Philll said:
If referencing 4 Hitman games as a definition of what a Hitman game should be is somehow askew... wait... what?
Well, it kind of is. What the previous Hitman games did doesn't cut it anymore. You've got animation, collision, sound, menu structure, story, voicework and other basic stuff that has to be reworked. Then you need new levels that learn from the mistakes of the previous games. The assets need to be on a higher level to compete. You need to therefore sell more because the production cost is much higher.
If you start from there, then a blurb like "just make Blood Money with new levels and cooler graphics" is hard to take seriously. The new engine already does so much more, so that has to be integrated. Already, you're not making the same game anymore. For instance, NPCs engaging you much more specifically according to your uniform. That's a huge difference to the kind of binary attitude they had before. Game changer.
I obviously can't justify much here because I'm at the same point you guys are with knowledge about how it's going to go down. And I don't want to. But you should already see that Blood Money can't naively be reproduced.
You have to add to that the ambition of the people involved. Who really wants to basically do the same thing yet again? Certainly not the typical game designer. So they introduce new mechanics, they're taking risks. And that is necessary for a game to even be relevant nowadays (if you're not CoD).
Yes it does. I just gave two examples. Want some more? Did Black Ops have dedicated servers? How many games since MW2 have specifically stated dedicated servers will be available as a selling point? Have you not seen how developers have reacted to the criticisms of Final Fantasy 13? Oblivion > Skyrim? Dragon Age 2? ?????
Those criticisms were much more concrete and constructive. "We need dedicated servers or your game's multiplayer can't grow properly on the PC". They can process that. Just as an example.
When I can get developer reactions specifically to those images, to me it stands out more than lonely forum comments that will be buried in pages of other random opinions. I know they've seen them, they've commented to me personally. If you cannot understand the jist of what they're trying to convey as if it needs to be a word document specifically stating it, stop looking. They aren't exactly subtle.
I don't think the images are subtle. It's just hard to take them seriously. First, they make me laugh; then they make me think "what's actually the point here?". Then it gets ugly. I really don't see much more than humor and a general opposition to change in them, to be honest. Maybe I'm too dumb though. Not ruling that out!
Have you got a better suggestion to better grab their attention in a way that they will acknowledge it? I've love to hear it.
Well, generally, when you've got a problem with something in a game and want to express that effectively, a good way to do that is to make a YT video where you detail your critique in a manner that it attracts attention on a big scale. Something like that.
If you can form a proper argument that's easy to follow with comments, viewcount and shit, you've got a good starting point, basically. Easy to measure general response and stuff. Low barrier to support or oppose your argument.