Is simpler always worse?

Many people complain that newer games are simpler and not as complex or as thought prvoking as some older games. Do you think this is a bad thing?

Take one example, Baldur's Gate 2 to Mass Effect. BG is an old school DnD game that requires lots of thinking, reading, and time. On the other hand Mass Effect is more action oriented, simple for players, and one playthrough can be completed in a week. If someone was new to gaming, wouldn't they have a harder time playing BG, and simply quit? Maybe if they played Mass Effect, it would be easier for them to have fun.

Also, compare games like Call of Duty 4 to Arma 2. Call of Duty 4 is an arcade shooter where you can just run and gun, and act like a god while being hit by an array of bullets. Arma 2 on the other hand tries to imitate realism, and is alot more challenging than CoD 4. Imagine if every game was a simulator like Arma 2. New gamers would find themselves overwhelmed.

Imagine if every game was a simulator like Arma 2.

pvtdonut54

I suppose.The majority don't like games that are to realistic because they are too hard.I'm not the part of the majority.

It depends on the game. I personally prefer a Mass Effect type RPG to a Baldur's Gate type, if we are to use that example. On the other hand, I would very much prefer my flight sims and shooters to be over the top crazy realistic.

People complain too much.

Most of the time, it is.

I enjoy simple games too, as long as they're over the top. Anything that tries to be both simple and realistic (I'm looking at you Call of Duty 4) tends to be neither and becomes garbage for me. I love both Serious Sam and ARMA, for example.

Naw simpler is fine. Also I don't mind shorter games, as I don't have time to finish too many epic rpgs. As long as a game doesn't advertise itself as something it is not I will probably be happy with it.

for me Simpler IS usually worse for me, especially rpgs, I like using my head, having to think, and not being told the answer to all riddles, and characters.

FPS games I prefer complex (Stalker is a nice middleground game for me), but FPS does have an advantage that it can be pretty simple, and still alot of fun. (quake live, ut2k4 dm)

If you try to make a simple RTS then may whatever god you belive in have mercy on your soul, they were freakin MENT to be a complex battle of minds, not really "cool flashy graphics".

Sims I also prefer complex, flight sims, mech games.

Racing games can have fairly simple gameplay elements and it will rarely hurt.

Beat'em ups can be fairly simple without it hurting it all too much, and too complex can put a dent into the usually fast paced gameplay.

Platformers can have the simplest controles I can think of, without hurting the game at all, just movement and jump = hours of fun :P

If you look closely youll notice that the games usually thoght of as PC centric games, all benefit from complexety, and games from a console background can be pretty simple without hurting the fun at all.

It is ofcourse only based on my own oppinions and not the universal truth ^^