Genreblending

            You don't play Fallout: New Vegas expecting a Call of Duty's shooting mechanics, just like you don't play Final Fantasy wanting an in-depth racing mechanic like Midnight Club.  Games like Fallout 3 and New Vegas are great RPGs with RPG mechanics, its not trying to be a Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto, so it shoots guns, don't make it a "shooter" so to speak just like adding the ability to run over pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto doesn't make it a "simulation".

             Lately game developers are experimenting with genreblending, and are coming out with an unplayable mass in some instances, other it helps.  For example, in Grand Theft Auto IV they add some elements of simulation and RPG, like having to take out your friends or they get mad at you, often making it hard to get benefits out of them unless your reality is so boring you would rather play darts and pool with a VI that insults your every move; as well as having a costume change for Niko, but no real use, other than to impress your NPC friends whom always wear the same thing regardless.  Useless and annoying functions added to an otherwise great game, its like adding a chocolate to a cheeseburger, both are good separate, but together they taste like poo.  Then games that add to the mix with genreblending such as Deadrising 1 and 2.  The idea of being in a zombie apocalypse with stores and clothes unclaimed as well as a leveling up system to increase stats and earn new moves, work well and flawlessly... usually, I have been killed while trying to heal because drinking a coffee creamer is apparently the equivalent of a wine tasting and you just swish it around for a few minutes.  This was expanded upon with the remake/port to the Wii Deadrising: Chop 'till you Drop, worst pun of a name ever I know but it was all they apparently could come up with.  In D:CtyD you actually have an inventory system now to make it better to hold items, both healing and weapons, sure the game stunk worse than a two week old gym sock, but it was the innovation added that its mention is here for.

           I know this may seem like a strange entry after discussing innovation in games such as experimenting in genreblending in my last one.  This has become a serious issue, no longer is it easy to find a game of your favorite genre as easily as it once was, now you have Final Fantasy XIII that is more of a movie, good movie mind, but not really a game anymore, and games like Heavy Rain that feels sort of like The Sims on steroids at times, telling them to take a wee and eat, turn on lights, look out a window, all that is missing is an option to kill your character with fire in a doorless room with a fireplace and fifty nightstands.

Thanks for reading, still thinking of Mass Effect, haven't forgotten, just wondering if it would be a good topic or something else.  =^_^=