The Gamer Generation Gap

[J T]

Here's another excellent Cracked article. I love their writings, especially about games. This is one highlights some of the crucial differences between an aging gamer and his kids.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-crucial-l ... deo-games/

[Jrecee]

I agree with him on pretty much all of it. But the rpg part was kind of eye opening. I have never understood rpgs and the only one I have is mario rpg. I think I get why I've never gotten anywhere. I'm supposed to spend hours fighting goombas over and over again. . . . which I'm with the kiddies on. fuck that.

[Flake]

I read this the other day and I had a bit of an epiphany:

There is no right way to game.

I've been right there with the nay sayers looking at modern games and feeling that they are 'wrong' from a development stand point.

But then what is 'right'? What is the standard of success for a game? How do you measure it?

Obviously from a developer / publisher stand point, it is a question of sales.

I think most of us would measure it from a gameplay stand point, looking for balance, variety, and stable coding all relative to older games. Experience is our guide for judging newer software.

But if you haven't played any older games? Your only litmus test could be 'fun'. If you play FFXIII and haven't played the previous titles due to age, the pluses and minuses of those titles cannot have any bearing on how you receive the game. All criticism I have seen of that game is usually in reference to the previous titles.

I hate to give a cracked.com article credit for changing the way I think about something but there you are.

[flamepanther]

His kids have the right idea on everything except not tolerating losing.

[Jrecee]

When you think about the "you never lose" element in a lot of games, it's similar to where society is going in general. No child left behind. Team sports where they don't keep score. Equal opportunity employment. Everybody wins, so that we all get to lose.

[DinnerX]

And when everyone's super...no one will be.

Very true.

[MrEco]

I think the article can sort of be summed up by saying "Kids now a days don't care about the story and are impatient as hell." Which, personally, is very sad considering that only with in the last two generations have games with notable stories become a common thing. Though I mostly agree with the grinding part. Even the most fun of combat systems get's old after I've hit the attack button for the 7000th time.

[flamepanther]

I think the article can sort of be summed up by saying "Kids now a days don't care about the story and are impatient as hell." Which, personally, is very sad considering that only with in the last two generations have games with notable stories become a common thing.

I guess that depends on how you look at it. I think it's not so much sad that the kids don't want a story interrupting their games. Rather, it's sad that developers are still trying to tell stories in a way that impedes or interrupts the game. Make the two seamless, and both problems are solved.

What's truly sad is game reviews in the last two generations that count points off the scores of really great games for not having a deep story. It shouldn't always need one.

[AppleQueso]

When you think about the "you never lose" element in a lot of games, it's similar to where society is going in general. No child left behind. Team sports where they don't keep score. Equal opportunity employment. Everybody wins, so that we all get to lose.

uh... what

[MrEco]

I think the article can sort of be summed up by saying "Kids now a days don't care about the story and are impatient as hell." Which, personally, is very sad considering that only with in the last two generations have games with notable stories become a common thing.

I guess that depends on how you look at it. I think it's not so much sad that the kids don't want a story interrupting their games. Rather, it's sad that developers are still trying to tell stories in a way that impedes or interrupts the game. Make the two seamless, and both problems are solved.

Personally, I don't see the point in separating the two. I think if someone wants to engage themselves in the plot of a game then they should be willing to sit through a few minutes of cutscenes. It's not exactly a difficult task, I mean there's no interaction whatsoever. Whats the big deal?

What's truly[/b] sad is game reviews in the last two generations that count points off the scores of really great games for not having a deep story. It shouldn't always need one.

I can completely agree there.