Why have video games become so borring?

[pibs]

Via:N4G.com (http://www.n4g.com/gaming/News-134380.aspx)
By:Eoco (http://opiniondebug.com/2008/04/13/why-have-video-games-become-so-boring/)

If you haven’t played COD4 yet (if not, why not?), then this post contains minor spoilers.

Recently I have found myself becoming increasingly bored with video games. Often I will find myself firing up my console, and just not wanting to play any of my games. Now the reason is not that all the games released are low quality, in fact it’s far from it. It is the simple fact that all the games released in the past year (except a few, more on those later) lack a certain quality. It is this unique aspect of a game that separates it from other games. Now this ‘quality’ is not graphics or sound or whatever, it is something quite different, but I can’t pinpoint what it is. Hmm…this is quite hard to explain…

.

Let me give you an example. Take Call of Duty 4. Now everybody agrees that COD4 is technically a good game. It has good graphics and sound, the online and perk system is great, now while these certainly contribute to it, these are not the things that make the game special. There are two levels in the game, where you do practically nothing. They’re almost like cutscenes, but from a first person perspective. However, despite this, these are my two favourite levels in the game. The first of these levels is where you see yourself (President Yasir Al-Fulani) assassinated. You are shoved into a car and driven through a city, before being shot in the head. It wont come through in text, but when your watching it, it is so absorbing - you feel much more sympathetic towards the character, and feel much more against the killer. The second level is when you wake up after a nuclear weapon has been activated. You crawl out from your crashed helicopter, only to find a destroyed city, with debris flying everywhere. Amazing.
http://opiniondebug.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/aftermath.jpg

Technical aspects and how fun the game is definitely contribute to whether the game memorable or not, but there is also something else.

.

Despite what I’ve said, I don’t think the ‘quality’ that is missing from so many games is the ability to emotionally involve a player. No, that’s not it. It’s just that most of the recently released video games aren’t special. Take Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 for example. It’s an ok game, but there’s nothing special about it. Again, Burnout Paradise, it pretty fun, but it’s not special, I’m not going to remember it as one of my favourite games of all time. So many games that are released now are just so uninspiring. That’s it! Uninspiring. See if you can think of a game released in the past year, that you can honestly say is inspiring, or really special. If I had to, I’d probably go with Call of Duty 4 and maybe Bully: Scholarship Edition. The only game that I can say has truly inspired me if Portal. Three games isn’t a lot. I’ve bought all the big releases this year and some small ones, but I’m still bored. There is only one reason I can think of - that gaming has become a bit stagnant lately. There were very few new franchises or series launched, and most of the big hits were sequels (Call of Duty 4, Halo 3 etc.), if you look on the horizon all I can see is more sequels like MGS4, GTA4, Fallout 3. These will all be great quality games, and I’m sure everyone will enjoy them. I mean, games can still be a hell of a lot of fun, even if they aren’t inspiring - I know I’ve enjoyed laying a lot of games this past year. Now before you all think I’m crazy I know I’m not alone in this view. I’ve spoken to a couple of people on Xbox Live that agree with me and I’m sure there must be others. Don’t get me wrong, I love gaming and I’ve really enjoyed a lot of the games this year, but just feel they could have been better. I read about games, buy games, write about games, but recently I really am loosing faith in them. Strange. Come on video game industry, show us something amazing! Maybe this year will reignite my passion for my hobby.

.

Note: I know this all sounds a bit weird: ‘How can a guy have lots of fun playing games, but still be disappointed with them?’. Well before you all yell ‘hypocrisy!’, just because a game isn’t special or inspiring, doesn’t mean it isn’t a hell of a lot of fun.

[JKKDARK]

I don't agree. I see many many great games as before.

[pibs]

I don't agree. I see many many great games as before.

Because they are the same games from before, just sequels or remakes. sure there are exceptions but they slip under the radar because of the rating systems.

Heres a comment left on the site that feeds the debate

"Games are boring for the same reason new music is boring and new movies are boring. Cliche.....the marketers and bean counters have too much control over the creative proccess. Therefore you get standardized formats, with well polling character types, simple to follow yet "engaging" plot lines, and a host of other "features" designed to minimize investor risk. Nobody is investing in the creative process anymore just the business side."

Check out the short segment of adam vs adam on videogame sequels
http://www.g4tv.com/gspot/videos/20960/Adam_vs_Adam_Videogame_Sequels.html

[jamotto]

sure there are exceptions but they slip under the radar because of the rating systems.
[/url]

In my opinion it is not the rating systems fault, it is instead mostly the gamers fault, gamers are unwilling to try radically new games, because they don't want to risk blowing their money on a game they don't like.

[Eviltaco64]

I agree.
For some reason I still to this day would rather pick up a Genesis controller and play some Sonic instead of play Xbox 360.
Even though this is only loosely based on the point you were trying to prove, it still shows that the majority of games from modern times (6th gen - present, especially after Nintendo 64) dont have that certain quality, inspiration. Great job! :thumbup:

[mcdougall57]

i agree i dont see that many games now with that creative spark just sequels with new weapons and maybe online multiplayer this actually puts me off buying games because im beggining to play them less now. Ive got to the point where i buy games for no reason.

N64-best console ive ever played on twas times of originality and creativity.

[Shrygue]

Same here, barely used any of my consoles for at least a month now, except maybe my DS lite but even the usage is not a lot more that the former.

[Shadowblind]

Do you have a 360? If not, then I see your point. But otherwise I disagree. Bioshock alone could keep me for days.

[Eviltaco64]

Do you have a 360? If not, then I see your point. But otherwise I disagree. Bioshock alone could keep me for days.

Yes, I do.
It's a good console, with excellent games, but just not my style I guess.
Xbox has changed what video games are supposed to be, fun. I know, Halo 3/COD4/Vegas 2/whatever is fun, but I am really not a FPS fan. Just for the reason that its practically been the same thing for 10 years (with major graphical updates and some more weapons). All in all, it gets boring to me. It's like watching a different movie and following a different story, and playing the same game.
And I agree with mcdougall, Nintendo 64 probably has the best if not one of the greatest game libraries of any console (especially thanks to Rareware)

[Shadowblind]

Yes, I do.
It's a good console, with excellent games, but just not my style I guess.
Xbox has changed what video games are supposed to be, fun. I know, Halo 3/COD4/Vegas 2/whatever is fun, but I am really not a FPS fan. Just for the reason that its practically been the same thing for 10 years (with major graphical updates and some more weapons). All in all, it gets boring to me. It's like watching a different movie and following a different story, and playing the same game.
And I agree with mcdougall, Nintendo 64 probably has the best if not one of the greatest game libraries of any console (especially thanks to Rareware)

Bleh, I hated halo, R6V2 annoyed me, and CoD4 just bored me. The surface is bleak, thats for sure. but GoW Bioshock TF2 and the RPGs keep me going. Too Human, Fable 2, Ninja Gaiden 2; you don't have to be a FPS fan to get going on those m8. RPGs like Lost odyssey and Eternal Sonata are amazing. I can't wait for MGS4 though, that should aleive your boredom.

I miss the n64 days...the single greatest console i've ever played. PS2 next.

[Eviltaco64]

Bleh, I hated halo, R6V2 annoyed me, and CoD4 just bored me. The surface is bleak, thats for sure. but GoW Bioshock TF2 and the RPGs keep me going. Too Human, Fable 2, Ninja Gaiden 2; you don't have to be a FPS fan to get going on those m8. RPGs like Lost odyssey and Eternal Sonata are amazing. I can't wait for MGS4 though, that should aleive your boredom.

I miss the n64 days...the single greatest console i've ever played. PS2 next.

Yeah I played the Bioshock demo and it was great.
Although I dont really look to the 360 for RPGs.
Id stick with the Wii/PS3/DS/PSP for them.
But one title I'm really looking out for is Banjo Kazooie 3.

And yeah, PS2 was really good as well.
Id say that PS2, SNES, N64, Gamecube, and GBA were some of the more memorable platforms...

[Ewan]

Never had an N64, but I've been pulling out my Dreamcast, Saturn and Genesis the past week or so. Nice to get back in touch with "old friends".

I totally agree on the "lack of originality" lately. I have several fun games for the 360, but many of the "staple" games from years gone by are ... gone by.

If you don't have a Sega Saturn, and have enough cash to get the good titles anymore, check it out. Games like Panzer Dragoon Saga are worth checking the system out for. And if you like the Capcom 2D stuff, you can find literally "arcade perfect" renditions that run smooth as silk for the Saturn.

[Emulation_Chief]

Hello:

Certainly, video games become less inspiring. More powerful machines definitely delivers more powerful experience. Unfortunately at the cost of the fun factor, which is the reason they are called GAMES.

If we believe there is a guilty for this, I think of hardware developers. Creating machines like PlayStation or Xbox, both very powerful, increase the necessity for software developers to increase size, capital and marketing to release and sell their products. These statements limits the creativity of the game companies, big and small.

The most obvious answer is the constant release of sequels, sports games, and RPGs with very obvious plots and twist. Still, some companies try to release original games. Others, enter to the casual game arena. Simpler and fun games to play than the big budget partners with better results in sales than the others. Just look at the Wii.

Still, you can find very fun and addictive games on the Xbox and PlayStation. I didn't find one for PS to mention, but you can include your favorites in this forum. For 360 I can mention BioSchock; Ninja Gaiden and Jet Set Radio Future for Xbox.

What's your favorites?

[Broadus]

New games suck and game companies never try anything new or think outside of the box. The simplest, completely undone ideas are constantly passed-by in exchange for the same old crap that was in the games of yesteryear.

[Eviltaco64]

Never had an N64, but I've been pulling out my Dreamcast, Saturn and Genesis the past week or so. Nice to get back in touch with "old friends".

I totally agree on the "lack of originality" lately. I have several fun games for the 360, but many of the "staple" games from years gone by are ... gone by.

If you don't have a Sega Saturn, and have enough cash to get the good titles anymore, check it out. Games like Panzer Dragoon Saga are worth checking the system out for. And if you like the Capcom 2D stuff, you can find literally "arcade perfect" renditions that run smooth as silk for the Saturn.

You're right about the Saturn. I remember seeing the Japanese import of Street Fighter Zero 3 and they called it more of an arcade perfect port than the Dreamcast one. It also had the ability to have Tag Teams in Xmen vs Street Fighter/MSHVSF (I'm a BIG fan of these games) because the Saturn's more 2D based architecture and extra ram. And Panzer Dragoon Saga? One of the greatest games ever made :) but unfortunately they "lost" the source code to it years ago :(

Sega always had an appeal that I liked (the fast paced arcade style), all the way through (primarily the Genesis-Dreamcast era as the Master System wasnt that big over here in the States).

Nintendo was excellent (and still is), but the American Mario Sunshine commercial kinda..just...made me dislike Nintendo for awhile (2002-2006ish, whenever Mario Strikers on the Cube came out it changed my mind, watch that commercial xD).
It really shows that bad advertising can be a black mark for a company.

Sony's approach was make some high-quality first party games and get a lot of 3rd-party devs (kinda opposite of Nintendo's approach). They're doing well and I've always liked them. The 3rd Party titles are actually worthwhile (and I know for a fact that PS3 is going to become big). So many exclusives and great games keep me liking the Playstation brand.

Microsoft...what can I say? Xbox was a great console. Good games (Halo), great online (Halo 2), and best of all, the available modifications (even softmods are amazing). Although it was good, and powerful, it really changed the community. FPSs didnt really get big until Xbox, and that "N00B OMG WTF LULZ" thing didnt wasnt really big until Live got big. Another thing Im not really big on is that you have to pay for almost anything. You wanna put a movie on your Hard Drive? Too bad! Go buy it on the Live Marketplace in a few months when your Xbox gets back to you because it got the red rings! And when it comes to creativity, 90% of the time it relies on it's 3rd party developers (the other 10% is Bungie [who's now a second party] and the Fable Team).


All in all, Xbox 360 has good games, but not many revolutionary titles (aside from Bioshock and COD4).

So I guess when it comes down to it, Nintendo and Sega (and Atari, you gotta give them some recollection) take the cup, with Sony trailing VERY CLOSELY behind them.

And once this is posted, I'll have MS fanboys giving me lists of all the good games coming out for 360.
A lot of the time the sequels are the exact thing as the original Xbox game, with enhanced graphics and a few more weapons.

But that's just my 2 cents.

Enjoy reading this painfully long post,
-Eviltaco64

[The EX]

New games are amazing, you're just stuck in the 20th century.

[Eviltaco64]

New games are amazing, you're just stuck in the 20th century.

Well when I ranked the consoles, that was more in innovation.
And to tell you the truth, I like 20th century games better, myself. At least you can play the same copy of Super Metroid on the same Super Nintendo you did 14 years ago...none of this hardware failure shit.

And new games are amazing technologically, but there's no inspiration. Nothing new except for enhacned graphics.

[bah]

I think you're just growing up man.
I still love games, but I find myself often not that excited by the 'latest and greatest'. Most of the time I spend on the PSP is playing ports of older games or emulating old systems I played when I was say 16 and under.

Kids these days are probably just as excited by today's games as you were about the current games when you were younger.


I guess some of it can be attributed to the tendancy of many games these days to try to be 'reality simulators' rather than just focusing on being a fun game.
I was a teenager as 3d games were just becoming mainstream (the voodoo 3d card for PCs and the super-fx chips in snes games/ps1/N64). 3d seemed 'the coolest thing ever' and 2d was 'old hat' and boring.

While there are many great games that also have fancy graphics these days, Its almost as though the ability to simulate realism and the expense of making modern games leads less developers to try something different.
There are still great new games, I very much enjoyed playing the game Crush for PSP which has fairly good 3d graphics but the gameplay is what really makes it stand out.



As for emotional connection I'm not sure about the real reasons behind that. I can remember almost tearing up over the end credits of sonic 2 when I was young and that had almost 0 story and no real character development. Just some midi style music and still cartoon depicting the story after you had been so absorbed by playing the game was enough.


I think when a story/game is more abstract or less 'realistic', the human mind tends to attribute traits it feels appropriate to the characters and think of them as a much more solid character than they really are (if the game/level/sprite/animation design is good enough to make the game fun/interesting).

When you move into the cinematic gaming of today we end up associating with characters more in the way we do to stars of a movie/tv show where their persona is defined by how well written the story/dialogue is an how well it is delivered.
As such we almost expect A grade hollywood style storytelling/acting, which is not easy even for a film, where the director has complete control over what you see and how you see it to push the story in the right direction.

An example would be games where you have a 'friend' that you just cannot shoot, does not die when you shoot them or you have to restart the level if you do. Having a 'friend' for the lead character in a movie normally works great, but when the game gives you control of the main character then restricts your actions to ensure the static plot of the game is not corrupted, it makes the whole experience feel somewhat hollow.


Simple games leave much more to the imagination which can be a good thing.

I know in this era of kids hardly ever reading a book but instead watching a LOT of TV it sounds strange that those kids may well enjoy games that lead their mind to develop its own back-story more than one with a fairly well produced movie-style plot. But I think the idea still carries weight.

Partly I guess it's just that kids generally get absorbed into stories better than adults.

[Shadowblind]

Well when I ranked the consoles, that was more in innovation.
And to tell you the truth, I like 20th century games better, myself. At least you can play the same copy of Super Metroid on the same Super Nintendo you did 14 years ago...none of this hardware failure shit.

And new games are amazing technologically, but there's no inspiration. Nothing new except for enhacned graphics.

have you ever played Ninja Gaiden, or seen a trailer for Too Human or Fable 2? And just wait for Tales of V. If your talking about lack of innovative games, only Nintendo does that. Sure that all have discs that you have to put it in consoles, but thats about where the similarity ends. If you want something now, Bioshock was as unique as any FPS could come. or get Naruto Rise of a Ninja. The freeroam combat system was something I never saw.

[____anders____]

i also agree, they did better games in the past, but now, i think that nintendo does the best job, with mario kart wii, SSBB and super mario galaxy, 3 major releases for the wii, nintendo consoles will always be the best, N64 rules too, mario kart, super mario 64 and vigilante 8 second offense, just to name a few, are really fun, alot more fun than my xbox..

[Eviltaco64]

have you ever played Ninja Gaiden, or seen a trailer for Too Human or Fable 2? And just wait for Tales of V. If your talking about lack of innovative games, only Nintendo does that. Sure that all have discs that you have to put it in consoles, but thats about where the similarity ends. If you want something now, Bioshock was as unique as any FPS could come. or get Naruto Rise of a Ninja. The freeroam combat system was something I never saw.

Ninja Gaiden is a fun game.

And this freeroam combat system. What is it exactly? Are you able to just walk up to people and fight them? I would rent the game but my damn 360's broken :p

And bah, yeah, I think you're right. Games that dont have much of a story and feature good gameplay seem to be something I would pick up. I guess it's more of that I dont have much time to play a long story oriented game (Im pretty busy with school right now, maybe in the summer). They just remain "something that I want to check out sometime".
And yeah, I think you're right when you say that people focus too much on graphics and realism.
Much like a high-budget film, it's great the first time around, then you stash it away and watch it in a few months/years/whenever the mood strikes you, my point is that there's no reason to get it out again unless it's SO good that you want to play it again in hard mode.

But there are still a lot of good games coming out, primarily on Wii (not to say that 360 sucks as it has EXCELLENT games, they're just not really my type). Multiplayer games (like Smash Bros and Mario Strikers) symbolizes what a game console should be, fun, not a chore, going on multiple game websites constantly checking the latest updates/reviews, going and waiting in line for it at Gamestop, going home, playing it, beating it, done.

But that's not a bad thing. If that's what you want to do then by all means, but it's too time consuming for me. And on many occasions after reading a game review, I'll notice bad things about the game that I never really thought about before.

But whatever, that's just my 2c.

[Shadowblind]

And this freeroam combat system. What is it exactly? Are you able to just walk up to people and fight them? I would rent the game but my damn 360's broken :p


MS needs to get off they're asses and actually DO something about these failures... :(

The freeroam combat was that you have an overworld where you talk to people and solve puzzles and whatever. But you meet an opponent and it actually becomes a fighting game. Its not the most amazing or fun thing, but its fairly enjoyable.

[Eviltaco64]

MS needs to get off they're asses and actually DO something about these failures... :(

The freeroam combat was that you have an overworld where you talk to people and solve puzzles and whatever. But you meet an opponent and it actually becomes a fighting game. Its not the most amazing or fun thing, but its fairly enjoyable.

Sounds cool.
At least that's an idea that's been used but not in that particular way. And Ill give it that.

And yeah, these hardware failures piss a lot of people off. Im considering to sell my 360 (after repairs) and use the money to get a Wii.

[Shadowblind]

Sounds cool.
At least that's an idea that's been used but not in that particular way. And Ill give it that.

And yeah, these hardware failures piss a lot of people off. Im considering to sell my 360 (after repairs) and use the money to get a Wii.

I don't think I'd go THAT far. Go to your friends house and play the Wii for a week. You'll be happy you didn't buy it. :p

[The Hombrew Hunter]

I don't think I'd go THAT far. Go to your friends house and play the Wii for a week. You'll be happy you didn't buy it. :p

Bagh, you've turned into a fanboy, Shadowblind.

A blind fanboy.

I'd get rid of that 360. It's going nowhere, and besides, you'll love the Wii.

The new Homebrew, BRAWL, Mario Kart Wii in a few months and whatnot, it's awesome.

[Eviltaco64]

The only things currently holding me back are: Xbox 360 Homebrew (It's going to be amazing) and Banjo Kazooie 3.

[Shadowblind]

Bagh, you've turned into a fanboy, Shadowblind.

A blind fanboy.

I'd get rid of that 360. It's going nowhere, and besides, you'll love the Wii.

The new Homebrew, BRAWL, Mario Kart Wii in a few months and whatnot, it's awesome.

Damnit, you know what? Your f***ing right. I need a mirror badly...

The Wii isn't bad. In fact, its quite good. SSBB was really great. Ever since I played Bioshock my standards were raised way too high, and honestly, there isn't a game out there on any system that can be as awesome.

I need to accept that, though.

but its not the Wii i don't like, and i shouldn't be making it sound that way. its nintendo passing off crap that sells insanely and really just sucks. this Wiifit? Trying to pass off games as exercise?

Thats whats sad, not the Wii. I don't like nintendo, I do like the Wii. But as it stands, the Wii bores me so terribly. At the moment I'd rather have a PS3. :(

but saying the 360s going nowhere? You seem a little blind as well my friend...

PS: I've had the Wii almost as long as my 360, so over 1 and a half years.

[The Hombrew Hunter]

Damnit, you know what? Your f***ing right. I need a mirror badly...

The Wii isn't bad. In fact, its quite good. SSBB was really great. Ever since I played Bioshock my standards were raised way too high, and honestly, there isn't a game out there on any system that can be as awesome.

I need to accept that, though.

but its not the Wii i don't like, and i shouldn't be making it sound that way. its nintendo passing off crap that sells insanely and really just sucks. this Wiifit? Trying to pass off games as exercise?

Thats whats sad, not the Wii. I don't like nintendo, I do like the Wii. But as it stands, the Wii bores me so terribly. At the moment I'd rather have a PS3. :(

but saying the 360s going nowhere? You seem a little blind as well my friend...

PS: I've had the Wii almost as long as my 360, so over 1 and a half years.

They're not trying to pass games off as exercise. They're trying to turn it into a multi-device.

You don't /need/ to make it part-exercise, my friend.

Also, look at where it's going.

Almost every new game is a fighter, a shooter, or an RPG. Seriously.

[Shadowblind]

They're not trying to pass games off as exercise. They're trying to turn it into a multi-device.

You don't /need/ to make it part-exercise, my friend.

Also, look at where it's going.

Almost every new game is a fighter, a shooter, or an RPG. Seriously.

Well, what else would it be? I'd be very pi**ed off at MS if they started releasing tons of mini-games. And as long as they make these shooters, fighters, or RPGs unlike any i've ever seen before, I'm still happy.

But they are trying to pass it off as exercise. They're saying "this is an active and healthy alternative to your kids couch potato gaming life." (that was a direct quote, I just don't remember from where. Newspaper I believe.)

[wolfpack]

I will only say one word, and it will be the solution to everyones problems...

Goldeneye64

[Shadowblind]

I will only say one word, and it will be the solution to everyones problems...

Goldeneye64

...sigh....:(

[bah]

But there are still a lot of good games coming out, primarily on Wii (not to say that 360 sucks as it has EXCELLENT games, they're just not really my type). Multiplayer games (like Smash Bros and Mario Strikers) symbolizes what a game console should be, fun, not a chore......


Definitely, the wii is great for having a few beers with mates and playing some fairly simple games. Hell, even golf can be fun.

There aren't that many single player games that I really like on the wii, it's brilliant for casual multiplayer games though.



Goldeneye was probably the first really good console FPS, but its still a console FPS.
That's almost a different genre than PC FPSs with their mouse/keyboard contols and the lack of all the auto-aiming/large hit boxes/other simplifications that are needed to make an FPS work with an analogue stick or 2.

[Jay_PaRaDoX]

The Wii has been inovative, but it's lacking something... maybe we need something even better than Wii xD