Home›Video game›Olympics video games are terrible, but there is a way to fix them
Olympics video games are terrible, but there is a way to fix them
The Olympics could refuse to include players, but the monumental sporting event is no stranger to video game adaptations.
Mario and Sonic face off every two years in officially licensed video games. And this year, Sega released a more realistic adaptation of the historic sporting event with Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – The Official Video Game.
It is not a new trend either. Video games based on the Olympics do exist since the 1990s. There's just one problem: none of these video games are very good.
Sports games are among the most popular titles out there, so it makes sense that developers see the Olympics as a huge opportunity. But the lack of a decent Olympic video game suggests that studios are content to pump up forgettable mini-game collections. These games often take the continental breakfast approach – there's something anyone can digest, but nothing fancy.
With a little effort, we could have a video game that represents the best of the Olympics by highlighting under-represented sports and bringing people from all over the world together. Currently, the only highlight is when Mario and Sonic share the pitch.
I am Tomas Franzese, and here's The Hotfix, a column on ideas that could improve video games and the culture around them. Every week or so, I will explore an issue in the game and how it might be resolved. I'll speak to experts, come up with my own analysis, and call on you, the people I write for, to probe with your ideas. Send all your comments to [email protected] 🎮
The problem with Olympic video games
Series like Madden, FIFA, and NBA 2K are popular for a very simple reason – they discovered what makes these sports exciting and fun to play. Rarely televised events like gymnastics and rowing also have these exhilarating moments, like landing a clean jump landing or watching eight oars glide through the water in perfect harmony.
No Olympics video game comes close to these titles. Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – The Official Video Game from Sega, in particular, feels undercooked and bland. Without additional modes, you'll see all the game has to offer in an hour or less.
Minigames aren't inherently terrible, as shows like WarioWare and Yakuza prove. But most Olympic video games don't have enough depth to be interesting after playing them once – a critical flaw for a sports title designed to be played multiple times.
Because they try to represent and appeal to such a wide variety of sports and fans, licensed Olympic video games cannot focus on making every event fun to play. It exposes the greatest weakness of video games based on the Olympic Games: they are jack-of-all-trades, without a master.
How to fix it
Olympic video games must go further. The best mini-games in the Sega collection, like rugby and judo, actually have a certain depth, which makes players want to ask for more. A compelling story or career mode would go a long way in enhancing the experience.
Annual releases like FIFA and Madden have discovered how to create engaging storytelling in this way, and the Olympics provide a great backdrop for a gripping sports drama about an underdog trying to win.
Even an RPG approach could be interesting. Imagine a Yuri !! On the ice– a figure skating game inspired by the Winter Olympics, where you have to balance your social life and training regimen with a regular roster of regional and international competitions, slowly making your way into the global spotlight.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – The Official Video Game is more concerned with having weird outfits and representing many sporting events than with having fun. Sega
The Olympics are an event where people from all over the world come together. An Olympic game should do the same. An online social hub where fans can meet and mingle would enhance future games, and exploring the Olympics and interacting with other player-athletes would be just as new as playing individual sports mini-games.
It would also serve as a time capsule to describe what the event looked like long after it ended. Titles like Tokyo Olympics 2020 should not be in the trash by the time the closing ceremonies are over. They should be relevant sports titles for the months and years to come.
Olympic video game developers should go for gold, not settle for a participation trophy.
Poll says Luigi's Mansion 3 has the most enjoyable, easy-to-tame video game dog
What made James Bond's latest game 007 Legends such an unexpected disaster?
Games company Kepler raises $ 120 million from China's NetEase
Play faster, play weirder: how speedrunning pushes video games beyond their limits | Games
Today's D Brief: Nimruz falls first in ...
Sandstorm is coming to consoles on September ...
The 7 Most Evil Companies in Video Games
Hone your game developer skills while creating a classic video game character
'Gex', the forgotten 90s video game mascot, could make a comeback
Tesla drivers can now play video games even with moving cars
You can ride the Polaris Sportsman ATV in EA's "Battlefield 2042" video game.
China to ban video games featuring same-sex relationships
PS5 UK Weekend Replenishment EDITION – AO and ShopTo Discontinue PlayStation 5 Stock | Games | Entertainment
Interactive game company 'WinZO' announces third fund for game developers worth $ 20 million
Call of Duty finally credits a disabled player after 15 years