What does everyone think of this Gen So Far???

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Well, there have been many games with both terrible and great reviews that I have enjoyed immensely. From this perspective, I guess it is about like any other gen. However, I do find that gaming is indeed better than it ever has been in terms of what is possible today. That is something that I think we all can appreciate.

On the downside, there also seems to be an increase of flash over substance as well. Don't get me wrong, I love playing in HD and I appreciate when a game has gorgeous visuals as much as anyone. I just see that many devs and gamers alike seem to be losing sight of the core of a game itself in favor of making a game as flashy as possible. Face it, this 'GrApHiCs KiNg' nonsense is worse than it ever has been as well, taking the focus off of the the game itself entirely.

You can make a game ultra-polished, loaded with dazzling special effects and gorgeous visuals and man that sure is great on the surface. However, if the game itself beneath all that jazz is lacking, then what do you have? A beautiful, but empty to half full shell, that's what. I'll take substance, character, challenge and charm over shallow, mega budget flash any day.

Don't get me wrong, I love my fair share of the mega budget hype train games and there are many more I am anticipating. I just mean that there seems to be a shift to flash over substance in general. Add in the growing trend of a DLC driven market and this gen is indeed a double edged sword of sorts. I am indeed enjoying the advancement in what is possible, though. No doubt about that.

roxlimn

Oh, but I do go off the beaten path, but I do enjoy many of the mega releases as well. My main point was that the focus of the market in general (much of the so called 'core' market included) has seen a shift in flash over substance more so than ever. Of course there are always the obscure, under the radar titles and the niche, cult classics and I do my share of gem hunting there as well.

I think this is the best gen so far overall. I also think the 360 is the best console ever. I never had a time where I was so backlogged with great games.

I hate this console generation. I had a 360 and played Gears of War and Halo 3 and Oblivion and other games and they were okay, but definitely not worth $60 or eve $50. The games are too short, must pay to play online with 360. Console gamers buying trash like the MW2 DLC for $15 are making it okay for developers to release half a game for full price then make you pay for the other parts. Other developers releasing Paid DLC right after the game comes out simply because people are willing to pay for it rather than trying to put it in the game to make the game as good as it can be. Also, the controls are very slow and unresponsive this generation. I can literally feel a 1/4 to 1/2 second delay in the controllers on the 360 and Wii. It isn't as bad on the PS3 if i remember correctly but it was still noticeable.

Over rated graphics are super over rated. Sorry, but 720p is no longer HD, it is now sub-HD. It costs hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to get a 1080p TV to play blu-ray movies on, then your console games look like smudge once they get on.

The Wii has very few games that i actually want, and it isn't worth spending $200 for a console then $50 for each game when they are new (1/4 the price of the system).

I think the consoles this generation look very nice, though. They are very sleek and look good in any set up.

PC gaming has been great so far. HL2 episodes, Crysis, Trine, Mirrors Edge, L4D, FEAR 1, TF2, STALKER, Portal, WoW updates and expansions, Tons of great and inexpensive indie games, Overlord, Guild Wars, and lots of other free-to-play games like Quake Live.

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Well, there have been many games with both terrible and great reviews that I have enjoyed immensely. From this perspective, I guess it is about like any other gen. However, I do find that gaming is indeed better than it ever has been in terms of what is possible today. That is something that I think we all can appreciate.

On the downside, there also seems to be an increase of flash over substance as well. Don't get me wrong, I love playing in HD and I appreciate when a game has gorgeous visuals as much as anyone. I just see that many devs and gamers alike seem to be losing sight of the core of a game itself in favor of making a game as flashy as possible. Face it, this 'GrApHiCs KiNg' nonsense is worse than it ever has been as well, taking the focus off of the the game itself entirely.

You can make a game ultra-polished, loaded with dazzling special effects and gorgeous visuals and man that sure is great on the surface. However, if the game itself beneath all that jazz is lacking, then what do you have? A beautiful, but empty to half full shell, that's what. I'll take substance, character, challenge and charm over shallow, mega budget flash any day.

Make no mistake, I love my fair share of the mega budget hype train games and there are many more I am anticipating. I just mean that there seems to be a shift to flash over substance in general. Add in the growing trend of a DLC driven market and this gen is indeed a double edged sword of sorts. I am indeed enjoying the advancement in what is possible, though. No doubt about that.

Bread_or_Decide

Like I said, I appreciate great visuals as much as anyone. It just seems to me that since everything went HD many of the big budget titles have became more shallow, but are still given rave reviews despite having dumbed down gameplay and 5 hour campaigns. Sorry if you disagree, but that is just the way I see it.

There have been some interesting games, but I think the focus on online gaming has killed the potential of this gen. Its too easy for devs to focus on the online multiplayer instead of putting out a solid product. MW2 and BFBC2 may as well not even have a single player mode. At least MAG didn't try and pretend there's a story mode.

On another note ifSEGA had made an HD console for this generation it would have been the best generation ever. it was the stiff competiton that sega gave to theNintendo that made all the other gens so great IMHO.

Even tho Dramcast only lasted 2 years last gen, the quality of Segas games forced Sony to step up and back up their words and truly produce something truely amazing in order to continue the hyping phase>>>Simularly to the way Sony is now focing MS to do this gen.

I think I'm satisfied with it, it's been quite interesting and no doubt fun, but I've found that I've finished far fewer games this gen than in previous gens... I seem to lose interest quickly this gen, for some reason.

raynimrod

This. There was something about the PS2's library that none of the current consoles have yet to touch. Maybe it was the diversity and the huge number of quality titles. Something about this gen just feels like the quality is turning into more about quantity. There is nothing wrong about games with uber graphics. I just feel that too much time is spent focusing on graphics rather than gameplay, in general.

[QUOTE="raynimrod"]

I think I'm satisfied with it, it's been quite interesting and no doubt fun, but I've found that I've finished far fewer games this gen than in previous gens... I seem to lose interest quickly this gen, for some reason.

svaubel

This. There was something about the PS2's library that none of the current consoles have yet to touch. Maybe it was the diversity and the huge number of quality titles. Something about this gen just feels like the quality is turning into more about quantity. There is nothing wrong about games with uber graphics. I just feel that too much time is spent focusing on graphics rather than gameplay, in general.