Your pick for the Next Generation of gaming?

[WhirlwindMonk]

And I wish the gaming industry would realize that there is still a HUGE market of players out here who DON'T care about online play on a console. Yes, it has it's place, but it is NOT what the entire gaming community should revolve around, and that's what Microsoft is trying to do (and Sony is jumping onboard with that).

Exactly. I like online games to a certain extent. I enjoy my World of Warcraft stuff. I've done a bit of Halo online. And I've player a few RTS's online, but I'd still rather play a single player game, or play with people right beside me (table-top RPGs ftw! )

 

[joeman1]

Exactly. I like online games to a certain extent. I enjoy my World of Warcraft stuff. I've done a bit of Halo online. And I've player a few RTS's online, but I'd still rather play a single player game, or play with people right beside me (table-top RPGs ftw! )

The only game that I even enjoy online are RTS. That to me is the only game that should be online. The rest I personally just don't get into.

 

[RavenPoe]

The only game that I even enjoy online are RTS. That to me is the only game that should be online. The rest I personally just don't get into.

NowJoey - you should let SOME games be online for other people's tastes.

I playe HALO online but found so many of the players so rude and obnoxious that it made it hard to enjoy. Believe it or not the best online experience I had was back with Star Trek Elite Force years ago.

 

[CayiroRedemption]

360 has no chance unless they stop focusing entirely on FPS and sports games. There are no stand-out action or role-playing games (with the exception of Oblivion, and one game is not going to sell enough systems to put it ahead of Sony and Nintendo).

I have the feeling that the 360 will be kept afloat in much the same manner as the original xbox was -- by hemorraging profits from Microsoft and the occassional release of another Halo game. I forget the exact figure, but for about two years before the 360 came out, the price they had to drop the original xbox to in order to sell the systems was costing the company like $70 for every system sold. Personally, I bought my replacement original xbox simply to cost microsoft money... and because I wanted to play that Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volley Ball game again. That was the single best volleyball game I ever had!

 

[CayiroRedemption]

I playe HALO online but found so many of the players so rude and obnoxious that it made it hard to enjoy.

Long ago, I was a part of the beta testing for the original Everquest for the PS2. I discovered that being a beta tester and actually playing on an open server are two extremely different things. People were nice during the beta testing, because we were mostly running around and discovering to our dismay that it was physically impossible to kill this one type of troll or that the beaver we needed for our quest was floating high in the air (I kid you not, they had to take the servers down for three days to fix the beaver.) But when the game was fully released and I bought it and started playing... so many people were just absolute jerks! Kill Stealing was big, as were people who'd ask you to join their party and then ditch you in the middle of nowhere. ...but the worst part, by far, was that I was playing a druid. Complete strangers would crowd around me, not asking for buffs, but demanding them, and quite rudely, getting to the point of pm'ing me with cusses if I wasn't quick enough to satisfy them. There's nothing like coming back to the controller from taking the dogs out to find a string of curses staring at you on the screen. I don't play online games anymore, mainly because of my experiences on EQOA.

 

[joeman1]

NowJoey - you should let SOME games be online for other people's tastes.

I playe HALO online but found so many of the players so rude and obnoxious that it made it hard to enjoy. Believe it or not the best online experience I had was back with Star Trek Elite Force years ago.

Yeah I have tried some MMORPG's but they just really didn't appeal to me. I know others really love that but for me it just wasn't there. I mean halo is alright but I am not one for FPS. Not my style. Fighting games I guess could do well but I don't really know about them either.

 

[Dannager]

Bear in mind that the online component of this seventh generation of consoles isn't just for playing games. For instance, Xbox LIVE supports demo downloads, trailers, online chat and messaging, live updates for games, add-on content, streaming music from your PC and a whole slew of other things that aren't multiplayer online games.

 

[ravendta]

Bear in mind that the online component of this seventh generation of consoles isn't just for playing games. For instance, Xbox LIVE supports demo downloads, trailers, online chat and messaging, live updates for games, add-on content, streaming music from your PC and a whole slew of other things that aren't multiplayer online games.

All of which are unnecessary - that's what my PC is for. Yet all that stuff is driving up the prices of game consoles.

Just to touch on one of those points - you mentioned updates for games. To be honest, updates annoy me to no end. Once upon a time, games weren't released until they were FINISHED. Sure, some games had some bugs, but nothing like what you find these days. Game developers have gotten sloppy because they KNOW they can just say, "Eh, we'll put out a patch for it if something goes wrong."

And it all costs the gamer more dollars.

As I write this I'm listening to my old Chrono Trigger soundtrack. Ah, the simpler days of gaming...

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

As I write this I'm listening to my old Chrono Trigger soundtrack. Ah, the simpler days of gaming...

Simpler? I haven't played much of Chrono Trigger, but from what I've heard, it's far more complicated and sophisticated a game than you can find nowadays. Gaming is going downhill, imo. There are a few promising things out there, but the gaming world is now ruled by eye-candy rather than brain-candy. Ah, the more complex days of gaming...

 

[ravendta]

Simpler? I haven't played much of Chrono Trigger, but from what I've heard, it's far more complicated and sophisticated a game than you can find nowadays. Gaming is going downhill, imo. There are a few promising things out there, but the gaming world is now ruled by eye-candy rather than brain-candy. Ah, the more complex days of gaming...

Well, then I worded that wrong. I was simply referring to the day when game consoles were just that - GAME consoles, rather than mini-PCs the way Microsoft and Sony are trying to push them.

Yes, Chrono Trigger was complicated and sophisticated - and a classic RPG. Hard to find games like that these days, save for maybe the Metal Gear series (great storylines, characters, and emotional conflicts there). I still enjoy the Final Fantasy series as well, though none has surpassed Final Fantasy VI's depth as far as relatable characters and compelling story.

But I'm rambling again.

 

[Dannager]

Simpler? I haven't played much of Chrono Trigger, but from what I've heard, it's far more complicated and sophisticated a game than you can find nowadays. Gaming is going downhill, imo. There are a few promising things out there, but the gaming world is now ruled by eye-candy rather than brain-candy. Ah, the more complex days of gaming...

I disagree strongly with that notion. Such claims are usually based on a sense of nostalgia and a quick glance at the current generation games. Yes, you get games like the latest Madden release or another Halo, but even just using the 360 as an example, you have DOA4 (one of the most robust 3-D fighting experiences to be had), Cromehounds (a fantastic mech-shooter with an online persistant world with thousands of parts to customize your mechs with and complex team-based play mechanics), Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (again, a strongly tactical, team-based game), and, in the single-player FPS department, games like Prey (with extremely advanced physics engines and a mind-blowing portal system). Every one of these is more advanced both graphically, mechanically and mentally than its predecessors. Recall for a moment Doom, or Wolfenstein 3D, which came out contemporaneously to games like Chrono Trigger. They can hardly be called complex at all by today's standards.

I'm extremely excited for this upcoming generation of games, and I don't see the industry sloughing off at all.

 

[RavenPoe]

Gaming is evolving. The latest thing is the free-roaming game. We give up some storyline and stuff to be able to go nuts. I loved Fable for the free-roam ablility, although some may be sensitive to it's content being a bit - um - crude?

As for the Live services allowing so much other than online play, keep in mind there is generally a monthly service charge from the console company on top of your broadband provider. It is unlikely the average person would spend that for the service unless they game online. Not unless they don't have a comp or they do have money to burn.

 

[Los]

He mentioned Chrome Hounds in that statement. Oh LAWL. The game systems this day and age are revolved around the entire entertainment experience. Want to watch a DVD? Pop it in your PS3. Want to browse the web? Go through your PS3. Want to play a game? Pop it in your PS3. Those are the three basic things for consumer entertainment. Who watches TV anymore? DVDs are cheap entertainment. Browsing the web through the PS3 will be free. I mean come on!

Though I won't say Chrono Trigger is overly complex versus games that are out today, its still a hallmark standard in which many RPGs compare themselves to. Chrono Trigger set the standard in which no RPG to this date has surpassed.

 

[willard3]

Perhaps Chrono Trigger hasn't been surpassed because game companies are fearful of the old school CT fanboys who'll cry foul and claim that "oh they're just copying Chrono Trigger...jerks."

I didn't really like Chrono Trigger; thought it was overrated.

 

[SteelDisciple]

I have a DVD player...I have a PC...not sure why I would want to surf the web on my console?

The whole point of me buying a console is to play the games...that's it. I couldn't care less about the other features...and you are going to find that's the mindset of many casual gamers.

If I want online...i'll go on my PC and download the latest mod for a game.

If I want an online game...i'll get somethign like Battlefield on the PC where you don't just buy the game...but you get tons of free total conversion mods too.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

I disagree strongly with that notion. Such claims are usually based on a sense of nostalgia and a quick glance at the current generation games. Yes, you get games like the latest Madden release or another Halo, but even just using the 360 as an example, you have DOA4 (one of the most robust 3-D fighting experiences to be had), Cromehounds (a fantastic mech-shooter with an online persistant world with thousands of parts to customize your mechs with and complex team-based play mechanics), Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (again, a strongly tactical, team-based game), and, in the single-player FPS department, games like Prey (with extremely advanced physics engines and a mind-blowing portal system). Every one of these is more advanced both graphically, mechanically and mentally than its predecessors. Recall for a moment Doom, or Wolfenstein 3D, which came out contemporaneously to games like Chrono Trigger. They can hardly be called complex at all by today's standards.

I'm extremely excited for this upcoming generation of games, and I don't see the industry sloughing off at all.

Except my opinion on Chrono Trigger isn't nostalgic since what I've played was alongside modern games. And what are todays standards of complexity? Having 4,382 different ways to run and/or throw a ball? Having vehicles with mounted weapons to shoot? I hardly see an improvement. Star Ocean and the early Final Fantasy's (and possibly Deus Ex?) are also contemporaries to Chrono Trigger, and I'd say those at least meet the top level of complexity in games today, except for the ones that they try to make complex but just make utterly confusing. And even if there are the same number of intellectually challenging gmaes now and then, the number of gamers and games have grown significantly, so that remaining the same is a proportional decline.

Gaming is evolving. The latest thing is the free-roaming game. We give up some storyline and stuff to be able to go nuts. I loved Fable for the free-roam ablility, although some may be sensitive to it's content being a bit - um - crude?

As for the Live services allowing so much other than online play, keep in mind there is generally a monthly service charge from the console company on top of your broadband provider. It is unlikely the average person would spend that for the service unless they game online. Not unless they don't have a comp or they do have money to burn.

Fable? Free-roaming? Man, if you want free roaming, pick up Morrowind or Oblivion or one of the earlier Final Fantasy games. Fable was a sad, sad excuse for an RPG. It had it's up points, and it was by no means a bad game, but it failed in many of the areas that are almost required in an RPG, like a significant amount of gameplay, interesting and highly rewarding side quests, replayability, and extra challenges for the second+ time through.

I have a DVD player...I have a PC...not sure why I would want to surf the web on my console?

The whole point of me buying a console is to play the games...that's it. I couldn't care less about the other features...and you are going to find that's the mindset of many casual gamers.

If I want online...i'll go on my PC and download the latest mod for a game.

If I want an online game...i'll get somethign like Battlefield on the PC where you don't just buy the game...but you get tons of free total conversion mods too.

Exactly.

 

[CayiroRedemption]

For instance, Xbox LIVE supports demo downloads, trailers, online chat and messaging, live updates for games, add-on content, streaming music from your PC and a whole slew of other things that aren't multiplayer online games.

As for the Xbox live aspect, while I must admit that its fun to get an extra level or two for KOTOR II or to try the latest shooter before you buy it, I don't like how you have to buy the online cards for credits or beat apects of the games. And the gamer score.... I really don't appreciate that. Yes, its cool that everyone else online can see how much of Oblivion I've completed, but I don't like that my gamerscore is pathetically lower than some other guy's because he has the skill and patience to play shooters when I can't stand them.

--And may I add that even though the 360 controller is much smaller than its predicessor... it is still too heavy for both my hands and my roommates and will make our wrists ache after an hour or so of play. Gamer thumbs I can understand... getting carpel tunnel from holding the heavy controller is another story.

 

[CayiroRedemption]

I have a DVD player...I have a PC...not sure why I would want to surf the web on my console?

The whole point of me buying a console is to play the games...that's it. I couldn't care less about the other features...and you are going to find that's the mindset of many casual gamers.

I must agree with you. I mean, think about this.... if you're online with your computer and you get a virus, you have to use a virus program. What's going to happen when someone figures out how to program a virus for the 360? I don't know about you, but a trojan horse eating my save files is not my idea of a good time.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

I must agree with you. I mean, think about this.... if you're online with your computer and you get a virus, you have to use a virus program. What's going to happen when someone figures out how to program a virus for the 360? I don't know about you, but a trojan horse eating my save files is not my idea of a good time.

Of course, sony and nintendo will probably be smart and run their servers off of linux or something so that won't be a problem, but microsoft will probably insist on using windows. I'm just waiting for the day to come...
"It's as if millions of gamers cried out at once...and were silenced."

 

[CayiroRedemption]

Of course, sony and nintendo will probably be smart and run their servers off of linux or something so that won't be a problem, but microsoft will probably insist on using windows. I'm just waiting for the day to come...
"It's as if millions of gamers cried out at once...and were silenced."

I know... and unfortunately, I also know that I'll be laughing so hard I cry when I hear the news. The only time I use my xbox online is when I buy a new game and have to "install updates" before I can play it. Of course, I keep my 360 confused. I leave an ethernet cord plugged into the back of it, but not connected to my modem. The 360 -thinks- it's online.