As video gaming changed too much?

[Julius Terrell]

I was sitting here reading the forums like I normally do, and got to thinking. I came to realization that I don't care about 75% of what people care about as far as video games. All I see is FPs this, or game with zombies or Military shooters, or even MMOs, or those strategy games. I don't know, I've been around since nearly the very beginning of the gaming revolution.

It's just strange that whenever I think about video games I always end up saying that video games were better back during the 8 or 16-bit eras. I miss 2D sprites and 8-bit chiptunes. Even during the ps1 and ps2 era I still had that fond love for video gaming, because lots of games of EVERY genre were being produced weather it was a high production series like MGS, or something simple like another tetris clone. There just seemed to be something for everyone.

Now I don't have that same enthusiasm anymore since the ps2 era ended. I feel like I was one of those people who got into a time machine, and stepped into a future that I just don't understand anymore. My love for gaming hasn't diminished, but rather I feel the industry has changed, and doesn't really cater to me as much. I found that the only way I can still enjoy gaming like I used to is either break out the old systems, or hole myself up in my niche genres that nobody cares about anymore.

It's really sad existence for someone such as myself who loves video games as much as I do. I just have a hard time relating with people in the current generations. Maybe I'm just getting old. I'm only in my mid-30s for crying out loud. Anyone else feel the same way?

I know time progresses, but I can still remember fondly the first time I play Street Fighter II or the ninja gaiden series and being completely blown away. Discuss!

 

[BQE]

I'm sorry, I absolutely don't feel the same way.

I'm constantly discovering new and interesting games. Indie developers now have a bigger presence then they've ever had before. Stubborn companies are learning harsh lessons at the hands of consumer derision and enterprising companies are catering to their fanbase.

Kickstarter is another platform for more games to be made, from the retro sequel never delievered to the new and novel idea that's been inspired by possibility.

You have my deepest sympathies, to be in a state of gloom and disparate attitude. Perhaps you might practice a bit more optimism, or really analyze what makes you happy in games.

Sure we here are the Escapist are a vocal bunch, but it's due to the fact that this is a place for discussion, which includes many gripes, complaints, critical attitudes, and dissatisfaction with the state of things.

I would advise you to keep your eyes open to things that might be slipping under your radar. Without a doubt there's constant talk of the so-called 'evils of military shooters' and how recent MMOS are 'uninspired WoW clones', but that's just a sensitivity toward content.

Like I always tell people, if you simply must have faith in something, have faith in BQE.

 

[MrSir231]

If it didn't change, then people would complain that it never does.

 

[MysticSlayer]

All I see is FPs this, or game with zombies or Military shooters, or even MMOs, or those strategy games.

Man, you must not look very hard. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but that is the only response I can give to comments like this. Even as someone who's gaming life was dominated by those types of games for a couple years, I can say that it is incredibly easy to avoid. I mean, just look at all the games that released that year that don't fall under one of these categories, and to make it fair I'll only mention the popular ones:

DmC: Devil May Cry
Temple Run 2
The Cave
Ni No Nuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Fire Emblem Awakening
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
God of War Ascension
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Slender: The Arrival

You know what, I'm just going to stop there. We're 1/4 the way through the year, and I'm already having to progressively raise the standards for the "popular" part of the list. The bottom line is, it is hardly like games are just your military and zombie shooters. There's more diversity out there, and some of those non-shooter games are very popular. That's not even to comment on the massive, lesser known parts of the indie scene. Furthermore, there are always still communities that build up around these games. You just have to find them.

So sorry, but if you can't find something in the industry right now, the fault hardly lies with the industry. It lies in you not looking hard enough or letting nostalgia get in the way. Yeah, there are still some games that don't seem to get made, but many of those were hardly being made to begin with.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I'm sorry, I absolutely don't feel the same way.

I'm constantly discovering new and interesting games. Indie developers now have a bigger presence then they've ever had before. Stubborn companies are learning harsh lessons at the hands of consumer derision and enterprising companies are catering to their fanbase.

Bingo. It may be true that the big name games that have the biggest sales are often lacking in innovation (even if, in many cases, they are actually quite solid and enjoyable games|, but if you're having trouble finding the sort of games you enjoy playing, then you're just not looking. Gaming these days isn't all about AAA, which is much of what it was in the past (even if the definition of AAA wasn't as narrow then as it is now). There are all sorts of games being made across a variety of different development tiers, and many of them are pretty damn good.

 

[Julius Terrell]

It's not like I'm not willing to do the leg work. It just seems like half the time I walk into gamestop, the employees aren't exactly willing to help if it isn't a AAA title. I'll probably just get a 3ds and concentrate there. Sounds like a good start. I'd love to get back into playing some pokemon.

 

[StriderShinryu]

It's not like I'm not willing to do the leg work. It just seems like half the time I walk into gamestop, the employees aren't exactly willing to help if it isn't a AAA title. I'll probably just get a 3ds and concentrate there. Sounds like a good start. I'd love to get back into playing some pokemon.

No offense, but if your definition of doing legwork to look for games is going into GameStop then that's probably a large part of the problem right there.

 

[Eve Charm]

Eh it's kinda the realization that the same game every year isn't a good thing or games they should like they don't like anymore because they changed things or all around just made a bad game.

This happened to the JRPG crowd around FF X-2, 12 and 13. You find smaller titles tho that rub the same spots for a while then a bigger one comes out always.

The better question would be what kind of games are you looking for and whats been disappointing you.

 

[LoreFF]

There is a lot of *old school* games coming out from kickstarter soonish, Wasteland 2 , Project Eternity (Baldurs gate style RPG from Obsidian) and a lot of other games i cannot recall on the top of my head.

With the whole kickstarter , indie scene there is enough games in all genres to enjoy.

 

[LAGG]

It just seems like half the time I walk into Gamestop

That's what's wrong then.

News
http://indiegames.com/index.html
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/

Stores
http://www.steampowered.com/
http://www.desura.com/
http://www.gog.com/

 

[Mersadeon]

Not at all. All those games you love are still there, and the number of games in every genre is rising continuously. Nobody is forcing you to play Generic FPS 12. And 16-bit-style-games are being made a dime a dozen nowerdays. Seriously, pretty much everything in the videogame industry got better.
I mean, we can actually tell a story within a game now, that used to be really hard.

 

[TehCookie]

I feel the same way. The games lost that creative spark, now everything has to appeal to the masses. I know niche games don't and they are the few modern games I love, but as OP put it it's like I'm mosly ignored by the industry now.

Sometimes it's just the little things like NPCs who say random world building stuff than try to be an endearing character. Now you rarely get unique worlds, it's either based on reality or generic tolkien fantasy. Games force so many tutorials they leave nothing for the player to discover. Not to mention the dreaded linear corridors. Is it so much to ask to add an end with a enemy or treasure chest?

The last game I played was a first person platformer where you played a robot rabbit. What happened to stuff like that?

 

[Adultism]

I agree with OP, most of the games that come out these days are piles of poo and seem to have no entertainment value.

HOWEVER there have been a couple of gems that blew my mind, but gaming has decreased in entertainment quality and now are focusing on pleasing EVERYONE. Most games end up bland and empty so.

 

[Adultism]

It just seems like half the time I walk into Gamestop

That's what's wrong then.

News
http://indiegames.com/index.html
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/

Stores
http://www.steampowered.com/
http://www.desura.com/
http://www.gog.com/

I Think OP was talking Tripple A titles, everything is just squirted out to appeal to masses.

 

[DoPo]

It just seems like half the time I walk into Gamestop

That's what's wrong then.

News
http://indiegames.com/index.html
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/

Stores
http://www.steampowered.com/
http://www.desura.com/
http://www.gog.com/

I Think OP was talking Tripple A titles, everything is just squirted out to appeal to masses.

No he wasn't. Here, read the quote

It's not like I'm not willing to do the leg work. It just seems like half the time I walk into gamestop,

I think one can make a better legwork by visiting the links provided.

 

[krazykidd]

It's not like I'm not willing to do the leg work. It just seems like half the time I walk into gamestop, the employees aren't exactly willing to help if it isn't a AAA title. I'll probably just get a 3ds and concentrate there. Sounds like a good start. I'd love to get back into playing some pokemon.

No offense, but if your definition of doing legwork to look for games is going into GameStop then that's probably a large part of the problem right there.

Going into a videogame store to buy videogames! What an odd concept!

OT: I agree to some extent . When i walk into game stop i see very few games that interest me . However , i took the time figure out what exactly i like. If it's not a Jrpg or a fighting game, i'm not interested.

 

[babinro]

I disagree with the OP as well.

Atari - Oh look, another space shooter *yawn*
8 bit / 16 bit - Oh look, another action side scroller game *yawn*
Current Day - Oh look, another FPS *yawn*

You get the point.
AAA gaming has gone through these motions over and over again.

What makes current age gaming AMAZING when compared to back then is the variety of options we have when we delve away from the absolute most popular. The Wii is all about local co-op. Handhelds are all about updated 8bit/16bit experiences. Mobile market offers plenty of casual innovation. Indie games provide tons of 'classic' style games and explore new ideas that may shape the future major titles as well.

The opportunity to experience game diversity is far greater now than it ever was back then.
The quality of those diverse games can often be very high even if they aren't AAA quality.

I'm also mid-30's and find that current day experiences continue to offer mind-blowing experiences from time to time.
Then: Ninja Gaiden (NES). Now: Dust An Elysian Tail
Then: Super Mario Bros 3 Now: Rayman Legends
Then: Final Fantasy 3 Now: Dragon Age Origins (Mass Effect for many people but I prefer DA)
Now: Rock Band
Now: (Enter MMORPG of choice)
Now: StarCraft 2 (whose single player campaign level design is leagues ahead of anything back in the day that I've played)
Now: Golfing games with motion control
Now: Free video games of high quality. It blows my mind that games like SW:TOR and Path of Exile are free.

 

[Signa]

Seconding your notion OP. It's been over a year since I bought a brand new game. I even swore off buying new games (games that were made within the last year or so) for a few months. The only reason I stopped not buying them was because I got a good job, and a credit card, and I figured buying games on Steam was a good way to build my credit rating.

 

[Weaver]

I just feel like most AAA games now a days are focused more on what is a wanna be hollywood story than actually letting me play a fun game.

 

[Story]

I'll be honest and say I didn't completely understand you at first OP.
I suppose you mean you currently don't like the trends in AAA gaming because they are such a far cry from gaming almost 20 years ago?
Well of course, because trends trend to change both as technology changes and interests of a younger audience changes. The fact is as long as FPS, zombie games or what have you continue to sell as well as they do studios will continue to saturate the market with these games because that is what they know it sells.
At the same time, we still have popular unconventional titles that we can find every now and then that would be impossible roughly 20 years ago. If anything I would say gaming has changed for the better for the most part, because of how technology allows us to do so much. It is a shame that the industry doesn't deviate from what sells too often but we still have other outlets like Kickstarter and Indie studios.