I am a cheap bastard and as such, I have aversion to spending money. This fact combined with a long-standing affliction of nostalgia have caused me to go through and replay games I grew up with. Games such as Earthbound, Lunar, Faxanadu, Bionic Commando, Ys I and II and so on.
However, more notably, I have turned my attention to many games that I never really got around to playing in their day. The primary reasons are that I simply did not have the game or that the game was never released in America. Games such as Sweet Home, Chronicles of the Radia War, the full MegaTen series, Lords of Thunder, Fuurai no Shiren, Rudora No Hihou and more fall into this category.
As I play these games and browse through my collections, I realize there are enough great games to keep me entertained for quite some time without ever purchasing another current or next-gen game.
Do any of you find yourselves feeling the same way? I have recently put a large number of "old-school" games on my "To play" list that I have no need of another current gen/next-gen game for some time.
What are your thoughts?
Who needs current/next-gen?
I'm not real cheap, actually I probbaly like to spend money more then save it. However, I am also a big time retro-gamer. I don't play old games because it's cheap, I feel 1337 or like i'm getting a good deal, I play them just because they are consistently better then new releases.
Now, I do feel old games getting tired. I can only play so much Samurai Showdown 2 before I start wanting something with more "depth". Old games tend to lack any sort of complexity, hence they fall short of keeping my attetion anymore.
Look at the new SoulCalibur game, any raceing game and the slew of RPGs. Each one allows you to go into insane detail custimization, deep and interesting campangs and in the case of RPG's and fighters a genrally tollerable story line. The draw back is.. new games have horrible gameplay, they are just no fun. New games seem to want to scrafice fun for the sake of "real world physics" or "challangeing gameplay". However, they have tons of depth.
I think what has killed videogames is what killed the videogame golden age was that ever invasive evil called marketing. No longer do the artist, inventors and creative minds decide what gets put out. This is now controled by people who try to decide what is most "profitable" by looking over spreadsheets and pie charts.
There is no real "hope" of the creative minds being back in the drivers seat for some time. The new technology requires a lot of expensive school, and once you have that expensive school under your belt you have to start paying off thoes lovely student loans. So, you have to take the first job a nice big software company throws your way and like it.
The golden age of games is dead, from here out I predict nothing but highly commmericalized trash.
Now, I do feel old games getting tired. I can only play so much Samurai Showdown 2 before I start wanting something with more "depth". Old games tend to lack any sort of complexity, hence they fall short of keeping my attetion anymore.
Look at the new SoulCalibur game, any raceing game and the slew of RPGs. Each one allows you to go into insane detail custimization, deep and interesting campangs and in the case of RPG's and fighters a genrally tollerable story line. The draw back is.. new games have horrible gameplay, they are just no fun. New games seem to want to scrafice fun for the sake of "real world physics" or "challangeing gameplay". However, they have tons of depth.
I think what has killed videogames is what killed the videogame golden age was that ever invasive evil called marketing. No longer do the artist, inventors and creative minds decide what gets put out. This is now controled by people who try to decide what is most "profitable" by looking over spreadsheets and pie charts.
There is no real "hope" of the creative minds being back in the drivers seat for some time. The new technology requires a lot of expensive school, and once you have that expensive school under your belt you have to start paying off thoes lovely student loans. So, you have to take the first job a nice big software company throws your way and like it.
The golden age of games is dead, from here out I predict nothing but highly commmericalized trash.
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lordofduct
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 2907
- Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:57 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach
Personally I love older games. I was retro gamer for a long time because I was a cheap bastard and nostalgia. Today I'm just a gamer for games I think are good across any platform or generation. Although this is upsetting my girlfriend and causing me to play mostly current generation games.
My girlfriend doesn't like videogames. Some nights she refuses to even let me play them because I "ignore her"... whatever... jeez, what's her name again? Anyways, whats her name there; the one who is a game hater doesn't mind watching games like Grandia 3 because it's "Pretty like a cartoon". I then popped in Alundra for my neighbor to try out (he never played an RPG or action RPG so I decided to slowly ween him in on Alundra... it's working very well). I consider this game pretty.... but she bitched about the graphics. UGH!
crap, gotta go...
My girlfriend doesn't like videogames. Some nights she refuses to even let me play them because I "ignore her"... whatever... jeez, what's her name again? Anyways, whats her name there; the one who is a game hater doesn't mind watching games like Grandia 3 because it's "Pretty like a cartoon". I then popped in Alundra for my neighbor to try out (he never played an RPG or action RPG so I decided to slowly ween him in on Alundra... it's working very well). I consider this game pretty.... but she bitched about the graphics. UGH!
crap, gotta go...
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lordofduct
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 2907
- Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:57 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach
Had to move computers... sorry.
For one I've never been a stickler for graphics. I played Lunar 1 as a child and loved it... years later I got back into my SegaCD and bought Lunar2 and began playing... surprisingly enough Lunar2 came out for the PSX at the same time and I picked that up. After completing the SegaCD one I went strait into the PSX one and could hardly even notice a different between the games. That's how little I paid attention to the graphics. So now that I have to make choices of games based on graphics really erks me (I can play a 'pretty' game more often then if I were to play a 'ugly' game). Although she thinks DC games look like crap she really thought REZ was cool... but then she is really into music. Thank God! Actually every girl I know who hates videogames I force to watch Rez and they all tend to think the game is amazing.
For one I've never been a stickler for graphics. I played Lunar 1 as a child and loved it... years later I got back into my SegaCD and bought Lunar2 and began playing... surprisingly enough Lunar2 came out for the PSX at the same time and I picked that up. After completing the SegaCD one I went strait into the PSX one and could hardly even notice a different between the games. That's how little I paid attention to the graphics. So now that I have to make choices of games based on graphics really erks me (I can play a 'pretty' game more often then if I were to play a 'ugly' game). Although she thinks DC games look like crap she really thought REZ was cool... but then she is really into music. Thank God! Actually every girl I know who hates videogames I force to watch Rez and they all tend to think the game is amazing.
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Ramatut4001
- 128-bit
- Posts: 694
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:43 pm
- Location: Halethorpe, Maryland, USA
I do it all, but I'm seeing a trend with my current gen games. Many of them are compilations of or sequels to classic games, or games with more "classic" or arcade type controls.
One thing I take issue with in retro game discussions. People will say "I don't mind the older graphics, it's about gameplay." I often prefer older graphics. 2D is often better than 3D, and not just because of the gameplay (like fighters or platformers). Perfectly fluent animation looks cooler than a somewhat reasonable facsimile of a realistic human figure. In the same way that animatied film can have a much more iconical, stylized version of the world, so can Mario 3 be preferable to the latest ultra realistic WW2 smulator. I hope you guys understand what I'm trying to say. Having tried to say that, newer style graphics are awesome in games like Burnout and DOA 2. There's a place for every style. I guess that's what I mean. You can't look at it as a linear progression. Look at the cel shaded style of San Andreas.
Back on topic, though. I've bought a lot more games for my Saturn, Dreamcast, and older consoles than my newer ones. As fas as the new gen, I hope to get a Wii at launch. That's it. I'll probably get the other 2 eventually, when they have some games I want and fix the problems that the launch consoles ship with. Oh yeah, and don't cost $600.00!
One thing I take issue with in retro game discussions. People will say "I don't mind the older graphics, it's about gameplay." I often prefer older graphics. 2D is often better than 3D, and not just because of the gameplay (like fighters or platformers). Perfectly fluent animation looks cooler than a somewhat reasonable facsimile of a realistic human figure. In the same way that animatied film can have a much more iconical, stylized version of the world, so can Mario 3 be preferable to the latest ultra realistic WW2 smulator. I hope you guys understand what I'm trying to say. Having tried to say that, newer style graphics are awesome in games like Burnout and DOA 2. There's a place for every style. I guess that's what I mean. You can't look at it as a linear progression. Look at the cel shaded style of San Andreas.
Back on topic, though. I've bought a lot more games for my Saturn, Dreamcast, and older consoles than my newer ones. As fas as the new gen, I hope to get a Wii at launch. That's it. I'll probably get the other 2 eventually, when they have some games I want and fix the problems that the launch consoles ship with. Oh yeah, and don't cost $600.00!
i never liked the playstation and i really hate the controller so i never got a ps2 even if it had a dvd player wich was a big deal when it came out..sure the graphics looked tempting but the games available never really intrested me..and hence im not that excited about the ps 3 cus its the same thing all over again nice graphics shitty controller.
As for the Xbox well i found the whole idea of a microsoft manufactured console to be a really bad idea but i was tempted to get one just for Shenmue 2 since i didn know i could get a iso for it for the dreamcast..so i might get a xbox 360 if shenmue 3 is released for it. (unless by a miracle a dc verison is also made)
as for the gamecube i really wanted one since i liked the n64..but after i saw that cell shaded mess that was zelda windwalker..i never got one..but of all the current next gen systems the Wii looks promising that is if the wacky controller actually works well
and this is why i stopped buying consoles..
and the games i have for the dreamcast and the Saturn are enough for me these days.
As for the Xbox well i found the whole idea of a microsoft manufactured console to be a really bad idea but i was tempted to get one just for Shenmue 2 since i didn know i could get a iso for it for the dreamcast..so i might get a xbox 360 if shenmue 3 is released for it. (unless by a miracle a dc verison is also made)
as for the gamecube i really wanted one since i liked the n64..but after i saw that cell shaded mess that was zelda windwalker..i never got one..but of all the current next gen systems the Wii looks promising that is if the wacky controller actually works well
and this is why i stopped buying consoles..
and the games i have for the dreamcast and the Saturn are enough for me these days.
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Ramatut4001
- 128-bit
- Posts: 694
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:43 pm
- Location: Halethorpe, Maryland, USA
Have to agree with this, gamecube has been the best "game" system sense the original PlayStation. There is really no "next gen" system I see as being carrying the NES torch. I pretty much saw the line of high quality games starting with NES => SNES => PS1 => GameCube => ??? . I think the new Nintendo System probbaly looks like it's the best next gen "game" system. As far as this new trend towards "media pc" type game systems, I find it to be a really bad joke considering an original xbox with a nice 400gb HD and wirless network plug beats anything includeing 360 and PS3 hands down.Ramatut4001 wrote:I really like my Gamecube. Smash Bros and Mariokart are really fun. I actually prefer Double Dash to any other Mario Kart by a long shot. It's a lot of fun. But what I really like is the Game Boy Player. That's cool.
I personally prefer the PS2 in this latest round due to primarily to the better overal RPG's (my main genre) and exclusives. Games like Devil Nocturne, Digital Devil Saga, Wild Arms, Final Fantasy, Xenosaga, Metal Gear Solid, and Guitar Hero are exlusive to the PS2.
That being said, I love my Gamecube as well. Paper Mario was an amazing game as are the 2 Metroid Primes and Eternal Darkness.
That being said, I love my Gamecube as well. Paper Mario was an amazing game as are the 2 Metroid Primes and Eternal Darkness.
I said I wasnt ganna take part in the generation after dreamcast, but Nintendo did come along and wow the shit out of me with Cube. So I owned one for a few years and loved it. I again am saying I won't take part in the next gen, but the Wii might come along and force me to. We'll see. I'm still primarily a retrogamer though.