GTL: The Evolution of First-Person Shooters & The Esports Arenas
By Twin Galaxies Editorial Staff ·
The first-person shooter genre is a staple of the video game industry and many of the largest franchises in the world call it home. From humble beginnings to dominating the sales charts, the first-person shooter is a top player in the gaming industry.
Today on Game Talk Live, Mandie Roman talks with panelists about the evolution of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, and how some of the biggest FPS franchises are working to stay at the top of the industry. Joining her in today's discussion is esports host and entertainer Paola Alejandra, Echo Fox Gears of War coach Noah "Prison" Burkholz, and lead contributor for Nerdbot Jeremy DeChant.
The Halo franchise is one of the most beloved FPS franchises in the history of video games, but has its dominance over the genre come to an end? The panelists discuss what made the early Halo titles successful, such as simplicity of weapons, amazing single player and highly recognizable characters. Discussion then turned towards the issues that the franchise has been having lately - specifically the game's esports scene. Topics included bringing the game back to its roots, and the improvements Major League Gaming will bring to Halo esports with its high quality production and past record with the professional Halo scene.
Panelists also discussed the Halo franchise's significance to the Xbox brand, and Bungie's impact on Halo. Is Halo keeping the Xbox alive or vice versa? Was it a mistake for Microsoft to let Bungie go?
“The production value that @MLG has is amazing. If you haven’t had a chance to go, you should.” -@pancakepow
— GameTalkLive (@GameTalkLive) February 23, 2018
Watch Live: https://t.co/HhBTjKh1Nb #eSports #eSporTV #esportsfi #GamersUnite #gaming #gamingnews #winner #PCGamer pic.twitter.com/h5DBJn8QgZ
Next up in the show comes the topic of Call of Duty and whether or not is it good for the franchise to have a new game be released every single year. While it makes sense on the business side for Activision to push a new Call of Duty game out every year, as the publisher makes an extraordinary amount of money with each new release, many players would rather have Activision and the trio of Call of Duty developers take a year longer between releases to deliver a better game. The panelists also discuss why Call of Duty sells so well every year, such as brand recognition, addicting multiplayer experience, nostalgic feeling from lifelong fans, and other factors.
Discussion also covered the esports scene for Call of Duty and how there is a lack of effort from Activsion in supporting professional Call of Duty when comparing it to their other major esport title, Overwatch. Game Talk Live discusses how the implementation of esports related in-game items, such as team skins, would help to drive viewership and interest in the scene. Topics also included how the every year release cycle has lead to low quality games that have hurt the franchise's image in past years, and how the franchise would benefit from releasing one game and supporting it for multiple years, such as Rockstar Games and Grand Theft Auto V.
“The people running the show are just not doing it right.” -@prison_oG on @CallofDuty
— GameTalkLive (@GameTalkLive) February 23, 2018
Watch Live: https://t.co/HhBTjKh1Nb #CallofDutyWWII #CallofDuty #CODWW2 #CODWWII #activision #FPS #shooter #gaminglife #playinggames pic.twitter.com/XbQMOFTStu
The show turns its attention towards how FPS games have evolved from single player only to massive online worlds, such as Bungie's Destiny franchise, and what this means for the future of single player modes in FPS titles. Have we moved past the point where single player campaigns for FPS games should be developed? Should FPS titles be developed with only esports in mind? The team considers the positives and negatives of these topics.
Finally, Game Talk Live discusses the massive success of Valve's FPS legend Counter Strike: Global Offensive and why it is still so popular with players. Panelists explain that the game's simple design, enjoyable spectating experience and cosmetic reward system have lead to the game's staying power with fans, especially in the esports scene.
Game Talk Live has wrapped up for today, but you can see the episode in its entirety in the video above. Be sure to check out the previous episode where panelists discuss the success and struggles of indie game development and purchase.