Is Nostalgia Hurting the Game Industry?
Nostalgia is a powerful force in the video game industry, with many players and developers looking to the past for inspiration. While there is certainly nothing wrong with paying homage to classic games, the over-reliance on nostalgia can have a detrimental effect on the industry as a whole.
Innovation
First and foremost, nostalgia can limit innovation in the video game industry. When developers are constantly looking to the past for inspiration, they may be less likely to take risks and try new ideas. This can lead to a lack of fresh and exciting games, and stagnation of the industry as a whole.
Nostalgia can cause developers to focus on creating experiences that replicate the feel of classic titles, rather than pushing the boundaries of what a video game can do. This can lead to a lack of experimentation in the industry, as developers are more likely to recreate existing successful titles rather than creating something new and unique. Additionally, nostalgia can lead to developers catering to the desires of a vocal subset of their audience, which can hamper creative risk-taking.
Monotony
Additionally, nostalgia can also lead to monotony in the games that are being produced. When developers are focused on bringing back the games that everyone played in their youth, they may overlook different perspectives and experiences.
Developers might rely too much on old game mechanics and features when creating new titles. When developers stick too close to the same formula, they can end up creating a game that feels overly familiar and lacking in innovation. This can lead to players feeling bored and unengaged with the game. To avoid monotony in video games, developers should strive to create games that combine nostalgia with fresh, new ideas and mechanics that make the game exciting and engaging.
Furthermore, nostalgia can also be used as a crutch by developers to excuse poor game design. Rather than striving to make a game that is fun and engaging, developers may rely on nostalgia to carry their game, even if the gameplay itself is lacking.
We might see underwhelming games with very little innovation to the gameplay or quality of life aspects. Perhaps recreating an old game exactly as it was will hurt it more in the long run. Today we take so many innovations for granted, like easy menu access, waypoint navigation in maps, fluid movements of our character (no tank controls), and many other things.
No substance
Nostalgia can also be used as a marketing tool to manipulate consumers into buying games that may not be worth their time or money. Developers know that many people have fond memories of the games of their youth, and may use this to their advantage by releasing subpar games that are marketed as "nostalgic" experiences.
We got to be weary of this because someone might start crowdfunding and promote the coming back of an old franchise. They can certainly be successful in attaining the goal to start development, but in the end the game might not be what people expected. Usually, we get crazy ideas in our heads and we idealize what the game is going to be. Perhaps the focus of the publisher or developer was not as high as we thought. This can lead to dissatisfied fans and will review-bomb the game.
Nostalgia might bias us to buy or back a game merely on the fact that we used to enjoy it in our youth. Studios behind the games might rely heavily on nostalgia and do very little to provide substance to the game. Build it with innovation and significant factors that make the product a decent experience overall.
Examples that come to mind are Mighty No. 9, Shenmue 3, and Shaq Fu.
Playing it safe
Lastly, overly-relying on nostalgia can also lead to a lack of investment in new gaming concepts, as developers may be unwilling to take the risk associated with investing in something new. This can lead to a lack of resources and capital for developing innovative video games.
Triple A publishers rely on their already built franchises to keep themselves in business. It is no secret, and not wrong, to profit from your portfolio of games and intellectual properties. The problem arises when publishers would rather milk their franchises, than create something completely new. To them, the risk factor of a new IP might be too much.
Remakes and remasters have been saturating the market in recent years. Curiously, this not only happens in the game industry, but in the film, and streaming services industry as well. Remakes of movies or series are quite common. Companies relied heavily on the baggage built by these franchises back in the day. Games are quite similar too, publishers, producers, and developers rely on worlds and characters already built, which were successful back in the day.
The rise of ‘indie’ games is the main source of innovation and creation of new characters, worlds, and overall new franchises. Publishers like EA, or companies like Microsoft might nurture indie developers to make their new games, but when it comes to triple A productions, the industry only has a handful. I have not seen a new or recent franchise become a staple in the industry. Perhaps the most recent one when it comes to single player games is Dead Space, in multiplayer, Fortnite; it is quite recent, and it has come a long way since its launch.
In conclusion, nostalgia can be a double-edged sword in the video game industry. While it can be a powerful source of inspiration, it can also limit innovation, leading to poor game design, and fans might be attracted to an idealized version of the game. It's important for developers and players alike to be mindful of the role nostalgia plays in the industry and strive to create and support games that stand on their own merit.
What are your thoughts on nostalgia in video games, and the audiovisual industry as a whole? Do we rely too much on it? Let me know in the comments down below.
Happy gaming.
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