Waypoints: Anticipation's Antidotes

High-budget releases, in contrast, usually present realistic, cinematic experiences. Modern AAA-titles often look and play more like interactive films than the videogames I grew up with, and as each year passes, the best of these titles reset the standards for their respective genres. Players are conditioned to expect new releases that are, as Cliff Bleszenski would say, "Bigger, better, and more badass."

It's tough to pull that off, though. Meeting the standard, let alone exceeding it, requires developers to overcome financial, technical, production, and design hurdles that they can't always clear. Far too many games miss the mark trying to establish themselves as the next big thing. As Alone in the Dark recently demonstrated, a memorable, jaw-dropping, high-budget presentation can't salvage basic control and design problems.

I love big-budget games. I love looking forward to them, playing them, and writing about them. But I grow weary of the cycle of anticipation and disappointment they seem destined to engender. And I get tired of the constant recycling of established themes and designs that accompany developers' reaches for purported greatness.

Lower-cost, smaller-scale gaming surprises are the perfect antidote to the insanity of the AAA market. They show up untainted by expectations and provide unique, refreshing experiences. You don't need to stray far from retail shelves to find brilliant games that represent an honest return to form. Eden and Retro Evolved 2 are the most recent Live Arcade and PlayStation Store standouts, but similar games exist for every platform, and especially the PC.

The fall release season is just around the corner, and I'm ready to sacrifice time, money, and sleep to get my hands on the high-profile games I've waited months or years to play. I know that many will fall short despite the incredible technology and massive expenditures that went into their creation. By the time January arrives, I'll be tired of the hype, tired of disappointment, and tired of big-budget titles. Luckily, I'll have Eden, Retro: Evolved 2, and their counterparts to remind me what I love about gaming.