Was this generation a let down?

G

GoofsterStud

Member
I'm just curious what your thoughts on this generation were. I personally feel disappointing.

I started with the following which offered:
Genesis/SNES
+Greatly Improved graphics
+Bigger games (more epic feel)
+In-game saves
+3D starting (Virtua Racer - Genesis, Star Fox - SNES)
+Physics improved
+Creative new ideas all around
+New Genres and sub-genres

Followed by:
SS/PSX/N64
+Greatly Improved Graphics
+Bigger more epic games
+3D finally developed
+Old Genres felt new again in 3D
+2D games greatly improved (Looking at you SS: Perfect Marvel vs SF, Astral still looks great)
+Games became bigger, longer, more epic.
+Analog controls

Followed by:
PS2/DC/Xbox/GC
+Greatly Improved Graphics
+Game length didn't change much
+3D still developed
+Games improved, but no longer the new feeling as the transition from 2D to 3D
+Starting of gimmicky controls... GC/GBA controller, eyetoy.
+2D Genre saw almost no improvements (exception GG (high res) SF3 Animation)

Followed by:
PS3/Xbox360/Wii
+Moderately Improved Graphics (sometimes PS2 games emulated with higher internal resolutions and filter effects looks as good)
-Game length decreased (Old rpgs had more interesting stories and more hours)
-The end of multiple genres
+2D games starting to make a comeback at the end. (Rayman - Origins HD showed 2D is viable, Blaz Blue HD, Limbo, Bastion - Nariations HD) Still no real improvements to game-play or depth have been added.
+The age of gimmicky controllers, though a lot of times this ruined games.
-Game story/development seemed to lower for graphics
-No real revolutionary improvements in gameplay
-New technology didn't push new innovative games that couldn't of really been done before (with the exception of visuals)

Am I alone in these feelings? Am I growing out of gaming? I am starting to feel like I am playing the same games with new maps. Looking at you Call of Duty. >.> Where's the innovations/new feeling? I notice that lately I'd rather play PS2/Sega Saturn games then PS3 titles. Games like Guardian Heroes, Odin Sphere, Shining Force 3, Panzer Dragoon Saga, and Dragon Quest 8 (with the highly improved emulated graphics) are holding my interest to the point where I'm putting the next FF game in my backlog.

I can say there were a few exceptions this generation:
Little Big Planet (with my family)
Flower PSN (playing with my niece who loves making flowers grow)
Part/Drinking Wii games (Though most of them were a bust)
The latest Zelda finally seemed to justify the Wii-mote.
Still I'd rather not try another Kinetic game.
 
I don't know what you mean. Gaming have never been as diverse as now.
The quality of games in themselves is subjective but I personally think they are generally better, thanks to industry people's experience.
 
I don't think so, but I should clarify that this was the generation in which I grew old enough to actually be able to afford games, I've probably played 3-4 times as many games this generation as I did in the previous generation.

One great thing that this generation brought us, through the DD platforms, is the emergence of the indie game. It would've been much harder before this generation to get a game made and released if you were a small team.

Also, this generation is when online gaming fully entered the mainstream. Sure, it's been on PC for a while, and the Xbox and PS2 had it (but in a more limited capacity) but through Xbox Live and PSN, everyone is playing online today. It's so much easier to get in a game and play with my friends.
 
If you're a japanese game fan I can see why this generation would blow.

But it's been a solid one. Game complexity went down a bit in the RPG category but the rest of the generation has been pretty good.

Also I have to question the moderately improved graphics part. Play Jak 2 (the original, not the HD remake) and then Uncharted 3.

I expect next generation to be absolutely dreadful though.
 
I think it's been one of the better ones, really. In the past gens beyond the SNES I was more of a solo gamer, only playing online on my PC. This continued with the GC/PS2, but finally with the 360 a lot of my friends are now into gaming and I play with them a lot. It's been a lot of fun and they're all pretty hooked, so it should continue. It has its issues, sure, but overall it has been a lot of fun and delivered a lot of great games.
 
No. I spent more time playing games than probably any other gen. I spent an unhealthy amount of time playing Halo 3, Gears 1 and 2, COD4, World at War and GTAIV.
 
this gen was fantastic thanks to online services, steam, live and psn to a certain extent

if you only wanted to play certain genres from previous gens i can see how it could be disappointing (jrpgs), but overall its been amazing. the industry has evolved and mixed with the mainstream the most in the last 5/6 years
 
Lunchbox said:
this gen was fantastic thanks to online services, steam, live and psn to a certain extent

if you only wanted to play certain genres from previous gens i can see how it could be disappointing (jrpgs), but overall its been amazing. the industry has evolved and mixed with the mainstream the most in the last 5/6 years
Click to expand...

For console games, outside of RDR I would say yes it was extremely disappointing.

PC on the other hand was spectacular.
 
Not at all. I'm constantly amazed by all of the games that have come out this new generation. I look at something like the original Mario bros and then Mass Effect and it blows my mind.

Love it.

Except for all the awful trends though. Pre-order nonsense, DRM for the PC guys, and the unfortunate higher budget costs that lead to so many studios closing down.
 
Doesn't seem like you're giving credit to the improved online multiplayer, but yeah, it seems like a net reduction in progress if you are a long time gamer from the Japanese dominated era. If you just got into gaming and primarily play COD and madden, then things are just getting better.

The anti piracy and DLC schemes are really turning me off. Nintendo's difficulty with competing in terms of modernizing its console games is also a problem.
 
Nope. There's still games out there that appeal to me (and by appeal I mean I fucken love and really should stop playing and go outside). I'm just not as easily satisfied as I used to be. Honestly that handful of games alone have cemented this as Best Gen Ever[tm]
 
This gen is probably my favorite generation ever, and I've been playing since the NES days.

So many games that I've played and loved. Only possible challenge to it for me is the PS1 era.
 
Derrick01 said:
Also I have to question the moderately improved graphics part. Play Jak 2 (the original, not the HD remake) and then Uncharted 3.
Click to expand...

When I play Jak 2 I do it with 4x internal native resolution maxed aa and all. I love it on my 60" 1080p, the ps3 while more complex sometimes look worse because of the resolution.
 
Not at all, this generation was amazing. A ton of really good games, good online infrastructure (Minus the PSN hacking) This is the first generation, where I have enjoyed games online.

Uncharted Series
PixelJunk Games (and a ton of downloable psn/xbl games for that matter)
Mass Effect
Mario Galaxy
Infamous


This generation has some of my favorite games of all time, although I admit I am not huge on motion gaming at all.
 
Almost every problem I have with gaming originated with this generation, but there were a ton of quality games and I think this gen will be looked back on fondly.
 
Anyways, my opinion here: It's the worst console generation I've been alive to witness. Gaming became colder where only the big could survive at retail, and where everything and its mom used online modes to hide a weak single player.

Conversely it has been the best handheld generation I've been alive to see.
 
GoofsterStud said:
I'm just curious what your thoughts on this generation were. I personally feel disappointing.

blah blah

Followed by:
PS3/Xbox360/Wii
+Moderately Improved Graphics (sometimes PS2 games emulated with higher internal resolutions and filter effects looks as good)
Click to expand...

nope. not even close. The best I've found is maybe FFXII, and even that's far, FAR off from even mediocre games this gen. Try putting something like GTA:VC against an open world game like Red Dead Redemption. KOTOR vs. Mass Effect. Not even the same league.


-Game length decreased (Old rpgs had more interesting stories and more hours)
Click to expand...

most of that was just "filler." With JRPG's this is absolutely, undeniably true. I'll take tighter experiences over 50 hours of bloat anyday. That being said, jrpg is a dying genre. if you miss them that's one thing, but game quality isn't in any sense related to hours it takes to complete.

-The end of multiple genres
Click to expand...

this is just flat out wrong. play more games, man. There's no shortage of genres.

The age of gimmicky controllers, though a lot of times this ruined games.
Click to expand...

If you don't like motion control games, just don't play them? There's no shortage of non motion games of good quality.

-Game story/development seemed to lower for graphics
Click to expand...

Completely false. again, play better games.

-No real revolutionary improvements in gameplay
Click to expand...

On one hand, you decry motion controlled gaming, and on the other, you claim there's been no revolutionary improvements in gaming. I'll leave it to you to figure out where the paradox is.

-New technology didn't push new innovative games that couldn't of really been done before (with the exception of visuals)
Click to expand...

Technology is never responsible for innovation. It's what you DO with the tech that matters, and again there is no shortage of quality games. I've had more fun with Demon's souls and Dark Souls than every single game last gen. it's not even a debate for me.


Am I alone in these feelings? Am I growing out of gaming? I am starting to feel like I am playing the same games with new maps. Looking at you Call of Duty. >.> Where's the innovations/New feeling?
Click to expand...

I think you're a bit nostalgic for what gaming used to be, and not willing to try genres outside of your comfort zone so gaming seems stale and lacking. If all I played this gen was little big planet, party games, and zelda, I'd be disappointed too.
 
Worst gen ever.

- Death of JRPGs.
- Rise of fps.
- Death of Japanese.
- Death of console gaming.
- DLC shenanigans.

Etc.
 
Disappointing for sure. If it wasn't for indie gaming and PSN/XBLA games, this gen would have sucked even more.
 
This gen has been incredible. The sheer variety of games, and quality therein, has been tops more often than not. Just one niggle: The horror genre was virtually nonexistent this gen, with one notable exception: Amnesia, the greatest horror game ever. Save for that game, where are all the other horror titles??
 
My interest in gaming is waning big time, at this rate I'm not even that stocked for the next-gen systems.

Bleh, I think I'm going to go back to retro gaming.
 
No it was fantastic

The formats finally allowed a diversity in gaming sizes, scope, and genres that we never had seen before. The inclusion of the downloadable games allowed for indie games to be released and get exposure never seen before on the console scene. Flower, Pixel Junk series, Braid, Castle Crashers, Shadow Complex, etc, would never been given the green light for a full retail release. But through download only it allowed these games a way to exist.

On the full retail front the FPS dominated but there was still plenty of good games in all genres. You had the resurrection of 2D fighting games, and the return of the platformer. Open would games started to really realize their potential. The inclusion of co-op & online co-op was addicti

The only disappointment came in the lack of a great Japanese HD output as in years past. That and the price increase to $60. But as most learned, the trick was to wait a couple months and boom they were back to $30-$40 games.
 
-Third parties and Nintendo both dropped the ball on the Wii in terms of cooperation and third party support.

-The alternative(and superior imo) pointer shooting control scheme was never fully explored since few devs made shooters on the Wii.

-Online passes and junk DRM has made me want to avoid a lot of games that I would have picked up early on for consoles and the PC.

It's been pretty even so far since Nintendo has taken a few lumps for it's arrogance, Steam has turned out amazing and Indie gaming has produced some great software. I'm looking forward to a much better generation now that I'm more savvy.
 
The online ting really didn't matter to me. I have always played PC games online and I played many DC games online for free. While having less lag on my slower connections, then some games have on my 20mbps (tested) 22 ping now.

I suppose it's my genre of choice:
Platformers
Fighters (which seem to be more of the same with different paint)
2D games in general
RPGS

Genres I never got into
1st Person Shooters
Action games like Uncharted
 
In regards to console JRPGs (and non-Nintendo Japanese games in general) it was, but otherwise this gen has been pretty fantastic, imo. Plus smaller downloadable titles have offered a lot of diversity.

I think there's a strong argument that last gen was better, but it's close.
 
I personally had more fun this generation than most other generations because I am a pretty big handheld gamer and the DS and PSP really hit it out of the park for me. The end of last generation was when I truly started to get into gaming as an extensive hobby though so that could also be another reason.
 
As long as you mean console games only, and not including handhelds I'm pretty much right there with you OP. With the exception of the Wiimote, or rather, the experiences it should have brought.
 
This generation was leaps and bounds amazing and presented innovations in so many areas besides graphics. Xbox Live alone has revolutionized couch gaming for the masses.
 
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