Re: The Off-Topic Superthread!
The future of gaming:
Being a little more senior than most of today's console gamers I've had the very fortunate experience of witnessing and experiencing mainstream computer gaming from the off (mid-late 1970's) and can honestly say that ride between ever evolving consoles and computers has been a truly outstanding experience - an experience I wouldn't swop for anything. The one striking thing I have noticed is how technology has completely changed the concept of video games and having personally witnessed pretty much all transitions I still remain unsure that development - or rather how developers perceive what exactly makes a good game - is progressing in such a way that it will continue to capture the imagination of gamers.
Big bucks investment, heavy on the visuals productions are always a welcome sign that developers are taking advantage of the technology available but somewhere in there magical ingredients containing words like "immersion" , "replay value", "addiction" and "fun factor" have to remain within the formula if only to make the gamer feel he's continually participating in something truly special during his time within the game - and not just participating in yet another generic visual extravaganza with graphics designed to paper over the cracks. Mutton dressed as lamb, so to speak.
One perfect example is The Crew. The other day I drove to the grand canyon to take advantage of the newly introduced photo mode. After parking at a strategic vantage point and opening up photo mode I was truly in awe of the fact that; not only are the visuals totally mind blowing, I can actually drive to absolutely anywhere within that view. Quite a stunning achievement from everyone concerned in the making of this game. Or is it ? Sure, I can drive there on any terrain in any type of vehicle via pretty much anywhere I want - but what exactly do I do when I get there? Erm, I could take another photo and drive somewhere else.... The point being that, stunning as the game actually looks it serves very little purpose other than to impress on a visual scale.
This sadly seems to be evident in quite a lot of high profile games nowadays and even more worrying is that the trend of visuals over gameplay doesn't seem to be slowing down. I don't know about everyone else but where games are concerned, once the novelty of the visuals have gone I would like to think that there's still plenty in there to want to continue taking advantage of what I've just purchased. It's all about the long haul and far too many games simply do not offer that nowadays.
OK so the age old argument is that back in the day games may well have been playable and addictive but alongside todays gigabyte monsters they look pretty awful. "Give me eye candy any day of the week". Laughable because what people tend to overlook is that 'back in the day' these WERE state of the art visuals AND contained ingredients that made you want to play them for longer than a few weeks. In years to come, when we all look back at Xbox and PlayStation games (when they too look a bit rubbish) are we really going to reminisce over the great time we had playing all these 'classics'? Somehow I think not.
Just remember, for all it's low visuals and simplistic gameplay Tetris has sold a mind blowing 425 million copies. That may well equate to the combined sales of EVERY SINGLE AAA xbox one game put together (speculative guess) and considering the amount of money invested making all these games all I can do is repeat myself in asking if developers are indeed acting in the best interests of games players ? Whilst I do applaud everyone concerned for displaying their creative talents in the making of today's videogames, at the end of the day I would like to think I am investing in a game and not just another generic cinematic experience designed purely to please the eye.
One great fact about The Crew that I absolutely love though:
We live in Derbyshire and if my wife set off to our nearest costal resort (Skegness - roughly 85 miles away) obeying the speed limits at the same time as I set off from Niagra Falls and drove to the Mexico border on the west coast (in The Crew) at a steady 60mph.....She would arrive there first. That's totally mad.
