Why I am not a modern gamer.

[ExedExes]

It's more of a future-proof thing for me. I am sitting around playing NES and Super NES games that are 15-25 years old and the experience has not changed. How will modern games, which are heavily focused on multiplayer components, online leader boards, or DLC going to fare in 15 years? 10 years? 3 years? The experience will never be the same for those games.

Your list of issues is spot on. DLC is a feature that does worry me and at the same time also turn me off to the game. You hear stuff about used copies not being viable anymore because by not buying it you miss out on a DLC item or experience that is only available in the new unopened copy.

The Dreamcast had some early DLC as well. In the game Dynamite Cop, you were prompted to use the DC browser to go to sega.com to download what was called the "Detonator Pack", which had extra character artwork, and 2 more playable characters from the original Dynamite Deka (Die Hard Arcade here in US) -- of course by the time I got my Dreamcast and that game there was really no way of connecting to the Internet with the DC anymore (without resorting to a whole mess of homebrew options on the Web to do it) -- fortunately I got that Dream Explorer ISO which had a Detonator Pack on the CD and I was able to apply it to my game save and get the extras.

Which brings me to my point -- even on PC games that require a CONSTANT online presence as DRM these days (Ubisoft games, EA's Origin, etc.) what happens when the servers aren't there anymore (or can't handle the demand at launch and shut down in the case of some Ubi titles recently) -- and do you think these games that need that or have DLC available are gonna be around forever? It feels to me that developers and publishers do not have to make a perfect, relatively bug-free game anymore, they can just ship out a half ass effort and then make up for the rest with downloadable patches and even MORE DLC. It is a technological step for modern consoles these days, but some of us jaded retro-gamers can remember a time we did not have such have to do these things, we payed upwards of $70-$80 for our cartridges and got a "Press Start" experience without configuration, downloadication, developer splashscreeinifcation, overused unskippable cutscenication, conflabration, etc. Games and the delivery technologies will continue to evolve, but the reliability and the quality will continue to degrade. That is why I choose to stay back a couple of generations, and remember games for the way and the experience they used to be (and should STILL continue to be!)

/rant off

[DomitorInvictus]

My theory is that all of these problems of modern games stem from the effects of capitalism. Now its more about profits than innovation and providing an awesome experience, at-least it is that way to the people publishing the games. Let's face it, video games are mainstream media now, its much bigger of an industry than what it used to be. Earlier this year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 broke records by pulling in one billion dollars in little over two weeks and Skyrim topped 3.4 million sales in the first two days. And whats astonishing is that its not really anything new or revolutionary. Its the same old shit stacked up on your plate because its guaranteed to sell.

Though there are some pretty good games out there, the larger corporations have their hands around the throats of the developers, leaving them no choice but to follow their guidelines to squeeze more profit from the consumers. DRM and online verification is to prevent "piracy" even if it fucks over the people who actually buy the game. DLC is now designed to nickel and dime customers. Sequels, realism and multi-player have been the trends of the biggest selling games for a while now, so expect more games tailored to these trends. Its so much easier to recycle the same formula over and over than to take a risk and come up with with something new. But fortunately, in this age of mediocre bullshit, there are some indie developers and even publishers who don't conform to mass appeal and put out unique, quality games. As for me, I'd be happy if this first person shooter trend would die out and be replaced by something decent.

[Damm64]

It's more of a future-proof thing for me. I am sitting around playing NES and Super NES games that are 15-25 years old and the experience has not changed. How will modern games, which are heavily focused on multiplayer components, online leader boards, or DLC going to fare in 15 years? 10 years? 3 years? The experience will never be the same for those games.

Your list of issues is spot on. DLC is a feature that does worry me and at the same time also turn me off to the game. You hear stuff about used copies not being viable anymore because by not buying it you miss out on a DLC item or experience that is only available in the new unopened copy.

The Dreamcast had some early DLC as well. In the game Dynamite Cop, you were prompted to use the DC browser to go to sega.com to download what was called the "Detonator Pack", which had extra character artwork, and 2 more playable characters from the original Dynamite Deka (Die Hard Arcade here in US) -- of course by the time I got my Dreamcast and that game there was really no way of connecting to the Internet with the DC anymore (without resorting to a whole mess of homebrew options on the Web to do it) -- fortunately I got that Dream Explorer ISO which had a Detonator Pack on the CD and I was able to apply it to my game save and get the extras.

Which brings me to my point -- even on PC games that require a CONSTANT online presence as DRM these days (Ubisoft games, EA's Origin, etc.) what happens when the servers aren't there anymore (or can't handle the demand at launch and shut down in the case of some Ubi titles recently) -- and do you think these games that need that or have DLC available are gonna be around forever? It feels to me that developers and publishers do not have to make a perfect, relatively bug-free game anymore, they can just ship out a half ass effort and then make up for the rest with downloadable patches and even MORE DLC. It is a technological step for modern consoles these days, but some of us jaded retro-gamers can remember a time we did not have such have to do these things, we payed upwards of $70-$80 for our cartridges and got a "Press Start" experience without configuration, downloadication, developer splashscreeinifcation, overused unskippable cutscenication, conflabration, etc. Games and the delivery technologies will continue to evolve, but the reliability and the quality will continue to degrade. That is why I choose to stay back a couple of generations, and remember games for the way and the experience they used to be (and should STILL continue to be!)

/rant off

^

All the reason why i don't have a ps3 (and because i don't have money). I heard that Uncharted 3 has broken controls that were ficed via DLC is that right?
Anyway DLC is the worst that could happen to gaming, another reason to take money from you.

[ExedExes]

I heard that Uncharted 3 has broken controls that were ficed via DLC is that right?
Anyway DLC is the worst that could happen to gaming, another reason to take money from you.

A patch was released, yes

[Korpi]

They're like very crippled PC's now, there's none of the console benefits. Console for me is to pop the game in and play alone or locally with a friend. On PC I worry about online, patches, mods, DRM, possible advertising, expansions/DLC etc, and play more deeper games. I also don't expect to own physical copy. It works better for PC as all these are readily available from different service providers or just freely downloadable, you have the freedom of choice. Consoles depend heavily on one company's decisions post-purchase, and that I really don't like.

You have those unofficial online providers like Xlink Kai, and people hack consoles and stuff, so I think there's future for these consoles, but it's not the most convenient or approved way, and is kind of dependent on people's interest.

[jfrost]

I love current generation videogames because if it weren't for them I wouldn't have so much to bitch about over and over.

[The Last Horseman]

Uhh. This.

One thing about these arguments you always hear: But what about when online goes away?
Guys, there are many single player games, many of which have little or no DLC (none of which is on disc or story important) that we can get, and is the majority of what people like I buy. Games like the Arkhum games, Bully:Scholarship Edition, Brutal Legend, Elder Scrolls and Fallout games (although I loathe Fallout), the EDF games can fit in here, seeing as I find them fun to play alone, Catherine, The Orange Box, Portal 2, etc. For people who will dig for years to find a good copy of a 10000 run game, you won't even look for good games that ran into the hundreds of thousands of sales.

Oh, and at least on 360, the Shmups. Worth keeping it right there for me.

[ExedExes]

Consoles depend heavily on one company's decisions post-purchase, and that I really don't like.

One sentence summed up what I needed 3 paragraphs to make.

[BoneSnapDeez]

2) Heavy focus on realism, but failing to get out of the uncanny valley. We have graphics and physics engines that render individual hairs and drops of water, yet when a character climbs out of a lake, he is instantly dry. We have ghost towns of NPCs that either say nothing or repeat the same phrase and walk around aimlessly. I prefer games that have obvious technical limitations and are designed to work with them, not games that strive to be as realistic as possible, yet still fail. (Skyrim "bucket hats" anyone?)

I agree, and I believe that the graphics of today look much worse (from an aesthetic sense, not a "realistic" sense) than those of 15 years ago. While playing through games like Oblivion and Dragon Age I quickly begin to notice that every character looks like the same square-jawed dead-eyed automaton. Thanks for the technically impressive "realism" but I'll the hand-drawn graphics of Metal Slug and Ys Book I & II over that any day.

Games that require the internet, even for single player, are becoming a problem too. The last two PC-exclusive games I purchased both require account registration, and one of them has always-on DRM. Neither game is a MMORPG. This is especially frustrating for someone like me, who lives in an area with only one ISP and internet that only works when it feels like it.

Lastly, and maybe this is a minor complaint, but I am sick of all the "post-game" stuff. I just "finished" Super Mario 3D Land only to realize that I had only played through about half of the game's levels. When I see the THE END flash on the screen in big bold letters I want the game to literally be over, not to alert me that I've "unlocked" some extras or whatever. If the developers have extra levels and content, put that in the main game!

[noiseredux]

when modern gamers tell me that older games suck, I tell them that they just haven't played the right games yet.

When retro gamers tell me modern games suck, I tell them that they just haven't played the right games yet.