Gaming renaissance happening now, Flower creator says

by Majed Athab { Feb 19th 2009 at 10:15PM }

"I think right now – in the future, when people look back, I think it's the renaissance of video games." These words were spoken by Jenova Chen – creator of Flower and flOw – to MTV Multiplayer on the role of digital distribution in the industry. Chen believes that digital distribution platforms like PSN, Xbox Live, WiiWare, and Steam are a bastion for new and artistic game designers to flourish.

While larger companies are struggling to maintain higher production costs on "bigger and badder" versions of the same games every year, cheap and unique downloadable titles are doing well for themselves. Games like Flower, Braid and PixelJunk Monsters are noteworthy games that exemplify the "rebirth" of diversity and creativity for the industry. While it's nice to hear that digital distribution has been experiencing a renaissance and pushing boundaries, we can only hope that the rest of the industry catches up and gets pulled out of the dark ages.

[Image credit: Sklathill]

Tags: digital-distribution, flower, jenova-chen, psn, thatgamecompany

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

BigD145 @ Feb 19th 2009 10:22PM

Gaming Renaissance? Didn't we have a plague around the time of the European Renaissance? I guess the shovelware plague counts now.

Ihavepants @ Feb 19th 2009 10:30PM

Recession.

rohan @ Feb 19th 2009 10:45PM

shovelware is the plague and recession is the cure to stop it from happening

BigD145 @ Feb 19th 2009 11:52PM

Shovelware is cheap and it sells. Have you ever heard of Monopoly? That was born out of a depression. It stinks.

Colin Behrens @ Feb 20th 2009 5:27AM

The plague happened sometime around 1200 CE. The Rennaisance happened as a direct cause of the plague, when serfs demanded lower hours and higher wages, or they just ran away to trading towns. The Rennaisance happened around 1500 CE to 1700 CE, depending on the area.

Evan @ Feb 20th 2009 8:27AM

@rohan
1. Flower, Braid and PixelJunk Monsters are NOT shovelware.

2. If shovelware was the plague, gaming would have been dead long ago. The PS2 was flooded with shovelware titles like Pimp My Ride. The Gameboy Advance had shovelware for every Nickelodeon kids cartoon ever made. Even the Atari 2600 has shovelware - E.T.

Foe @ Feb 19th 2009 10:40PM

Sigh. Flower was absolutely brilliant, and Noby Noby Boy seems fun too. Also love PJ Eden, and Cuboid was not a bad puzzler.

I will play any of those games over Resistance 2 or Killzone 2, so maybe he's on to something.

slycooper_rocker @ Feb 19th 2009 10:54PM

i would certainly play those over R2 but killzone? really? that game is the game that ends all games forever. not really cause that would suck and lets face it, no game is THAT good. but it will be great. and can someone please describe flower in one or two words cause i want to get it but i'm not sure...

Popfrogs @ Feb 19th 2009 11:09PM

Flower in one or two words?

Awesomely funtastic.

Levi @ Feb 19th 2009 11:17PM

I love PJE and PJM, Flower is awesome so far too, and Noby has gotten some pretty big laughs out of me so far... but I don't see Noby's charm lasting that lomg for me... I just don't see the point.

Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 19th 2009 11:39PM

I kind of like Resistance 2 - a lot actually. It's not the best game ever but it is a complete package including a decent campaign, co-op and competitive multiplayer. I read (on PS3F) that a GG developer teased that they are looking into incorporating co-op as a post launch patch (no split screen though). The only thing about Resistance 2 is that the A.I. is kind of dumb sometimes.

slycooper_rocker @ Feb 19th 2009 11:55PM

i certainly wasn't bashing R2. the co-op is insane. and 60 player competitive multiplayer? epic. but those games just appeal to me more.

Michelobius @ Feb 20th 2009 12:46AM

Here's another one or two words on Flower if you're still waffling:

Buy. It.

Duke @ Feb 20th 2009 11:20AM

Flower is peaceful and entrancing. You start it and think, this is weird, then you realize 2 hours shot by and you won't stop until you get enough flower petals damn it!

John @ Feb 19th 2009 10:44PM

I think it's interesting to note that these downloadable games are also more objective based and gameplay focused than a lot of disc based games, which seem to be overwhelmingly cinematic at times. Yet these indie titles still contain brilliant narratives, delivered much more subtly.

Surfaced @ Feb 19th 2009 11:33PM

Really? Of all things, I'd call these downloadable titles less objective.

t_m @ Feb 20th 2009 2:38AM

Its an interesting point.

It seems like a lot of AAA game producers really wanted to be movie directors, so we are getting closer and closer to movie-like experiences in games.

Yet a lot of the indie developers seem to want to be GAME developers. The narative is often more tied into he gameplay and the levels themselves, even left up to the player to discover. Rather than crammed into movie-style cutscenes in between (and disconnected from) the gameplay.

Deeznuts420 @ Feb 19th 2009 11:01PM

look at the last four articles....my god is it that bad of a recession that people cant smile anymore?

Lionbacker steamID: detfan1957 @ Feb 19th 2009 11:17PM

Niko isn't smiling either :/

Nomi @ Feb 19th 2009 11:09PM

Just finished playing most of it...fkin purple flower won't bloom.

Nomi @ Feb 19th 2009 11:11PM

I felt the game was a bit short...maybe if I go trophy hunting....

J.Goodwin @ Feb 19th 2009 11:12PM

More reporting, less editorial.

Levi @ Feb 19th 2009 11:21PM

well there yo go, Joystiq. Straight from the boss himself, J Goodwin. Better do what he says, or else!

J.Goodwin @ Feb 20th 2009 12:03AM

Thank you for confirming that I am in fact in charge. It's a huge boost to my ego.

t_m @ Feb 20th 2009 2:40AM

er.... its a blog... it's purpose is editorial...

its not a newspaper.

J.Goodwin @ Feb 20th 2009 11:02AM

Still be nice to see what the guy had to say, instead of hear what Joystiq has to say about whatever it is that he might be potentially talking about. In short:

M0R QUOTEZ PLZ

HitNRun @ Feb 19th 2009 11:29PM

To have a Renaissance, don't you kind of need... you know... a Dark Ages?

Were Halo, Metal Gear, and 3D Zelda *really* that bad?

Deatharea @ Feb 19th 2009 11:54PM

Apparently you have no idea what the dark ages were do you?

baughgoth @ Feb 23rd 2009 1:36PM

Yes, Halo as that bad, generi-shooter.

Problem is, now ain't much better.

Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 19th 2009 11:34PM

Most of my favorite gaming experiences this generation have been from downloadable games. They are the closest realtives to the 8 & 16 bit era of gaming.

slycooper_rocker @ Feb 20th 2009 12:00AM

I agree. in many cases, you could get just as much time out of a small $5-15 downloadable game as you could from a full priced disc based game, and in some cases for me, i actually had more fun. i really do see them as the future of gaming. the only future? no, disc based games won't leave us for a LONG time. but small downloadable titles certainly are becoming a viable option for devs and consumers alike. world of goo on the wii certainly proved that as it was way better than 90% of what's been pumped out on to it.

TwEE @ Feb 19th 2009 11:45PM

Its not so much a renaissance, more like the slow death of cinematic games, which is going to piss off a lot of younger gamers who have only known cinematic games.

The younger gamers will see the end of gaming, while the older ones will just see the pendulum swinging back to where it was 13 or so years ago..

Noshino @ Feb 20th 2009 1:31AM

Sorry Sire but that is utter bullshit

"The younger gamers will see the end of gaming, while the older ones will just see the pendulum swinging back to where it was 13 or so years ago.."

Im sorry but, to begin with, cutscenes date back to the 80s with games such as Maniac Mansion, Ninja Gaiden, etc. I guess you might not be that old since you don't even seem to know that huh? but then again, Im only 20 and I know this, so I guess you are just uninformed.

Many games have been trying to aim for a cinematic approach from a long time, its just in recent years that hardware has allowed us to accomplish it.

Killzone 2, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, Call of Duty 4, these are just some games that are taking a cinematic approach, so I don't see how one could really claim that cinematic games are slowing dying when we barely get started.

mgsrocks1 @ Feb 20th 2009 3:34AM

I disagree with you TwEE. Cinematic games are here to stay. Both can co-exist IMO. There are times when I want the epic cinematic stories like Halo, God Of War, and Metal Gear Solid, and there times when I want quirky titles like The Last Guy. There are times when I want "artsy" titles like Flower and there are times when I want to blast fools online on Gears of War and Killzone.

I have heard many people say the same about the apocalypse of hardcore games ending and casual games taking over. Calm down, take a sip from your lemonade, and go play some Flower. It's all in your head. :D

Evan @ Feb 20th 2009 9:19AM

As an "older gamer", I appreciate these games for their real gameplay. It's ironic, but some "casual" games require more "classic gaming skills" than some hardcore cinematic games that push you through the story according to a time line instead of player skill.

Cinematics are not bad in and of themselves, as long as the presentation of graphics enhances gameplay instead of impeding gameplay like the quicktime events in God of War - that's just Dragon's Lair and Space Ace, and quite frankly, if I'm not going to have real control of the character then I'd prefer to just watch a movie.

Matt @ Feb 20th 2009 11:00AM

"Dragon's Lair and Space Ace"
(shudders)

So many wasted quarters. So much frustration. So much wasted time.

John Perkins @ Feb 20th 2009 12:05AM

Funny how the 3 games he mentions are all games I thoroughly dislike.

I think it's more akin to the Industrial Revolution than a renaissance. With new methods of delivery making it easier and less expensive to get abstract and niche titles to people, there will be an influx of diversity. I don't think it signals a radical change to the industry, as much as it does an enlarging of it due to the lower cost of entry.

Before Ford's assembly line, cars were very expensive to manufacture and few people had them. Before the government told banks to allow 30 year mortgages instead of 15, few people owned their own homes. Cars and homeownership (the last 18+ months notwithstanding) haven't dramatically changed, but there has been innovation, and an influx of people able to afford the luxury. Digital distribution is not a renaissance, it's a revolution.

kavorka @ Feb 20th 2009 12:21AM

Finally, an intelligent parallel. Flower represents a lame idea infused with awesome graphics. It's still a lame idea. Wii has already done motion control, it sucked too. That's why I bought a ps3. This guy is claiming that he's what, the Michelangelo of video games? Keep your Sistine Chapel, pal. It sucks.

Industrial Revolution is a much more appropriate comparison.

mgsrocks1 @ Feb 20th 2009 3:39AM

@Kavora:
He's not saying that he wants to be a Michelangelo of gaming. He is simply saying that people will look back and see the start of new innovative games in the form of downloadable games by independent studios.

Just because you didn't like Flower doesn't mean it sucks. I bet you haven't even played it yourself. Seriously, I thought the same about Braid. I tried and I loved it. Like the saying goes, "Don't judge the book by it's cover." In this it's don't judge a game by it's name and trailers. Flower is the first game I bought on PSN and I can' recommend it enough.

arrness @ Feb 20th 2009 12:51AM

OPINIONS PLEASE

flower noby noby boy or pixeljunk monsters?

make sure you let me know if youve played all of them

how much is PJM anyways?

chimaera9 @ Feb 20th 2009 1:03AM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet (maybe this is too far back for some of you) but the explosion in creativity with these downloadable titles reminds me of the kind of innovation seen with games in the very early 80's. Back then, graphics sucked, so the focus was on originality. Companies were rewarded for their creativity, as games like Joust became huge hits. The guy who created Joust was actually hired because he submitted his resume in a rubber chicken, which got him the job because of his unique approach. I had been thinking, back before the PSN, that games were totally stagnating and following a cookie-cutter mold. FPS, RTS, RPG, and other genres were saturated with sequels and the minor innovations that occurred were marginally different at best.

I'm still all for some of the popular titles from big developers, and I'd definitely hate to see them die out because of the financial problems associated with big game production. But it is truly nice to see that creativity is being rewarded once again as it was in the 80's, and this time, thankfully, the graphics are better, too.

Seishino @ Feb 20th 2009 1:13AM

While I like this new emphasis on digital distribution, I feel like considering this a new thing ignores the past 20 years of PC game development. Ever since Doom hit the shareware scene, digital distribution of many titles has held a prominent role in PC gaming. It is just now that consoles and publishers are catching on about how to monetize it.

Every era since 1984 has been good for gaming in some ways, bad in others. We now have multiple ways for smaller teams to create viable titles. Is that more significant than optical media ushering in a new era of unlimited storage? Or the birth of 3D gaming? The rebirths of the handheld? I'm not convinced.

ice~ @ Feb 20th 2009 1:31AM

I find Noby Noby Boy very Renaissance-esque, however i bought it and i do appreciate it's quality and creativity...but I just can't have fun in it...I don't know what to do, like are you supposed to beat the maps? or just set goals for yourself and experiment, because I find the motions of BOY very limited so its hard for me to experiment fully...any suggestions on fun things to do?

t_m @ Feb 20th 2009 2:45AM

World of Goo is the most gaming fun i've had in years.

I think there is a place for all kinds of game. Cinematic, experimental, gameplay based, singleplayer, coop, multiplayer, etc... Different people have different tastes, and people's tastes change.
the world would be very dull if all games were the same.

Mr Khan @ Feb 20th 2009 8:39AM

It is somewhat coming full-circle, in that the small developer can once again make games for the masses, in line with the huge development studios churning out top-tier projects

Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 20th 2009 1:26PM

I hate to admit it but we have Microsoft to thank for that when it comes to console gaming.

Nate @ Feb 20th 2009 9:56AM

a lot of people have been saying for ages this whole idea of bigger, more expensive, less creative games is going to backfire. Not only developers have been saying this, but friends who talk about the greatness of zelda and pokemon, who swear that while new games have better graphics, they keep slipping in the gameplay and replay values. This is one of the reasons that Flower, Flow, and Littlebigplanet work so well. The graphics are good enough, storylines are basically non-existant, but the replay and gameplay are really good.

Don't get me wrong, I love the graphics and huge cinema-quality of MGS4, but what keeps me coming back isn't the story, isn't the graphics, but it's the gameplay and HUGE amount of little quirks you don't see most places. Honestly, guys looking at porn? hidden ghosts? hiding around corners, afraid for your life? It's great stuff. I makes me want to go back and buy MGS1 if you can believe that.

samfish @ Feb 20th 2009 10:17AM

I think it's too soon to say it's a renaissance, but we're certainly on the cusp of one.
Unfortunately, I doubt it'll last. Big developers are already beginning to move to the digital distribution platform, so it's only a matter of time before all those fun little cheap indie games are yet again completely overshadowed by huge AAA games.