This thread is quickly turning into something else so I shall keep it fast; I understand why the risk taking is happening less, Sony and MS have misunderstood what consumers desire (clearly given the Wii and DS' sales) and have decided to push tech too fast forcing them to price their products high. Hence Sony went from extreme market dominance to third place. It has caused a ton of damage to the third party scene as well.
Well my point was not risk taking is happening less, it's happening more, it just so happens to not include games developed solely for artistic merit!
Still I cannot help but feel had things played out differently for SEGA, whether that be they never left the console game, or if Sammy had never merged with them and they maintained independence as a 3rd party that there would be a lot more innovative games along the lines of Valk. Valk definitely was the quality of a SEGA first party game, so I am aware they can still do it sometimes. It needs to get off PSP though.
It's impossible for the merger with Sammy not to happen, too many games bombed and in particular, those extremely creative ones failed to make any money for SEGA. I just do not see how they could continue producing said innovative games when the market was openly rejecting all those titles.
And I actually consider Valkyria, whilst a very good game, not upto SEGA's best, infact the titles I previously mentioned in Yakuza 3 and 4 have it beaten in every department except for gameplay, which depends on what you prefer (In which again I prefer Yakuza) so whilst a good game, not SEGA's best.
But at the end of the day, I prefer fun to innovation, so whilst say, Afterburner Climax is not innovative, I'd rather play that than Valkyria Chronicles.
And finally, you will never see Valkyria Chronicles on home consoles again unless SEGA does not mind losing money, sales just weren't good enough!
Also you didn't like the Dreamcast era? Chu Chu Rocket is one of the best puzzle games of all-time :shock: Are you one of those odd folks who doesn't like Jet Grind? Like Uranus? The only game disappointing to me on Dreamcast was VF 3, I am a huge Virtua Fighter fan and VF 3 wasn't up to snuff with VF 2 I feel. The Daytona USA port could have had better controls too, but I got used to them and they really were not that bad.
They weren't disappointments, however they were radically different from the SEGA games I grew up in in the 80s and early 90s and when I compare stuff like the classic Sonic games, the Shinobi titles, Ristar, Phantasy Star, Shining Force etc I really just don't see that period being as great as it's made out to be. A good period none the less, but I think people are overrating many titles from that period of SEGA.
Yes, I am a fan of the Doctor : P
You have brilliant tastes
In any case, I do find it funny how since Cube's meltdown we've been having announcement after announcement, SEGA must browse the forums.
