My thoughts on current video game trends.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

As a man who has access to all of his consoles modern and past I feel the need to say that the video game industry is driven by a generation that is lost in CG quality and wants no real challenge. I don't want to see another game that boasts 80+ hours of game time coupled with a mildly interactive experience. If people want to see a movie they should see a movie. I know that I'm a bit young to have this rant (20 years old). I hate the modern "gamer" they are an army of morons who want all flash and no bang. It is rare to hear a game described as being "fun" anymore. I think that the game genres have been too set in stone for much innovation. Companies make a First Person Shooter or maybe  Football game. They seem to start from the end result (being a defined genre) and then just fill in their characters and such. You don't see innovation much anymore with games like Katamari Damacy and REZ being a few exceptions. It seems that the home computer is the worst system for variety you have three genres all set in stone. They are First Person Shooters,Real Time Strategies and last but certainly least MMORPGs. We need the return of challenging games that make young players feel bad about their reflexes and continue to kick amatures in the balls until they get better. I'm sick of this modern game that plays like 80+ hours of mildly interactive movie gently holding the players hand on an epic journey across a colorfully world of whimsy and adventure. There are few games that you can "master" anymore and that is sad. I remember when you played for high scores and bragging rights. There were no unlockables because the game was just plain fun, you didn't need to beat a dead horse to squeeze an extra 10 hours of "pseudofun" out. Children need to fail once in a while and sometimes it is nice to have raw merciless challenge. I will say in closing that it is fine to play lengthy and unchallenging games but the trend against innovation and challenge makes me sick.

[relsoft]

Yeah, that's why I mostly play emulated games nowadays.

Currently playing FF9(PSX)

[Shockwave]

There's too much money at stake in the software industry for software houses to take a risk on new ideas, that's why everything these days is a movie tie-in or a sequel to a successful franchise.

There are plenty of original ideas out these for games, but true innovation comes in the shareware or freeware market.

If you can put up with games that don't have the graphics , physics and sound of modern day blockbusters then you can fill your boots, or do as Rel does and get your hands on emulators.

Hell, even go and visit the arcade on this forum where you can play arcade classics like Galaga, Pacman and tetris etc...

By the way, franchises like Call of Duty and Grand theft Auto have seen me through many a drunken evening

[Jim]

It's a shame you think that PO.  When I wrote games we did everything as programmers and artists to give you the best games, and I'm sure today's game programmers want to do the same.
The problem is the squeeze for money.  It used to be the top 5% of the games made 95% of the money, and two years ago the top 1% made 99% of the money.  Today I reckon it's even more tight, and that it's like the top 0.01% of games make 99.99% of the money.
That's really tough, when you're not EA or THQ and you can afford to soak up a few duds, and that's just the publishers.  Imagine the developers who are on advances and can never pay it back unless they hit AAA pay dirt.
It's a great industry to work in with the amazing technology advances and the miniscule possibility of making a million, but it's cut-throat.

Jim

[Hotshot]

It is very true on what jim say. Gaming of 80`s and 90`s were the best as it was all pure gameplay. Now we have all eyes candy graphics that drool any gamer but crap gameplay. There are only few great game this year such as COD 4(I have not play it yet but will do), Crysis and some other games too.

[rain_storm]

I remember being blown away by the superior graphics of Wolfenstein that was long before 3d games came into their own. Nowadays its all 3d and there's no turnin back. The market demands that each new title is to look sweeter than the last. We are willin to spend our cash on these titles and when buying a game the eye candy is an important factor. How many games do you guys buy and dont even complete? Its only those few that you find most fun that actually get completed. On another note how many times have you seen a video game ad with the words "in-game footage" yet you know that it was an FMV and not footage of someone playing the game. This is what sells these games to the masses. Final Fantasy 7 was a pain in the behind to play through but I loved the FMV's it was those few moments that I played that game for. not the endless random battle with the turn based attack system. Basically FF7 wasnt fun to play but it was great to watch. Because of the quality of the visuals Square-Enix can produce the Final Fantasy franchise is one of the biggest in the RPG genre.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I too enjoy RPG's sometimes but I see them as more interactive stories than games.

I feel the need to clarify my view a bit. In one sentence I'm sad that we are forced by players and companies to accept sub par and monotonous games on graphics alone. I'm all too aware that companies and their players are locked into a downward spiral by weekend "gamerz". I just wish this new generation of "gamerz" could appreciate difficulty and perseverance through frustration and practice. I don't really care how many polys some elf's boobs have, just make a game that is taxing mentally and physically. I want that good old shaking feeling you get when completing a difficult game with one life left. I want to feel stress and tension in an enjoyable challenge. I want to get into "the zone" through flow thinking. This is the main reason that I play mostly arcade like games and shmups (not to mention that the pixel art in the mid 80's to the late 90's ROCKED).

[frea]

We need the return of challenging games that make young players feel bad about their reflexes and continue to kick amatures in the balls until they get better. I'm sick of this modern game that plays like 80+ hours of mildly interactive movie gently holding the players hand on an epic journey across a colorfully world of whimsy and adventure.

You must've loved the Myst series .

[slinks]

I feel very much the same way, I'm waiting for games to start blowing me away again, like they did when I was younger. I want a modernday equivilent to frogger or space invaders which doesn't suck! In the meantime, modern games you might like:

Crush (psp)
killer7 (gc)
Ikaruga (gc)
Shadow of The Colossus (ps2)
Freakout (ps2)

[Jim]

I just got Uncharted: Drakes Fortune on my PS3.  I have to agree with the reviews, the first 2 hours are sensational.  The graphics and game play are excellent, and so far it's just dropping off a bit.  It's pretty typical, the first 20mins of Resistance:FOM were ace and well thought out, the first level of Ratchet and Clank:TOD was awsome.  It looks right now that the opening levels are being brushed up to be the 110% amazing game we can expect from the hardware, and the rest is just OK.  Expect better things.  I guarantee this is not a developer-led idea

Jim

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I feel very much the same way, I'm waiting for games to start blowing me away again, like they did when I was younger. I want a modernday equivilent to frogger or space invaders which doesn't suck! In the meantime, modern games you might like:

Crush (psp)
killer7 (gc)
Ikaruga (gc)
Shadow of The Colossus (ps2)
Freakout (ps2)

I've been wondering about killer7 and Shadow of the Colossus.
I've gotten burned on about the last 3 bargain games I've boughten.

I could not have a shmup forum without owning Ikaruga. I think it is one of the most innovative and engaging shmups I've ever played. The music and visuals (which are of secondary importance to me) are wonderfully done. Ikaruga and Chaos Field are all my GC ever plays anymore.

[rain_storm]

I was on newgrounds awhile long ago those games were comical. love that site