Heavy Rain developer David Cage is tired of all the violence and lack of diversity among the video games of today. In an interview with Develop, the Quantic Dream head explained that the reason he and his team continue to try something new stems from a desire to diversify the industry. "I think all I want to do is offer some diversity to the medium. I want to give people the chance to buy something other than ten different first person shooters and RPGs," he said.
What was that Mr. Cage? I couldn't hear you over the blaring of my submachine gun.
Kidding aside, I couldn't agree more with the developer's sentiment. The key to expanding the reach of video games to a wider market doesn't lie in gimmicks (see motion controls) but rather by providing the consumer with unique and engaging experiences that aren't heavily focused on shooting and violence. "There should be games for all ages, all tastes. Whatever is possible with interactive entertainment should be explored, and I don't think we're seeing that right now."
Why is it that nearly every human being on this planet likes movies? It's because there are a number of different genres that cater to all types of people and their interests. If the theaters were dominated by war movies chock full of guns and bullets, I'm sure we'd see a similarly narrow audience. As such, the solution isn't redefining the way people experience a particular medium, but rather broadening the genres of content that are available.
Alright, I'll get off my soapbox now. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
