- Joined
- Sep 3, 2018
- Favourite title
- Shenmue
- Currently playing
- Rise of the Ronin
Now one of the most common criticisms I see leveled against Shenmue III is that it’s “outdated” (which is odd seeing as how it has some more modern conveniences). However it got me to contemplate about how drastically the gaming landscape has changed in the past twenty years. Back in 1999, Shenmue stood heads and shoulders above other video games due to its inventing of a new genre and popularizing many concepts that gamers take for granted today. Sadly though, as well know the series flopped and went dormant in 2001.
For the next fourteen years not only did the industry catch up to what Shenmue did, but refined it. There’s also the fact that the way we consume our entertainment has changed. Nowadays, we have access to an unlimited amount of entertainment options at the touch of our fingertips. This has established a new expectation among consumers for instant gratification. Also a new generation of gamers have entered into the medium since 1999 who have never heard of Shenmue till 2015. However they have heard of its prolific spiritual successor Ryu Ga Gotoku, which tends to conform more towards modern sensibilities.
What I am getting at is that Shenmue faces a very different set of circumstances in comparison to its Dreamcast days. It’s a lot harder for Shenmue to stand out in today's world since its the antithesis of contemporary expectations. Not only does Shenmue now have to compete against its spiritual successor, it has to compete with the entirety of entertainment as a whole. So with all these factors in play, how can Shenmue remain relevant in today’s cultural zeitgeist?
For the next fourteen years not only did the industry catch up to what Shenmue did, but refined it. There’s also the fact that the way we consume our entertainment has changed. Nowadays, we have access to an unlimited amount of entertainment options at the touch of our fingertips. This has established a new expectation among consumers for instant gratification. Also a new generation of gamers have entered into the medium since 1999 who have never heard of Shenmue till 2015. However they have heard of its prolific spiritual successor Ryu Ga Gotoku, which tends to conform more towards modern sensibilities.
What I am getting at is that Shenmue faces a very different set of circumstances in comparison to its Dreamcast days. It’s a lot harder for Shenmue to stand out in today's world since its the antithesis of contemporary expectations. Not only does Shenmue now have to compete against its spiritual successor, it has to compete with the entirety of entertainment as a whole. So with all these factors in play, how can Shenmue remain relevant in today’s cultural zeitgeist?
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