A Polite Request

I love video games. This is patently obvious, considering that I actually work in the video game industry. My two big loves are Role-Playing Games (RPGs) and First-Person-Shooters (FPSs) though I do appreciate a wide variety of games.

I, therefore, have one simple request for my esteemed brethren in the industry:

ENOUGH WITH THE AMNESIA ALREADY!

I am getting really tired of games starting with:

You wake up in a dark alley, clad in a pink tutu and combat boots, your only possessions a Barbie Doll with one arm missing and a machete. You cannot remember your name, where youre from, who your Prom date was, or why lima beans make your cry, but you know one thing: someone is going to pay!

There are other ways to prevent the player from learning pertinent information. True, these ways are harder and require a bit more work, but I, for one, would appreciate it.

Here is one for free: The hero is a highly trained government assassin who is targeted by his own side. Rather than giving him amnesia, maybe his superiors have been purposefully feeding him misinformation. So when he goes to the super-secret hideout, its just a Chuck-E-Cheese. Now he is uncertain that his information is good and the game can proceed normally. Easy, is it not?

Now, I am not suggesting that games can never use amnesia. Im sure it could be done well. Just do not use it if there is a viable alternative.

Here is a thought: Make a game where everyone has amnesia. The hero, the large-breasted love interest (there has to be one in every game, its a rule), the postman, the dog, your neighbors, everyone. Now that could be fun!

So, please, do it for the children.

Cheer,
-Jason