Poll: What is holding gaming back, as an industry?

[8bitmaster]

I'm working on some research for an article on the future of gaming, and I would like some numbers from you guys, as this is a gaming forum. What I would like to ask you is, what do you think is holding the gaming industry back the most? Community uproars like what has happened with the Mass Effect 3 endings, bigger corporations like EA who either spit out sequels every year, don't listen to the community unless there is large scale feedback, or other reasons, mobile gaming, gaming critics, the large scale media, or something else. I would like some insight besides just voting if that is at all possible. I would like to know what actual people think about this kind of thing.

edit: I updated a few of the poll options, at least I hope they update.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Nothing is holding gaming back.

Gaming keeps getting better and better is hugely successful considering that the medium is still very young.

 

[LilithSlave]

Consoles. 'Nuff said.

And if consoles were to disappear entirely, what of the vast library of console exclusive games?

Would gamers who want to play them have to rely on used games forever?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Consoles. 'Nuff said.

You mean the biggest reason why videogames are so popular and why dev companies have such huge budgets?

Yeah, consoles are definately holding gaming back.

 

[skywolfblue]

- the community (as in the large scale "feedback" like the ME3 backlash)
- large corporations (like EA. Activision)

Can I pick BOTH?

 

[8bitmaster]

- the community (as in the large scale "feedback" like the ME3 backlash)
- large corporations (like EA. Activision)

Can I pick BOTH?

I guess thats what other is for.

My opinion on it is that to an extent, all the options are holding the industry back, all for their own reasons. It seems like thanks to a lot of variables, for each step forward the industry takes, we are forced to take 2-3 steps back.

 

[Hazy992]

Consoles. 'Nuff said.

Wow it only took two replies to get a PC elitist. That must be a record or something.

 

[Nomanslander]

Consoles. 'Nuff said.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Not to say consoles = bad. First off graphically, their tech is still stuck in 2006. Secondly, developers think console gamers are all morons so the bar is always set really low on games.

Thirdly, not a major reason but a good one for why games aren't as complex on console. Limited button configuration. PC's use keyboards that allows you to have dozen or so configurations. Console games have to stick to what's offered on a controller. More buttons = more abilities = games being more complex.

Oh, and I'm mostly a console gamer myself. So don't try pulling that "PC elitist" card on me...lol

 

[Terminate421]

People who freak out over nothing.

Seriously. If EA decides to give Jolly Ranchers to every kid with Cancer, some asshole will say "Oh, its just some way to make money!"

I guess I could say the media. But I do have to give credit to reliance on certain franchises. Call of Duty and Final Fantasy need to either shape up or die.

There are a few exceptions to this rule but thats how the formula works, such as with most nintendo franchises.

 

[hazabaza1]

Yeah, it's the community, the people who buy the games and can get change when something morally ambiguous arises in the medium! Wankers!
No, it's definitely the companies, making all those good games and bringing in money to make more games. Fuckers!
Scratch that, it's mobile gaming! Broadening our horizons?! HAH! What a fucking dumb idea!
Actually, never mind, it's the critics. Those bastards who tell us when a game is bad. Who the fuck are they to talk?! All games are perfect all the time!
I suppose it would have to be the media when we think about it. All that advertising and free publicity. What utter cunts!

Wait, what were we complaining about again?

 

[krazykidd]

The cost of developping quality AAA titles . Seriously , it now costs a small fortune and 4% of a persons lifespan to make 1 game . I personally believe that the only way the industry will move foward is to find a way developpe the same quality ( or better ) at a lower cost . I think , new technology needs to be developped to make games more cost efficent to make .

Once the cost is considerably lowered , then the industry could take more risks and we would get more original games . Even if the games aren't original in every sense , we would be able to experiment more and have more unique games with little risk .

 

[Terminate421]

Consoles. 'Nuff said.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Not to say consoles = bad. First off graphically, their tech is still stuck in 2006. Secondly, developers think console gamers are all morons so the bar is always set really low on games.

Thirdly, button configuration. PC's use keyboards that allows you to have dozen or so configurations. Console games have to stick to what's offered on a controller. More buttons = more abilities = games being more complex.

Ah but you see, not all games need to rely on mouse and key board. Certain games play better and just flat out play differently with an Xbox Controller than a PS3 controller, or even a key board and mouse.

It doesn't lead to laziness either. Its with accessibility. Who cares about Graphics at this point, normally people who upgrade their PC nearly every year.

Think about how differently Halo: CE plays on the Xbox and the PC. Another example is with Battlefield or even Call of Duty. Besides shooters, even Halo Wars plays differently (Though I have to admit, not as efficiently). Skyrim plays far differently, I can pick out every game and say why it plays differently. PCs may give alot of control, but the difference between PC and consoles is fluidity.

 

[Sanat]

Consoles. 'Nuff said.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Not to say consoles = bad. First off graphically, their tech is still stuck in 2006. Secondly, developers think console gamers are all morons so the bar is always set really low on games.

Thirdly, not a major reason but a good one for why games aren't as complex on console. Button configuration. PC's use keyboards that allows you to have dozen or so configurations. Console games have to stick to what's offered on a controller. More buttons = more abilities = games being more complex.

This is what I was getting at. Albiet with a huge lack of detail.
I'd add more, but you got my reasoning word for word.

Thank you, kind post-post-ninja.

 

[Asita]

Holding it back? You do realize that the video game industry is valued at $65 Billion - making it a giant in the entertainment industry, surpassing both films and music - don't you?

 

[Sanat]

Holding it back? You do realize that the video game industry is valued at $65 Billion - making it a giant in the entertainment industry, surpassing both films and music - don't you?

It's not "holding back" in a monetary sense, it's holding back in an artistic sense. The way games are played, the level of dedication, attention to detail, true skill and flair that goes into creating a great game, one the likes of Bastion or Journey which can more or less be considered pieces of art. Nothing is holding back the industry in the terms of finance, it's booming like crazy. But unfortunately due to things like CoD; mass-marketed annual rehashes made to cater for the lazy, stupid and consumerist majority.

And that, in essence, is what is holding video games back.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Holding it back? You do realize that the video game industry is valued at $65 Billion - making it a giant in the entertainment industry, surpassing both films and music - don't you?

It's not "holding back" in a monetary sense, it's holding back in an artistic sense. The way games are played, the level of dedication, attention to detail, true skill and flair that goes into creating a great game, one the likes of Bastion or Journey which can more or less be considered pieces of art. Nothing is holding back the industry in the terms of finance, it's booming like crazy. But unfortunately due to things like CoD; mass-marketed annual rehashes made to cater for the lazy, stupid and consumerist majority.

And that, in essence, is what is holding video games back.

You mean like how every medium on the planet has it's version of CoD?

It's not unique to gaming, and honestly, saying things like CoD hold back the industry is like saying Twilight holds back the literary arts or that Transformers holds back the film industry.

It's a notion so condescending that I'd rather hang out with the 'CoD kids' than 'CoD is destroying the industry' types.

 

[Nomanslander]

Ah but you see, not all games need to rely on mouse and key board. Certain games play better and just flat out play differently with an Xbox Controller than a PS3 controller, or even a key board and mouse.

Okay, I agree.

It doesn't lead to laziness either. Its with accessibility. Who cares about Graphics at this point, normally people who upgrade their PC nearly every year.

People generally and unfortunately do care a lot about graphics. You see as much as the graphics in games have improved. You can't say the same about the AI considering the limited processor capabilities. Since the majority of gamers look at the graphics to see game evolution. Console games have forced the industry to focus more on improving on graphics instead of AI. You can't run games like Uncharted on the PS3 with it's graphics and give it a powerful AI because that eats up the processor to no end.

Think about how differently Halo: CE plays on the Xbox and the PC. Another example is with Battlefield or even Call of Duty. Besides shooters, even Halo Wars plays differently (Though I have to admit, not as efficiently). Skyrim plays far differently, I can pick out every game and say why it plays differently. PCs may give alot of control, but the difference between PC and consoles is fluidity.

I also agree here. But I have to add that I don't see any reason why consoles don't have their own keyboard/mouse set ups. With all the accessories that they already offer, certain games are better played on different accessories. Fighting games for the longest time were better played by the old arcade set up of a joystick and six bottom configuration which consoles still offer as accesories. Why are they still so hesitant to offer the PC line up? It's not like a keyboard and mouse can't be hooked up to the console.

 

[black_knight1337]

Easy one. Consoles.

Why? They use outdated tech. Even on release their tech is inferior to your average gaming pc. If they caught up we would have better graphics, better physics engines, bigger game worlds. The list goes on and on. It does however look like the next gen consoles are going to be using somewhat decent tech and that can only be a good thing.

 

[Asita]

It's not "holding back" in a monetary sense, it's holding back in an artistic sense.

Yeah...I haven't bought into that premise ever since I became aware of Duchamp's Fountain, the existence of which serves as a rather effective criticism of how meaningless the term 'art' actually is (Effectively, anything can be art if we simply claim that it is). Honestly, I think that if anything is holding games back from being art it is the insistance that they be treated as such as if it were a badge of honor, and even then that has little to do with the actual status of any given game.

 

[Terminate421]

It doesn't lead to laziness either. Its with accessibility. Who cares about Graphics at this point, normally people who upgrade their PC nearly every year.

People generally and unfortunately do care a lot about graphics. You see as much as the graphics in games has improved. You can't say the same about the AI. With limited processor capabilities. Since the majority of gamers look at the graphics to see game evolution. Console games have forced the industry to focus more on improving on graphics instead of AI. You can't run games like Uncharted on the PS3 with it's graphics and give it a powerful AI because that eats up the processor to no end.

I should have been a bit better on this aspect.

Its mixed based on what developers do and how they hone in with the skills accordingly.

Take Halo: Reach for example. The game looks great. Its not perfect in graphics but its convincing enough and the graphics have a sleak colorful pallette that gives it a unique look to it. Bungie are smart to know that Halo 3 wasn't brilliant on graphics so instead they did what was Necessary for graphics and then focused Solely on AI to make the AI perfect because in the past, enemy AI was generally smart and well done but nothing mind blowing.

If you've played Reach at all, you can tell from the first time you see them that the AI are fucking einstien. They do more than the typical "Flank and press forward". They surround you based on their enemy type.

Elites know they can kill you and do not hesitate when given the option to fight up close an personal, not just out of might but because their culture does so.

Skirmishers are a new baddy that are on this same level, they tend to be snipers and pick you off where they can, however at close quarters, they bounce around and go after your shields and split up. Snipers are also quite well done, they look for higher elevation.

Brutes are the same as always, stronger cannon fodder with the chieftans going after you when they can.

Hunters are now more prone to using their guns rather than charge in. (Their weakpoint is their back, which they tend to try to protect now)

Grunts are still cannon fodder but actually use squadbased grenade throwing, even committing suicide.

Drones are seen only a few times but they follow similar tactics to skirmishers and Jackals are much the same to drones

I know I went a bit extensive on that whole part but the aspect is clear:

Developers focus their priorities. In this case, Bungie stuck to going with smart AI and great graphics rather than mind blowing graphics and having shooting galleries.

This is also seen with Mass Effect 3 (AI tend to be smart, such as Phantoms and Maurauders)
Gears of war (Their AI are not perfect, but thats only to fit the gameplay, you wouldn't want to attempt to chainsaw someone while they are sprinting away from you)
Even Fallout 3's AI are quite decent (Taking cover when shot, running away when they are fucked, picking up better weapons within the vicinity (I learned that the hard way from the Alien Blaster event))

Consoles are not super computers, but one thing they most certainly teach is:

Flexibility

(Whats funny is I am reminded of an Article Cliff Blezinski was on when he said that the Xbox360 has a limit but developers are still finding ways to making things work.)