I actually just a had a little back-and-forth with Pixeljunk head honcho Dylan Cuthbert on Facebook after he posted a cryptic status update about an upcoming expansion for Pixeljunk Eden, and it got me thinking about those Pixeljunk games and downloadable games in general. And hey, it goes along with our poll! Blog synergy at work.
I realized a month or two ago when I was thinking about what my favorite games of 2008 were that at least two or three of them were downloadable titles: Pixeljunk Eden, Penny Arcade Episode 1, and Wipeout HD. That's a really remarkable fact, for a couple different reasons. Here's what I like so much about downloadable games:
1. They're relatively inexpensive compared to standard retail games you buy at a store.
2. You just download the file, and that's that. No packaging, no hassel of going to the store or even waiting for you order to arrive. It's a modern, efficient, and eco-friendly way to get your game on.
3. A lot of these games being delivered are fully fleshed out games. Wipeout HD is a great example...yeah, they recycled courses from the PSP titles, but I hadn't played those, so they were all new to me, and I played the hell out of that game, and it looked AMAZING. This is besides getting actual full games via download, like Burnout Paradise, which is an absurd $20 on PSN for the whole game.
4. In a time of economic crisis and companies who bet on 100% sure things being the only ones who are making money (Activision "exploiting" Guitar Hero, CoD, etc), downloadable titles are currently one of if not the only avenue for creative, innovative, fresh, bold, risky ideas and games to come to fruition. Look at Flower, which I'm downloading right now...what a bizarre concept! But I've heard nothing but good about it, and I can't wait to try it.
I just think downloadable titles are so good for the gaming industry as a whole for all the reasons I stated above.
And getting back to what originally inspired me to mention this, the Pixeljunk series...I just want to applaud what the guys over at Q Games are going again. Pixeljunk Monsters refined the desktop tower defense-style game and made it accessible and fun for console gamers. Mark and I spent hours playing it together in our dorm last year, pointing at the screen for where to build what towers and so on. Pixeljunk Eden was one of my favorite games of last year, and was the most engaging audio/visual experience I've had playing a game since Rez. I'm so excited for Pixeljunk Monsters on PSP, Eden Encore, and Pixeljunk Dungeon (!?) later this year.
I didn't even really touch on some of the great games on the other consoles as well: World of Goo is amazing on Wii or PC, LostWinds is a stylish, innovative platformer on Wii, and there are tons of great downloadable games on 360, both remakes of old things and brand new stuff. Braid? Castle Crashers? Geometry Wars 2?
What do you guys feel about downloadable games? What are some of your favorites and why? What else do you think could be done with downloadable titles like this? Which ones are you excited for this year?
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I don't know what i'm excited for or what i'm looking forward to cause i don't look at that type of thing, but i do like DLable games. I agree with you that with the economy how it is the major publishers are going for sure things and sports titles and this is really the one major avenue that developers like Q games can sort of think outside the box, take a few risks and go on to make a very stylish game. I loved playing Pixeljunk Monsters with you and, like you said, pointing frantically at the screen and even leaving smudge marks from getting a little too close.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that i think is great is these expansions that are DLable. New maps, new game types, new songs, all this stuff makes a game last so much longer than your original 50$ or whatever games cost these days. You might have to pay some money for these new additions to your game, but if you think about it, that money makes it so you don't have to go out and buy a new game, it ups the replay value of any game immensely. So for that, i'm a DLable fan. Is there really any drawbacks to DLable content?
I enjoy DL games, but I'm not nearly in love with them as you two.
ReplyDeleteThere are some gems out there (you named most of them), but I find a vast majority either aren't worth the $10 or less they are advertised for or there isn't a lot of replay value. I understand the games aren't very big to begin with (150 MB limit on XBLA games), but some of my favorite games of all time fit on much smaller spaces-- Chrono Trigger, anyone? (about 16 MB I believe) I'll give props where it's due, but I'm never holding my breath for the next big DL game. I'd rather spend more and get a helluva lot more.
Also, I think this past year has brought some really good creativity. Mirror's Edge, Dead Space, Left 4 Dead... Sure, they aren't genre defining, but I find them to be a breath of fresh air. Plus, I am one of those sports game playing guys who cannot wait for the next installment.
I guess, to sum up my opinion, DL games or most DL content are a nice way to be distracted for a little bit, but most likely they will not hold my attention for long.
That being said. My favs of all time are: Bolo Wars (MAC), Castle Crashers (XBLA), Lost Cities (XBLA), Crayon Physics (PC), and World of Goo (PC, Wii). I don't own a PS3 so...