Support the Radical

By Ryan Treit

Whether I'm playing a game, watching a movie, or even reading a book, I hear a constant refrain of bitter whining from the ever-populous peanut gallery. Often, they have a point, but just as often, their point is this: Why is everything the same? Why don't companies try something new? Where's the innovation?

They scream for newness and complain bitterly about the lack thereof. While they do have a valid concern, there is a fundamental flaw with their placing of blame. Many seem convinced that it's up to companies to innovate in their field and craft something original.

If a game company, a movie studio, or an author doesn't rock the boat with some avant-garde product, then they can certainly be blamed for stagnating the market … but the bigger problem is us. We, the consumers refuse to support radical change or innovation. We refuse to support the unfamiliar.

We’re so chained to our favorite genres that those few companies brave enough to produce truly original and indefinable work often get shafted by the very same people that pine for it.

A great but often missed title.

You can scream your want for all things original all you please, but unless you actually buy it, you won't be getting it. Like it or not, games are a business—an expensive business at that—and if it don't make money, it won't get made. It's as simple as that.

Game companies that take risks on a crazy concept take monumental financial risks, and the more they don't pay off, the more tried-and-true formula games, the more sequels, and the more middle-of-the-genre games you'll see.

We must, as consumers, vote with our wallets. It's a tough nut to swallow, to be sure. Fifty bucks isn't insignificant pocket change to be risking on an unsure quantity. However, it's a risk well worth taking, especially since a little research can help you vet out what works for you and what doesn't.

So, I implore every gamer out there to do themselves a favor and become just a bit more aware of what's coming out. Turn the occasional blind eye to the glut of marketing that's shoved down your throats on a weekly basis. Advertisements are not the only way to figure out what's coming out. After all, a small quirky game that offers up some very new gameplay-wise isn't going to have the oodles of cash that it costs to buy reams of advertising.

Also, smaller titles can often be harder to find in game stores. If it's not getting a lot of press or recognition, stores will (in most cases) not order very many copies of the game, if any at all. After all, if they don't think they're going to sell them, why order them?

The solution? Preorder the games you know to be smaller niche titles. This eliminates the "I looked for it, but I couldn't find it, so I won't bother buying it" rationalization that many folks (myself included) will use.

Preorders will also get noticed by retail stores, so perhaps the next time the same small company makes a game, they'll order a couple more than they normally would.

Well, I've rambled on and on, and I've been harsh at times, but it's only because I believe so fervently that any company that takes a risk on innovative games need to be supported. They're our industry's opportunity not to stagnate. A gaming industry filled with carbon copy titles is a future that no one wants.

Now, here's a quick look at three upcoming titles that fit into the small, innovative, and easily overlooked category. I encourage you to check them out.

High School Horror
Developed by Hydravision Entertainment, Mortifilia is a survival-horror game with a twist. It's set in a creepy and run-down high school with a morbid past, but what really makes it unique is its co-op gameplay.

Survival horror games have always been about creating a claustrophobic and terrifying atmosphere, and that's great, but it has always been an isolated experience. Now, imagine that same level of terror and tension and imagine it shared by a friend as you depend on each others wits and abilities to make it through the horror. There's a freshness to that idea, and it's a departure from the norm that should be embraced.

Monkeys in a Ball
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe may be developed and published by behemoth SEGA®, but that doesn't mean it's not a small and innovative title. Big companies make small games, too, and the more you support their more wacky offerings, the more they'll make them.

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe is a compilation of the games that shipped to Nintendo GameCube™, and I can vouch for their ridiculously addictive and difficult gameplay. Luckily, Xbox® owners get them all in one package.

If you play games for fun and not production value, you can't go wrong with this game. Whether you're trying to tilt the board to roll your monkey friend safely through the outrageously tough levels, or you're challenging your friends to some mini game monkey ball bowling, this title is an absolute blast.

Darkwatch. Look for it.

Vampire Western
How can you possibly say no to a vampire western game? First, there aren't enough western games or vampire games, in my opinion. Second, there are very few good games in either of these genres. Period.

Yes, it's another SEGA-published game—which just goes to prove that they know how to take some risks—but it's a game that's getting very solid press … and very little recognition. Put Darkwatch™ on your radar and look for details as it approaches its May release date.

These are just three small titles, but there are so many more that deserve your attention. Start hunting around the Web and asking friends, and you'll be tracking down all sorts of unique and interesting games.

Whether they come from big companies or small companies, any game that takes a chance deserves our interest, if not eventually our money. Don't be mistaken, just because a game takes a risk doesn't means its good, but it does mean we should give it a look.

Radical chances deserve recognition. Let's take some time to give them some.

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