Discussion Forums > Gaming
Do They Really Not Make Them Like They Used To?
nstgc:
I agree that we forget a lot of the bad, but there will always be those games that suck. The problem isn't at the low end, its at the high end. The best games use to be magnificent, but now they seem to just seem to be okay. Indie games aside, new games just don't seem have have anything to them. Largely I think they are watered down for a general audience. I mentioned that in another thread and I doubt anyone will argue with that. Not only are they being made for a demographic that can extract enjoyment from merely kicking ass without actually putting any effort into the game. In old games you got a sense of satisfaction because they presented actual challenges. It has also been pointed out that that isn't the only problem. These new games lack spirit. Again, indie games aside, I can't remember the last game I played that actually moved me in any way (that's not true, I felt something reading the dream stories in Lost Odyssey). They are empty husks that present a goal, and are generous at providing tools to accomplish it. In regards the the lack of spirit I think that Saras has a big chuck of the problem down -- the development teams are too large.
I do think some genre's have taken more of a hit than others. The RPG genre has been reduced to shit. The last respectable RPG that I know of was Dragon Age released in 2009, and even that was merely okay. I think a lot of that is due to the mind set of gamers who want action. People say that Dragon Age was boring. I agree, but for different reasons. Turn up the difficulty to nightmare and it starts getting fun. I suspect this isn't the problem most gamers have though. They want to be in the middle of the action, not commanding a small tactical group from above. Dragon Age II is well polished shit, clearly meant to remedy the "problem" most gamer's had with DA:O.
Strategy games seem to have come out a little better. With the demise of Westwood studios, the Command and Conquer series of games is dead (although I'll probably still buy Generals 2 when it drops to $10 assuming the refuse aren't like C&C4's). There seem to be fewer gems in the pile, but they seem to still exist, especially those coming out of Europe. The franchises are dying, but the games are still their. Civ 5 may not be as good as Civ 2 or Alpha Centari (which I think is the best of the lot), but Civ 5 is better than 3 or 4.
Shooters seem to have actually improved. I'm not big of shooters, so I won't comment on them to much, but they do seem better.
The good news is that with digital distribution indie games are coming on strong. Some are even seem to be selling like mainstream games like Endless space with its $30 price tag. The graphics, for the most part still are poor, but they are improving. Hopefully in the next 5 years we will see these indie games that have a lot of the good we grew to expect in older games come into full bloom and displace so many of these lack luster big name games.
[edit] By the way, I think the best thing the big publishers and developers can do at this point is re-release their old games with new graphics, leaving the mechanics and everything else intact. Maybe they could add voice acting for those who refuse to play a game that they have to read.
Nikkoru:
Mostly my criticism of the modern market is based on monotony - every genera is stuffed to the brim, and 90% of it derivative before it even reaches the shelf. Not simply reminiscent of one another, but downright plagiarism. Why would you spend days of your life reading the same story a dozen times over, where only the wording is changed a little each time? Even if you loved the original, even if the new version had an extra chapter, interesting diction, and the romantic relationship ends with the characters that the fans wanted together - it's the same damn story. Still, people will line up for it, they forget their monotony in the small shifts of plot and introductions of new characters - even if the ending and essentially everything else is the same. Independent gaming lets new poets and bards enter your world, some are terrible, and certainly the independent games are almost all one act plays and short stories at the moment, but... but so what? The introduction of new ideas is a building process, elements are broken down and remade - this is what made the old-school games great, not their instant successes but their trails and tribulations, their evolving understanding of what the medium can do or could do.
The "AAA" market can still produce gems, but the desert is getting awful wide to cross to get to them. I would be happy just seeing less sequels, it's just becoming ridiculous at this point. the NES and SNES never had endless 8 style repetition with their marquee titles, for the most part Mario is awesome from one game to the next, from one system to another - every game feels validated in its own existence. You need a reason to pay 60 dollars for a game other than your affection for the previous title.
Takeshi:
--- Quote from: vicious796 on June 12, 2012, 05:12:01 PM ---But that's part of my point on why I feel the way I feel. Square-Enix has a massive budget with departments of talented individuals working on segments of games. You know what? VI kicked 13s ass. With all that money and all that talent, you mean to tell me you can't make a better game? You have professional voice actors giving your characters actual emotion - why is your script so much worse?
--- End quote ---
IMO, I see voice acting as something that is much harder to pull off than just putting some text in a bubble. Not trying to defend XIII, the script was bad as hell. Especially in English. Maybe it is easier to look past it with Japanese voices. I think most of us can agree that pretty much any anime becomes worse when it's dubbed.
But yeah, Square Enix should definitely be prioritizing gameplay and story for the upcoming Final Fantasy's.
AceHigh:
Nikkoru, did you just happen to see this video (fast forward to 1:40 and start watching from there) before making that comment? Because it reinforces your point.
nstgc:
I don't really care about shooters too much, but the change I'm seeing in the RPG market is not to my liking. I want my old RPGs back.
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