them. I've read so many stories about this happening to developers (especially mobile developers, surprisingly) and it pains me to see how fast this medium has become what it is. It's like a pyramid scheme disguised as a renaissance for the average gamer. 

Luckily, not every game company plays this way. You have companies like Nintendo who keep old classics alive like The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Pokemon, Pikman, and Starfox by recreating them into new games with all sorts of new gameplay and concepts. While it may not feel like the most original ideas, they do bring out new titles like Splatoon to counter balance and remain a more family friendly outlet. Nintendo was a key part of my childhood and will remain a key part of my life with video games because they've always felt the most genuine about creating a game that I can really, really enjoy. They've found a way to capture the lightning of originality and freshness that comes from indie games and combine it into a Triple-A format. And for that, they'll always have my support. Hopefully, one day, every game developer can feel the same way and not feel stifled by this ever-growing industry.