NationStates Jolt Archive

For a while I truly believed it would never happen.

I thought that when people said that the end was neigh... they were wrong.

My life has been spent in the essential here and now of videogaming. I got to see the core of what people consider to the gaming that mattered. I'm not talking stuff like Pong and the types of games that were just blips.. I mean the beginning of Sonic games back when the only thing sonic could do was spindash and run (and knuckles was huge coz of the amazing ability to *gasp* glide!). I mean the original mario games where you had 3 hitpoints (if you managed to even get a powerup and Yoshi was the stuff of dreams. Eating enemies at its finest)

These were the games that paved the way for the N64 and PS.. the Saturn systems. I watched them all and loved every sweet moment of it. The graphics would get better every time a new system came out and the games that got pumped out felt original. Turok? Killing Dinosaurs? Woah! A free roaming Zelda where we got to play the ocarina and ride horses... It felt like the games that became hits were really amazing.

I know this sounds like a short list and undoubtably I am biased in my selection of games... but when I look at where systems have been going... I don't feel that same kind of elation.

Videogames have hit the wall. And gimmicks are the only answer companies can supply for us.

The gameboy turned into gameboy pocket, and then the gameboy color (wasn't that the greatest ever? it fit in the pocket and had color, you just couldn't ask for more), and the widescreened gameboy (which did give us more... widescreened), then it turned into the foldover gameboy SP (omg, a backup light!) and then it turned into a DS that features a touch pad (TOUCH ME!!).

The N64 decided that a normal rectangle controller wasnt enough and while it was effective, it was in the end still very bulky..

The gamecube was a system that kept itself alive on smashbrothers and a couple zelda games (if there were others, they were either already popular on other systems or no one was sure as heck talking about em as much as they were other games....)

The PS was stuck in a platformer hell where developers got together and decided that jumping across bottomless pits was fun after huddling out behind their corporate offices snuffling crack. And then apparently just holding the controller wasnt enough, you had to feel weak trembling to "immerse" you in the experience. Wow.. Now I Really AM running away from a boulder in Lara Croft!

The Dreamcast fell on its face despite putting out a few decent games for.. which, all things considered (Chu Chu Rocket was manic puzzle gaming, Power Stone was manic fighting gaming... maybe it was just about the manic nature since Sonic was insanely fast too...) The Virtual memory unit was basically a tomagotchi that saved your games and did animations on your miniscreen correlating to the screen..

Everything just feels so... gimmicked.
I don't want a new controller. The PS2 one is fine by me.
I have analog, dpad, 4 major buttons, and shoulders in case developers need more room.

I don't need a motion sensing remote control to feel in the game. I've seen the "slash the sword" games in arcades that let you use a sword that responds on screen. And i can tell you it sure as hell doesnt get as much traffic as those Mindless Streetfighter/Marvel/SNK/KingofFighters/Ultimate/Extreme/Happyfuntime/
Cause a seizure/smash every button as hard as you can games. (On a sidenote, is it so wrong that I enjoy the depth of Soul Calibur 3's fighting system?)

I don't need the PS3's "recognize what card you have under the sensor and show it on the screen". I don't need my remote to turn my car because I already got used to playing sitting upright without waving back and forth on my couch. And Wireless is nice.. but Cord was never a problem. Just sit closer to the tv.

I look out at the video games that are out there... and I can't help but sigh.
I keep having to sift through the crap of people who think that making a game after a movie will equal instant fun. Maybe I was too impressed with the First 3D Zelda. Maybe Halo's story really did get me interested in the game more than the combat did (speaking of which, the combat was one of the better ones to get developed for the console.. And maybe I do like Soul Calibur better than Streetfighter/MortalKombat cookie cutter games where every player plays exactly the same. These games gave me the hope to think that other developers would take cue... but they didn't (aside from some good developments in the first person shooter genre, but even those become cut and paste games without online multiplayer).

I see these next gen systems and prepare for high quality Disney games that look photorealistic. I see these next gen systems and prepare for a headset that makes my entire vision the screen.

I am losing my faith in the gaming industry.

I don't want mediocrity when I pay 500$ for an xbox360 or a PS3.
I don't care if the games cost more than 50$.
I just want some effort to finally go into these games.

I suppose that's the end of my rant.
I'll be back to take comments (if there are any) after a short lunch.

Ta.

I mean the beginning of Sonic games back when the only thing sonic could do was spindash and run (and knuckles was huge coz of the amazing ability to *gasp* glide!).

Because that is all Sonic was designed to do, Mario had been flying, swimming, transforming, and shooting fire since the NES

true. a video game crash is coming.

What ever happened to virtual reality? :confused:

For a while I truly believed it would never happen.

I thought that when people said that the end was neigh... they were wrong.

My life has been spent in the essential here and now of videogaming. I got to see the core of what people consider to the gaming that mattered. I'm not talking stuff like Pong and the types of games that were just blips.. I mean the beginning of Sonic games back when the only thing sonic could do was spindash and run (and knuckles was huge coz of the amazing ability to *gasp* glide!). I mean the original mario games where you had 3 hitpoints (if you managed to even get a powerup and Yoshi was the stuff of dreams. Eating enemies at its finest)

These were the games that paved the way for the N64 and PS.. the Saturn systems. I watched them all and loved every sweet moment of it. The graphics would get better every time a new system came out and the games that got pumped out felt original. Turok? Killing Dinosaurs? Woah! A free roaming Zelda where we got to play the ocarina and ride horses... It felt like the games that became hits were really amazing.

I know this sounds like a short list and undoubtably I am biased in my selection of games... but when I look at where systems have been going... I don't feel that same kind of elation.

Videogames have hit the wall. And gimmicks are the only answer companies can supply for us.

The gameboy turned into gameboy pocket, and then the gameboy color (wasn't that the greatest ever? it fit in the pocket and had color, you just couldn't ask for more), and the widescreened gameboy (which did give us more... widescreened), then it turned into the foldover gameboy SP (omg, a backup light!) and then it turned into a DS that features a touch pad (TOUCH ME!!).

The N64 decided that a normal rectangle controller wasnt enough and while it was effective, it was in the end still very bulky..

The gamecube was a system that kept itself alive on smashbrothers and a couple zelda games (if there were others, they were either already popular on other systems or no one was sure as heck talking about em as much as they were other games....)

The PS was stuck in a platformer hell where developers got together and decided that jumping across bottomless pits was fun after huddling out behind their corporate offices snuffling crack. And then apparently just holding the controller wasnt enough, you had to feel weak trembling to "immerse" you in the experience. Wow.. Now I Really AM running away from a boulder in Lara Croft!

The Dreamcast fell on its face despite putting out a few decent games for.. which, all things considered (Chu Chu Rocket was manic puzzle gaming, Power Stone was manic fighting gaming... maybe it was just about the manic nature since Sonic was insanely fast too...) The Virtual memory unit was basically a tomagotchi that saved your games and did animations on your miniscreen correlating to the screen..

Everything just feels so... gimmicked.
I don't want a new controller. The PS2 one is fine by me.
I have analog, dpad, 4 major buttons, and shoulders in case developers need more room.

I don't need a motion sensing remote control to feel in the game. I've seen the "slash the sword" games in arcades that let you use a sword that responds on screen. And i can tell you it sure as hell doesnt get as much traffic as those Mindless Streetfighter/Marvel/SNK/KingofFighters/Ultimate/Extreme/Happyfuntime/
Cause a seizure/smash every button as hard as you can games. (On a sidenote, is it so wrong that I enjoy the depth of Soul Calibur 3's fighting system?)

I don't need the PS3's "recognize what card you have under the sensor and show it on the screen". I don't need my remote to turn my car because I already got used to playing sitting upright without waving back and forth on my couch. And Wireless is nice.. but Cord was never a problem. Just sit closer to the tv.

I look out at the video games that are out there... and I can't help but sigh.
I keep having to sift through the crap of people who think that making a game after a movie will equal instant fun. Maybe I was too impressed with the First 3D Zelda. Maybe Halo's story really did get me interested in the game more than the combat did (speaking of which, the combat was one of the better ones to get developed for the console.. And maybe I do like Soul Calibur better than Streetfighter/MortalKombat cookie cutter games where every player plays exactly the same. These games gave me the hope to think that other developers would take cue... but they didn't (aside from some good developments in the first person shooter genre, but even those become cut and paste games without online multiplayer).

I see these next gen systems and prepare for high quality Disney games that look photorealistic. I see these next gen systems and prepare for a headset that makes my entire vision the screen.

I am losing my faith in the gaming industry.

I don't want mediocrity when I pay 500$ for an xbox360 or a PS3.
I don't care if the games cost more than 50$.
I just want some effort to finally go into these games.

I suppose that's the end of my rant.
I'll be back to take comments (if there are any) after a short lunch.

Ta.
agree with most points.

there are still some good, original storied games (RPG) but I agree that the genres are being saturated. how about expansion games that allow you to build up on past games, say those NFL games, play teams and as your players improve, they can get carried over to other football games.

also, the Dreamcast had a unique ability that, sadly, was never utilized. the VMU. Memory cards that doubled as portable game systems. and for some games (Skies of Arcadia) how you do on the VMU game can affect the game when you play it on the console.

What ever happened to virtual reality? :confused:

Virtual reality is kinda what I was talking about with the glasses that make an entire screen for your eyes. It's just another gimmick that tells people (and by tell I mean forcibly insert their rectum) that they are having fun doing something that is almost like the real thing but not quite, but worth the 200$+ tag to play the virtual instead of going out and doing the real thing.

Bread and circuses :/

Because that is all Sonic was designed to do, Mario had been flying, swimming, transforming, and shooting fire since the NES


If it was up to some Nintendo fanboys thats all he would still be doing. Forget 3D and making mario look realistic and creating beautiful environments for you to interact with. Forget that, lets make our games look like a piece of crap with fuzzy screens and trees that look paper thing instead.

If it was up to some Nintendo fanboys thats all he would still be doing. Forget 3D and making mario look realistic and creating beautiful environments for you to interact with. Forget that, lets make our games look like a piece of crap with fuzzy screens and trees that look paper thing instead.

I am no fan of the Nintendo, in fact I don't own a console of any type, but what on earth is the advantage of shiny pretty graphics if the game play is crap?

I don't want Mario to look realistic, I don't care if the trees look like they are made of paper: I want to enjoy the game.

Game play is everything, graphics are the death of game play as no game producer can take a risk on a new game concept as the production costs are too high now.

I am no fan of the Nintendo, in fact I don't own a console of any type, but what on earth is the advantage of shiny pretty graphics if the game play is crap?

I don't want Mario to look realistic, I don't care if the trees look like they are made of paper: I want to enjoy the game.

Game play is everything, graphics are the death of game play as no game producer can take a risk on a new game concept as the production costs are too high now.


I am not going tru this again. Everytime I do I end up with a headache as people don't listen. I don't have the patience to do this again, I just don't. I will leave you with this... Graphics + Gameplay = A Good Game, you should have both.

I am not going tru this again. Everytime I do I end up with a headache as people don't listen. I don't have the patience to do this again, I just don't. I will leave you with this... Graphics + Gameplay = A Good Game, you should have both.

*buzzer*

Games are entertainment, a good game is an entertaining one. Super-mega-ultra-hi-def solitaire won't entertain.

And, this mintaurosaurus guy, you know what? Shut up.

I am not going tru this again. Everytime I do I end up with a headache as people don't listen. I don't have the patience to do this again, I just don't. I will leave you with this... Graphics + Gameplay = A Good Game, you should have both.

Graphics + Gameplay (Great story/great interface) + Great Replay Value = a better game.

Virtual reality is kinda what I was talking about with the glasses that make an entire screen for your eyes. It's just another gimmick that tells people (and by tell I mean forcibly insert their rectum) that they are having fun doing something that is almost like the real thing but not quite, but worth the 200$+ tag to play the virtual instead of going out and doing the real thing.

Bread and circuses :/

True, but it's not exactly easy to fight terrorists or slay dragons in real life, is it?

Then there's virtual sex: "The day big fat truck drivers can have sex with Cindy Crawford whenever they want, is the day virtual reality makes crack look like corn flakes." -Dennis Miller.

:D

Graphics + Gameplay (Great story/great interface) + Great Replay Value = a better game.

Minesweeper, for example. Minesweeper is awesome.

Minesweeper, for example. Minesweeper is awesome.

yep.

my pager has several variants. some of em really nasty. :p

tho I dunno about graphics... I mean ToME and some other ascii games I still have fun with, so for me, Replay value + Game play = Great Game.

Minesweeper, for example. Minesweeper is awesome.



Junii is right, you need all of those.


Minesweeper? I got tired of that, maybe one on a real virtual minefield and if you mess up your solider gets blown to bits....:D

Junii is right, you need all of those.


Minesweeper? I got tired of that, maybe one on a real virtual minefield and if you mess up your solider gets blown to bits....:D

Only if through biofeedback, you could actually feel the shrapnel penetrate your body. I like shrapnel. :)

Only if through biofeedback, you could actually feel the shrapnel penetrate your body. I like shrapnel. :)



I like blood and guts. Trust me, having it in a minefield with a solider checking each area and then getting blown up if you are wrong? Tell me that wouldn't rock?

I like blood and guts. Trust me, having it in a minefield with a solider checking each area and then getting blown up if you are wrong? Tell me that wouldn't rock?

Only if the blowing up is not the soldier itself... say his family or teammates strapped to chairs over explosives. and setting off a mine sets off one explosive charge...

Only if the blowing up is not the soldier itself... say his family or teammates strapped to chairs over explosives. and setting off a mine sets off one explosive charge...


Your sick...I like you.:fluffle:

I like blood and guts. Trust me, having it in a minefield with a solider checking each area and then getting blown up if you are wrong? Tell me that wouldn't rock?

*oldman voice* Pff, you younguns don't have no imagination nowadays is all! Back in my day, we used our mind to get these fancy graphics, now ya'll need it all spelled out for ya.

If it was up to some Nintendo fanboys thats all he would still be doing. Forget 3D and making mario look realistic and creating beautiful environments for you to interact with. Forget that, lets make our games look like a piece of crap with fuzzy screens and trees that look paper thing instead.

Too bad the 3d Mario titles don't even remotely compare to the side scrollers.

*oldman voice* Pff, you younguns don't have no imagination nowadays is all! Back in my day, we used our mind to get these fancy graphics, now ya'll need it all spelled out for ya.



Thats the beauty of technology, you don't need to think.:D

Too bad the 3d Mario titles don't even remotely compare to the side scrollers.


I liked Mario 64. It was cool and fun.

Thats the beauty of technology, you don't need to think.:D

except to remember all those combos...


now was it
Triangle + Triangle + circle + Square + R1 + L2 + Up + Left + down + Select + Start while rotating L3 counter clockwise and rotating R3 Clockwise to get the tamagouchi a glass of water?

My gaming... 'history' has been all over the shop. I never got a console in succession with its generation, I obtained my NES at a white elephant stall and played it after getting it repaired while I already owned an N64 and PS1.

To be very honest, the console I enjoyed the most was the N64. I was constantly having friends over or being nagged to drive halfway across Perth (Western Australia here - woah DST) to get beaten in Super Smash or Jet Force Gemini (I HATED THAT CAMERA *kills*) and I absolutely loved it. We talked and laughed and pulled out each others controllers and pressed the pause button in our ten-year-old maturity.

I grew up a bit and bought an xbox. A bit of a mistake. I really should have bought a gamecube. Net play with the xbox was choppy for me, I was rather frustrated with ranking and that because I've always been a lame gamer. The mini-parties I've had with my friend's gamecube erased my inherent frustration with multiplayer games and I don't think I've ever laughed as hard at a character like Captain Falcon (FALCON PUUNNCHHH)

I'm anxious about the Wii. I really am. I don't know what's going on at all, I've sussed out how things work and I still have no clue about what to expect with Zelda. I'm hoping I haven't wasted my money, otherwise I'd have a very pretty white box sitting next to my TV that plays almost unfathomablly uncontrollable games.

*fingers crossed*

I don't think I've ever laughed as hard at a character like Captain Falcon (FALCON PUUNNCHHH)

He's nowhere near as funny as Captain Commando on Marvel vs. Capcom.

CAPTAIN KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!

He's nowhere near as funny as Captain Commando on Marvel vs. Capcom.

CAPTAIN KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!

*Captain Falcon at the end, having won a game*

.....HUH!!!&%$% *leg goes up at an impossible angle*

except to remember all those combos...


now was it
Triangle + Triangle + circle + Square + R1 + L2 + Up + Left + down + Select + Start while rotating L3 counter clockwise and rotating R3 Clockwise to get the tamagouchi a glass of water?



I wouldn't know. I hate tamagouchi.

Then make your own damn video games. Every time a new system comes out, we hear this. We hear that hardcore gamers are sick of the console companies putting out crap and how each new system is just a bunch of bells and whistles and nothing really innovative and how they're not going to continue to shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems if this is how the companies are going to act. Then what happens? The hardcore gamers all shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems and continue to whine. If you feel like games aren't fun anymore and that the gaming companies aren't making anything new and innovative, then stop buying games and start your own gaming company to compete with them. But don't fault them for creating games that MILLIONS of people are buying, because clearly you are in the minority of gamers. Clearly people still like the things these companies are doing.

*Captain Falcon at the end, having won a game*

.....HUH!!!&%$% *leg goes up at an impossible angle*

That might put him at a tie with Captain Falcon... If it wasn't for Falcon's absolutely hilarious fighting style. Getting your ass kicked by a dork who somehow manages to also come off as being cool is very embarrassing.

Then make your own damn video games. Every time a new system comes out, we hear this. We hear that hardcore gamers are sick of the console companies putting out crap and how each new system is just a bunch of bells and whistles and nothing really innovative and how they're not going to continue to shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems if this is how the companies are going to act. Then what happens? The hardcore gamers all shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems and continue to whine. If you feel like games aren't fun anymore and that the gaming companies aren't making anything new and innovative, then stop buying games and start your own gaming company to compete with them. But don't fault them for creating games that MILLIONS of people are buying, because clearly you are in the minority of gamers. Clearly people still like the things these companies are doing.


WTF is your problem?:confused:

Then make your own damn video games. Every time a new system comes out, we hear this. We hear that hardcore gamers are sick of the console companies putting out crap and how each new system is just a bunch of bells and whistles and nothing really innovative and how they're not going to continue to shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems if this is how the companies are going to act. Then what happens? The hardcore gamers all shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems and continue to whine. If you feel like games aren't fun anymore and that the gaming companies aren't making anything new and innovative, then stop buying games and start your own gaming company to compete with them. But don't fault them for creating games that MILLIONS of people are buying, because clearly you are in the minority of gamers. Clearly people still like the things these companies are doing.

That's actually why I'm worried. I've become passionate about open-source, because I know what's going on, and I'm constantly aware of what to expect. Competition between proprietary game-manufacturers that control the market makes it impossible for open-source games or small companies to exist (ever heard of Rare? Just asking.)

Nintendo has kept *SO* freaking quiet its painful. I think they're looking to secure a profit more now than ever. That said, in the past, Nintendo has always catered for my lard-arse gaming adventure enjoyment.

I've seen companies make things like the Phantom and other open source or small-business gaming console ventures and just flop.

Then make your own damn video games. Every time a new system comes out, we hear this. We hear that hardcore gamers are sick of the console companies putting out crap and how each new system is just a bunch of bells and whistles and nothing really innovative and how they're not going to continue to shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems if this is how the companies are going to act. Then what happens? The hardcore gamers all shell out hundreds of dollars to buy these systems and continue to whine. If you feel like games aren't fun anymore and that the gaming companies aren't making anything new and innovative, then stop buying games and start your own gaming company to compete with them. But don't fault them for creating games that MILLIONS of people are buying, because clearly you are in the minority of gamers. Clearly people still like the things these companies are doing.
In short: (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12026816&postcount=11)

WTF is your problem?:confused:

The same problem I have apparently. I don't mind it much.

Are you joking me? You've lost "faith" in video games?
You my friend need to open your eyes and look at what's going on around you. The only thing that would end video games would be the price of systems and games, and thats not going to happen, because there are a lot of people who have a Playstation 3 but no food in their fridge. They're are called college students!

What are you waiting for in video games? A boob to fly out at you in DOA Volleyball 3? My god... The videogame industry WASN'T an industry 20 years ago, and NOW it is because of all the "flashy gimmicks." The different controllers, the interactivity, the fantasical storylines, and most importanty the ability to do something you can't is WHY we play them!

Video games are around for one reason. To entertain. As long as they are entertaining, people will play them, and there are a lot of VERY entertaining games.

So as I get off my soapbox I want everyone who is "disillusioned" with video games to also come down with me and realize, video games will be just fine unless the world goes into nuclear holocaust.

Thank you.

In short: (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12026816&postcount=11)



The same problem I have apparently. I don't mind it much.


Such anger. What happened to free love? :fluffle:

Are you joking me? You've lost "faith" in video games?
You my friend need to open your eyes and look at what's going on around you. The only thing that would end video games would be the price of systems and games, and thats not going to happen, because there are a lot of people who have a Playstation 3 but no food in their fridge. They're are called college students!

What are you waiting for in video games? A boob to fly out at you in DOA Volleyball 3? My god... The videogame industry WASN'T an industry 20 years ago, and NOW it is because of all the "flashy gimmicks." The different controllers, the interactivity, the fantasical storylines, and most importanty the ability to do something you can't is WHY we play them!

Video games are around for one reason. To entertain. As long as they are entertaining, people will play them, and there are a lot of VERY entertaining games.

So as I get off my soapbox I want everyone who is "disillusioned" with video games to also come down with me and realize, video games will be just fine unless the world goes into nuclear holocaust.

Thank you.


A flying boob would be kinda cool. :D I pay 60 bucks for that.

How did everyone, and I mean everyone, manage to miss the main point I was making.

Excellent graphics may rock your boat and help you enjoy a game, I really am not bothered if they do or not. What I am bothered about is that the demand for high end graphics has killed of new and experimental games.

All we ever get now are the same old tried and tested formulaic games with added sfx.

Where is the "Doom" of the new century, what about a new genre people - something different, something new, something I haven't done a million times before in one guise or another.

They are on the shelf in the games development houses because they are financially too risky with the overhead costs that modern graphics imply.

How did everyone, and I mean everyone, manage to miss the main point I was making.

Excellent graphics may rock your boat and help you enjoy a game, I really am not bothered if they do or not. What I am bothered about is that the demand for high end graphics has killed of new and experimental games.

All we ever get now are the same old tried and tested formulaic games with added sfx.

Where is the "Doom" of the new century, what about a new genre people - something different, something new, something I haven't done a million times before in one guise or another.

They are on the shelf in the games development houses because they are financially too risky with the overhead costs that modern graphics imply.



1 problem, Those system don't require you to make the games that way. Just more power for those who wish to use it. Companies stopped taking risks because people stopped buying games in droves.

How did everyone, and I mean everyone, manage to miss the main point I was making.

Excellent graphics may rock your boat and help you enjoy a game, I really am not bothered if they do or not. What I am bothered about is that the demand for high end graphics has killed of new and experimental games.

All we ever get now are the same old tried and tested formulaic games with added sfx.

Where is the "Doom" of the new century, what about a new genre people - something different, something new, something I haven't done a million times before in one guise or another.

They are on the shelf in the games development houses because they are financially too risky with the overhead costs that modern graphics imply.if you really think about it, Doom, Call of Heroes, Band of Brothers and all that are all remakes of Wolfenstein.

all flight simulators are the same,

all sports games are the same,

All RPG's are the same. so why buy any more games? because on the off chance that the latest incarnation will include some element that would make it different.

if you really think about it, Doom, Call of Heroes, Band of Brothers and all that are all remakes of Wolfenstein.

all flight simulators are the same,

all sports games are the same,

All RPG's are the same. so why buy any more games? because on the off chance that the latest incarnation will include some element that would make it different.

Yes. That is basically what I am saying. There are fixed genres and nothing new has appeared in a decade or so. Why?

It is not that there are no other possibilities, it is simply that it is too risky to try something new.

I blame the production overheads for this.

1 problem, Those system don't require you to make the games that way. Just more power for those who wish to use it. Companies stopped taking risks because people stopped buying games in droves.

No the system does not demand that it is used, but the public seems to think that a game is only as good as its sfx. (Flat wrong - see go for example)

People like me stopped buying games in droves because companies stopped taking risks. Why would I go and buy another fps/rpg/sports sim etc. I already have half a dozen of each. Give me something original.

Yes. That is basically what I am saying. There are fixed genres and nothing new has appeared in a decade or so. Why?

It is not that there are no other possibilities, it is simply that it is too risky to try something new.

I blame the production overheads for this.

CoughKatamaricough?

CoughKatamaricough?

I said I don't own a console - remember. One game is not enough to make me buy one.

I said I don't own a console - remember. One game is not enough to make me buy one.

You were just saying nothing new has appeared. If you wish at this point to change to 'not enough', feel free.

You were just saying nothing new has appeared. If you wish at this point to change to 'not enough', feel free.

As I know nothing about Katamari, I can't comment on it specifically. I will accept that you consider it to be original, and as such I retract my 'nothing' and say 'nothing I have seen' in its place. (Oh the dangers of generalizations)

As I know nothing about Katamari, I can't comment on it specifically. I will accept that you consider it to be original, and as such I retract my 'nothing' and say 'nothing I have seen' in its place. (Oh the dangers of generalizations)

Fair enough :)

Although, a game needn't necessarily be a new genre or something to be fun. Flight simulators, well...The whole goal is to be like flying, no? How new and original can you get with trying to simulate something? Sports games however, yes, they're buying the exact same game year after year.

Fair enough :)

Although, a game needn't necessarily be a new genre or something to be fun. Flight simulators, well...The whole goal is to be like flying, no? How new and original can you get with trying to simulate something? Sports games however, yes, they're buying the exact same game year after year.

Well, originality in flight simulators comes with advances in technology. In the not-too-distant future, we'll possibly see flight sims where aircraft engines are modeled in full (complete moving parts), and the game's sound engine derives effects from the moving parts.

Of course, that's not originality in the same sense as new ways of playing a game, but it's still pretty cool.

To some extent, games being the same is good

F-Zero GX was a fantastic pure racing game in the style of both prequels but far tighter and better looking. I liked all 3 games so far and as long as they can keep 'em fun then I'll buy the next one.

On the other hand some do get stale doing the same thing. For example Every EA Sports game since about Y2K...

And then there's the new stuff, Pikmin Katamari etc.

Plus the weird stuff like Harvest Moon which has been around since forever but doesn;t get released much in the West (it's a pretty awesom game in it's own peculiar way too).

Certianly the videogam market is not expaning in terms of genre, if only because it's running out of genres TO get into. On the other hand many of them are becoming very refined and splitting into their own subgenres.

You try playing the original Doom, then Call Of Duty 2, then Half-Life. Then tell me they're all the same. You'll be lying. Yes the basic mechanic (keyboard/mouse - shoot evil things) is the same but each has it's own takes on how things are done and their storylines. Yes Doom and Half-Life have similarities in their plot but they still have some major differences.

Not that we aren;t seeing generic pap coming out in the FPS genre either (Medal of Honour I'm looking STRAIGHT at you) but we're also seeing some damn impressive stuff too.

WTF is your problem?:confused:

People who whine about how video games suck but don't seem to care to actually offer any alternatives. People who say that all the games out there are tired rehashes of older, better games but don't seem to have any ideas for new games. People who say that the video game companies don't care about the gamers when they keep making said rehashes but don't seem to realize that the companies make these games because each time they do, it sells millions of copies. In short, people who love to complain about things but don't offer any solutions. Whiners.

People who whine about how video games suck but don't seem to care to actually offer any alternatives. People who say that all the games out there are tired rehashes of older, better games but don't seem to have any ideas for new games. People who say that the video game companies don't care about the gamers when they keep making said rehashes but don't seem to realize that the companies make these games because each time they do, it sells millions of copies. In short, people who love to complain about things but don't offer any solutions. Whiners.

I'd hate to appear to be a whiner.

While I'm saddened at the turns the industry has taken, that doesn't mean that I am completely unhappy with everything. Surely it was more than just a niche market that enjoyed Zelda series on the 64 and the Halo series on the xbox, and there has been innovation on the part of the PS2 with Shadow of the Colossus, Katamari Damacy, Soul Calibur etc.

But at the same time, how many times have we been presented with games that could've been so much more if they just spent a few more months in development? Fable was a huge let down for a lot of people because it tried to incorporate everything and failed. But it still generated a huge hype. People (other than myself) were genuinely interested in a game that could do this and I think that in part, that's what the Grand Theft Auto series accomplished.

And like people have mentioned, there is nothing wrong with "rehash" in some games. It is possible to put out the same gameplay in.. say driving games like Gran Turismo where you get different courses but get to keep all the customization processes that made the series possible. What about Burnout? It was like driving in an action movie with its high-octane boost and slow motion crash ability that was actually useful to gameplay. It didn't get old after 1 and 2, and 3 is still amazing to play.

There have been several games out there that have made progress in what people want. I don't want to sound like there is nothing out there that appeals to me. Because there is a lot that is still fun. It's just that.. when you see what the industry can produce, its hard to just "accept that there are games that just don't appeal" because I've seen the games that are popular enough to expand videogamer's horizons. I've seen Half-Life draw in people who, while they may not enjoy first person shooters, gave it a shot because of its story, action, and physics engine. People would agree that Half-Life is a pretty good game like they would admit that the Smash Brothers series is a pretty good game.

Yet, I can only give you something around 30 titles that would do this. There are so many other titles that are doomed to sink into anonymity.

I know that I don't have answers. But at the same time I don't spend time thinking about to make a better hotdog just because the local weinershnitzel consistently cranks out food that is less than satisfactory. I just move onto something else and grab one from one of the rare visits I take to Costco. But hotdogs don't require me to chunk down 200$ up front, then another 50$ for another controller, 20$ a memory card, and 50-60$ per hotdog, err, game.

If the problem is that game needs to cost more in order to be a better overall finished product instead of a rushed project, then I say give them their just desserts. If for nothing else, for the business corporations themselves that make the games. Better games will rake in better profits.

But I guess I should settle and not complain.
Though, the industry is losing out on a large crowd of gamers who wouldn't mind going back to PS1 visuals with gameplay that would be tweaked to the point of perfection.

People who whine about how video games suck but don't seem to care to actually offer any alternatives. People who say that all the games out there are tired rehashes of older, better games but don't seem to have any ideas for new games. People who say that the video game companies don't care about the gamers when they keep making said rehashes but don't seem to realize that the companies make these games because each time they do, it sells millions of copies. In short, people who love to complain about things but don't offer any solutions. Whiners.

You know, it's interesting to note that this is true about anything humanity creates. People whine about politics but don't offer an alternative. People whine about stagnation in the film industry or the video game industry but don't offer alternatives. People whine about various humanitarian crises but don't offer alternatives. In short, people like to complain. It's human nature. In fact, this very post detailing such nature was inevitable, as it's human nature to note human nature. C'est la vie.

Yes. That is basically what I am saying. There are fixed genres and nothing new has appeared in a decade or so. Why?

It is not that there are no other possibilities, it is simply that it is too risky to try something new.

I blame the production overheads for this.actually the blame resides in lack of new material.

can you think of a game concept that hasn't been done before, that is different enough that it won't fall into the catagory of Same Sh*t, nifty add-on?

until virtual Reality becomes actual reality...

...the industry is losing out on a large crowd of gamers who wouldn't mind going back to PS1 visuals with gameplay that would be tweaked to the point of perfection.

Course, the crowd that shits themselves for "ZOMG NOW YOU SEE DROPS OF SWEAT!" is a few dozen times larger.

To the OP.

You complain that everything is stale and there is no innovation, and yet you call everything different a gimmick.... wth?

I am not going tru this again. Everytime I do I end up with a headache as people don't listen. I don't have the patience to do this again, I just don't. I will leave you with this... Graphics + Gameplay = A Good Game, you should have both.

I only partially agree with that, I think that gameplay should hold more weight than graphics.

And then there's the new stuff, Pikmin Katamari etc.

Pikmin Katamari? Now that would be an interesting game.

Pikmin Katamari? Now that would be an interesting game.

...Y'know...I think it would...

Pikmin Katamari? is that the treasure hunt game where you send things out to look for objects to bring back?

Like most quest type games where you have to search the maze to find armor, a chalace and other items to bring back? (Wizardry, Final Fantasy, Phantasy Star, etc...)

Pikmin Katamari? is that the treasure hunt game where you send things out to look for objects to bring back?
That's just Pikmin. Add in needing to roll random junk into a ball to replace a star.

Like most quest type games where you have to search the maze to find armor, a chalace and other items to bring back? (Wizardry, Final Fantasy, Phantasy Star, etc...)

Nah, different, and way cooler.

Nah, different, and way cooler.
not that different, but I'll admit that it might be different enough. ;)

I only partially agree with that, I think that gameplay should hold more weight than graphics.

I agree with you a 100% if a game is fun to play with, i dont mind using stones to play it

Pikmin Katamari would rock. Two of the ultimate stoner games mixed :D

Well, originality in flight simulators comes with advances in technology. In the not-too-distant future, we'll possibly see flight sims where aircraft engines are modeled in full (complete moving parts), and the game's sound engine derives effects from the moving parts.

If you are saying the "game" will come with a complete mockup of an engine for reality, that is patently absurd and completely wrong. As games advance, more gets rendered and less is mocked up, unless you go to an arcade, but even there very little is there and that is for atmosphere.