Ouch, video games.

[BlackCatWhiteCat]

Well this doesn't look promising.

David Wong, a member of the Cracked staff has been posting up articles about his thoughts on what he's witnessed while attending this year's E3.

This doesn't look good.

And neither does this.

I certainly don't want to think that the gaming industry is ever going to die out. Cracked is all about over exaggerating to be comical, but there have been some pretty ridiculous things going on lately, most notably from Microsoft, that just makes it seem as if these companies are content with shooting themselves in the foot.

Anyone else just a bit worried? IWe've seen some fantastic things from game developers, and yet the companies that we get those innovations from usually go down the toilet. If what's going on at E3 has anything to say about it, console-makers are going to find themselves burned out all too soon.

Discuss.

[PoolMan]

I read both of these, as well as Wong's article on how games are now being actively developed to be addictive. They're all brilliant reads - thanks for posting the new ones, BCWC!

While I agree he was going for laughs at points (and I DID laugh, multiple times), he's actually written these as very valid and serious pieces. There are some incredible problems with the gaming industry going on right now.

Where my opinion diverges from his, though, is his insistence that We the Gaming Community automatically get bored with the medium and need a big breakthrough every few years. I am wildly satisfied to play variations on a theme (the Metroid series, the Zelda series, the Mario series, etc, which are mostly incremental improvements on their preceding episodes), especially when I'm confronted with footage like his hilarious dancing man or the little girl petting the tiger. The fun part of gaming is not the innovation, it's the experience of playing.

I don't know if I'm in the minority or not, but while I appreciate the concept of motion control, I sincerely do not need full body mo-cap to be my way of playing games. I like the way Wii handles motion because although I don't look any cooler to the innocent bystander swinging my Wiimote around, I look far more sane than someone playing something without a peripheral. Plus, I play games to relax, not break a huge sweat. If I want to exercise, I will go to the gym, or for a walk, or (my favourite) skating around the park. I really don't think I'll stand in front of my TV trying not to break things as I flail wildly around like our dancing friend. For me, the vast majority of the reason I play games is to relax on the couch.

His repeated emphasis that he doesn't believe gaming is going away is appropriate - it isn't. There's money to be made, and good money at that.

But the industry seriously needs to stop with the over-emphasis on "the next big thing" and get back to why we play games to begin with - how fun it is. Hence my earlier comment about replaying old stuff - I would much sooner replay Ogre Battle 64 (which, by the way, I'm doing now!) than continue slogging through Dragon Age. I know which experience is more fun for me, and I'll go back to it. It doesn't HAVE to be about constant innovation, or higher framerates, or faster processors, or gimicky controls. Give me something that works, something that's fun, and then develop the hell out of it!

You'd actually think the industry would be moving in this direction anyway - after all, the "loss leader" consoles really DO cost billions to develop and make. Doesn't it make more sense to try and get more life out of a console generation by developing and selling the software? You know, the profitable part? The part that we are after in the first place?

Anyway, enough rant. What'd you guys think of the articles?

[BlackCatWhiteCat]

Thanks for your thoughts, Poolster. I read that article abut the addiction of gaming a while back and loved it as well. A very interesting read.

I am in complete agreement with your argument against the gaming community needing constant gimmicks and new thingies to keep us happy.

When I read that I just kind of looked at the screen, back at my SNES, back at the screen, and then over to my Game Gear and thought "Well I guess my husband and I aren't part of the gaming community, then."

Last year we bought our first HD television and I was mainly concerned about getting cables for the SNES so that I could hook it up. Mind you I have a 360 and a PS2 with plans to get a PS3 soon. I love those consoles and their games, but I also love my original SNES games. I bought the PS2 game with all of the original Sonic games on it. I don't have an attention disorder where I play a game a couple of times, say "yawn" and then need a ton of extra special controllers and wow-o blammy graphics and such.

I'm with you that companies need to realize this and just concentrate on making good games. Ah, but here I go being all indignant and surprised that a major corporation isn't in tune with its consumers when I know so much better.

[PoolMan]

Companies can and should try to innovate. For sure. After all, the reason the Wii has done so well is low cost combined with innovation - a real success!

But the primary thing is the entertainment factor. That's why you and I go back to our old gaming machines. They are known and fun quantities! That should be the more important part, over whether the next DS is going to be 3D or Sony's hilarious Wiimote equivalent appears to come with a huge lollipop on the top of it.

[BlackCatWhiteCat]

Jun 18, 2010 17:51:49 GMT -5 PoolMan said:

Companies can and should try to innovate. For sure. After all, the reason the Wii has done so well is low cost combined with innovation - a real success!

Totally agreed. Don't mean to sound as if I'm an old fogey who doesn't want some boundaries pushed and new things tried. I'm hoping that companies won't drop everything for the next gimmick. I created a thread about a game some friends of mine are hyped up about. All steampunky and nice writing-y and such. If it's good (Please oh please!) then that's just one more reason for me to hope that all isn't lost yet.

But the primary thing is the entertainment factor. That's why you and I go back to our old gaming machines. They are known and fun quantities! That should be the more important part, over whether the next DS is going to be 3D or Sony's hilarious Wiimote equivalent appears to come with a huge lollipop on the top of it.

Mmm....SNES. Super R Type. Why is that stupid game still so much fun when I stink at it so much? Oh yeah...great music, challenging and simple concept.