ChrisReid

Death (quite appropriately) noted that GameCenter is running a feature on the five Dead and Buried genres of computer gaming. The piece features above average writing with characteristic pessimism on the part of GameCenter, but it nevertheless is a good read. Although don't even bother reading the small "Can it be saved?" boxes at the bottom of each section, they're no more slanted towards saving the genres than the rest of the text. But the main feature does bring up some good points about repetition and complexity in the "doomed" franchises, and what they don't suggest is that wider acceptance of the points they bring up may in themselves bring about a bit of a change. Sci-Fi Combat Sims are one of the dying categories listed and the Wing Commander and X-Wing series get the nod for being innovative and appropriately melding gameplay with story. You can find the space sim section here, but if you're hardy enough, I recommend reading the whole thing beginning here.

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Original update published on August 20, 2000