How the internet affected my interest in video games

[Deleted]

Back in the late 90's, I didn't use the internet to find information about cool games before I bought them. I rarely hated any game I bought/rented (with the exceptions of Superman 64 and... mischief makers *flame shield*) and to this day I'm not sure if it was because I went in with no expectations, or because games were just better in general back then

Today, I hear about a game being developed, wait for it to release, and buy it if I like it. Generally I've decided on buying it way before its release, or way AFTER its release (put it on my "play later" list). I suppose this is better business for them but there are so many games that I see get developed and release that I just don't give two shits about. And I will not try them because I already think it will be not fun. Feels like the old ways of discovering obscure video games was better. You'd tell your friend "Yo! You should try out Bomberman 64! Its so much better than Super Bomberman!" And he's would take your word since its the only word to take.

Today you'd see gameplay videos, reviews, previews, and walkthroughs of games before you buy it, but back when I was a kid I would rent random games from blockbuster going off the cover alone and fucking enjoyed the game. I can't do that today.

IS it because I'm more picky, or are games changing? Yes in my time there were video game "shrine" sites, where they just talk about a single game. But I wasn't into looking at shrine sites of games I never played.

Has anyone experienced something like this? I imagine most of you had it waaay different being born into the atari/NES era where there was absolutely no internet.

 

[BreakfastMan]

It is entirely possible you are just getting more picky. When you are a kid your standards are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay lower for pretty much everything. That is why kids like those crap-tastic kids movies they shovel out nowadays while we older folks can't stand 'em. So it is entirely possible you got more picky as you got older (I know I and many others did).

On the other hand, games are changing. While I don't think they are any worse (they are better in many ways), they are most certainly different. Whereas the industry mainly focused on appealing to child and early teens back in N64 era, they are now focused on appealing to that all-imporant 18-24 year old demographic. It could just be you enjoy older, light-hearted games more (which I would gather is the case from you using Banjo and Kazooie as your avatar), so you dislike all this newfangled FPS stuff.

So, you know, either or both are entirely possible.

 

[Savagezion]

It is entirely possible you are just getting more picky. When you are a kid your standards are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay lower for pretty much everything. That is why kids like those crap-tastic kids movies they shovel out nowadays while we older folks can't stand 'em. So it is entirely possible you got more picky as you got older (I know I and many others did).

I will echo that as I was thinking that same thought during the first half of reading the OP. However, in addition to that, I will say that when you start using the internet and other resources to look up info on games, you tend to be able to sift through everything out there and zone in more towards the types of games you like the most. As a result, you will find games that you normally wouldn't have found/tried on your own that you love. Now, because you have all these games that you love (probably tied mostly into 3-4 genres) and you are continuing to look up information, the games that were "meh" (fun but nothing to rave about) aren't that appealing anymore because there are so many that are awesome that are fun to rave about.

It is probably just a mixture of both. Your growing older instigated you into looking stuff up, which has positives and negatives. Ignorance can be bliss, but getting to play a bunch of games you otherwise wouldn't have and are right up your alley is pretty cool too.

 

[Goofguy]

I think it's safe to say this sentiment rings true for a large number of gamers, myself included.

I pretty much enjoyed everything I played on the SNES and N64 back in the day. As I got older, my tastes developed to a point where I don't care much for sports or racing games these days. I think the same thing could be said for movies. If you go back now and watch some of those movies you loved as a child (and haven't seen since), there's a good chance you'll think it's crap.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

There is way more information on everything now that the internet is out. I remember way back I learned of a cheat in a Sonic game for the Genesis by knowing a friend whose friend's Dad worked as a programmer who knew the code. Now days you just need to google.

Another major change is the whole social society of gaming. I went without internet gaming for nearly 6 months. Then one day I played a game online and sameone said "Hi!" in game. It actually took me a few seconds to realize this was a real person because I was playing single player for so long. It gave me a glimpse of what I used to think was awesome compared to now where I take it for granted.