Spikes VGA, It was a collosal waste of time.

[djjoe227]

Corrected for accuracy.

Note: A sentiment I do not support BTW.

I was referring to reviewers from Magazines and awards similar to the ones discussed in this topic.

Since Online Multiplayer has become an option in the gaming world, it seems that unless you have a game that was either

1) in the making for 2-3+ Years

or

2) Going to take you, the player, a (metaphorical) 2-3 years to complete without a Strategy Guide

then there is seemingly nothing that satisfies gamers. "Fun" and "Competition" are blurred these days.

 

[TheRolesWePlay]

I was referring to reviewers from Magazines and awards similar to the ones discussed in this topic.

Since Online Multiplayer has become an option in the gaming world, it seems that unless you have a game that was either

1) in the making for 2-3+ Years

or

2) Going to take you, the player, a (metaphorical) 2-3 years to complete without a Strategy Guide

then there is seemingly nothing that satisfies gamers. "Fun" and "Competition" are blurred these days.

With the sole exception of Duke Nukem Forever (which is a punchline now a days) that statement is very true. It makes me sad to see so many forget the aspect of "fun" that drew so many into gaming in the first place.

 

[FirestormXVI]

In the last few years we've seen an explosion of interest in the independent games scene so I'd disagree heavily with you on that TheRolesWePlay. Most indie games focus on one core game mechanic and explore it thoroughly to grab every ounce of fun that can be had. There are so many interesting titles out there these days with development times of <1 year for $1 - $5. Yes, Game of the Year usually goes to a blockbuster, but 5 years ago it was almost impossible to find the types of games we now see on Steam and to a lesser extent XBLA/PSN.

 

[Crinus]

Because older games are better.

side scrolling games and over head 2d games I believe was just kept simple, fun to play, probably much more challenging.

Only about 10% of games produced today are really memorable and worth playing.

But I will also say, this generation of gamers in the last decade, truly doesnt know what a good game is either, they got the tendency to follow the hype train to wherever it goes. Its my opinion that was the only reason why the first Xbox system was ever successful, but the Dreamcast which was very fluid, had good games, some how failed to make it.

 

[FirestormXVI]

I don't understand what makes you think side scrolling and overhead 2D games aren't made anymore. I just bought Rayman Origins this month on my 360. Purchased a bunch of wonderful (mostly 2D) titles for $7 in the Humble Bundle along with a few gifts from my friends like Terraria.

People know what a good game is. That's how so many great titles sell so many copies. People are also fooled by hype into buying average games. That will never change. Your rose-coloured nostalgia glasses are making you miss the great stuff that's out there today. Here's a newsflash: Only 10% of the games made back in the day were really memorable or worth playing. That's why people usually bring up the same games in discussions.

 

[Crinus]

They are still made, but not in the production they were back in the 80s and 90s.

The reason why I say people do not know what a good game today is the fact of certain gimmicks and promises that lure them into that game.

Their is some games going back to the NES that are classics but has been a bad game to, the original Metal Gear comes to mind.

 

[ultimatedra]

They are still made, but not in the production they were back in the 80s and 90s.

The reason why I say people do not know what a good game today is the fact of certain gimmicks and promises that lure them into that game.

Their is some games going back to the NES that are classics but has been a bad game to, the original Metal Gear comes to mind.

I recently watched a youtube video describing video games in the late 80's/early 90's - how the developers had to create ways to get the player to learn the game...without the game blatantly saying "GO THIS WAY!".

It was hard for video games & video game developers back then to keep a player interested in the game AND convey the story and gameplay mechanics. The word "Convey" is needed, because back then games didn't have things to constantly remind you (example: Navi from Zelda: Ocarina of time) where to go & what to do.

Conveyance. It is a lost art in video games now days. We, the gamers, are not mindless idiots - we don't need a video game to babysit us.

 

[Crinus]

Games back then was harder because of it.

I kind of believe todays games is far too easy, which might be why the older games still hold popularity or gain the popularity.

 

[ultimatedra]

Games back then was harder because of it.

I kind of believe todays games is far too easy, which might be why the older games still hold popularity or gain the popularity.

I agree to a point on this. Back then we had a stock of lives and next-to-nothing for direction on what to do next. as opposed to the infinite restart points in games and games constantly making us say "Yeah, I get it".

But back then we didn't have 1st person shooters except for doom, where a body shot was just as good as a headshot. I think the SNES/Genesis was the best middle ground for gameplay and difficulty. Once the N64 came about, the developers saw that they could now include instructions during gameplay, and it then turned into what we have today. Also, simultaneous multi-player was never an option back then - another thing that the N64 gave us.

Don't get me wrong - Halo, Call of duty, & Starcraft are difficult games and have their own professional circuits for competition. I personally love the Assassin's creed series because of the awesome story it tells. But I am a whole lot more scared of a stock of lives hanging above my screen than an Elite pointing a sniper rifle at me.

 

[Crinus]

Well basically when they started going into 3d world of gaming is when it all started.

I kind of think the PS1 though still held true for what the older systems like NES, SNES, Sega, and so on had for more difficult games, but it all changed with the PS2.

But yeah, its not like I hate todays games, I was a WOW player for 5-6 years, COD player, like some of the PS3 and Wii titles that is offered.

Although I kind of believe gaming needs to finally go another direction like it did turn of the century.

 

[djjoe227]

Well basically when they started going into 3d world of gaming is when it all started.

I kind of think the PS1 though still held true for what the older systems like NES, SNES, Sega, and so on had for more difficult games, but it all changed with the PS2.

But yeah, its not like I hate todays games, I was a WOW player for 5-6 years, COD player, like some of the PS3 and Wii titles that is offered.

Although I kind of believe gaming needs to finally go another direction like it did turn of the century.

PS1 did one change- Graphics.

Up until that point, the graphics available were very digital and pixelated...if those are even words. I don't know what terms to use, so bear with me.

Nothing really changed with the PS1 except for graphics- everything else was already there- environment, gameplay, 2 player option, length of gameplay, and saved progress. About the only hardware change was the increase in buttons, but when compared to SNES it's only a small increase.

The biggest changes to gaming came with Simultaneous play and Motion Sensor. You can split Simultaneous play into 4-player cooperative/competitive and Online, but it's all the same, you're only increasing player base and decreasing claustrophobia at best.

Right now, all three gaming systems are trying to push Simultaneous play (PSN, LIVE, Nintendo Wifi) and Motion Sensor (Wiimote, Kinect, Move) before they push single player campaign. Even with something like Call of Duty, Gears of War, Halo, or Super Smash Brothers; it feels as though the campaign is thrown in there for the unlucky few without online capabilities and are rarely stressed as important to the game. The fact that Modern Warfare 3 came out with the Elite Package to enhance multiplayer and get the new multiplayer map packs should be a clear cut case of where their focus is..

In the last few years we've seen an explosion of interest in the independent games scene so I'd disagree heavily with you on that TheRolesWePlay. Most indie games focus on one core game mechanic and explore it thoroughly to grab every ounce of fun that can be had. There are so many interesting titles out there these days with development times of <1 year for $1 - $5. Yes, Game of the Year usually goes to a blockbuster, but 5 years ago it was almost impossible to find the types of games we now see on Steam and to a lesser extent XBLA/PSN.

I'm not ignoring what you said, but rather in my opinion I feel as though the single player games are often forgotten and left out of discussions.

In essence, this is fine, because Video Games for a single player should be just that- for a single player's enjoyment.

 

[Crinus]

Right now, all three gaming systems are trying to push Simultaneous play (PSN, LIVE, Nintendo Wifi) and Motion Sensor (Wiimote, Kinect, Move) before they push single player campaign. Even with something like Call of Duty, Gears of War, Halo, or Super Smash Brothers; it feels as though the campaign is thrown in there for the unlucky few without online capabilities and are rarely stressed as important to the game. The fact that Modern Warfare 3 came out with the Elite Package to enhance multiplayer and get the new multiplayer map packs should be a clear cut case of where their focus is..

Shoot, some games you require the internet in order to even play the single player game, I am surprised their has been no lawsuits over that, I guess basically these days everyone has the internet, the ones who dont, probably dont have the computer to play the games anyway.

 

[djjoe227]

Shoot, some games you require the internet in order to even play the single player game, I am surprised their has been no lawsuits over that, I guess basically these days everyone has the internet, the ones who dont, probably dont have the computer to play the games anyway.

There's no lawsuits because the Judge will just openly say "Why did you purchase this product?".

It's not like it's not clearly indicated on the packages either.

It's not that every does or does not have the internet- there are some people who get on with life by using a local Library.

 

[TheRolesWePlay]

In the last few years we've seen an explosion of interest in the independent games scene so I'd disagree heavily with you on that TheRolesWePlay. Most indie games focus on one core game mechanic and explore it thoroughly to grab every ounce of fun that can be had. There are so many interesting titles out there these days with development times of <1 year for $1 - $5. Yes, Game of the Year usually goes to a blockbuster, but 5 years ago it was almost impossible to find the types of games we now see on Steam and to a lesser extent XBLA/PSN.

While there are far more games like that (one example is Angry Birds) but they are lost among the miles of garbage that exists, and the lack of advertisement. I know these games exist, but I don't know what most of them are, and the majority of the hard core gamers don't either. Like djjoe227 said Single player games are kind of thrown on the back burner nowadays, and you could attribute it to the massive success of MMORPGs, and FPS. (Neither of which I play BTW)

 

[dreamdemon]

Pokemon b&w got nothing? What kinda awards show is this?
Posted with Mobile style...

 

[Crinus]

There's no lawsuits because the Judge will just openly say "Why did you purchase this product?".

It's not like it's not clearly indicated on the packages either.

It's not that every does or does not have the internet- there are some people who get on with life by using a local Library.

doubtful the judge would go that far, knowing the law system it be settled out of court anyway since its just a minor bump in the road. The fact it will happen to very few people is why its never worth pursuing.

But say if this was about Microsoft OS on the other hand, thats a new ball game.

 

[FirestormXVI]

While there are far more games like that (one example is Angry Birds) but they are lost among the miles of garbage that exists, and the lack of advertisement. I know these games exist, but I don't know what most of them are, and the majority of the hard core gamers don't either. Like djjoe227 said Single player games are kind of thrown on the back burner nowadays, and you could attribute it to the massive success of MMORPGs, and FPS. (Neither of which I play BTW)

Ugh, sorry but I find Angry Birds to be terrible. Not to mention shamelessly ripped off a free flash game that Rovio has never given any credit for. Heck, they never even gave credit to the Box2D physics engine they used until they were called out on it during a panel -.- I am not talking about trash like Angry Birds. I'm talking about stuff like Audiosurf, Super Meat Boy, Bastion, World of Goo, Terraria, VVVVV, Sequence, Cave Story (yes I realize this is super old), Torchlight... I could go on for a while.

Hardcore gamers do know about these games. Unfortunately, mainstream gamers (unless they read gaming blogs / sites / magazines) usually don't as they aren't advertised on television or in game stores much. I think that's why platforms like the Xbox 360 Dashboard and Steam are useful in advertising these games to people who might otherwise not discover them. At least they do sell hundreds of thousands of copies - and sometimes millions like in the case of most of the games I mentioned.