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William argues that we should support the rerelease of classic games in an effort to incentivize publishers and developers to make similarly innovative titles in the future. All I know is that when the Team Ico collection comes out, I'm going to be the first person in line.
High-definition video changed the way we view film, television, and video games. It opened up the floodgates to deluge of wondrous, beautiful, 16:9 visual content. But at the same time, it also depreciated the face value of anything created prior to the days of HD.
Distributors have remastered old movies and TV shows into widescreen HD. With the release of titles like God of War Collection, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, Prince of Persia Trilogy, and Wipeout HD, game makers have hopped on the bandwagon as well.
By polishing up these aging gems, publishers have brought older titles to modern audiences.
I recently read an article on Bitmob from community writer Gil Lawrence de Leon about the importance of preserving classics from past generations.
Video-game history used to be like sedimentary rock, with each new console generation establishing itself atop the previous era. Layer by layer, the medium evolved, and older titles became harder to access as new products buried them beneath an ever-stacking sequence of obsolete technology.
I found myself intrigued with his opinion and shared the sentiment entirely: We must recognize the industry’s past if we hope to appreciate its present and future at all.
I’m glad to see that the Smithsonian American Art Museum is immortalizing so many old titles with its The Art of Video Games exhibit (starting in March 2012). Such a grand gesture is a tremendous gain for the industry we grew up with, as well as current-generation efforts and beyond.
Services like Nintendo’s Virtual Console, Sony’s PlayStation Network, and Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace give people access to history's landmarks and rarities with the ease of a simple download structure. On the PC, platforms like Valve’s Steam and Good Old Games host dozens of essentials, like Baldur’s Gate, for a reasonable fee.
Having these avenues of distribution is an important part of the industry -- even integral. Try to buy an out-of-print game or two on Amazon. You can still find them, but it’s generally a hassle, especially if you don’t own the necessary hardware anymore. Even then, some are so ludicrously overpriced that only obsessive collectors would consider dropping the cash.
Downloads have changed that. In 2009, Square Enix released Final Fantasy 7 on PSN for $9.99. Before that, used copies routinely sold on eBay for over $50.
In 2011, developer Team Ico will release an HD bundle including Shadow of the Colossus and Ico. By resurrecting them from the PlayStation 2 and reinvigorating them with fluid frame rates, the Blu-ray compilation will give players a chance to play through two of the most wonderful adventures released last generation. I’ve heard many people who've never played them express excitement and anticipation about their upcoming rerelease.
Both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are hard to find. Bringing them back demonstrates recognition of the imprint they left on the culture.
And that’s what I’m talking about! I don't advocate rehashing every hit from the PS2 era. But it's worth appreciating the groundbreaking titles of yesteryear. Supporting legal distribution services (both online and on shelves) is something every enthusiast should do.
The point is this: Support the developers and publishers that raise industry standards -- ideally with your money.
If you want to see a new iteration of Call of Duty every year, that’s fine. You're free to keep buying them. If you want to see game makers take risks and innovate, then support their work with your wallet and your attention. By purchasing The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, you’re telling publishers that you enjoy that type of content. This gives developers the impetus they need to continue work within the genre.
If we want the medium to thrive in the future, we need to be willing to support its past.
