Xbox turning into a childish plaything?

[Neverhoodian]

Is the OP implying that children aren't "real" gamers because the games they play aren't violent, "gritty" affairs? I'm nearly 25 years old, and many of the games I play have minimal levels of violence, nudity, or any other supposed "mature" content. Besides, plenty of kids play M rated games on Xbox Live (whether they should or not is another discussion).

I don't mind at all. There will always be developers who will produce so-called "hardcore" titles out there. In the meantime, attracting a wider demographic means increased acceptance in society. Also, it's worth pointing out that this might start the creative juices flowing for devs to create more compelling non-combat games. There's still so much innovation that could be done, but haven't been explored because it's much easier to go with the whole "if you shoot them, they fall down" mechanic right now. Maybe we'll even be able to reach a point where politicians and the media won't come down on the industry like a ton of bricks every time there's a school shooting.

Also, I'm officially tired of the Bieber jokes. He's just one more overrated teen singer who will be forgotten a few years from now, not the antichrist.

 

[Shirokurou]

Making something cute and childish - broadens the targeted demographic, making something HARDCORE WITH BLOOD! restricts the demographic via ESRB and stuff.

Shirokurou's 100 truths: Something childish and innocent can hide mature themes, while mindless bloodshed and random nudity can in turn be perceived as childish...

 

[GiantRaven]

it's the fact that developers are being encouraged to make kid games to cash in on the horde of people that kinnect is bringing. I fear in a few years the only gaming choices will be:

-driving games
-COD
-generic sports game
-movie tie in games
-motion/family games

where are the dooms, the duke nukems and soldier of fortunes? Because they have a smaller market (compared to the legions of kids/familes the M$ are targetting) devs will just not make the games.

I love that you're worried about how narrow gaming might become (which it won't) and then proceed to use one overplayed genre to encompass all other types of gaming.

Hell, there's a Duke Nukem game coming out in May and I guarantee that is going to sell, as would any new Doom game. Hardly a smaller market. We're more likely to see the videogame market dominated by FPS games over driving games. Kinda like now if you think about it.

 

[Jazoni89]

Bieber-Box? Really?

Look, you're not forced to interact with those kids. You're not forced to buy the stuff that appeals to them either. Just go on your merry way and ignore the rest. The avatars might be a bit silly, but really, they're not that big of a deal now are they? Just, once again, ignore them.

It's not the kids who are the issue, it's the games that developers are being encourages to pump out.

I started gaming as a hobby with doom and I must have been about 7. I was a kid but didn't play the latest lion king game etc.

it's the fact that developers are being encouraged to make kid games to cash in on the horde of people that kinnect is bringing. I fear in a few years the only gaming choices will be:

-driving games
-COD
-generic sports game
-movie tie in games
-motion/family games

where are the dooms, the duke nukems and soldier of fortunes? Because they have a smaller market (compared to the legions of kids/familes the M$ are targetting) devs will just not make the games.

I agree with this guy, niche games are getting much, much harder to come by nowadays.

If these niche games where to disappear completely however, then their's no hope for originality in video games.

You can tell, because of all the safe sequels and me too titles that most devs are putting out now. They may make the most money, but they are in no way beneficial to gaming.

I do fear for the future of gaming sometimes.

 

[nuba km]

Just wondering why we have moved into a very young childish style for the brand, especially avatars?

I understand the avatar system but why make it seemingly targetted at 5-8 year olds? I remember when the update first was launched, my 6 year old niece ran into the room thinking that I had turned the Wii on when she heard the music.

I remember the days when the xbox was a beast of a gaming console built for gamers. It seems that the trend now will be that the console will be an entertainment system for families.

Of course the line that will be given is that gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry so needs to reflect its audience. But GAMERS made the gaming industry into the powerhouse that it is now. This worrying trend of trying to give the 360 a Wii-makeover is only going to push the real and hardcore gamers (the ones who made the xbox product so successful) away from the brand and to whatever console shows itself to be a true gaming console.

The xbox (or PS3) will never be able to beat the Wii at it's own game. Nintendo went in that direction because they decided they couldn't compete in the traditional gaming market anymore.

The 'smaller' traditional gaming demographic made playstation and xbox what they are and into the multi billion business it is. It seems foolish to risk alienating that group in an attempt to take the Wii's crown as 'alternative family friendly system'

Please, please don't let this product turn into a Bieber box, keep it as an X-box.

I will give you a list of reason why we gamers aren't getting pushed away:
mass effect 3
skyrim
DUKE NUKEM FOREVER (this ain't for the wii audience)
brink
rage
bullet storm
and those are only the ones that have caught my eye I am sure there are more.

 

[lvl9000_woot]

Um... get over it?

-snip-

rainbows and unicorns instead of blood and guns.

..stuff...

What about unicorns with guns that shoot rainbows?

OT: Yes and no. Avatars(maybe?) and kinectimals are aimed at a younger audience/families but I don't think my mom or 7y/o sister would play Bulletstorm or Gears of War 3.

 

[Jaeriko]

I'm sorry, but think that the time where the Xbox became a childish plaything is looooooong past.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

Frankly, I'm also somewhat disappointed by what is happening to games these days.

I can understand why it's happening: it can appeal to a much wider audience and large gaming corporations' #1 goal is making money.

It's just a little sad on that front though, because ultimately my desire in life is to live comfortably and play fun, interesting games, so when I see rich gaming companies start making generic games to appeal to children and bored housewives I wonder if they consider themselves above games or simply have no interest in them other than a tool to make money.

 

[The Hive Mind]

I would genuinely rather play with a squeaky kid than guys who don't talk at all: I can mute them at a moments notice if I want to, and people who talk are a hundred times better than people who don't (I pretty much exclusively play coop type games like L4D, btw; none of this CoD malarky)

 

[emeraldrafael]

Now I was always under the assumption that games where children's play things, and thats why they were called GAMES.

But I guess its because no one wants to take a chance on M rated games, or at least as much of one, and that T rated games are geting to be a bit iffy and the market is dwindling. SO instead an E or E10+ is the easiest way to avoid controversy and get the casual parental figure in on gaming and double revenue.

 

[Jaded Scribe]

Um... get over it?

-snip-

rainbows and unicorns instead of blood and guns.

..stuff...

What about unicorns with guns that shoot rainbows?

I think adult swim has that game already.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

Gamer does not have to mean that 80% of your game collection is made up of M rated games.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

First of all, I do believe the word "games" in the term "video games" implies some sort of childish entertainment. As much as we claim that video games are a serious medium and an art (a view that I hold), we got to remember that they still are playthings. Don't get too worked up about it.

 

[Space Spoons]

What we're witnessing now is Microsoft's attempt to snag a bit of Nintendo's marketshare. I think the Xbox is a great console, but Microsoft's always been in the business primarily for the money, and with the numbers Nintendo was pulling in with the Wii, it would have been stupid for them not to pursue that particular market.

The problem with this strategy is that they're a little late to the game. Everyone who's interested in the family-friendly image they're pushing already has a Wii, and probably isn't terribly interested in buying another expensive system.

Long story short: It's a phase, they'll probably shift back away from it once they see that the casual market cash cow has already been milked dry. I fully expect Microsoft's theme at E3 2012 (if not 2011, but that's a bit of a stretch) to be "back to our roots" or something similar.

 

[Brenden Walter]

Let me break down how this stuff works Company microsoft and Sony, saw Company Nintendo making 200x what they do in a year, in a week with the wii, thus, we now have this motion control stuff going from a gimic on a very family and kid oriented system, to everyone so they can try and make money. They don't care about the demographics of "Real" gamers, they care about the demographic that makes them the most money, I.e. EVERYONE ELSE

 

[AstylahAthrys]

They're expanding their market. I don't have a problem with it. If you don't like the Kinect and the kid-friendly games, don't buy them. Boot right to your games and operate from the in-game dashboard if you hate the avatars so much. It's not like we're not getting "hardcore" games this year. There are still plenty of releases for us. I'm not concerned about Microsoft becoming too out of touch with us. So long as we keep on supporting the games we want Microsoft will keep making them. Money talks.

 

[Bang25]

I like the avatars. I like turning on my Xbox and seeing a little mini-me wave at me than pull out an electric guitar and start jamming. I only see it for a few seconds anyway, so why complain? Does the Avatar take away from the games?

 

[Kakashi on crack]

Gaming is an artform that is moving on to new horizons.

Do I miss the classic "kill everything" Xbox style? yeah a bit, but this is good for everyone as we'll have a wide range of genres instead of our classic "hardcore" ones.

EDIT: not to say we won't still have that old style.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I'm thinking OP is a MASSIVE troll and all you people are getting modded for it. I'd have thought you guys woulda realised that by now.

 

[MercurySteam]

Please, please don't let this product turn into a Bieber box, keep it as an X-box.

One you start up the game in your disc tray does it really matter what the fuck you dashboard looks like?

In the end it's the games us gamers look forward to and that will never change. Stop focusing on the insignificant and start focusing on things like Dead Space 2, Dragon age 2, BulletStorm, Gears of War 3 and Brink. More importantly stop complaining about things that were never a problem to begin with.