The 6 Most Ominous Trends in Video Games

[Inazuma]

I mostly agree with the article. The video game industry is pretty fucking horrible compared to how it used to be. I still see the Sega Dreamcast as the peak. Starting with the PS2, it's been downhill ever since.

Outside of Nintendo and some MMOs on the PC, I have no interest in modern gaming. A part of me secretly wants Nintendo to start doing a lot of DLC, so I can stop buying their new games, save some money, and just have fun with all my old games. It would be easy and a lot less stressful that way.

Well, maybe the next Nintendo system (after Wii U) will go pure digital download DRM bullshit and I can finally relax and stop worrying about video games all the time. They should call it the Fuck U.

[Breetai]

I've pretty much regulated myself to arcade conversions (or games that SHOULD be arcade games) and a few major games that I need, like Elder Scrolls V or perhaps a new Fallout game. That would be maybe 2-3 major games a year, if that.

Stuff like Outrun, Ridge Racer, Virtua Fighter, shoot 'em ups, etc. are the only modern games I really play other than those few WRPGs I listed.

[Gamerforlife]

The way I see it, technology always moved the industry forward. Right now, we're kind of maxed out on technology, which means that it is time for gameplay and game design to start evolving. Unfortunately, it's so much easier to just give us gimmicky motion controls or gimmicky 3D nonsense than to actually change the way that games are fundamentally designed. There are a ton of games that are just recycling last gen gameplay and anytime a game comes out that does something new, we get about three years of everyone copying it.

Oh, and that bit in the article about how the 2010s will be remembered for all of our gun games. It's interesting that during a time when the whole world has kind of looked down on America for seeming violent and militaristic is about the same time that shooters have peaked in popularity. What does that say about us? It was only a few weeks ago that Doctor Who was cracking jokes about American's love of guns and shooting people

[MidnightRider]

I've pretty much regulated myself to arcade conversions (or games that SHOULD be arcade games)

I'd like to do that, but I can't stand when you need to unlock 50-75% of the playable characters, or whatever, first.

[AppleQueso]

I don't hate this generation, but it's far less exciting then last gen.

With all the previous generations, the power of each new console opened doors to new gameplay possibilities. Not so much now, just about every game that's come out does things that were easily possible last gen, they're just prettier.

Best thing about this gen to me though? RF Wireless controllers are standard. Man if someone made a set of those for all of my old consoles I'd buy them in a heartbeat (if they were cheap enough and were actually good controllers).

I just can't imagine what the next generation of consoles is going to have to offer. The Wii-U is hardly an indicator, as it's pretty much just Nintendo stepping up to the power of current consoles while tossing in a trademark "innovation (tm)" gimmick. Better graphics would barely be a step forward, and I doubt it's enough to really sell a console nowadays.

Also, I have never purchased DLC and probably never will. If it's not included in the game itself, I see no reason why I should have to pay money for it.

[CFFJR]

Well, maybe the next Nintendo system (after Wii U) will go pure digital download DRM bullshit and I can finally relax and stop worrying about video games all the time. They should call it the Fuck U.

[Breetai]

I'm thinking it might be a bad time for companies to start putting out new consoles. There is a global depression (errr... "recession") going on, the technology really won't do much for gaming other than add a few more polygons and lighting effects, and, in this generation more than any other, non-gamers have been buying game consoles (older folks and non-gamers getting a Wii, and middle aged people buying a PS3 to go with their new HD-TVs for Blu-Ray, DVD and Net Flicks). These non-gamers are pretty unlikely to be interested in upgrading to the new generation.

I have never been less interested in what the upcoming generation of gaming has to offer.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm thinking it might be a bad time for companies to start putting out new consoles. There is a global depression (errr... "recession") going on, the technology really won't do much for gaming other than add a few more polygons and lighting effects, and, in this generation more than any other, non-gamers have been buying game consoles (older folks and non-gamers getting a Wii, and middle aged people buying a PS3 to go with their new HD-TVs for Blu-Ray, DVD and Net Flicks). These non-gamers are pretty unlikely to be interested in upgrading to the new generation.

I have never been less interested in what the upcoming generation of gaming has to offer.

It really sucks because it doesn't seem like the last gen ones have even been around that long and quite frankly, what did last gen consoles really accomplish? Aside from the Wii, they haven't really changed gaming in any way whatsoever. What's the POINT of new consoles right now? There arguably wasn't even a point to the last gen ones. That last REAL turning point in gaming was probably the Playstation 1. It's really just been nothing but purdier games since then

[MrEco]

I see what the cracked article is saying, and I do agree for the most part. The only thing I don't agree on is that I don't think all this stuff about developers trying to make us be connected to there servers for as much as possible and trying to make monthly fees for everything are going to happen as soon as the article seems to suggest. Yes that's already happened to a degree with certain services like Xbox Live and such but I don't think it's going to become the industry wide standard any time soon. Also, even once/if it does become the standard for the industry as a whole I think there will always still be some developers who won't go down that road. Not just the indie devs of today either, but any of the developers who consistently put effort into making strong single player experiences (Bethesda) and the ones who are always caught making the "cult classic" style games (NIS) will most likely stick to what they are loved for and not risk losing their entire fanbase just to make a quick buck.

Well, maybe the next Nintendo system (after Wii U) will go pure digital download DRM bullshit and I can finally relax and stop worrying about video games all the time. They should call it the Fuck U.

This made my day.

[Xeogred]

I'm not too hopeful about the future of gaming myself honestly (you guy haven't really put it that way, but that's what I'm kind of seeing... as this generation wasn't that innovative or as exciting as previous generations). Gaming has simply gone far too mainstream and the budget for games development wise is just going to continue to skyrocket for those 5 hour campaigns and people will surely continue to keep playing it safe with more and more sequels to already existing IP's.

The goods will still always be there off and on, but just like this generation, I'm sure from here on it's only going to continue to get harder and harder to find some real gems and for those smaller developers to even have a fair shot at competing against the monstrously huge publishers having a monopoly on things.

I'm not too excited for the digital era to continue to seep into gaming. DLC just might be the beginning of worse trends to come.