Jun Takeuchi: Resident Evil must target 'Mass Audience' not (small) Hardcore market

[Stu]

But it's story and characters feel like they were writen by me.

When I was seven.

The plot has honestly never bothered me. Even when people whine about how little it had to do with the Resident Evil story i just didn't care, it was such a fun experience for me.

and Resident Evil 4 was not perfect.

I didn't say it was perfect, try to keep up Hec.

[The_15th]

Capcom still makes the prettiest looking games by far imo. The other games, especially USA, the humans look like muppets that have been baked to a crisp.

[BrionIrons]

Resident Evil 4 is simply put, the best videogame of all time. Pretty much perfect.

There, i said it.

hmm.thats odd.You clearly said it.

Keep Up Lightning.LOL

[Alexia_Ashford]

Dead Space did indeed get old for me, too. The locales rarely varied, and when they did, they were as drab and bland as before. There were some interesting areas (the hydroponics deck and the final level), but in general the game just felt very "trapped." This may have been the developers' intent, as it felt more realistic, but if I want realistic I'll go play the old Rainbow Six games.

As for RE4, I'll take the castle and island over 75% of RE5's locales. Bright and sunny does not a Resident Evil game make. I'd also rather run from a giant robot statue or ride through an obnoxious mine cart tunnel than be trapped in a jeep for a Michael Bay-influenced rail shooter level.

I agree completely with this post.

And yeah, I'd take most of RE4's areas over RE5's too. I liked the lab areas of RE5, but I just didn't feel they were done very well, and eventually I just ended up enjoying RE4's castle area more anyway. I actually really liked the castle area, probably my favourite third of the game.

[Vector]

I liked the change of scenery in RE5. You can only do doom-and-gloom haunted mansions and castles so much. I liked the island much better than the castle. As for RE5, the lighting and the open-ness of the game obviously took away from the tension and made it feel even more like an action-shooter and less like a Resident Evil game, but I thought the environments were gorgeous.

[RetroRain]

The castle was my favorite part of RE4. The village coming in second. The island part just sucked in my opinion. It's almost like they didn't know what to do with it. You started out with rough terrain, then entered these lab-like facilities, then back to terrain, then you ended up at this lava spot, then a military area, that's why I felt the second half of the game sucked. It seemed like they didn't know where to go with it, and it just dragged. I don't think the island should have been as long as it was.

Not to mention, that I think they should have never made Leon and Ashley infected. I mean, they went the whole game without transforming? Leon almost did, but thats besides the point. They had a lot of time on their side. But if they were going to make them infected, at least make them get the cure earlier in the game, like at the half-way point.

The reason I liked the castle, because it had a lot of interesting areas, and I especially liked the knights area. Because that was recycled from 3.5. You had to dodge the knight's axe, and then the knight collapsed.

But what bothered me is that there werent' nearly enough dark areas like the one Leon and Ashley were in, where the flashlight was automatically on. If they included more dark areas, it would have made the game even better.

[Member_of_STARS]

Im having a similar discussion on how casual gamers are influencing videogame studios. The result is that considering a "casual game" is basically something which is driven on visuals and impressions and hype that creates, the sales go up because thats exactly the kind of cheap entertainment the casual market expects. It looks like this is the Hollywood-ization of videogames, where you get a bunch of AAA grade games with absolutely no substance, no requirement for any skill, dedication or at least some effort, but rather a number of "jump in and shoot some shit up, get fed up in 5 hours and throw away". A lot of social aspects have been added throughout the whole time, focusing on statistics, achievements, ribbons, badges. Longetivity of the game is not dependant on the depth and content in the game anymore, but it depends on a list which people have to "check" through.

So how is it possible that people here blame the movies when they themselves are to blame? Nobody remembers that the first one came out when- 2001 or 2002? This is exactly whats going on with Call of Duty franchise, same debate, same problems.

Under this context "hardcore market" refers to established fanbase and not übergamers. And this is nothing but confirmation to what happened in 2004. While I also agree that RE went mainstream with RE2, it didnt go casual until RE4.

[BrionIrons]

took the words right out of my mouth.

[Det. Beauregard]

I really enjoyed the castle in RE4, as well. Why? Because it was a location that Resident Evil had never been before. Granted, RE5 had plenty of locations RE had never been before, but few were as dark and ominous as Salazar's castle. The ancient medieval touch actually worked, for at least part of the game. Some sections were monotonous, but can any of you honestly tell me that there's an RE game out there that doesn't have at least one section of pure monotony that you auto-pilot your way through?

A lot of social aspects have been added throughout the whole time, focusing on statistics, achievements, ribbons, badges. Longetivity of the game is not dependant on the depth and content in the game anymore, but it depends on a list which people have to "check" through.

I disagree about the statistics part. Unlike achievements/trophies, there is no finite end to statistics collection - every time you play the game, the stats change. I loved them in RE5 and in the Outbreak games, and I wish all the RE games had them. It adds replay value for some individuals, myself included.

Achievements and trophies, however, do seem to limit replay value for a lot of casual gamers. They simply have no incentive to continue playing once all have been collected; it really is like an automated checklist with no forethought required. I actually know people who will rent or buy a game, "slave" their way through it just for the achievements, and then return the game. And all just to increase their gamerscore... why even bother if you're not having fun?!

While I also agree that RE went mainstream with RE2, it didnt go casual until RE4.

Would you mind explaining to me why you believe RE2 went "mainstream?"

[Stu]

Am i reading right? The gaming community has gone from dividing itself into groups of casual and hardcore, to now splitting casual into casual and mainstream?

FFS. Why? Who cares that much?

hmm.thats odd.You clearly said it.

Keep Up Lightning.LOL

Learn to tell the difference between "perfect" and "pretty much perfect".

[Member_of_STARS]

Am i reading right? The gaming community has gone from dividing itself into groups of casual and hardcore, to now splitting casual into casual and mainstream?

Arent these two completely different things? "Casual" and "Hardcore" refers to ones skill level and "Mainstream" refers to the market.

I really enjoyed the castle in RE4, as well. Why? Because it was a location that Resident Evil had never been before. Granted, RE5 had plenty of locations RE had never been before, but few were as dark and ominous as Salazar's castle. The ancient medieval touch actually worked, for at least part of the game. Some sections were monotonous, but can any of you honestly tell me that there's an RE game out there that doesn't have at least one section of pure monotony that you auto-pilot your way through?

Ive always seen RE as a sort of sci-fi survival horror game which theories and ideas are implemented in science, rather than fairytales. Which is exactly what I got from "Salazars Castle". Monotonous locations? I love FEAR, I think its locations are brilliant, one of the best infact. Same for Half Life 1. But it takes a bit more than just visuals to immerse me.

I disagree about the statistics part. Unlike achievements/trophies, there is no finite end to statistics collection - every time you play the game, the stats change. I loved them in RE5 and in the Outbreak games, and I wish all the RE games had them. It adds replay value for some individuals, myself included.

Thanks for validating what I said. Youre not playing because theres depth or actual replay value, youre replaying because a number changes after youve sunk 15 hours into the game.

Achievements and trophies, however, do seem to limit replay value for a lot of casual gamers. They simply have no incentive to continue playing once all have been collected; it really is like an automated checklist with no forethought required. I actually know people who will rent or buy a game, "slave" their way through it just for the achievements, and then return the game. And all just to increase their gamerscore... why even bother if you're not having fun?!

Yeah, why bother indeed... [/sarcasm]

Would you mind explaining to me why you believe RE2 went "mainstream?"

Under that particular context, Im not being negative or offensive. RE2 introduced many visual and gameplay aspects to cater to a wider audience. Not based on that audiences skill level, but their taste or perceived taste. Maybe Im using my English wrong, but I make a distinction between "mainstream" and "casual".

[BrionIrons]

Learn to tell the difference between "perfect" and "pretty much perfect".

Sure,Peferct means no flaws and Pretty Much Perfect,It means same thing but adding alittle bragging to it.

[Stu]

What?! Anyone want to tell this kid to shut up before i get in trouble for it? hahaha

[Darkmoon]

To each your opinions. Now stop bickering like cats in a sack or I'll find some way to stick you both in a sack with several rabid French cats, which I shall drop off a boat.

[BrionIrons]

Rock the boat.LOL