This particular innovation will likely change the face of gaming forever.
This console generation is one of many innovations, most notably motion controls... or so you would think.
Upon closer inspection, something far more notable and widespread has been introduced this generation. I speak, of course, about downloadable games and their associated services.
As I was playing Dark Void Zero this morning, I realized just how amazing it was that I was playing an 8-bit style game that was released just days ago. Of course Dark Void Zero is not the pioneer of this style, and is one of a number of other titles that mimic games of yore.
These games are truly something special, because they allow gamers like myself to once again experience a seemingly forgotten style. Since the advent of a third dimension in gaming, the industry has never really had the opportunity to look back. There has been a perceived lack of worth with 2D games, making them not particularly viable in the retail market.
Though the mass market had rejected these games, players out there still craved them. Not until the advent of services like WiiWare, XBLA, PSN, and DSiWare have developers had a venue to produce these lower budget, classic style games. Along those same lines, developers also couldn't explore simpler game concepts in general. Until now, most developers would shoot for the Gameboy Advance as a target platform as there was not a single other place they could use as a home for their game ideas.
As one might expect, with this new venue comes new developers who specifically dedicate themselves to making games that will work on these platforms. Whether people realize it or not now, these developers are the developers of the future. While the bigger parts of the industry congolmerate into single one-off companies, these small developers will continue to pop-up all over the place to realize their game design dreams.
A great example is Gaijin Games, who PixlBit had a chance to speak with a few months back. Without this service, it's not likely that the various members of the team would have ever come together to make the fantastic Bit.Trip series.
Though Gaijin happens to be a company stocked with experienced developers, that environment is not necessarily required in order to create a game these days. Because the barrier of entry is so low, a determined group of individuals can create a title and share it with the world. Those with the most compelling games will more than likely see their careers begin to flourish as they grow to do bigger and better things.
While this growth is not completely apparent now, it will grow to be in the coming generation when former downloadable title developers are branching out to bigger and better games.
In many ways, the advent of downloadable games, as we know them now, is a rebirth of the industry. It brings gaming back to its roots with simpler game concepts and ideas. Similar to the NES days, it also has made it so that anyone out there can be a player in the industry. Finally, the service strikes a happy-medium with the retail games that still consistently release. With the two coexisting in harmony, players of today can get the best of both worlds.
Though not every game released on these services is pure gold, so many of these games are unique in some way. Given their unconventional nature, they help progress the industry through their design.
I am truly in love with the downloadable games found on all of the systems that are in this generation. They each offer their own flavor and give players quick and easy access to some of the best games of the generation.
While motion controls may seem to be the best innovation of the generation, download services have provided so much more to gaming. Motion controls are likely to come and go, but services like this will be around for years to come.
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