[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"]
Platformers aren't hot anymore. At least not like they used to be. Game reviewers will slap a 9 on any goddamn shooter these days, but a platformer is lucky to see 8's. I have nothing against shooters at all -- in fact, they're probably my favorite genre, but they are represented so lopsidedly by the gaming press that it isn't even funny.
burgeg
In my entire collection this generation I only own 1 FPS. Shooters being represented lopsidedly by the gaming press doesn't matter. I like what I like and I'm going to continue to buy platformers regardless of their popularity. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one either. I think platformers have had somewhat of a resurgance recently. This generation has had quite a few brilliant platformers, so I dont agree with that excuse for the lack of a new Rayman. You've got the Mario Galaxy games, NSMBW, DKCR, Sonic Colours, Several Ratchet & Clank games, Banjo Kazooie Nuts n Bolts, Epic Mickey just to name a few great ones. Then there's a massive amount of brilliant downloadable platformers. Thankfully a new Rayman will at least be added to that great list.So yeah I dont see platformers not being hot anymore is an excuse for the lack of a new Rayman game since 2003. Plenty of other developers are still making them.
Shooters being lopsidedly represented by the gaming press to an ignorant public that wants its tastes developed for it DOES. Shooters get all the limelight these days, because they are the new hotness. They aren't going to show a platformer because that isn't what little Teddy Bucktooth wants under teh tree for Christmas. He wants a f****** shooter, partially because, f***, that's mostly what's available, partially because that's what his friends are gonna be playing, and partially (even just a smidge) because the publisher was able to put some moronic quote like, "ITS TEH BEST GAM AH EVER PLAAYD! 10! -- IGN/Gamepro/Whoever" on the box, the review of which mysteriously wasn't out for the actual release of the game, meaning that sticker had to be arranged to be put on their well before the game even went gold.
The public are morons. The press just helps them feel better about it. Not only because they are like company, but because it's just a big game. A consumer would be just as well off calling the PR department of Activision and asking them for an honest evaluation of their game. Hell, most of the reviewers in the press want to get hired there anyway.
Further, 3 of the 7 games you listed are just now being released. If you want to argue that the Platformer is abundant, that's fine, but define what "abundant" means first, because I can list fifty shooters for every one platformer you mentioned, and I'm not kidding. I would be just as happy to see another genre replace the Shooter right now, but it isn't gonna happen anytime soon. The saturation point is getting there, but it takes years for tastes to shift. After all, the Platformer was once king of the market.
Finally, I just wanted to say that I love platformers too and would love to see a renaissance for them.
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