Worst Video Game Flops of All Time?

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-09-28 11:52pm

HOwever, they did popularise CD drives...

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2005-09-28 11:59pm

Dennis Toy wrote:no one ever mentioned this one, FMV ( Full-Motion Video) in the 1990's, FMV was supposed to be the future of gaming, it was hyped, and advertised, and even pushed upon the market. The truth was this was a total waste of time and computer power. Full Motion Video did not add anything to the game other than be a waste of memory.

Actually, considering that the cut-scenes were part of what helped sell Final Fantasy VII and VIII, I wouldn't call them flops. In fact, back in the day, there were websites dedicated to hosting cut-scenes from video games for download, and people even sold Video CDs on eBay of Final Fantasy cut-scenes because people liked them so much. The ending sequence for Final Fantasy VIII was very well-done in particular.

No, I'd call them a stop-gap solution for story-telling. Now that hardware can handle more polygons, it's more feasible to simply use the in-game engine for cut-scenes. But when console gamers were stuck with the PSX, which couldn't even do bilinear texture filtering and operated at 320x240 resolution, a big selling point for many games was the cut-scene artistry.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2005-09-29 12:39am

General Zod wrote:Would Nintendo's CD add-on for the Super NES with Sony count as a flop? Even though it technically never really got off the ground? All the hype surrounding it, and it never materialised. Kinda sad really.

I wouldn't call it a flop, but it was Nintendo's greatest fuck up. With that they created their greatest competator, and (probably) in some small part lured Microsoft to the industry.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-09-29 12:40am

Indeed, in the very rare instances where FMV was done properly, it was very cool. Wing Commander 3, for instance, was like being treated to a feature film in addition to a great game. Based on reviews, I'd wager that WC3 was a better movie than the actual Wing Commander movie.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2005-09-29 01:32am

Dooey Jo wrote:
Ford Prefect wrote:Just to ruin everyone's day, there is no ET landfill. *snip*
However, Snopes says there is...

It seems like an awful waste of money to bury millions of extra copies of the game though. Expecially when you can reuse them, and especially since there is no photo of Howard Scott Warsaw standing on top of the pile

Oh well.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-09-29 01:42am

The SNES bazooka was a waste, as was the NES power-pad.

The only game I wish I hadn't bought is MOO3. You can win that game without ever actually fighting an alien. Just super-build colonies and elect yourself president by turn 100.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-09-29 01:51am

Dennis Toy wrote:no one ever mentioned this one, FMV ( Full-Motion Video) in the 1990's, FMV was supposed to be the future of gaming, it was hyped, and advertised, and even pushed upon the market. The truth was this was a total waste of time and computer power. Full Motion Video did not add anything to the game other than be a waste of memory.

and it's what brought the before then good sierra company into chapter 11

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-09-29 01:53am

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:Indeed, in the very rare instances where FMV was done properly, it was very cool. Wing Commander 3, for instance, was like being treated to a feature film in addition to a great game. Based on reviews, I'd wager that WC3 was a better movie than the actual Wing Commander movie.

fuck yeah, they should have made the Wing Commander Movie with Malcolm McDowell, Amber Lynn and Mark Hamil

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-09-29 02:22am

Durandal wrote:
Dennis Toy wrote:no one ever mentioned this one, FMV ( Full-Motion Video) in the 1990's, FMV was supposed to be the future of gaming, it was hyped, and advertised, and even pushed upon the market. The truth was this was a total waste of time and computer power. Full Motion Video did not add anything to the game other than be a waste of memory.
Actually, considering that the cut-scenes were part of what helped sell Final Fantasy VII and VIII, I wouldn't call them flops. In fact, back in the day, there were websites dedicated to hosting cut-scenes from video games for download, and people even sold Video CDs on eBay of Final Fantasy cut-scenes because people liked them so much. The ending sequence for Final Fantasy VIII was very well-done in particular.

No, I'd call them a stop-gap solution for story-telling. Now that hardware can handle more polygons, it's more feasible to simply use the in-game engine for cut-scenes. But when console gamers were stuck with the PSX, which couldn't even do bilinear texture filtering and operated at 320x240 resolution, a big selling point for many games was the cut-scene artistry.

Actually, I assumed Toy was refering to those total FMV video games that were part of the major push of the multimedia movement, which amounted to pretty much nothing more than interactive video novels, rather than the use of FMVs several years later.

SpacedTeddyBear · Post by **SpacedTeddyBear** » 2005-09-29 02:44am

Based on reviews, I'd wager that WC3 was a better movie than the actual Wing Commander movie.

You had Ginger Lynn Allen playing the role of a grease monkey. She could've greased my monkey any time.

fuck yeah, they should have made the Wing Commander Movie with Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell was actually originally cast to play Admiral Tolwyn. He had some last minute engangements which prevented him from playing the part.

Anyways, the V-boy was shit. One of my friends had one; I'd get headaches everytime I had it on.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-09-29 03:42am

ok it was Ginger Lynn not Amber Lynn but Luke, and McDowell should have been kept

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2005-09-30 06:25pm

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:Indeed, in the very rare instances where FMV was done properly, it was very cool. Wing Commander 3, for instance, was like being treated to a feature film in addition to a great game. Based on reviews, I'd wager that WC3 was a better movie than the actual Wing Commander movie.

Or the FMV from Privateer 2. Clive Owen and Christopher Walken in a computer game...although to be fair, both games were quite a bit of time after the original FMV craze.

The Spartan · Post by **The Spartan** » 2005-09-30 08:37pm

Hate to jump into the thread so late, but as one of the unfortunate people to have actually played E.T. I have to vote for it as well.

Come to think of it, the cartridge is probably still in my parents attic somewhere.