Will this be the most boring generation yet?

[Sleepy Sol]

Seems like it, for me at least. I just got my PS4, they've been out a while, and I could only find three games that I actually wanted. One that was already out, one that's multiplatform and comes out tomorrow, and the last that doesn't even come out till next month. So I'm stuck with two games until then.

Bleh.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

Go back to Yahtzee's videos in the begining of last gen and it's the same, it takes about 2 years before the industry moves to the next console

I agree with this. I didn't pick up a PS3 for several years after it came out because there was just...nothing on it. But then, developers started getting the hang of it and games started to shine. My PS3 library now almost rivals my PS2's. Give it a little more time, probably another year, and then we should start seeing stuff. If we don't by then, then it might be time to start wondering.

Also, Bloodborne is coming. That may not be a killer app for you, but it damn sure is for me.

Agree with you two on this.

I didn't pick up a console last generation until they were at least a couple years into their cycle. It took about that long for anything noteworthy/of a certain level of quality to be released.

For that reason, I don't really understand early adopters. It takes time for devs to be able to 'unlock' the potential of the 'new' hardware and they're still having to support the last gen for at least a year post launch. So, with that in mind, why bother jumping into that stagnant pool when you can kick back and wait for the proverbial cream to rise in inverse proportion to prices?

 

[balladbird]

I recall that the first couple years of last gen were pretty blegh, as well. Lots of brown military shooters and few titles to get excited about.

Gamer tastes are more diverse these days, but there are plenty of games that are guaranteed to be successful. the new halo, the new final fantasy, the new persona, etc

now whether any of those games will be GOOD, for a given value of the word, will be something to see, but as far as killer apps go, there are plenty on the horizon.

 

[cdemares]

Visicalc: Enhanced Edition for PS4 and XB1

The original Killer App strikes again!

 

[MysticSlayer]

We aren't even two full years into the generation. There are still games being released for last-gen consoles, some of which are exclusive to those last-gen consoles! Seriously, it is way too early to make such a call. And it isn't even like this is new: Last console generation itself took a couple years to get going.

 

[Iwata]

When do you think the PS4 and xbone will get their killer app?

average game after average game with nothing very inspiring on the horizon.

When do you think will be the turning point? if ever.

*shrug*

I'm quite enjoying my PS4. Sooo... I don't care?

 

[Fox12]

Bloodborne
Persona 5
A possibly GOOD final fantasy
Kingdom Hearts 3
Whatever Naught Dog cooks up next

And that's just Sony exclusive content that's right on the horizon. Multi-platform titles will probably be even better, and more numerous.

I'm frothing at the matter, so as long as I'm happy, I don't care. Also, didn't someone already make this thread?

 

[DOOM GUY]

Well, we shall see, but it honestly looks to be. I mean, last generation wasn't exceptionally good either (though we did see some standout titles) yet I'm still finding games from older generations that are a lot of fun.

Only games I'm currently looking forward to are Metal Gear Solid V, Splatoon, and Neptunia. There are a few other games that I have some interest in, but I'm not actively following them.

 

[RandV80]

Go back to Yahtzee's videos in the begining of last gen and it's the same, it takes about 2 years before the industry moves to the next console

I agree with this. I didn't pick up a PS3 for several years after it came out because there was just...nothing on it. But then, developers started getting the hang of it and games started to shine. My PS3 library now almost rivals my PS2's. Give it a little more time, probably another year, and then we should start seeing stuff. If we don't by then, then it might be time to start wondering.

Also, Bloodborne is coming. That may not be a killer app for you, but it damn sure is for me.

Agree with you two on this.

I didn't pick up a console last generation until they were at least a couple years into their cycle. It took about that long for anything noteworthy/of a certain level of quality to be released.

For that reason, I don't really understand early adopters. It takes time for devs to be able to 'unlock' the potential of the 'new' hardware and they're still having to support the last gen for at least a year post launch. So, with that in mind, why bother jumping into that stagnant pool when you can kick back and wait for the proverbial cream to rise in inverse proportion to prices?

Adding to this, only console I owned last gen was the Wii so I obviously didn't think too highly of the PS3/360 but I'm putting more faith in this one... or at least the PS4. Yes the obvious answer is that it takes at least 2 years for devs to become accustomed to a new gen and start releasing new games, but looking from a hardware perspective last gen was able improve the PS2 era into HD but there wasn't much else left. For this gen I expect the graphics to flatline a bit, except now where on the PS3 devs had to work with a measly split 512MB of RAM on the PS4 they've got 8 GB. Minus whatever the OS uses and of course, but point is it ended up being a major bottleneck last gen.

 

[The Bucket]

I kinda think gamers may be too broad a demographic to provide a killer app for these days. I mean Halo is great and all, but do you really think if it had come out today (obviously updated) that it would be the system seller that it was 15 years ago? I'm just not convinced the market works that way anymore.

Destiny is a similar game to Halo (in target audience if not quality) and it sold like hot cakes. The games market is far more diverse than it was, but the backbone mainstream audience has grown exponentially as well.

 

[Lunar Templar]

*shrugs*

it'll get here when it gets here, and it'll probably be on the PS4 cause that's where all the even passable interesting titles seem to be ending up.

 

[Windcaler]

The turning point will be when they get their killer app. Yeah thats about as far as my precognition goes, sorry. The fact is theres no way to tell when the next big game(s) will come out. It could be we go an entire generation with little to show for it, though I think its likely well get at least a few games that are genre defining or even (r)evalutionary. Only time will tell

 

[Rasha M]

This generation has only just begun, and I think the PS4 and Xbox One are both well designed consoles. Both have eight cores but only one is being used. I'm hearing that could change soon and if developers are able take advantage of that then the difference will be huge. This will make things possible that developers couldn't do before.

Publishers are afraid to take risks because the money they invest in a game is so huge they could be making Hollywood movies. Risk aversion is the real reason for the sameness of games. I love that fact that UbiSoft have UbiArt. Child of Light and Valiant Hearts are both amazing games. I'm hoping that more big publishers take creative risks by making smaller games. Maybe this is what Activison plans on doing with the Sierra label?

Long story short, I see reasons to still be optimistic. Games are still not as stagnant as movies or music.

 

[BarryMcCociner]

With The Phantom Pain coming out, and having paid for the admittedly satisfying demo among all this mostly-shluck I'm holding out on the hope that this will be a fairly boring generation with enough nuggets of satisfaction to keep my from giving up on new releases entirely.

It's actually scary for games that that's my most optimistic estimate.

 

[Nazulu]

App? As in game? Can we please just call them games. It's a simple short word. Easy to spell, only one syllable. Besides, isn't app short for application? Look at post 38 and 39

I'm sorry, but you're confusing me. Anyway, they haven't made a game I've been interested in for some time now, and even the indie games I will get to eventually are nothing to go crazy about. I keep getting stuck into classic games I haven't seen or completely explored yet, so I have no problem saying these last generations really suck.

I was hoping the new Smash Bros would be my thing, but I don't like how it plays at all.

 

[rgrekejin]

App? As in game? Can we please just call them games. It's a simple short word. Easy to spell, only one syllable. Besides, isn't app short for application?

As much of a stickler as I am for proper terminology (and as much as I hate the fact that "app" seems to have subsumed "program") I think we have to give "Killer App" a pass, as the phrase predates the modern smartphone-and-tablet-driven obsession with the term. It's been colloquial shorthand for "a piece of software that justifies the purchase of an entire system" since the 1980s.

Also, sorry for the link-less quote. My quote button is broken.

 

[Nazulu]

App? As in game? Can we please just call them games. It's a simple short word. Easy to spell, only one syllable. Besides, isn't app short for application?

As much of a stickler as I am for proper terminology (and as much as I hate the fact that "app" seems to have subsumed "program") I think we have to give "Killer App" a pass, as the phrase predates the modern smartphone-and-tablet-driven obsession with the term. It's been colloquial shorthand for "a piece of software that justifies the purchase of an entire system" since the 1980s.

Also, sorry for the link-less quote. My quote button is broken.

You and your broken buttons.

Yeah, had to look it up and you are right. I'm sorry Fonejackerjon

But I have to say, now that app is commonly known as the dlc for the ipad n' phone, maybe it's out-dated? Though, it's a cool way to say it. Eh, keep it.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

I don't think anything could be more boring than when everyone seemed to be saying terrible things about the N64 and then turned around and praised its "classic" games like Goldeneye to the stars. To be fair though, that was mostly fanboys sniping at each other rather than the fault of the companies involved or the content they produced. The discussion did get old really fast.

 

[hybridial]

For AAA games most definitely. My enthusiasm for them is mostly gone, I don't really care about the new consoles.

But indy is a different thing. Apotheon showed me that gaming isn't down for the count yet. I adored it, I thought it was fresh and yet familiar at the same time. Shadowrun Dragonfall became my favourite game of all time and it was crowdfunded.


I think in a lot of ways indy development is in an exciting place, PC gaming offers a viable platform for it. As long as you don't need a game to have Hollywood movie level production values, this generation could be interesting.

 

[Signa]

I doubt I'm going to get anything more than a luke-warm game from either Sony or MS this generation. Now I have to slog through all the crappy indie titles to find the gems. At least I found Legend of Grimrock, because that game was the best thing in years to me.