Poll: If Gaming hardware had stopped improving...

[CrystalShadow]

How far back would you find bearable?

Assuming the technology used to play games with had somehow ended up stuck forever at a certain point in time (even as everything around it improved. For the sake of argument we'll ignore the fact that that doesn't really make sense), at what point would you say you'd be alright with it?

You can assume game design would continue to progress within the limits of that hardware, but there'd be no technical improvements.

For me, I would say the SNES/Megadrive (Genesis) era wouldn't be so bad.
Sure, no real 3d games to speak of, but 2d gaming had reached it's peak, and hasn't really meaningfully improved since.

Edit: To clarify, I'm trying to ask how far back in time you'd be willing to go before you would find the technical limits too distracting.

(For instance, I chose Snes era because I can still play those games today, whereas something like an NES game I'd start to think 'This is rather ugly', and even earlier stuff I'd get bored with after maybe 5 minutes in all probability.)
So really, it's about where, for you, the line is between games you don't mind still playing, and those you would just avoid.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Around the N64/Playstation era for me. It's the last hardware generation where single player was the focus and you could play multiplayer on the living room couch with your friends. Now many game developers follow the siren song of online multiplayer, resulting in tacked-on single player modes and having to endure whiny 12-year olds and dickhead frat boys.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Hmm. Not a lot of of votes yet, but it seems a lot of people really like their 3d games...

I'll admit, seeing my first N64 games really gave me that 'wow' reaction in a way I haven't really had since, but I'm surprised there isn't more nostalgia around.

Then again, maybe there's not so many people that remember those old systems.

(Hands up if you've ever played on an Atari 2600. XD)

 

[Mr Thin]

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't you just pick the newest era, seeing as you'll still have all the stuff before that as well?

Even if that's not the case, I'd still pick the new era, because 'game design would continue to improve'.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Hmm. Not a lot of of votes yet, but it seems a lot of people really like their 3d games...

I'll admit, seeing my first N64 games really gave me that 'wow' reaction in a way I haven't really had since, but I'm surprised there isn't more nostalgia around.

Then again, maybe there's not so many people that remember those old systems.

(Hands up if you've ever played on an Atari 2600. XD)

I was born after the Atari days, but I have played the system before at a neighbor's house when I was a kid. My first game console was an old Vectrex unit that a friend of my parents decided to give me. I got plenty of mileage out of it before the system finally broke down due to age. I still miss the old girl from time to time.

I remember being impressed with the N64's graphical prowess, but I wasn't blown away to the extent my friends were. Perhaps it's because I had gotten used to 3D graphics already, having played many classic PC games like Tie Fighter. Still, the games are what really matters for a console, and the N64 had more than its share of excellent ones.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't you just pick the newest era, seeing as you'll still have all the stuff before that as well?

Even if that's not the case, I'd still pick the new era, because 'game design would continue to improve'.

Well, what I was trying to get at with this thread wasn't intended that way, so if that's how you see it, I guess I explained it incorrectly.

I was trying to see how far back people would be willing to go technologically before concluding the games basically just suck.

I mean, yes, modern games are better than older ones, but how much better?
Where's the line between 'good enough', and "That's just awful, and I'd rather not play games at all if they were like that?"

Hmm. Not a lot of of votes yet, but it seems a lot of people really like their 3d games...

I'll admit, seeing my first N64 games really gave me that 'wow' reaction in a way I haven't really had since, but I'm surprised there isn't more nostalgia around.

Then again, maybe there's not so many people that remember those old systems.

(Hands up if you've ever played on an Atari 2600. XD)

I was born after the Atari days, but I have played the system before at a neighbor's house when I was a kid. My first game console was an old Vectrex unit that a friend of my parents decided to give me. I got plenty of mileage out of it before the system finally broke down due to age. I still miss the old girl from time to time.

I remember being impressed with the N64's graphical prowess, but I wasn't blown away to the extent my friends were. Perhaps it's because I had gotten used to 3D graphics already, having played many classic PC games like Tie Fighter. Still, the games are what really matters for a console, and the N64 had more than its share of excellent ones.

I can sort of understand that. I played Wing Commander 3, Doom, and stuff like that before the N64 and Playstation existed...

But basically it was the last time that happened to me.
I really can't recall anything since then really impressing me all that much.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Hmm. Not a lot of of votes yet, but it seems a lot of people really like their 3d games...

I'll admit, seeing my first N64 games really gave me that 'wow' reaction in a way I haven't really had since, but I'm surprised there isn't more nostalgia around.

Then again, maybe there's not so many people that remember those old systems.

(Hands up if you've ever played on an Atari 2600. XD)

honestly. i do. i absolutely LOVE 3d, and that involes just about anything involving 3d, not just video games

OT: ps2 era, those systems are amazing and they always had gems all over the damn place for games that were enjoyable.

plus gamecube controller? nuff said.

 

[Mr Thin]

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't you just pick the newest era, seeing as you'll still have all the stuff before that as well?

Even if that's not the case, I'd still pick the new era, because 'game design would continue to improve'.

Well, what I was trying to get at with this thread wasn't intended that way, so if that's how you see it, I guess I explained it incorrectly.

I was trying to see how far back people would be willing to go technologically before concluding the games basically just suck.

I mean, yes, modern games are better than older ones, but how much better?
Where's the line between 'good enough', and "That's just awful, and I'd rather not play games at all if they were like that?"

Hm, I see. Yes, I misunderstood your question.

Well my standards vary between game genres, but of the choices available I'd probably pick the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube era.

Basically, anything that looks worse than Morrowind or Deus Ex has to be really, REALLY god damn good before I'll play it.

 

[Jailbird408]

I picked the early 2000s because there isn't that much difference between then and now, and I'm particularly interested in the Gamecube, sobbing gently to myself because I was unlucky enough to be too young to make that decision.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

I love my PS2. Best games ever.

 

[viranimus]

That would be hard for me to choose. I have great affection for 2 time periods. The SNES era and the PSX era (for me it was really just one long stretch as I moved from the SNES to the PSX)

However, if the tech does not improve, the most logical thing to do would be to take the modern era. Get the most technological performance possible, and then have the devs focus on making better games in order to differentiate themselves from the vast library of similar typed games that would inevitably pile up over the course of a decade or two.

 

[foryth]

SNES definitely, because with the graphical limitations of the time, developers were forced to make good stories and playability with what they had (the good ones were anyways). SNES actually had good graphics (still does for 16bit) with that mode 7 stuff they were doing.

Imagination is the best graphics though -.o

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

(Hands up if you've ever played on an Atari 2600. XD)

Pffft. Try a purpose built Pong console that predates the 2600.

And on a goddamn Black and White tv.

*kicks it old school and tells everyone to get off his fucking lawn*


Wouldn't bother me how far gaming tech went back. If it resulted in less gaming for me, I'd just use that time for my other hobbies.

 

[Bobbity]

I'd say now. If hardware became less of an issue, then hopefully story and gameplay would become a bigger focus. I'd really like to see this generation of games redeem itself with a ten year or so hiatus from more hardware - and graphics - development.

 

[CrystalShadow]

(Hands up if you've ever played on an Atari 2600. XD)

Pffft. Try a purpose built Pong console that predates the 2600.

And on a goddamn Black and White tv.

*kicks it old school and tells everyone to get off his fucking lawn*


Wouldn't bother me how far gaming tech went back. If it resulted in less gaming for me, I'd just use that time for my other hobbies.

OK, I admit I've never seen older gaming hardware... XD

But I had to put up with Black & white TV at some point...

And even the colour TV's we had were often ancient things. (or otherwise really tiny)
...

Although I guess that's more of a sign of being poor, than being old.