Poll: Does anybody else think console gaming is going downhill?

[SAccharing10]

Now it just feels like they're trying to create different versions of the P.C, before it used to be a different format entirely, now we have internet, keyboards, hard disks, it just seems too samey, I'd much rather just play my damn P.C - But before it was different and not so long ago at that, I remember playing Timesplitters 2 for hours on end with my brother, or playing Micro Machines on the ps1, now there's no real difference between a console and a PC apart from dodgey controls

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

The way you put it, no. There is such a huge difference between consoles and PC's still that I want to trade eyes with you just so I can see how badly you need an optometrist.

 

[meatloaf231]

You ask before or now and the answers are "yes" and "no." That just doesn't work. You may want to fix that.

But no, I think console gaming is doing fine. Just look at EndWar. It's a perfect example of what can be done with a console, and it's the first real possibility for an RTS to work on a console.

 

[Woundingisfun]

I agree with Elarabdema.. something. hehe. Anywho, I think there is still a long way to go before my ps3 and computer are the same thing.

 

[EzraPound]

All gaming has went downhill since 1998 or so. Then again, that may be normal: in my mind, the period from the launch of the SNES (1991) to the conclusion of the first wave of 3D games (1998) was gaming's greatest, since even the mid-late eighties aren't quite as prolific (SMB; Tetris; Zelda, etc. aside). Just think of how many great titles came out in those years, and how it defined the present: Super Mario World, Zelda: ALTtP, Super Metroid, Super Mario 64, Zelda: OoT, Final Fantasy IV + VI + VII, Street Fighter II, Chrono Trigger, DOOM, Half-Life, GoldenEye, SimCity 2000, Grim Fandango, X-COM, Tetris Attack, Pokémon, WarCraft II, StarCraft, Virtua Fighter 2, Ultima Underworld, Wolfenstein 3D, Nights into Dreams..., Panzer Dragoon Saga, Gunstar Heroes, NHL '94, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Fallout + 2, Tekken 3, Quake, Jedi Knight, Castlevia: Symphony of the Night, Sonic the Hedgehog + 2, Harvest Moon, Earthbound, Red Alert, Monkey Island 2, DoTT, Star Control II, etc. By contrast, I can almost count the number of great games since then on my hands: Conker's Bad Fur Day, GTA III, Half-Life 2, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Metroid Prime, KOTOR, Super Mario Galaxy, Rez, Oblivion, The Sims, RE4, Gran Turismo 3, God of War, Advance Wars, Shenmue, Deus Ex, System Shock 2, Soul Calibur, what?

 

[SAccharing10]

Yeah it's late, sorry what I meant is that the console seems to be trying to mimick the PC.

 

[SAccharing10]

You ask before or now and the answers are "yes" and "no." That just doesn't work. You may want to fix that.

But no, I think console gaming is doing fine. Just look at EndWar. It's a perfect example of what can be done with a console, and it's the first real possibility for an RTS to work on a console.

Even so, one game? out of what, hundreds, I still call that a decline

 

[Graustein]

I say now. Why?
Because good games are being released, and the good games of yesteryear can still be played.

 

[meatloaf231]

You ask before or now and the answers are "yes" and "no." That just doesn't work. You may want to fix that.

But no, I think console gaming is doing fine. Just look at EndWar. It's a perfect example of what can be done with a console, and it's the first real possibility for an RTS to work on a console.

Even so, one game? out of what, hundreds, I still call that a decline

It was just an example. I don't have the mental power right now to go listing every game out there that's good on consoles. It is 2 A.M. after all.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

Just so that I'm clear on your point, you're upset that consoles have improved? Maybe that's just me being facetious, but it's certainly how it comes across. There are only so many ways of doing things when it comes to videogame hardware, so as the power of consoles increases, there is bound to be some crossover.

If it makes you feel any better, a gaming PC will almost always be superior in terms of raw power to a console.

Interestingly enough though, the things you identify as being so infuriating about this generation of consoles got their start on the PS2. There were a number of expansions for the console that added internet connectivity, a hard drive and yes, even a keyboard.

 

[klc0100]

Now of course and the "dodgy controls" really are personal taste.

 

[Kermi]

You ask before or now and the answers are "yes" and "no." That just doesn't work. You may want to fix that.

But no, I think console gaming is doing fine. Just look at EndWar. It's a perfect example of what can be done with a console, and it's the first real possibility for an RTS to work on a console.

Even so, one game? out of what, hundreds, I still call that a decline

Ugh, you seriously think that because he only named one example that there only IS one example?

The only thing that makes console gaming seem worse compared to the consoles of yesteryear are our expectations.

Back in the 80's you could release a bland game with samey characters and basic mechanics, and it'd sell a million copies and everyone was happy. Tie a game in with a cartoon applying or movie those same rules and you sell twice as many! We were easily amused. It took truly awful and directionless games to make people think twice.

Now, you pull that shit and your game gets trashed in the charts. Frankly, I blame the internet. If we'd had internet access back in the 80's and been able to see what we see now - with our knowledge of the industry, with trailers, reviews and other peoples opinions everywhere you look, games would have been crucified.
Back in the day, I had a Sega and my friend had a Nintendo and you'd never see me going to his house and telling him Super Mario Brothers was shit because Mario couldn't ride a motorcycle like Alex Kidd.

The overall quality of gaming has increased, and that just makes the smallest mistakes that much more noticeable. The kids who grew up playing those old games now make the decisions about what games get bought, so the market has expanded and everyone is more vocal.

 

[Gwaihir_Windlord]

I think that consoles and PCs will always be (please don't smite me; this post has no connection or innuendo whatsoever towards Brown vs. Board of Education or segregation) separate but equal. The PCs will have better controls for FPS and RTS gaming, in addition to technical superiority. However; the console will always be much more of a social thing, split-screen just doesn't work on a PC unless you use a controller, and then what's the point? Consoles will be more accessible, cheaper and user-friendly as well. So it really just comes down to what you want out of a gaming machine.

But to answer the post, I think that console gaming is better now. As Yahtzee mentioned in his XBLA video, old =/= good. Games (with very few exceptions) are just better now, as a whole. Graphics, sound, AI, all of this has improved with time and designers are better learning what works and what doesn't as far as gameplay and story elements go. I think that the quality of games is heading up, and will keep going that way for the foreseeable future.

 

[MissShortosity]

I personally think consoles have improved remarkably in recent years. While pc may trump consoles in several areas, I personally (as a poor uni student ) do not have the money to constantly upgrade my pc in order to play new releases. If crysis even came within a 5m radius of my computer, it would commit suicide. With my 360 i know I won't have to fork out any more than the $80-$100 the game costs in order to actually play it. A new console comes out what, every 6-7 years? Plenty of time to save up.
Besides, most the games I'm interested in are available on the 360 or ps3 (which my father owns ). If not, well, I mope for a while then get over it.
All in all, i'm a console gal

 

[hebdomad]

I don't think is was as good as ten years ago. You had so many great titles with so much innovation and fun factor.

But now gaming has gone mainstream, thanks to blizzard with World of war craft, Nintendo with the wii, and guitar hero and sing star.

And because it's now mainstream, its no longer as cool as it used to be...
Good news is you can now pick up with guitar hero skillz.

 

[D_987]

You ask before or now and the answers are "yes" and "no." That just doesn't work. You may want to fix that.

But no, I think console gaming is doing fine. Just look at EndWar. It's a perfect example of what can be done with a console, and it's the first real possibility for an RTS to work on a console.

It didn't work at all, but thats beside the point.

Your opinion.

I have to agree with what other people have been posting however, it appears gaming has improve due to our personal expectations. Games like Halo 3 and Resistance 2 are being insulted, yet they are obviously good games, it usually has something to do with one or two flaws.

Consoles have improved, and as a result they are getting closer to PC'S. Yet they remain easier to play (in terms of a put in the disk and play - no installation etc... (or faster installation if you own a PS3)... I personally dislike PC controls, possibly because I've played consoles all the time, with the odd RTS on PC.

There are more console- made titles than ever before (games optimized to be played on consoles, or designed with consoles in mind.)

Examples would be GTA4, Prince of Persia and Gears of War 2 (very recently).

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Just so that I'm clear on your point, you're upset that consoles have improved? Maybe that's just me being facetious, but it's certainly how it comes across. There are only so many ways of doing things when it comes to videogame hardware, so as the power of consoles increases, there is bound to be some crossover.

If it makes you feel any better, a gaming PC will almost always be superior in terms of raw power to a console.

Interestingly enough though, the things you identify as being so infuriating about this generation of consoles got their start on the PS2. There were a number of expansions for the console that added internet connectivity, a hard drive and yes, even a keyboard.

I don't think the point is superiority. The point is that consoles developers seem to have lost the plot.

The point about consoles has always been the simplicity involved. You plug it in and play. In the days of the old PS1, any TV would do. The thing was small and robust. You could throw it in a bag, take it to your mates house, and a bunch of you have a good night in with some drinks/strange tobacco while playing FIFA or something. I remember my dad used to swipe it when I wasn't about and put it in the living room to play Tiger Woods.

I got one in the summer of 1999 and it still works. I have since gone through two Xbox360s.

These days consoles are becoming just watered down PCs. They have hard drives. They have 17 different cables attached. The games have mountains upon mountains of bugs, sometimes rendering the game unplayable unless patched. They have internet connections and give us loads of crap we don't need. They are selling us things digitally, the DRM of which forces us to be connected to the internet while we play. Anyone here ever really use the PS3 for internet browsing? Does anyone really give a crap about all the adverts you see on Xbox Live every time you switch on?

 

[PureChaos]

things are better now than they used to be. i had a look at the games being released next year and there seem to be a few interesting ones. a lot og games come out for P.C and console so it all depends on what style you prefer, mouse and button or controller/wiggle-stick-fu