Yeah it's pretty telling.
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IMO, gaming has been going downhill since the 7th generation.
- Thread starter CrispyBoar
- Start date
Yeah it's pretty telling.
User123456
Member
This generation has given me Xenoverse 2, Strider, Doom, dang near every first party game on Wii U, Sonic Lost World, Samurai Warriors 4II, Metal Gear Solid V, World of Final Fantasy and WipEout 2048. I really, really can't complain.
I didn't have to buy a single DLC or pay for a single microtransaction to fully enjoy any of these games, either.
With Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy VII Remake, NiOh, Nier Automata, a new freaking Ace Combat, Sonic Mania and more in the near future, I don't think I'll be complaining any time soon.
I didn't have to buy a single DLC or pay for a single microtransaction to fully enjoy any of these games, either.
With Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy VII Remake, NiOh, Nier Automata, a new freaking Ace Combat, Sonic Mania and more in the near future, I don't think I'll be complaining any time soon.
sugarhigh4242
Banned
I'd definitely agree this generation is off to a slower start than the PS360 generation. Major devs like Rockstar, Valve, and Bioware still haven't released games based on exclusively current-gen tech bases. That's kind of insane.
I'm chalking it up to 3 factors:
1. A lot of devs are working on VR projects, still in secret
2. Last gen was very long and many put out modern classics the year before PS4/Xbone came out
3. The industry is shifting toward games as a service, with iterative development models
I'm chalking it up to 3 factors:
1. A lot of devs are working on VR projects, still in secret
2. Last gen was very long and many put out modern classics the year before PS4/Xbone came out
3. The industry is shifting toward games as a service, with iterative development models
More_Badass
Member
But that wasn't the thread? It was "gaming has been going downhill". Not AAA games or console games, but gaming in general.
Ivory Samoan
Member
I think gaming's in the best shape it's ever been: more mature games coming out all the time for an aging gamer population, it's brilliant.
Source: I'm 36 and been gaming since I was 4 on an Apple IIe.
Source: I'm 36 and been gaming since I was 4 on an Apple IIe.
I'm more in love with gaming and the quality/variety of games now than I ever have... maybe the best it has been since the 16-bit generation. IMO, anyway.
I know it's cliche and overdone, but seriously, first post nails it. I find that my anxiety and frustration levels climb when I hang out on GAF too much or read comments elsewhere. There's a general tendency towards negativity that gets old really quick. I don't know what it is about the human condition that compels groups to be that way (misery loves company, maybe?), but if it bothers you that much, maybe just walk away from the things that annoy you, just like in other aspects of life.
curiouscharles
Member
meh, kind of agree with the general statement OP, but not with your specific points.
AAA gaming churns out too many sequels, and seems to be veering too much towards investor-safe-decision-making.
as for micro transactions etc., those don't change anything, only if you let them "get to you" imo.
i'd like to see more risk taking and new IP in the AAA space again, that's the only legitimate concern i have for gaming these days.
AAA gaming churns out too many sequels, and seems to be veering too much towards investor-safe-decision-making.
as for micro transactions etc., those don't change anything, only if you let them "get to you" imo.
i'd like to see more risk taking and new IP in the AAA space again, that's the only legitimate concern i have for gaming these days.
Hypereides
Member
I concure, OP. For multiple reasons.
Personally, the current state of the videogames industry appears to be troubled.
Personally, the current state of the videogames industry appears to be troubled.
CouchMaster
Member
But the interpretation by nearly everyone since 2nd post is that OP is generally talking about console AAA gaming, one that was dominated by JPN devs once and is now taken over by west. Gaming in general has never been better imo.
Permanently A
Junior Member
AAA games have become more homogenized and bogged down by some shady practices, but indies have never been better.
Negativity is the most immediate and obvious form of discernment. It also is much easier to tear something done than to build it up and much less risky to being called out as a non-discerning fool. So putting thought to comment lends itself to negativity as does discussing things in a potentially hostile, argumentative environment like GAF.
Negativity pissing wars often devolve into 'Yeah well game X you like is bad too and indeed worse,' that is they tacitly accept your negativity despite disagreeing with it. Being positive sets you up to take the fall as a chump.
Also, people tend to post more about what angers them and gets under their skin than what they really like. Don't need to vent about the latter.
Idk. I mean GAF actually has a fair bit of positive content. Some of it just fan circle jerks, some of it better thought out. And GAF has more nuanced responses to negative commentary than presented above.
But yeah, I think generally these are the kind of reasons as to why negativity is first recourse.
Bioshocker
Member
I miss Sega. I miss the fearless company that gave us Jet Set Radio, Samba de Amigo, Seaman, Shenmue and online on consoles. This 8th gen has had too many remasters (and it seems Nintendo may be be going all in on remasters with the Switch) and so far we've seen too few new IP's on consoles this gen.
Other than that, I think gaming has probably never been better. So many quality titles, so much to play, indies everywhere. When I was younger I had the time but not the money. These days it is the opposite. I just don't have the time to play what I want anymore.
Other than that, I think gaming has probably never been better. So many quality titles, so much to play, indies everywhere. When I was younger I had the time but not the money. These days it is the opposite. I just don't have the time to play what I want anymore.
It's been going downhill for the kinds of games I care about, but there's still more than enough to keep up with. It's just not the onslaught of games in the 2000s.
Keep in mind that the majority of what I play consists of traditional JRPGs, rhythm games, and Nintendo games. I also used to play a bunch of fighting games casually but now I'm just playing one semi-seriously instead (Melee).
Keep in mind that the majority of what I play consists of traditional JRPGs, rhythm games, and Nintendo games. I also used to play a bunch of fighting games casually but now I'm just playing one semi-seriously instead (Melee).
gundamkyoukai
Member
To me this gen has been good so far and we still only 3 years in .
IMO some things change for better but also the worst .
IMO some things change for better but also the worst .
Petrae
Member
In terms of console gaming, I totally agree with this. As Japanese influence lost ground and Western influence rose to power, many of the things that I despise about console gaming came into being.
Perhaps it's coincidence. Perhaps not.
27 and mostly disagree with the premise. Quantity and quality are abundant right now, especially if you are willing to play on PC. I have a list of 400 games that o may or may not get around to buying/playing.
That said, in my early teens I played nothing but JRPGs and I don't think I could support that today. Very few seem to be localized and many of those that are are erotic/waifu games.
That said, in my early teens I played nothing but JRPGs and I don't think I could support that today. Very few seem to be localized and many of those that are are erotic/waifu games.
Rexatality
Member
Yes, its those bad, villainous western game industry that ruined everything
Damn them all to hell /s
If Japanese games had somehow survived in and dominated AAA HD twin console space, I'd think we'd be in a pretty similar place. I don't think it's filthy western games at fault and I'd think you'd need to be pretty divorced from the reality of pre-generation 7 western games to think that way (on consoles and PC). The demands of the AAA space have been warping them too.
Hollywood Hitman
Gold Member
And the other thing is this, there's so many good games I'll always have a backlog. I play a ton or as much as I can when not doing wife time, and still there's hundreds I haven't gotten to yet so gaming is awesome imho. Always something to play.
Now yes, jrpgs I feel have struggled... However a 3ds can help that a bit and I hope the switch continues putting out decent jrpgs. But other than a slowdown of jrpgs I feel gaming is in a great spot.
I can't help but think sometimes folks who say things like this are simply tryin to "be that stand out" who wants to act like they see things clearly over everyone else, or to be edgy. Because we literally get hundreds of games a year and it's impossible to see the games coming and think man this sucks, I just don't buy it
Now yes, jrpgs I feel have struggled... However a 3ds can help that a bit and I hope the switch continues putting out decent jrpgs. But other than a slowdown of jrpgs I feel gaming is in a great spot.
I can't help but think sometimes folks who say things like this are simply tryin to "be that stand out" who wants to act like they see things clearly over everyone else, or to be edgy. Because we literally get hundreds of games a year and it's impossible to see the games coming and think man this sucks, I just don't buy it
SuperDowns
Banned
Whis don't lump that shit in with us.
Games are constantly in a better and better state. We have a home console with VR ffs. And steam is full of gems.
DOBERMAN INC
Member
In my 30s and I think gaming is at it's strongest right now, there's a wealth of options to choose from now that just didn't exist before, I have many gripes with gaming today but the quality of the output is not one of them.
PS4 has been fine as my only console too. So much to play I don't need anything else as there wouldnt be enough time. Good deal of Indie games that Steam offers have come over which is great.
I can get behind this.
I'm 30, have been playing video games since I was 2 years old (first console was the Atari 2600). I play on all platforms; how do you even define generations on the PC? I'm still playing factorio and M&B:Warband like crack and will still probably do for a long time.
Consoles then? This generation gave us Bloodborne and Metal Gear Solid V, some of the best games I have ever played, so no, I don't agree that gaming is going downhill. Right now, it's better than ever and the horizons are still broadening.
Consoles then? This generation gave us Bloodborne and Metal Gear Solid V, some of the best games I have ever played, so no, I don't agree that gaming is going downhill. Right now, it's better than ever and the horizons are still broadening.
No. That won't fix anything.
What actually has to be done is to move away from capitalism itself to a new system that doesn't incentivize 'lowest common denominator' design that seeks to ensnare as many customers as possible or else nickel and dime customers to death. That is the only solution that will change things fundamentally.
People sure like to complain about the symptoms of capitalism without ever actually addressing the root causes for some reason...
Sounds like OP only does console/AAA/Mainstream gaming....
...in which case I would agree. Outside stuff like the Souls games and a few titles here & there, it's in a pretty bad state for someone like me that's been around gaming for 30+ years. If you're relatively new to it, you're not gonna feel this way because that's all you know.
Time to get on PC and start getting into AA/mid tier/indie stuff.
...in which case I would agree. Outside stuff like the Souls games and a few titles here & there, it's in a pretty bad state for someone like me that's been around gaming for 30+ years. If you're relatively new to it, you're not gonna feel this way because that's all you know.
Time to get on PC and start getting into AA/mid tier/indie stuff.
Petrae
Member
Even if a(nother) crash happened and devastated the video game industry, I don't think things change much in any rebuilding phase that might follow.
The only way to go back to the way video games used to be is to go the retro route. You can still relive the days before things went to shit, and there are probably some games you might have missed out on back then that you can discover for yourself like they are new.
IMO, it's not worth wishing for the collapse of an industry just to suit your wants/desires. Let those who are happy with modern video games be happy. I hate modern gaming as well, but I'm fine with accepting that it's just not for me. I have plenty of games from the past in my library that I can enjoy that let me relive when (I believe that) times were much better.
More_Badass
Member
If anything, a crash would probably make companies focus more on microtransactions and service games because those would be safe and make more money
Melchiah
Member
Neither of these is mutually exclusive.
I do think a bit more of a pause (in spec growth, budget growth, etc.) generation would be a good thing that is probably not going to happen. PS3 in particular was an incredibly foolish and destructive device. The west rose to the occasion for 360 (beginning modern AAA paradigm to cope, for better or worse (worse
)) and later PS3, but PS3 killed a lot of its support pushing specs too fast. We'd be better served from traditional sources if PS3 had targeted SD, somewhat above Wii but markedly below what PS3 did target. HD Wii/PS3 in 2010 or so, when HD TVs were really becoming big and the technology to meet it was older.PS4One are slower growth, which is good, but Pro/Scorpio seem to suggest Sony/MS might be rethinking this approach.
The advantage PC has with respect to this is that, traditionally speaking, while it has offered the highest end, it has also offered games designed to be played on fairly low end devices that have upgrades for higher end devices. Consoles, being closed boxes with definite architecture, have less of a culture of that, although with indie software that's changing.
Interficium
Banned
"Muh JRPGs don't dominate the AAA market anymore so the whole industry should die!"
I can understand the feeling if you enjoy Japanese game design more than everything else. The Japanese gaming industry has its roots in the arcades and tends to put a bigger emphasis on tight, polished, and often more abstract gameplay systems and/or mechanics at the expense of realism. Two things happened in the transition to the 7th gen; we lost Sega, whose first-party efforts often specialized in arcadey gameplay, and most Japanese game developers followed their home market to handhelds. This, coupled with the Wii being seen as a outlier, greatly lessened Japan's influence over the rest of the industry and developers slowly moved away from Japanese game design principles as a result. Some indies are doing their best to fill the void, but it's not the same as having Japan on board like they were from the 80's to the mid 00s.
There are still good games coming out, but the industry as a whole does have a different feel with the West dominating everything else.
There are still good games coming out, but the industry as a whole does have a different feel with the West dominating everything else.
geordiemp
Member
Add in 2D platformers and your about right.
At least they can vote for da best games on GAF threads, meanwhile most gamers are playing shooters online and dont give a rats ass.
AzureFlame
Member
I agree with you OP, it's a sad thing, but there are still these few good games that keeps me in this industry.
dead souls
Member
I couldn't agree more. I will own less games on all current gen consoles combined than I do on the PS2.
The current crop of western developed AAA games are nothing I want to play.
Rexatality
Member
At this point, if you don't like the current crop of games, you may have to quit video games for good. Just saying
Melchiah
Member
Personally, I have already about the same amount of games on the PS4, that I had in the entire life of PS2. My PS3 library is about double the size of PS2's.
petran79
Banned
AAA Western developers never learn.
Expensive FMV games with actors killed companies like Sierra
Now we see even more expensive ventures with CGI actors.
In terms of actual games, I could not disagree more. The Soulsborne series consistently puts out some of the greatest games of all time (well aside from DS2 but it was still pretty good). The Witcher 3 is IMO the best open world game ever made. Rocket League might be my favorite sports game and is one of the best competitive games of all time. Undertale completely redefined my perception of Indie games. And I still haven't even played some of the best of this gen like Doom and Overwatch.
Now if we are talking about hardware, I agree. I'm so lost with the PS4 Pro. I just cannot bring myself to spend another $400 on a piece of hardware that only provides better graphics. And I think release schedules this short are dangerous as it may eventually lead to games exclusive to the hardware, which alienates consumers and destroys communities. I understand that a vocal part of the consumer base has demanded such a thing and (for now) all PS4 games work with both systems but I still cannot get on board with the idea at all.
Now if we are talking about hardware, I agree. I'm so lost with the PS4 Pro. I just cannot bring myself to spend another $400 on a piece of hardware that only provides better graphics. And I think release schedules this short are dangerous as it may eventually lead to games exclusive to the hardware, which alienates consumers and destroys communities. I understand that a vocal part of the consumer base has demanded such a thing and (for now) all PS4 games work with both systems but I still cannot get on board with the idea at all.
Mr_Appleby
Member
Pretty good post all round but this thing about indies is only true if you are talking exclusively about consoles. The exact term indie may not have existed but on PC's (including the earlier 8/16bit home computers) games made 'independently' of a big company/publisher have been around since forever.