Thought Experiment: The Criterion Collection Of Video Games
Basically "what if Criterion extended there branding to video games". For those not versed in movies Criterion is a DVD & Blu-Ray distribution company focused on making culturally/historically significant but niche films and shorts accessible to the average Joe & Jane in the name of cultural preservation.
Criteria:
1) Historically significant (started a genre, auteur director , started an art style trend, revolutionized gaming marketing or distribution, etc.) keep in mind historically important isn't the same as "good".
2) Not re-released often
3) "Can a start up conceivably get the rights" (for the sake of a fun thought experiment and to avoid flooding this with a ton of AAA Atari/Nintendo/SEGA/Sony Computer Entertainment titles). For the sake of flavor I'm also going to assume this was some sort of Criterion spin off brand meaning pre-existing movie studio relationships are a thing I can factor in. This is relevant since basically every still active major movie company has owned a game studio at some point in its existence.
* doesn’t need all three to be on list.
Feel free to suggest stuff in the comments!
Criteria:
1) Historically significant (started a genre, auteur director , started an art style trend, revolutionized gaming marketing or distribution, etc.) keep in mind historically important isn't the same as "good".
2) Not re-released often
3) "Can a start up conceivably get the rights" (for the sake of a fun thought experiment and to avoid flooding this with a ton of AAA Atari/Nintendo/SEGA/Sony Computer Entertainment titles). For the sake of flavor I'm also going to assume this was some sort of Criterion spin off brand meaning pre-existing movie studio relationships are a thing I can factor in. This is relevant since basically every still active major movie company has owned a game studio at some point in its existence.
* doesn’t need all three to be on list.
Feel free to suggest stuff in the comments!
89 Games
Critically acclaimed, one of the first modernish story driven games that would set the standard carried on by many AAA titles of its gen.
Critically acclaimed Toby Fox has become one of the fewsort’ve household name Game devs.
Could conceivably include the original PICO-8 game jam version as an extra.
The Half-Life series helped popularize Steam (and thus digital games) as a distribution platform
The Half-Life series helped popularize Steam (and thus digital games) as a distribution platform
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers.
Infamously hard to re-release due to spaghetti code
One of the two games that popularized the 3D cinematic JRPG trend of the PS1/PS2 era. PC version and all ports based on it might not work by 2038 due to a Y2K style bug.
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers.
popularized horror games among generation Z.
One of the earliest “3D” games, important to shooter design
One of the first modern "art house" indie games. Could include NewGrounds and original soundtrack releases as bonuses.
First arthouse games to break into the mainstream.
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers.
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers.
Uses interactivity to play with narrative perspective.
Armageddon
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers.
Surreal RPG that shaped the modern indie scene.
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers. MGS4 specifically needs to be ported to non-PS3 platformers.
Modernised smartphone gaming. Technically not playable on modern hardware as the modern version on Apple's gaming sub is free to play based.
Lots of Squaresoft games have inconsistent re-releases that fuck with sprite art which is a problem. I could see these being the equivalent of Kurosawa movies.
Would be the landmark centennial release I imagine.
Kickstarted a wave of indie horror games in the 2010s. Even inspired Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
Offline version, can host your own server.
What not to do in game development. Highlights the struggles of AAA HD development that sank or harmed many companies in the seventh generation. Impacted the cultural discourse on the nature of fandom.
Platonic ideal of a fighting game. - submission by DeltaWDunn
Surreal critique of capitalism.
Would include a version based on the 3DS remake as well as a bonus.
"The critical acclaim for this game that was developed by one person inspired many independent developers. Debatably also inspired the revival of the 8-bit style in the late 2000s seen in games like Mega Man 9." - Submission by Lozicle
"The critical acclaim for this game that was developed by one person inspired many independent developers. Debatably also inspired the revival of the 8-bit style in the late 2000s seen in games like Mega Man 9." - Submission by Lozicle
The Last Guardian is included since Criterion tends to lump in
related releases (see Three Colors Trilogy or Quatsi Trilogy)
related releases (see Three Colors Trilogy or Quatsi Trilogy)
First arthouse games to break into the mainstream.
One of the first modern "art house" indie games
Caused the creation of the ESRB.
Contextualizes Sonic 06’ (split dev resources)
First commercially successful game popularized the arcade format.
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers. MG is MSX version
One of the earliest “3D” games, important to shooter design
Set the standard for cinematic titles for a generation. Was sorta a precursor to modern open world games.
Surreal RPG that shaped the modern indie scene.
Kojima is basically the gaming aeuteur to a generation of gamers.
Translated for the first time.
One of the first 3D platformers to enter active development (though Super Mario 64 beat it to market)
"set the blueprint for many 90s Beat-Em-Ups and also was integral to the creation of Street Fighter II" - Submission by DeltaWDunn
Earliest example of cel shaded art style.
First AAA Australia developed video game.
Criterion tends to lump in related works
Really early example of a game playing with genre.
One of the earliest examples of modern open world design, not as openly available as other entries in its series especially on consoles.
I imagine highlighting developing markets like Brazil would be a big part of a criterion style collection.
Significant early smhup.
Accessory based games would lend themselves to this boutique label approach well. Time Crisis is really emblematic of light gun games as a whole.
Offline version, can host your own server.
Croc related works
Crashed the industry in the 70s which forced an overt industry pivot to kids as the primary demographic of the 8-Bit and 16-bit era when Nintendo entered the fray.
Arthouse vibes
"Helped popularizing 3D polygonal graphics. Allegedly inspired the PlayStation's 3D graphics hardware." - submission by Lozicle
Criterion tends to lump in related works. Also maybe an argument to be made for popularizing Kickstarter model in the AAA (something continued with TemTem, Psyconauts 2, etc.)
Early mainstream sports game. Might have less licensing BS than say the first Madden, NFL2K or FIFA titles.
One of the two games that popularized the 3D cinematic JRPG trend of the PS1/PS2 era.
Wiiware service, never rereleased.
One of the earliest franchised games, represents the early text adventure games popular in regions like the United Kingdom in the 70s & 80s.
Gave us the Polybius conspiracy which has had tremendous impact on pop culture.
One of the earliest examples of a critically acclaimed multiplayer experience
One of the first games of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami.
One of the first point and click adventure games
ROB saved the US gaming market in the 80s.
Should arguably be the GameBoy version, but I'm using original releases for this list, popularized mobile gaming and puzzle games.
One of the earliest CRPGs
I imagine highlighting developing markets like Brazil would be a big part of a criterion style collection.
First public video game.
Wiiware service, never rereleased.
Beloved game in the UK gaming space
First mainstream dating sim.
First video game broadest definition has parallels to "A Trip To The Moon" in the actual Criterion collection
Would be the first big translation effort of the whole affair.
Wiiware service, never rereleased.
Started the trend of modern shooter controllers by using a second stick for aiming.
Croc related works
ROB saved the US gaming market in the 80s.
Earliest recorded LGBTQ+ content in the industry.
First dating sim.
"Another WiiWare locked retro revival." - Submission by DeltaWDunn
Early LGBTQ+ representation in the media.
Platonic ideal of what a rhythm game is.
First fighting game
Work of Muriel Tramis a prominent early black auteur in the industry.
Work of Muriel Tramis a prominent early black auteur in the industry.
Sometimes something just gives off Criterion vibes and I can’t put my finger on it.
1998 release
2 Comments
Might suggest a few more later but here's what I got now:
Alpha Waves is often considered to be the first 3D Platformer ever.
Jumping Flash! was a 3D Platformer released before Croc.
Blaster Master: Overdrive is another WiiWare locked retro revival.
Night Trap should be here for similar reasons to Mortal Kombat.
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior set the blueprint for pretty much every 2D Fighter.
Final Fight set the blueprint for many 90s Beat-Em-Ups and also was integral to the creation of Street Fighter II.
Star Fox was one of the earliest examples of 3D graphics on console.
Star Fox II was cancelled but eventually released by Nintendo, although its releases include a discontinued plug n' play and an online subscription.
Alone in the Dark is (to my knowledge) the earliest example of a fixed-camera Survival Horror game.
Alpha Waves is often considered to be the first 3D Platformer ever.
Jumping Flash! was a 3D Platformer released before Croc.
Blaster Master: Overdrive is another WiiWare locked retro revival.
Night Trap should be here for similar reasons to Mortal Kombat.
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior set the blueprint for pretty much every 2D Fighter.
Final Fight set the blueprint for many 90s Beat-Em-Ups and also was integral to the creation of Street Fighter II.
Star Fox was one of the earliest examples of 3D graphics on console.
Star Fox II was cancelled but eventually released by Nintendo, although its releases include a discontinued plug n' play and an online subscription.
Alone in the Dark is (to my knowledge) the earliest example of a fixed-camera Survival Horror game.
Lozicle
11 months ago
Virtua Fighter (1993): Helped popularizing 3D polygonal graphics. Allegedly inspired the PlayStation's 3D graphics hardware. Might also be worth including Yu Suzuki's other games, like Space Harrier, Out Run and Virtua Racing.
Cave Story (2004): The critical acclaim for this game that was developed by one person inspired many independent developers. Debatably also inspired the revival of the 8-bit style in the late 2000s seen in games like Mega Man 9.
Touhou Rei'iden: The Highly Responsive to Prayers (1997): The first entry in the Touhou Project doujin game series, which has inspired many fan works, including art, music, animations, and other doujin games.
Touhou Koumakyou: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (2002): The most popular and well-known game in the Touhou Project series.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992): This definitely breaks rule 2 (there are four ways to play it on the Nintendo Switch), but I think Frank Cifaldi made a good argument for it on the Insert Credit podcast, and I wanted to expand on it. His argument was that Sonic 1 and 2 inspired many imitator mascots with attitude, and Sonic 2 is definitely not the game they intended to release. How cool would it be to include bonus material showing the island maps and time travel ideas they had planned? I think they could also include the Nick Arcade and Simon Wai prototypes as bonuses too (albeit with some way to mitigate the crashing). Alternatively...
Sonic Jam (1997): Basically a Criterion Collection release of the Genesis/Mega Drive Sonic platformers. It probably has the most detailed museum of any Sonic collection. It's also the only rerelease to include difficulty options, with remixed level layouts designed by the original Sonic Team.