Number One with a Drill Bucket! A Small Exposition Promoting a Way to Create Better Games

Xbox Live members received a real treat last week in the form of Capcom’s Dead Rising 2: Case 0, a five hour, five dollar stand-alone prequel to their latest zombie whomp-fest.  Early critics pegged it as a paid demo, but with over 300,000 units sold in its first week (an XBLA record, apparently) and an incredible amount of positive buzz, Case 0 is not only a success, but it just might make a serious impact on the future of games.

Earlier this year, I was charmed by the slick DSiware tie-in, Dark Void Zero, another Capcom promotion which took the same premise as its full-priced counterpart and shrunk it down into an 8-bit arcady platformer.  The result, although short, was a game I, and a lot of others, really enjoyed.  Dead Rising 2: Case 0 takes this idea one step further and offers us a fully realized experience in the game world it too promotes.  Providing a tight, well-paced challenge, Case 0 incorporates the same approach to time management and leveling as the original Dead Rising, while adding a viscerally-rewarding weapon customization system.  But the most exciting thing about Case 0 is it provides a satisfyingly complete experience in such a short and sweet package.

And I want more. Not more Dead Rising 2 (although Case 0 has me considering it). No, I want more short, affordable action games. More downloadable games. More good games. 

Take any flawed, third-tier action shooter that came out for console with little fanfare, sold miserably at $60 then disappeared — Legendary, or Golden Axe, or any of the host of Gears or Halo wannabes that just were too wonky to enjoy. Now imagine if they were reworked, the story tightened and made more accessible, poorly implemented mechanics removed, pacing polished, action perfected — all tightened into an enjoyable five hour adventure that sold for five bucks. I’d buy it. I think you would too. 

There’s too much inflexibility over what a console action game should be.  Matt Kish’s recent post lamenting the predictable state of game narrative made an excellent point about how certain games never change. Popular action shooters, especially money-printing franchises like Halo, dare not tamper with core gameplay.  The problem is this attitude trickles down and influences the developers of lesser games.  Case 0 shows us an alternative that might be very good for both gamer and the industry. Sure, this one is meant to get you excited for the full game. But as an example of what future games could be like, Dead Rising 2: Case 0 is very important, and by buying it you send a message to the industry that short, affordable games are just as desirable as the big ones.  Also, you’ll be getting a pretty darn good game for only $5.

- Andy