The Decline of Gaming... for me.

[Dalamari]

The problem isn't that games are getting more bland, but that gamers are expecting too much from their games

 

[Thunderclap]

Watch La Copa Mundial.

 

[AmishSlayer]

The problem isn't that games are getting more bland, but that gamers are expecting too much from their games

I think that's not quite the case. I think that too many gamers are asking the wrong things from their games. Take a look at this newest generation of the console "war". I think the console that's getting the most attention (note that I didn't say is going to "win" or anything) is the Wii. Why? Because it's not propagating the whole cycle of same games, better graphics that too many other developers are just bringing to the 360, PC and PS3.

Look at the 360, millions of gamers are highly anticipating Halo 3. Maybe they can finally deliver some sweet battles on Earth and skill-based MP...something tells me they won't.

PS3? - MGS4 - While I LOVE MGS games it makes me sad that this is THE big title that's going to hit the PS3 (well...that I know of anyways).

PC - Cysis is like Far Cry with a pretty facelift, weapon customizations and some new levels.

I think in order for games to really get innovative and grab our attention we have to stop demanding just better graphics. Sure hardcore gamers are less picky about graphics than the mainstream audience but as long as the mainstream people flock to games with pretty visuals the industry is going to pump out the same junk and people are going to eventually start to get bored.

Don't get me wrong...I'm all for nice graphics if the gameplay is good but too many games go straight for graphics and that's it.

 

[giant384]

I think that's not quite the case. I think that too many gamers are asking the wrong things from their games. Take a look at this newest generation of the console "war". I think the console that's getting the most attention (note that I didn't say is going to "win" or anything) is the Wii. Why? Because it's not propagating the whole cycle of same games, better graphics that too many other developers are just bringing to the 360, PC and PS3.

Look at the 360, millions of gamers are highly anticipating Halo 3. Maybe they can finally deliver some sweet battles on Earth and skill-based MP...something tells me they won't.

PS3? - MGS4 - While I LOVE MGS games it makes me sad that this is THE big title that's going to hit the PS3 (well...that I know of anyways).

PC - Cysis is like Far Cry with a pretty facelift, weapon customizations and some new levels.

I think in order for games to really get innovative and grab our attention we have to stop demanding just better graphics. Sure hardcore gamers are less picky about graphics than the mainstream audience but as long as the mainstream people flock to games with pretty visuals the industry is going to pump out the same junk and people are going to eventually start to get bored.

Don't get me wrong...I'm all for nice graphics if the gameplay is good but too many games go straight for graphics and that's it.

i totally agree with that point, but of course they cant please every gamer. developers need to balance out graphics and gameplay.

 

[theotherguy]

this happens to me alot. generally I just take a long break from gaming and then come back to it.

 

[pomegranate]

Games are okay, but tbh it's only lack of money, laziness and too few friends that restrict me from doing almost anything else.

 

[SAJ]

Tonight, I finished torrenting some critically acclaimed games, but after installing them all and playing them for a few minutes, I just... wasn't interested anymore. I lost that spirit, that will to explore and to be creative.

Maybe if you bought these games rather than "borrowing" them without the copyright holder's permission, you might attach more value to them.
Not passing judgement mind, just pointing out the bloody obvious.

On the plus side, its a pretty hot summer just now, perfect for caching up with some mates.

 

[Zombie]

Maybe if you bought these games rather than "borrowing" them without the copyright holder's permission, you might attach more value to them.
Not passing judgement mind, just pointing out the bloody obvious.

On the plus side, its a pretty hot summer just now, perfect for caching up with some mates.

I bought Homeworld 2, UT2k4, and Guildwars.

I haven't played any of them for more than a week.

And yeah, I have a party to attend to /gloat, maybe I'll have some fun.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Maybe your taste has evolved and you just failed to realize this. Stop trying to play Homeworlds, Unreals, and MMORPGs.

 

[MTG_Maro]

MMOs are fun, but they steal your life. Stick with the FPS. Don't let what happened with SWG to me, happen to you with another game.

 

[Sparta]

Go back to Super Mario Brothers and other classic Super Nintendo or NES games. They can be more fun, just because of the simplicity, and focus on gameplay rather than graphics.

Oh god yes. Everyone at my Uni has been playing SMB3 during class and its oh so much fun.

 

[Sloth]

These days i hardly ever play SP games - only if a top notch one like Spore or C+C3 were to come out - for me most of my gaming is with a small group of mates; going down to a local 'Net / Lan Cafe and trying to rush each other in anything from DoD:S to Warcraft3.

It's fun cause i'm with my mates - the game just decides how the fun is made i guess.

 

[Space Farm]

I went through a similar phase, I don't think it'll last long Zombie. Just take a break from gaming. I didn't play games for about two years. I upgraded around march and have been playing games nightly since then.

 

[VictimOfScience]

I agree that of late games have become pretty uninspiring. The same goes for movies. And music. And books. Creativity seems to have reached a plateau. Maybe budgetary woes helped bring it there. Who knows? All I know is that if more people listened to Ron Gilbert (creator of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion for starters), the game industry (and quite possibly every other industry I mentioned) would be in much better shape.

Oh, and try reading more. Its sort of like gaming, except that the only constraints on performance are the bounds of your imagination!!

 

[Langolier]

I kind of know how the OP feels. However for me it has come with boredome and lazyness. It's hard to be proud of yourself when you just sit around playing games all day and have no little to know no one to talk to. When you realize there is really no reason for you to wake up in the morning (or late afternoon) save to eat so you don't starve... It's pretty unsettling. Ofcourse I am going to school, but I'm half-way through a three week break. Ever since quitting the MMO I used to play I've tried to stay desperately busy just to stop from thinking about it. (good thing I trashed my discs so I can't even risk reinstalling it, and I lack the money to buy it again!)

I think the lack of fun these days comes with having no one around to discuss them with. Most of the gamers at my school are all obsessed with WoW (I'll never go near an MMO again) and anime... My buddies that I used to game with all live over 100 miles away and have new lives (and one even has kids). Oh well, soon I'll be motivated to get a life myself.

 

[Zombie]

Oh well, soon I'll be motivated to get a life myself.

I feel the same way. For me, I took a bit more drastic approach, when my mother threatened to ground me if I didn't find a job over the summer I applied at EBGames and nowhere else, and I'm being put on hold until a position becomes available. This way, once I return from Cali, I won't be allowed to use any electric appliance until I get a job

This way I can do the things I've always wanted to do (workout, study, 4.0 in school) but never had the real motivation. Now my motivation will (hopefully) be boredom and I'll work it into a habit.

 

[Adidajs]

like other people have stated, stay away from your computer. Go try something new. Hang out with friends. Make new friends. Hang out at a coffee shop and pick up girls. it works, trust me. I try to balance my life. I don't generally play video games during the school year.

Having a life outside of your bedroom is infinitely more fulfilling than not. I have never grown out of my love of vg's, b/c i don't make them my life.

 

[Moto]

I don't play any games these days. None of them interest me. Every once in a while a fun game like Hitman Blood Money comes along and I'll play that, finish it, and move on. It's a shame because I have a pretty nice computer and all I use it for is Photoshop and internet. I do other stuff, though. So I don't really care if nothing is coming out, it's just kind of a bummer. Haven't even bought HL2: Ep1 yet because I honestly don't really care anymore.

 

[99.vikram]

Haven't even bought HL2: Ep1 yet because I honestly don't really care anymore.

You're missing out on a lot...

 

[Zombie]

You're missing out on a lot...

Relatively speaking, that's the overstatement of the century.

 

[JNightshade]

Heh, maybe so, but it is a kickass game.

 

[Warbie]

Relatively speaking, that's the overstatement of the century.

Aye

I haven't played Ep1 either - probably because I didn't think HL2 was that good (sue me ). The weather is too nice to worry about such things \o/