You got it the other way around Davey boy.

@COPMAN221ISBACK Of course you can. I've justified quite a few systems on only a few games. More specifically games that I was really interested in, which would qualify as gems. You can do it with one game if it truly satisfies you enough to keep the system/handheld/pc you bought.

A game being linear and a game being challenging are not mutually exclusive from each other, cliffy. But aside of that, I don't think it's actually important how challenging a games is; it's how satisfying it is that matters. Playing games that make you frustrated until you finally beat it isn't a good definition of satisfaction or fun from a game. I've had my share of that, and even after getting to the end, it wasn't satisfaction but relief I felt that I never had to push myself to do something so stressful ever again. Now that I understand my limits, I can enjoy games so much more without falling into that addictive pit like I did a few years ago. That includes some of the games that I pushed myself through too.

You get such a greater shock value and gaming experience from a poignant soundtrack and story in a game. Even if the violence in a game makes sense/well within the parameters of what the game is about, it should never be used as a crutch.

@ChiefReaver I half-way agree with you. It would be nice to have processing power like that to be able to add more depth into gameplay. Unfortunately, the higher the graphical specs, the less likely stuff like that can happen. The previous generation came the closest to allowing the most depth combined with the highest graphical capabilities. This generation has more graphical depth, but at the cost of more freedom and gameplay depth due to the higher specs. **What also is going to be taken into account is that the cost will rise enormously for developers. If anything this generation is still catching up with last gen regarding gameplay depth. GTA4 doesn't have near the scope and depth of things that you can do in San Andreas for instance.

@da_post_office In that respect, it's only fantastic if you are considering spending most of your time playing and enjoying Indie games.

@NBKNAS You can make a career out of doing that.

@vadicta Totally agree. I haven't been affected by anything gory in a very long time. But more importantly, I never thought it made the experience better or more shocking in the least. The soundtrack and story to a game is really what brings out the lasting effects.

if the growth of console gaming stays where it is or even lowers a bit, it's not going anywhere. It's been strong for a VERY long time.

There's no need AT ALL for the friends list, Reggie. I guess they could just be using the same name and making it more like the PSN or Xbox live system, but it would have been great to find out if they were doing away completely with that absurd code identification process.