Why are domestic game consoles not doing well as shown by the “worst games”?

2014 was a very busy year for the gaming industry. Xbox One and PS4 set off a next-generation storm, which led to a rematch between Sony and Microsoft. The lifting of the ban on gaming consoles in China and the emergence of domestic gaming equipment also gave the domestic gaming market a different look.

But having a game console is one thing, and what you can play on it is another. Recently, foreign media selected the "Top Ten Worst Video Games of 2014", and all of the selected projects were launched on the game console platform, which is the TV game that both domestic and foreign game devices are paying attention to.

From these "worst games", let's take a look at what the TV games that players are dissatisfied with are really bad at? And why are domestic game consoles not doing well?

The graphics and operation are the flaws that lower the level of the game

Among the ten worst games, Escape from Dead Island was considered "not as bad as it could not be helped, it just wasted a design idea with great potential", and what this means is that the game's operating experience is too simple and repetitive.

In addition, the reason why "The Last Tinker: City of Color" is on the list is not only because of its mediocre operation, but also because of its backward graphics and visual effects, which make people feel that it is inconsistent with the graphics performance of the PS4 console.

From this point of view, whether it is a PC game or a TV game, the graphics and operation are undoubtedly important indicators for judging the quality of a game.

In contrast, as for domestic game consoles, not to mention the gaming experience, many products still fail to achieve the best device compatibility, including game controllers. What's more, most domestic game consoles on the Android platform rely on "mobile games" to maintain their "facade". Whether they can be controlled with a controller is a problem. After enlarging the screen to the TV, the picture effect is even worse.

The game lacks novelty and players won’t buy it

In fact, there are some well-known masterpieces among the "Top Ten Worst Video Games" this time, such as "Transformers: Rise of the Dark Flame" and "Rambo: The Game" which have elements of Hollywood blockbusters, as well as "Final Fantasy 13: Lightning Returns" and "Sonic Boom: The Rise of Lyrics" which have a long history in the game industry and are well-known to everyone.

But despite their eye-catching highlights, these games still failed due to uninspired design. Transformers: Rise of the Dark Flame felt out of date, Rambo: The Game still used Stallone's old routine of "kill, kill, kill", and the sequels of Final Fantasy and Sonic were full of simple and repetitive levels, which made players uninterested.

Looking back, although domestic game consoles have not been developed for a long time, there are still some practices that use well-known elements to attract users' attention.

For example, many domestic game consoles regard movie-derived games as their main "masterpieces". "Minion Rush" has been played over and over again, and "Modern Warfare" developed by Gameloft for mobile devices has been placed in a "sacred" position by domestic manufacturers like "Call of Duty". Even if you have not played the same content on your mobile phone or tablet, playing these games, even some gravity-sensing games, on TV is obviously an overreaction.

No interaction, no fun

Of course, some of the "worst games" selected are also sincere works that were previously highly anticipated, such as the PS4 racing game "DriveClub" or "Basement Combat" which is also exclusive to the PS4 console. Especially "DriveClub", the graphics and operation feel are first-class, providing a fulfilling stand-alone gaming experience, but the poor point is the lack of interactivity between players. It did not achieve the social interaction elements and online gaming experience as claimed in the game promotion.

Whether it is the previous "Little Overlord" or the current next-generation console, a big part of the purpose of players buying a game console is to be able to play with others, so the most basic thing for a game console is to support two controllers.

In terms of interactivity, domestic game consoles can easily connect two, four, eight or even sixteen controllers, but there are only a handful of games that can be played by multiple people at the same time. Even for online gaming experiences, domestic game consoles under the Android platform are more like a TV box. If you want to experience the thrill of "Big Pineapple" on it, it is currently impossible.

To sum up, players are always picky, which is why every year there are waves of "worst game" selections in the gaming field, as well as many games that are critically acclaimed but not popular.

Faced with domestic game consoles that are still in their infancy, various manufacturers and brands seem to focus on "occupying a position" in the market, trying to make their products "like" game consoles, while ignoring the true meaning of the game itself.

The reason why domestic game consoles are not doing well is that the games on the game consoles are not well made. The competition in content will determine the survival of domestic game consoles in the future more than hardware indicators.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.