Gaming as an entertainment medium is known for being extremely active and interactive with it’s audience. This is especially true in franchises that are already well known to the public and just like other art mediums such as film there is always space for experimentation for how games are presented or how they are played. It’s an interesting question to ask though; can you release what is essentially a test game as an independent gaming experience that people will enjoy?
I came to this question after trying out XCOM: Chimera Squad this week which to me seems very much like a testing bed for new mechanics and storytelling methods for the next big XCOM game. This feels very much like a smaller scale project which is being used to essentially test the waters in their audience while also providing a fun gameplay experience for everyone. Alongside this the game is priced appropriately at being a much cheaper experience due to the shorter game-time and smaller overall scale which isn’t a problem for many people, me included. To me this seems to indicate that as long as a game is priced accurately then you can release what is essentially a ‘gaming experiment’ and still have it stand on it’s own two feet as a worthwhile experience. What I don’t like are games that release at full price and expect to be taken seriously amongst it’s competitors while attempting to massively change things up that are generally taken negatively (cough) Fallout 76 (cough).
So what do you all think? Do you think this is a good idea that deserves to stand alongside things such as new-art films or should these experimental ideas not be sold as full products? Let’s all discuss this in the comments section below. That’s all for now, and as always. It’s not just a game, It’s a Life.