Our imaginations were big when we were kids. We didn't know what an engine was, or assets, and if we did, our minds didnt break down the experience and ruin it. We were invested in this game world, and we aren't going to break our gaze until we beat it
Welcome to looking behind the curtain. Now you know it's all just a game, and it's hard to get back into it when you get out of it. This is the reason I became a videogame developer. AI and procedural generation are going to take care of what our imaginations used to, as they should. We're adults now, and technology has matured right along with us. But for the most part games are still pretty shallow, and if something breaks my immersion, well good luck getting my attention again, ' it's just a game '
Like all the complaints with Skyrim, and how you realize it's all just a shallow game after a while. You won't see that perspective on a younger-player-dominated gaming discussion board very often. They're trying to use their imagination and feel like they are their character. We on the otherhand, are nitpicking the mechanics and saying shit like "Oh wow, I enjoyed the combat". Please
Devs like Miyamoto-san have great respect from me because they understand this childhood magic, and they attempt to harness it