My Retarded Theory

[MarcusMang]

Do you feel as if it's the older "hardcore" gamers and not the new "games for everyone" market that is dragging down gaming? I have had this theory for some time now because it seems like every two seconds that floods of people are calling for the death of gaming with every new breakthrough (casual games, motion controls, digital distribution, etc.) It seems to me that younger gamers in the 16-25 age range want to experience new things and welcome changes and older people, who grew up in the 80s, just want safe bland games only because they are familiar. Can we all coexist and play what games that we want to?

Side note: I am 19 years old and grew up playing the old classics from the old Atari and Nintendo days. Also I am not saying the the "breakthroughs" are good or bad, I'm just saying that the older generation will reject them no matter what happens or how popular they get.

 

[superspartan004]

I'm 16 and the oldest console I've ever played is the SNES which I barely remember, the oldest consoles I can distinctly remember is the N64 and PS1, I'm not this older generation that rejects motion controls, I'm a younger generation that rejects motion controls. Whichever console next generation has regular controls as it's main form of control (if any) that's the one I buy.

There's a plethora of reasons why I can't stand motion controls, but I won't go into them because it's long and tedious, plus I'm lazy (well there's one reason for ya!)

EDIT: also you might want to change the title, since it really doesn't put what the thread is about

 

[JRCB]

Yeah, well everyone hates change, just because it is a fear of the unknown.

I'm a fairly young gamer (grew up with a N64, though) and I don't give a damn, but prefer a joypad to anything else.

 

[MarcusMang]

I prefer the traditional controller as well, but motion controlled games are fun.

 

[Chicago Ted]

I'm 16 and the oldest console I've ever played is the SNES which I barely remember, the oldest consoles I can distinctly remember is the N64 and PS1, I'm not this older generation that rejects motion controls, I'm a younger generation that rejects motion controls. Whichever console next generation has regular controls as it's main form of control (if any) that's the one I buy.

There's a plethora of reasons why I can't stand motion controls, but I won't go into them because it's long and tedious, plus I'm lazy (well there's one reason for ya!)

Yeah, well everyone hates change, just because it is a fear of the unknown.

I'm a fairly young gamer (grew up with a N64, though) and I don't give a damn, but prefer a joypad to anything else.

I'm in the same boat as both of you. First console was an N64, I prefer the thought and use of controllers as opposed to motion controls.

 

[4RT1LL3RY]

PC now and PC forever, I love my keyboard and mouse. I will only use something else in driving and fighting games.

 

[j0frenzy]

I think there might be something to your theory, but not entirely as it is right now. It appears to me that a lot of people hate motion controls, be they older or younger generations. I also do not believe it is a fear of innovation as much as it is a dislike for anything that is not filled with fond memories. I think remakes and sequels are hurting the games industry in several ways, the biggest being that it is easier to guarantee that a remake of Donkey Kong Country or a Call of Duty sequel (two potential examples out of many possibilities out there) will sell better than that student developer's idea about creating a horror game about going through a corn maze (as another random example, thank you to the Escapist member who posted that idea a little while ago, sorry I forgot your name). As it stands, the younger generation has all sorts of sequels coming out and the older generation have Nintendo Shop Channel, X-Box Live Arcade, the Playstation store and many computer programs that can deliver the nostalgia you want. The love of the same stunts innovation in both games and consoles.

 

[A Weary Exile]

To a certain extent the old school gamers will always brag about how the old games were in every way superior to the games of today, which is not true most of the time but is in some cases. They clammor for innovation but all they really want are the same old games with better graphics, not all old school gamers are like that though.

 

[MarcusMang]

I think there might be something to your theory, but not entirely as it is right now. It appears to me that a lot of people hate motion controls, be they older or younger generations. I also do not believe it is a fear of innovation as much as it is a dislike for anything that is not filled with fond memories. I think remakes and sequels are hurting the games industry in several ways, the biggest being that it is easier to guarantee that a remake of Donkey Kong Country or a Call of Duty sequel (two potential examples out of many possibilities out there) will sell better than that student developer's idea about creating a horror game about going through a corn maze (as another random example, thank you to the Escapist member who posted that idea a little while ago, sorry I forgot your name). As it stands, the younger generation has all sorts of sequels coming out and the older generation have Nintendo Shop Channel, X-Box Live Arcade, the Playstation store and many computer programs that can deliver the nostalgia you want. The love of the same stunts innovation in both games and consoles.

I disagree that remakes hurt gaming. I think a lot of games remakes improve over the original. Sure some nostalgia exists from playing the originals, but new technology can enhance the experience of playing the game. Play the original Tomb Raider and then play the remake TR: Anniversary and the try to tell me that the original was more fun. I guarantee that you can't.

 

[SomeUnregPunk]

I just wish the old school gamers would play their old school games and leave the rest of us alone.

 

[j0z]

I fall into your "young gamer" demographic in your theory, but I hate motion controls as they stand today. I will only give up my cherished mouse/keyboard and controller when they perfect mind vontrol for video games.
Until then, long live the mouse/keyboard!

 

[j0frenzy]

I think there might be something to your theory, but not entirely as it is right now. It appears to me that a lot of people hate motion controls, be they older or younger generations. I also do not believe it is a fear of innovation as much as it is a dislike for anything that is not filled with fond memories. I think remakes and sequels are hurting the games industry in several ways, the biggest being that it is easier to guarantee that a remake of Donkey Kong Country or a Call of Duty sequel (two potential examples out of many possibilities out there) will sell better than that student developer's idea about creating a horror game about going through a corn maze (as another random example, thank you to the Escapist member who posted that idea a little while ago, sorry I forgot your name). As it stands, the younger generation has all sorts of sequels coming out and the older generation have Nintendo Shop Channel, X-Box Live Arcade, the Playstation store and many computer programs that can deliver the nostalgia you want. The love of the same stunts innovation in both games and consoles.

I disagree that remakes hurt gaming. I think a lot of games remakes improve over the original. Sure some nostalgia exists from playing the originals, but new technology can enhance the experience of playing the game. Play the original Tomb Raider and then play the remake TR: Anniversary and the try to tell me that the original was more fun. I guarantee that you can't.

While remakes might improve the original, it still spends a lot of time and money treading old ground. Rather than play two version of Tomb Raider, or for the sake of playing a remake of a game I have actually played the original to, playing the new version Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, I'd prefer to see something new and original. What that something new and original is, I have no idea, but if a game company were paying for my ideas, you could bet your ass that I would have a better one than saying, "You know what I have played in ten years? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

 

[ShadowPen]

I honestly think the term 'hardcore gamer' has lost its value. I've always considered a hardcore gamer to be one who plays a variety of games, but now it seems the term is used only for people who play first person shooters.

During the last console generation, a game was released called Psychonauts. It was an amazing #d adventure game with charming characters and genuine fun (you probably know this already) but no one bought it. The worst part? It was truly original. Everyone was busy being a 'hardcore' gamer and playing Halo. Which is a shame because the ending would have led directly to a sequel, which I would have welcomed. So, in this case, the 'hardcore' crowd ruined Psychonauts.

Thankfully, everyone is ready to purchase Tim Schaefer's latest game, Brutal Legend. Guess we're trying to make it up to him >_>

EDIT: I guess the point I'm trying to make is, while you may feel the past 'hardcore' gamers are ruining gaming, the 'hardcore' gamers of today are essentially ruining the games of tomorrow.

 

[Justanothergamer300]

I'm 16 but I still hate the Wii you know why the controls don't work.
When ever I play some wii game it seems the responses are years of what you want.
On a lesser note it would be nice if my mother stopped dissing games with this causal breakthrough

 

[Nieroshai]

Yes. Yes. Why do you think the console wars are so big? It's all hardcore douchebags bashing the Wii as garbage just because it has a mainly casual game library, bigger douchebags demanding (PS3 or 360) is better wighout giving legit reasons, and the biggest douchebags living in their mother's basement pretending the only way to game is to waste your life away living off of WoW and Cheez Whiz.
I play ball 3 systems and even play an mmo, and all of them have entertainment merit. My fave is the PS3, followed by the Wii(because I have hella fun games on it) and the 360, respectively. I'm quitting mmos as soon as my subscription runs out.

 

[Magnatek]

I just wish the old school gamers would play their old school games and leave the rest of us alone.

Why? I consider myself an old school gamer (though I am in his theorized demographic), yet I am open to new games. Personally, I can't wait for the some of the new releases coming out in the next couple of years.

OT: I understand where your coming from, but you must realize that there are far more kinds of gamer out there than just "hardcore" and "casual". Like the rest of the world, the world of gamers is almost infinitely diverse. Some people like one game, while others like another. Another group entirely may shun both aforementioned games. Personally, I believe that all of these conflicts will eventually come to a head, and subsequently end. I'm just riding along the waves until that happens.

 

[Deleted]

I've been playing since the NES (I'm 16 so around SNES time) and I gotta say games have been changing every day. Casual games are just another type of game, those 'hardcore gamers' are forgetting the history of gaming and don't appreciate what they're playing. I think they should beat every NES game before they can play their shiny 7th gen games.

 

[badgersprite]

Actually, I think a the core of 'old school gamers' always have been, still are and always will be the key audience of games of every generation. I think the evidence for that is how high the average age of gamers is now. People who grew up with old school games are the same people buying new and innovative titles today. Especially when you add techno-geeks into the equation.

Sure some people complain about new games, but I think the conflict people have with contemporary games is more that they get dumbed down for a casual gaming market than anything to do with newfangled technology or concepts ruining our games. It's not that it's new and different, it's that it lacks the same qualities that made more traditional games special.

 

[Teh_Doomage]

I'm in the generation of growing up with the NES and Atari. I hark for the old days, and when I do I fire them up. But I always felt motion controls for the most part are a gimmick, and today games are not as breakthrough as people see them as. Original games all follow the same tropes that have been done before with little to no innovation. Look at the popular games of today, Gears of War, is generic, Halo, is generic, both are just as Generic as Doom would be considered in it's day after all the other shooters started coming out.

In gaming it's hard to be original so you just tend to find the formula that will sell and exploit it. Right now, shooters have been it since the good old RPG days of the 90's with Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Planescape, and Daggerfall. I also feel the gaming industry is aiming for a more immediate payoff for the gamer, which leads to shorter games with more multiplayer to extend it. Good single player games now are few and far between, and when I say single player, I mean no multiplayer what so ever. Most gamers I've been around never played D&D. They grew up with the game itself setting the boundaries and the player having to work around them, rather than the player making the story as they go.

Right now the trend is modern/sci-fi when the trend used to be fantasy. So shooters are almost always going to succeed in that market over RPGs. As most tend to be Fantasy, with only a few games being Sci-fi/modern(Mass Effect, the unreleased Alpha Protocol.)


Sorry, it's a wall of text.