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While a lot of games nowdays have fallen in quality, not all of them have. I think you hit the nail on the head man. Over saturation of the market and us snatching up too many titles. Very interesting blog. Good stuff. I do have to curse you though, now I need pizza. Yet I have carne asada diaherria. First world problems baby.
I like the analogy. We have gotten fat on the stuff that's produced for us. I feel like I'm missing good, square meals lately -- consuming a lot of empty calories. Some of these games are donuts - good, but really nothing to them, and you know deep down inside that they're just sugary. You're right -- we don't spend enough time savoring what is presented to us.
I recently started selling a massive portion of my personal collection for this reason; with much less free time, the very little time I do spend on games these days was being wasted on abject shit. I still have Sega Genesis games which I have never played through let alone stuff for the new systems, and although it was nice to own all the Dragon Quest games on DS, I never played a single fucking one of them for more than an hour.
Apart from just the bloat, we are becoming like gluttons who buy too much food during a meal, or keep their cupboards ultra packed; not because they need it or are going to eat all of it, but because they don't want to risk missing out on something, or not having "enough." I literally have an eighth of my own collection left, and even then I have more than I will ever play in my lifetime.
Cool blog.
Apart from just the bloat, we are becoming like gluttons who buy too much food during a meal, or keep their cupboards ultra packed; not because they need it or are going to eat all of it, but because they don't want to risk missing out on something, or not having "enough." I literally have an eighth of my own collection left, and even then I have more than I will ever play in my lifetime.
Cool blog.
Great blog!
I have to admit that I never played video games when I was a kid...they weren't even invented then! I've always played pretty much as an adult with some level of disposable income.
That being said, it seems that there was just less volumes of games available in earlier years. A "big" game might only come along every once in awhile, there were fewer game releases each month, and games seemed to last longer on the shelves. Now games seem much more disposable. After a few months on the shelves they disappear to the bargain bins and there are so many options it's overwhelming. There are digital games, console games, handheld games, phone games, tablet games - they're everywhere and it seems like there are so many "big" games that are sold as "must haves". It's just very overwhelming.
I've actually pulled back a lot recently. I've been so disappointed with the quality of so many recent games that I'm becoming very selective in the games I do choose to buy.
I have to admit that I never played video games when I was a kid...they weren't even invented then! I've always played pretty much as an adult with some level of disposable income.
That being said, it seems that there was just less volumes of games available in earlier years. A "big" game might only come along every once in awhile, there were fewer game releases each month, and games seemed to last longer on the shelves. Now games seem much more disposable. After a few months on the shelves they disappear to the bargain bins and there are so many options it's overwhelming. There are digital games, console games, handheld games, phone games, tablet games - they're everywhere and it seems like there are so many "big" games that are sold as "must haves". It's just very overwhelming.
I've actually pulled back a lot recently. I've been so disappointed with the quality of so many recent games that I'm becoming very selective in the games I do choose to buy.
I'm 100% with you, and I actually ended up taking some action. I looked at my shelf, and saw about a 100 games, and I only played maybe 70 of them. Of those 70, I beat maybe 30. I just couldn't take it. I'd become that person who would buy any game on sale. I ended up selling about 30 games last week. Many of which I never even played. It was incredibly liberating. I then looked at the upcoming releases and took my preorder list down from 9 to 4. Even now, I look at my games and think I have way to many games to really enjoy them all. Back in the day I was lucky to get 2 games a year. I had a genesis when I was a kid and had only 4 games: Sonic, Sonic 2, E-Swat, and Streets of Rage. I remember those games incredibly well, down to the details. I moved on to a PS1, and again by the time I got a PS2 I only had about 10 PS1 games. PS2 came around and in the early days I was still on the schedule of only 2 games a year. I ended up replaying FF10 20+ times, and now it holds the place of my favorite game of all time. If it came out now, I don't even know if I would have even cracked the case. by the end of the PS2 and into the next generation, I had money to spend on games. I bought everything. I had about 40 PS2 games by the time I retired it, quadruple that of the PS1.
Still it was this generation that really got me. I hooked into high speed internet and found a little site called cheapassgamer. It wasn't long before I owned all 3 consoles and over a 100 games between them. When I sold those 30 games I also got rid of my Wii, and now I feel much better off. Sure I miss out on a couple of interesting games, but nothing I can't live without. Now I try my hardest to limit myself. My goal is to stay under 100 games before the next generation starts.
Still I fear that the digital future might suck me back in, I already buy games on steam that I never play.
God help us all.
Still it was this generation that really got me. I hooked into high speed internet and found a little site called cheapassgamer. It wasn't long before I owned all 3 consoles and over a 100 games between them. When I sold those 30 games I also got rid of my Wii, and now I feel much better off. Sure I miss out on a couple of interesting games, but nothing I can't live without. Now I try my hardest to limit myself. My goal is to stay under 100 games before the next generation starts.
Still I fear that the digital future might suck me back in, I already buy games on steam that I never play.
God help us all.
Ahh, CheapAssGamer. You are there to help wallets, but you only destroy them...
Thank you all for reading and commenting! I'm glad this got such a positive reception. :)
Elsa, you actually bring up a good point at there being more games now. I've never been sure if that was the case or just my perception as a kid, but it did feel like there were fewer releases when I was younger. Even though it was cheaper to get into games (theoretically), the releases for the SNES and Genesis just seemed so many fewer and so far spread out. The original Playstation is where it seemed things began to explode, and then more and more with each generation despite increased budgets.
So even before you take phones and downloadable games into account, there's just so much more to choose from. The market has become a lot more cluttered than before, or it feels that way. Then again, I also went from only being able to afford a single console to owning all three, so make of that what you will.
I want to try and purchase few games, but I'm so caught. On one hand, I simply love games. I cannot help it. On the other, I also love trying my hand at amateur criticism, and as such I feel compelled to try a variety of different games. So I can try and limit myself, but if I had to choose just one game to purchase for the summer, you'd be making me choose between Spec Ops: The Line, Theatrhythm, The Last Story, Darksiders 2 and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. And that is just cruel.
One last thing to note, though. Last year I was buying a LOT of games on sale at Amazon and off Best Buy's website. I added so many games, a lot of which I never got around to playing. There was just something exciting about buying a game that I couldn't figure out. Either way, I knew I had a problem.
I currently work at a major television shopping network doing some of the online stuff. At one of my team meetings some of the girls were discussing purchasing things like purses and shoes. I almost laughed and wrote it off as one of those girly things that I'll never understand, but really, is it that much different from my desire to buy game after game?
All of a sudden those conversations they have about shoes and purses and such is not silly like I once thought.
Thank you all for reading and commenting! I'm glad this got such a positive reception. :)
Elsa, you actually bring up a good point at there being more games now. I've never been sure if that was the case or just my perception as a kid, but it did feel like there were fewer releases when I was younger. Even though it was cheaper to get into games (theoretically), the releases for the SNES and Genesis just seemed so many fewer and so far spread out. The original Playstation is where it seemed things began to explode, and then more and more with each generation despite increased budgets.
So even before you take phones and downloadable games into account, there's just so much more to choose from. The market has become a lot more cluttered than before, or it feels that way. Then again, I also went from only being able to afford a single console to owning all three, so make of that what you will.
I want to try and purchase few games, but I'm so caught. On one hand, I simply love games. I cannot help it. On the other, I also love trying my hand at amateur criticism, and as such I feel compelled to try a variety of different games. So I can try and limit myself, but if I had to choose just one game to purchase for the summer, you'd be making me choose between Spec Ops: The Line, Theatrhythm, The Last Story, Darksiders 2 and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. And that is just cruel.
One last thing to note, though. Last year I was buying a LOT of games on sale at Amazon and off Best Buy's website. I added so many games, a lot of which I never got around to playing. There was just something exciting about buying a game that I couldn't figure out. Either way, I knew I had a problem.
I currently work at a major television shopping network doing some of the online stuff. At one of my team meetings some of the girls were discussing purchasing things like purses and shoes. I almost laughed and wrote it off as one of those girly things that I'll never understand, but really, is it that much different from my desire to buy game after game?
All of a sudden those conversations they have about shoes and purses and such is not silly like I once thought.
I guess I'm lucky, but I manage to maintain a clear boundary of games I "need" and games I kinda want. I was like you, only getting games on my birthday and christmas, and I guess that kind of instilled a sense of valuable-ness rating that sticks with me.
In fact, the only new game I've purchased this year has been Mass Effect 3. I actually find that, too stop things becoming too stale, the indie bundles are blessings in disguise as they stop things from getting too dry.
But it's horrible to see my friends buying every game under the sun, all vying for their attention, and so then many are left unfinished. Oversaturation is, at least I think, one of the big dangers of the future.
In fact, the only new game I've purchased this year has been Mass Effect 3. I actually find that, too stop things becoming too stale, the indie bundles are blessings in disguise as they stop things from getting too dry.
But it's horrible to see my friends buying every game under the sun, all vying for their attention, and so then many are left unfinished. Oversaturation is, at least I think, one of the big dangers of the future.
We need less quantity and more quality. By sacrificing many hoards of games to fuel the fires, one can enchant a single game with True Epicness+10.
I know the feeling so well! Especially the bit about buying games on Amazon. Seriously, Amazon and Steam are the death of my wallet. I completely understand what you mean when you say the excitement of buying a game. I need to play more and buy less.
Well... I'm starting now. No more games! Except for Faster Than Light. But it doesn't count :( Really! I will buy no more games after that... REALLY!!! :(
Great blog. I've never found this much of a problem as I'm not the kind to spend money easily. I tend to consider purchases long and hard, so I don't end up with a lot of titles I'm not super-interested in. I think what you're talking about is certainly widespread though - barely a day goes by on the internet where I don't see someone mention their steam backlog or how they bought a game just because it was cheap.
I know exactly what you mean. I choose to ignore franchises, like Assassins Creed. Anything that comes out annually is to be ignored. Also, I've never had two consoles or wanted two consoles. I limit myself to a game a month at most during the holidays. Pre-ordering helps me plan things out. I spend the first half of the next year on games from last year when they go on sale. You still have to ignore a lot of stuff, though. I have a method.
I stopped buying most new releases over a year ago and even went as far to just wait on Gamefly to send them to me instead of ever owning them due to this problem. Oversaturation is a huge problem in this hobby and we're seeing the negative effects of it already.
I know what you mean, between the free things I win and the amount of games I buy in bundles or single on sale, I have just way too many to finish. I have set-up a backlog though, the first-step is admitting you have a problem after-all, then taking action is the second.
I'm actually starting to think this way again. A couple handhelds, the Wii U and Steam seem to provide enough content without me feeling obligated to buy a cool new game that lands each week,
After I procure a Wii U and Vita, I'm just going to save up for a PC and tackle next gen at my leisure..
Skyrim was really the game that drove the point home. I've put - sheesh - maybe 600 hours or more into it since launch, likely 200 of those hours just being idle and letting the music play as I did other stuff, but games like it and Kid Icarus Uprising do remind me of the time I played games to their core. Now I'm back on SMT Nocturne with a similar mentality.
I think we all could do with a better gaming diet, to savor games rather than gobble them all down.
After I procure a Wii U and Vita, I'm just going to save up for a PC and tackle next gen at my leisure..
Skyrim was really the game that drove the point home. I've put - sheesh - maybe 600 hours or more into it since launch, likely 200 of those hours just being idle and letting the music play as I did other stuff, but games like it and Kid Icarus Uprising do remind me of the time I played games to their core. Now I'm back on SMT Nocturne with a similar mentality.
I think we all could do with a better gaming diet, to savor games rather than gobble them all down.
I absolutely agree with you on the perception that people aren't playing games through multiple times and getting to know them in the same way any more. With so many games out there, I think especially die-hard gamers get trapped into feeling a pressure to try as many as they can.
Lately I've been on a mission to ignore that compulsion - if I'm playing a game and I'm not tired of it yet, I'll go ahead and stick with it until I've really played it into the ground. The best games, I've found, are worth really sinking your teeth into.
Lately I've been on a mission to ignore that compulsion - if I'm playing a game and I'm not tired of it yet, I'll go ahead and stick with it until I've really played it into the ground. The best games, I've found, are worth really sinking your teeth into.
OMG, i thought i was the only one with this issue... I know the feeling man. But i don't think it's because of the games. It is because WE'VE GROWN UP.
I've played through mass effect 2 three times. ME3 twice. Bayonetta 4 times. resident evil 5 twice. metroid corruption twice. world of warcraft 4 times.
I've played super metroid twice, secret of evermore once, secret of mana twice, zelda alttp 8 times, super mario world twice, final fantasy 6 once, the original zelda twice.
I think the way people approach games is dependant on the individual. some people buy loads of games and fly through them. some people pick specific types of games. I pick very specific games and i play them well.
though I would point out, if a game came out today that had the gameplay of the games that came out back then, I wouldn't finish it. I'd put it down after 3 minutes. I think we take what we get and we make what we can of it. I think if a person has an unhealthy relationship with games or food or whatever.. it's because that person has issues, not because of a general societal issue.
I've played super metroid twice, secret of evermore once, secret of mana twice, zelda alttp 8 times, super mario world twice, final fantasy 6 once, the original zelda twice.
I think the way people approach games is dependant on the individual. some people buy loads of games and fly through them. some people pick specific types of games. I pick very specific games and i play them well.
though I would point out, if a game came out today that had the gameplay of the games that came out back then, I wouldn't finish it. I'd put it down after 3 minutes. I think we take what we get and we make what we can of it. I think if a person has an unhealthy relationship with games or food or whatever.. it's because that person has issues, not because of a general societal issue.
That is exactly how I've been feeling for several months now. When I was a kid, I got maybe 10 games during a good year, thanks to used sales that were $15. Now, well, I have my entire gaming library scheduled until the end of the year, and it has me beating two games every week. Granted that I am screwing with it, by being at my mid October deadlines as of right now, but I have effectively made a job out of playing and then reviewing every game that crosses my way.
I cannot think of a single day this year where I didn't log at least two hours into some game. I mean, trying to rush through a Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton game really makes the experience feel less special, even though I have recently fallen in love with those games.
But I still have not opened my copy of MGS HD collection, or Red Dead Redemption, which I got last November. I have reached the point where I have a system that allows me to not worry about school work, but I still somehow cannot get through all of these games. I parish to think of the nightmarish backlog people will bestow upon the next generation, since I still haven't even gotten a firm grip on anything Sony ever made.
I cannot think of a single day this year where I didn't log at least two hours into some game. I mean, trying to rush through a Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton game really makes the experience feel less special, even though I have recently fallen in love with those games.
But I still have not opened my copy of MGS HD collection, or Red Dead Redemption, which I got last November. I have reached the point where I have a system that allows me to not worry about school work, but I still somehow cannot get through all of these games. I parish to think of the nightmarish backlog people will bestow upon the next generation, since I still haven't even gotten a firm grip on anything Sony ever made.
Amazing blog, definitely deserved being front paged. Yup I'm in a similar boat, I've been battling my backlog for the last 3 years. I've finally made it to only 14 unbeat games (not including the dozens of games I got from multiple Humble Indie Bundles)
I do sometimes feel like I don't appreciate games as much as I do, but at the same time I also appreciate them more because I know what makes a good game or I can look past a games faults because it has something unlike any other game. I do get that feeling like it's a constant regenerating pizza, but at the same time that's a good thing. It means I'm still interested in games, and it makes it so when I do buy a game I make sure that it's either very well made or creative.
I do sometimes feel like I don't appreciate games as much as I do, but at the same time I also appreciate them more because I know what makes a good game or I can look past a games faults because it has something unlike any other game. I do get that feeling like it's a constant regenerating pizza, but at the same time that's a good thing. It means I'm still interested in games, and it makes it so when I do buy a game I make sure that it's either very well made or creative.
Great article! While I do think a lot of the 16bit classics ARE better videogames, it's true we gamers have become gluttons as of late. I find myself renting more and more through Gamefly or Redbox. The only games I purchase outright are PC games through Steam and 3DS titles - I don't buy PS3 or 360 games anymore.
You've put to words precisely what I've been feeling lately. Last night I just sat for almost half an hour scrolling up and down through a massive list of games in my Steam library and didn't see a single one I wanted to start playing. Fully half of them have never been played for a first time, most of the rest have logged about 10 minutes in, and maybe 15 or 20 I've actually played through. These aren't necessarily crappy games either - but the thought of, as you said, getting to know one of these games is just paralyzing. I recently rebought Final Fantasy IV DS to play again; I got roughly halfway through it the first time it came out a few years ago, then gave up when I accidentally advanced the plot to a new, tougher area before my party was sufficiently leveled. Now I'm maybe 5 hours in and I'm just struggling to find the motivation to even turn the damn thing on. I think you're right. I haven't bought any new games all summer, and I've only got two or three titles on pre-order (Adventure Time, Virtue's Last Reward, Code of Princess - games I feel confident I'll want to play through to the end). I'm going on a diet.
It's just a matter of not having the time to partake in all the games I want to as an adult. With an unlimited supply (through Gamefly) but limited time to play them in thanks to work and uhh living, I find myself devouring the next new game I get as quick as possible because I wanna experience the entire swath of content out there, not devote my time to only a few experiences a year like I did as a kid. Repeat plays just require too much time, even if the game ends up meaning more to you that way.
I'm beginning to see why a lot of people give up gaming. It has nothing to do with the actual quality of games becoming worse, it's just life. You grow up and lose time to work, yet most games don't get better and adults have too many.
I know for the next generation, I'm only going Wii U and PC. I don't have a reason to own an Xbox or PS4,5,6 anymore. They just don't do it for me.
I know for the next generation, I'm only going Wii U and PC. I don't have a reason to own an Xbox or PS4,5,6 anymore. They just don't do it for me.
I get so compulsive about buying games, even if on the cheap - just because I don't want to miss that particular experience.
Then I play my new games for about an hour that I can commit to them....and end up going back to some old game I still haven't lost my love for.
I've been replaying GTA: San Andreas for about 100th time now. I tried to feel that love for GTA 4 but even including the stories I have to admit, overall - shit sucks. The dialogue and in-jokes - looking back, are also pretty homophobically offensive, including (in some ways especially) The Ballad of Gay Tony. San Andreas was so much more about fucking around and having fun.
Anyhow, didn't mean to rant about Rockstar's behemoth franchise.
Great blog post, I always feel this way as we get later into a console cycle. Then a new console comes out with ver few shiny new games, we become addicts fiending for the next big fix, and eventually we're oversupplied with mediocre and uninspiring product. Etc etc ad infitum.
Then I play my new games for about an hour that I can commit to them....and end up going back to some old game I still haven't lost my love for.
I've been replaying GTA: San Andreas for about 100th time now. I tried to feel that love for GTA 4 but even including the stories I have to admit, overall - shit sucks. The dialogue and in-jokes - looking back, are also pretty homophobically offensive, including (in some ways especially) The Ballad of Gay Tony. San Andreas was so much more about fucking around and having fun.
Anyhow, didn't mean to rant about Rockstar's behemoth franchise.
Great blog post, I always feel this way as we get later into a console cycle. Then a new console comes out with ver few shiny new games, we become addicts fiending for the next big fix, and eventually we're oversupplied with mediocre and uninspiring product. Etc etc ad infitum.
Great blog! I buy wayyyyy too many games -- including digital purchases, like 2-3 a week. I'm glad I haven't felt the sting yet in a major way.
I did for a little while though, after going from High School to College, having two majors, getting married, and all that jazz, but it subsided thanks to handhelds. Of course, I don't have kids yet.
I did for a little while though, after going from High School to College, having two majors, getting married, and all that jazz, but it subsided thanks to handhelds. Of course, I don't have kids yet.
Since I don't live in the United States, I tend to buy games in mass there, and finish most of them before going back again in a year or two. Its pretty hectic, since I feel I am in a deadline.
Unfortunately Steam is giving me the habit of weekly buying a game that is at a sale. Ugh...
Unfortunately Steam is giving me the habit of weekly buying a game that is at a sale. Ugh...
Too many games. Digital purchases, Steam sales and so on don't help. Picked up Just Cause 2 because it was like $2. Who knows if I'll ever play it. I should rent out my backlog.
I used to worry about not having enough time to play all the fresh new releases, but the amount of "must have" games have been drying up over the past couple of years for me. I'm also not that interested in buying any new consoles anytime soon, I'd rather just stay with my backlog and to-buy list of PS2, 360, and Wii games. Only after those run dry do I see myself getting a PS3 or a Wii U. This all has to do with a combination of having to buy my all of own consoles and games now, less time to play said games, and the slow stagnating phase that the industry is going through at this time. Eventually I will probably have to stop playing games and focus all my free time on improving my illustrating/drawing/writing skills for my career. I guess that's just how life is though.
But if you eat nothing then any old shite will taste great. On a personal level you might appericate it more, but that’s because you’re starving, not because it’s good food. To understand what makes a certain meal great you must eat everything, and become a gourmand!
Freaking awesome read! Games today typically provide a much deeper experience than classics like MMX. Depth and complexity are prevalent in many games nowadays, but that's not to say it's all for the best, or even consistent.
Having just completed Dark Souls, I can definitely see a staunch difference in the amount intricacies in this mysterious game and, say, Darksiders. The former is packed to the brim with hidden and optional content, where as the latter is a very consistent experience for all. Despite the fact that both offer deeper, longer, more impressive feats of gameplay, the old stuff typically was similarly stuffed with hidden gems and secrets like Souls is.
I honestly feel that the AAA nature of gaming is killing that feeling of special. Bonuses and unlockables are now day one DLC. Instead of creating branched paths, publishers don't want to pay to create content not everone will experience. A lot of the repeatability that classic games had is becoming super rare where Bayonetta and Dark Souls are heroes for doing what so many aren't anymore.
Games are being pumped out incredibly fast. That's probably why most people don't fixate on the lack of built-in replayability, since why replay when you can jump into the next adventure like McConaughey plowing through high schoolers. Here's the twist, though; the very thing that is leading to stripped games is also slowing their release frequency. Big budgets are being cited as the cause for the slower game releases... If a trend continues, maybe the 'pizza buffet' will become less varied, more stale, and force itself into change.
ALSO I LOVE ALL THE CBLOG PROMOTIONS!!!
Having just completed Dark Souls, I can definitely see a staunch difference in the amount intricacies in this mysterious game and, say, Darksiders. The former is packed to the brim with hidden and optional content, where as the latter is a very consistent experience for all. Despite the fact that both offer deeper, longer, more impressive feats of gameplay, the old stuff typically was similarly stuffed with hidden gems and secrets like Souls is.
I honestly feel that the AAA nature of gaming is killing that feeling of special. Bonuses and unlockables are now day one DLC. Instead of creating branched paths, publishers don't want to pay to create content not everone will experience. A lot of the repeatability that classic games had is becoming super rare where Bayonetta and Dark Souls are heroes for doing what so many aren't anymore.
Games are being pumped out incredibly fast. That's probably why most people don't fixate on the lack of built-in replayability, since why replay when you can jump into the next adventure like McConaughey plowing through high schoolers. Here's the twist, though; the very thing that is leading to stripped games is also slowing their release frequency. Big budgets are being cited as the cause for the slower game releases... If a trend continues, maybe the 'pizza buffet' will become less varied, more stale, and force itself into change.
ALSO I LOVE ALL THE CBLOG PROMOTIONS!!!
Fantastic article, and I can more than relate. In the past year, my disposable income has increased 10x (I know, boo-hoo me). I also buy games on sale, so I can't resist picking up anything that is remotely interesting. Conversely, I have about an hour an evening (tops) to play any of these games. I literally have a backlog of 950 games (Steam + consoles + handhelds)...it's actually become a bit painful to see everyone raving over a release announcement for the 4th or 5th game in a series and see the first 3-4 titles on your shelf, in shrink-wrap, since they may as well be a world away. I almost feel as though I am stocking up for the apocalypse or a long retirement indoors.
This is so my philosophy on buying games.
I HATE it when I have a game and can't spend some TLC with it if I actually enjoy it. And if I don't enjoy it... chances are I never bought it in the first place (I tend to get games I KNOW I'll like)!
This means "steam sales" generally do nothing for me (as if theres actually a game I really want on there, I probably already bought it on release). It means I end up spending several months playing the same few games and feeling satisifed with it.
I like my gaming time to be focused. If I have too much "game" going on from many different games, then I simply cannot divide the time enough to really experience a game and what it has to offer. Spending a few hours in a game designed to played for 50 hours is a crime for me - especially since (chances are) it is actually good if I bought it, and I would WANT to spend that much time on it!
Jumping around from game to game to game week after week means I really sacrifice the quality "me" time I love about gaming :) If I sacrifice that time, then that is me wasting time playing something that I really don't care about when I could be having an experience I am more invested in. I do make some exceptions (i.e. multiplayer titles) but even then I still try to get multiplayer games I know I'll love playing (and be able to play) a good amount of time in. I'm also not adverse to playing several different games at once as long as they are different enough in genre (because I can like all genres). Such as I'm currently playing Sleeping Dogs (openworld GTA-like), along like Planetside 2 (MMOFPS), and with a little bit of Skyrim to mix things up (which I generally can play anytime all year long). I'll usually alternate between games every other day or so, or just stick with one if I'm hooked on it.
I HATE it when I have a game and can't spend some TLC with it if I actually enjoy it. And if I don't enjoy it... chances are I never bought it in the first place (I tend to get games I KNOW I'll like)!
This means "steam sales" generally do nothing for me (as if theres actually a game I really want on there, I probably already bought it on release). It means I end up spending several months playing the same few games and feeling satisifed with it.
I like my gaming time to be focused. If I have too much "game" going on from many different games, then I simply cannot divide the time enough to really experience a game and what it has to offer. Spending a few hours in a game designed to played for 50 hours is a crime for me - especially since (chances are) it is actually good if I bought it, and I would WANT to spend that much time on it!
Jumping around from game to game to game week after week means I really sacrifice the quality "me" time I love about gaming :) If I sacrifice that time, then that is me wasting time playing something that I really don't care about when I could be having an experience I am more invested in. I do make some exceptions (i.e. multiplayer titles) but even then I still try to get multiplayer games I know I'll love playing (and be able to play) a good amount of time in. I'm also not adverse to playing several different games at once as long as they are different enough in genre (because I can like all genres). Such as I'm currently playing Sleeping Dogs (openworld GTA-like), along like Planetside 2 (MMOFPS), and with a little bit of Skyrim to mix things up (which I generally can play anytime all year long). I'll usually alternate between games every other day or so, or just stick with one if I'm hooked on it.
Good read.
There are deffinately WAAAAY more games now than when I was a kid. Back then there was Atari and that was basically it for home gaming. There were still arcades and that's where the action was.
By the time Nintendo showed up Atari had dried up. I too was lucky to get 2-3 games a year for my Nintendo and probably only had about 8 of my own before the next generation of consoles hit. There was a lot of trading and borrowing back then.
Sega genesis... I had sonic, moonwalker, toe jam & earl and maybe 2 more.
When the PS1 came out I had a full time job and a credit card. Yay!!! I bought several games (that I'm indirectly still paying for. Fuck credit) until I found out about modding. I bootlegged HUNDREDS of games. Damn near everything that was available for that system minus sports titles. It was rediculous I never even played the majority of the games. I would copy them simply because I could.
I think having all that selection available soured games for me. I ended up destroying the games and my computer (haven't owned a computer since) because of it.
I'm rambling... To the point.
The game market is over saturated and too easily accessible now. You don't even have to leave your couch to get games. There's 6 GameStop stores within a 10 minute driving radius any direction of my house. They even sell used games at 7-11 now. Some even keep limited stock of major releases usually tied in to in store slurpee promotions.
GAMES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!
There are too many systems out now. With 3 more to add to the chaos in the next year or two.
It's madness
There are deffinately WAAAAY more games now than when I was a kid. Back then there was Atari and that was basically it for home gaming. There were still arcades and that's where the action was.
By the time Nintendo showed up Atari had dried up. I too was lucky to get 2-3 games a year for my Nintendo and probably only had about 8 of my own before the next generation of consoles hit. There was a lot of trading and borrowing back then.
Sega genesis... I had sonic, moonwalker, toe jam & earl and maybe 2 more.
When the PS1 came out I had a full time job and a credit card. Yay!!! I bought several games (that I'm indirectly still paying for. Fuck credit) until I found out about modding. I bootlegged HUNDREDS of games. Damn near everything that was available for that system minus sports titles. It was rediculous I never even played the majority of the games. I would copy them simply because I could.
I think having all that selection available soured games for me. I ended up destroying the games and my computer (haven't owned a computer since) because of it.
I'm rambling... To the point.
The game market is over saturated and too easily accessible now. You don't even have to leave your couch to get games. There's 6 GameStop stores within a 10 minute driving radius any direction of my house. They even sell used games at 7-11 now. Some even keep limited stock of major releases usually tied in to in store slurpee promotions.
GAMES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!
There are too many systems out now. With 3 more to add to the chaos in the next year or two.
It's madness
There's a lot of truth to this post. I ageee 100% and it's why I make it a point to only buy the games I *really* want to play. This year I've only purchased a handful of titles, mostly new ips like Lollipop Chainsaw and Sleeping Dogs. I skip out on a lot of sequels/retreads unless I'm a true fan of the franchise.
I'm also prone to buying a lot of XBLA/Xbox indie games in the midst of release schedules, and a ton of those games are just fantastic. It's really a much more satisfying approach to gaming nowadays compared to years ago when I would buy into almost every AAA franchise on the market.
I'm also prone to buying a lot of XBLA/Xbox indie games in the midst of release schedules, and a ton of those games are just fantastic. It's really a much more satisfying approach to gaming nowadays compared to years ago when I would buy into almost every AAA franchise on the market.
Great read! I was actually thinking the same thing recently! A big problem for PC gaming is it's hard not to get a huge catalog of games you actually want to play when the games are so cheap. I try to only play one or two games at a time and try to have them offset each other with different gameplay styles. And some come along that I really enjoy and I manage to sink my teeth into and really love (Blocks that Matter ^^). But I think I may have enjoyed some of them more if I hadn't moved onto another game soon afterwards.
The biggest thing troubling me though is the games that are like a bag of chips. They're delicious at first, but soon you stop tasting them and you feel bad when you realized you've eaten the whole bag. But you'll still do the same thing next week because the salt is addictive. This happens to me with games like League or TF2. I'm past the prime enjoyment period for both, but I still play them because they're addicting and comfortable, even if they're not that fun anymore. And the doses that are fun just make you want to come back for more even though it is mostly just running through the motions.
The biggest thing troubling me though is the games that are like a bag of chips. They're delicious at first, but soon you stop tasting them and you feel bad when you realized you've eaten the whole bag. But you'll still do the same thing next week because the salt is addictive. This happens to me with games like League or TF2. I'm past the prime enjoyment period for both, but I still play them because they're addicting and comfortable, even if they're not that fun anymore. And the doses that are fun just make you want to come back for more even though it is mostly just running through the motions.
While I definitely understand the analogy, I'm rarely in that mode full-on. I'm disabled and have "nothing but time" on my hand, so I play a crapton of games. But, I haven't become jaded. I played nearly 200 hours of Skyrim in 2011, and I racked up about 170 hours the first month I played Mount & Blade when I got it on Steam Sale last summer. I pick up NCAA Football every other or third year and enjoy the heck out of it.
I do, however, buy games (on sale) that I don't play immediately. I also buy games that I loved a long time ago. An analysis says I've only played 42% of my Steam games but that's unfair cuz it counts DLC as a game.
I'm certain that I've played less than 2/3 of my games tho, for a variety of reasons (for example, I bought the Steam Bundle for L4D and HL1 and HL2 and will never touch CS cuz I hate it, so that counts against me in that statistic).
I do, however, buy games (on sale) that I don't play immediately. I also buy games that I loved a long time ago. An analysis says I've only played 42% of my Steam games but that's unfair cuz it counts DLC as a game.
I'm certain that I've played less than 2/3 of my games tho, for a variety of reasons (for example, I bought the Steam Bundle for L4D and HL1 and HL2 and will never touch CS cuz I hate it, so that counts against me in that statistic).
I have a Wii, 360, ps3, psp, ds, 3ds and a pc. Growing up it was a super nintendo and a gameboy. I think it's easy to label this problem as nostalgia and growing up, but part of the problem is the over saturation of gaming devices, which in my opinion will lead to the loss of one of the big 3 come "next gen", but that's a different topic. But I think the main problem is the games themselves, really looking at it games this gen don't have much replayabilty, and I'm not talking about different outcomes to different scenarios, I'm talking about the essence of games, the gameplay and the level design.
Back in the day sidescrollers and rpgs ruled the day, both of these genre's weren't plagued by scripted scenarios that would hold your hand in a cinematic moment. Once the mission was made clear it was you and the controller and whatever was in front of you. We took pleasure in replaying mega man and super metroid because there was nothing bothering us, we took joy in finding secrets, mastering the levels and enemy placement, among other things. How can we do that now? Everything is liner and scripted, shooters are plagued with levels that do nothing but provide you with target practice, and even the rpg is now a watered down genre that's being mixed into the first person shooter (with the shooter part coming on top). Nothing is memorable or skilfully designed besides the technicality of games themselves.
The Wii U is the only new system I plan on buying for a long time to come (besides maybe the vita), because while many things can be said against nintendo and their systems and the way they handle things, their one of the few that still focus on giving you a true interactive experience, not a blockbuster movie with an online pass, with day one dlc, season pass and a ton of other shit.
On another note, Thank God for the rise of indie games.
Back in the day sidescrollers and rpgs ruled the day, both of these genre's weren't plagued by scripted scenarios that would hold your hand in a cinematic moment. Once the mission was made clear it was you and the controller and whatever was in front of you. We took pleasure in replaying mega man and super metroid because there was nothing bothering us, we took joy in finding secrets, mastering the levels and enemy placement, among other things. How can we do that now? Everything is liner and scripted, shooters are plagued with levels that do nothing but provide you with target practice, and even the rpg is now a watered down genre that's being mixed into the first person shooter (with the shooter part coming on top). Nothing is memorable or skilfully designed besides the technicality of games themselves.
The Wii U is the only new system I plan on buying for a long time to come (besides maybe the vita), because while many things can be said against nintendo and their systems and the way they handle things, their one of the few that still focus on giving you a true interactive experience, not a blockbuster movie with an online pass, with day one dlc, season pass and a ton of other shit.
On another note, Thank God for the rise of indie games.
Great blog! I do find myself trying to schedule to finish games in time for the next thing, getting frustrated when a backlog starts piling up, and abandoning games I'm not enjoying super-quick, even when I paid a lot of money for them, and haven't given them a thorough chance. It's a problem, that has to do simply with my being able to buy so many games now, and my being aware of so many. I do kind of wish there were few enough new releases I could return to the old ones that are truly special and deserving, and savour and replay them.
But, I mean, I can still appreciate the games enough to know which ones are truly special, and deserve to be replayed... some day...
And a lot of them I wouldn't have discovered if I weren't so gaming-fat. Definitely a double-edged sword.
But, I mean, I can still appreciate the games enough to know which ones are truly special, and deserve to be replayed... some day...
And a lot of them I wouldn't have discovered if I weren't so gaming-fat. Definitely a double-edged sword.
Yeah man, I stood out in the beginning of this generation and now that I got money again, spent a while playing a lot of things just to see what it was all about. As you said, don't feel the need for more shooters. And yes, I played too many games just to "be on par with times", nad regret most of those.
I don't think we need less games, I think we need less publishers trying to nail the next CoD or a "new sequel of the same game every year" and more publishers pushing new stuff forward, or doing complete deep games. Which is strange to say since my favourite game lately is Sleeping Dogs (kind of a genre that's already full of clones, but in this case manages to be filled with stuff to do).
Hey, excellent blog, really good, it's impossible to say few things about it. You're great man!
I don't think we need less games, I think we need less publishers trying to nail the next CoD or a "new sequel of the same game every year" and more publishers pushing new stuff forward, or doing complete deep games. Which is strange to say since my favourite game lately is Sleeping Dogs (kind of a genre that's already full of clones, but in this case manages to be filled with stuff to do).
Hey, excellent blog, really good, it's impossible to say few things about it. You're great man!
Awesome read. Man, I love these featured blogs. Always read em when I see em.
And yes. This is a problem right now. The market is over-saturated. I wont be buying any next gen games, I will fix up my pc and catch up on so many games like new vegas and maybe even replay skyrim and fallout 3 with all its dlc.
And the multitude of games in my steam account.
And yes. This is a problem right now. The market is over-saturated. I wont be buying any next gen games, I will fix up my pc and catch up on so many games like new vegas and maybe even replay skyrim and fallout 3 with all its dlc.
And the multitude of games in my steam account.
Oh and my rpg and shooter remark isn't entirely absolute. New Vegas and Borderlands stand above that, and I'm sure I'm missing others too.
Maybe I'm getting jaded or something, but nothing interesting ever seems to come out nowadays. The last game I bought was Rayman Origins, back in November.
The last game that really hooked me was Deadly Premonition, I spent a lot of time with it. Right now, I'm waiting for Persona 5, and that's pretty much it.
The last game that really hooked me was Deadly Premonition, I spent a lot of time with it. Right now, I'm waiting for Persona 5, and that's pretty much it.
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