Do I need any new games now

[Hibachi]

So I don't really post new topics that often but I've had a glass of wine and am thinking.

The mainstream is about to be bombarded with new hardware and I've started thinking in my 37 years of age that I could not be any less excited about the prospect of new consoles. I've been gaming since I imported a JP Sega Megadrive and owned nearly every console since but have more recently been delving into the past for my gaming fixes.

I've kept my chipped PS2 and all the games and and I have to admit that I have been enjoying translated Snes games recently a lot more than the latest blockbuster. Dark Souls aside, I can't remember the last time I was bowled over with a new release.

I still love my STG's but I'm thinking that's because I'm old school that way even though my skill isn't really anything to write home about.

I thought the other day that I was falling out of love with games but having dug out old consoles etc and fired them up, I think I've fallen out of love with modern gaming as there doesn't seem to be any magic anymore.

Anyway, I feel I'm now on a voyage of rediscovery looking back rather than ahead for a change.

Anyway,

[shmuppyLove]

Ha ha just joking with you, I'm not that much younger.

I kind of find the opposite these days ... I have tried to go back and play some older SMS/TG-16/NES stuff and honestly they aren't very good. At the time I'm sure I enjoyed them, but I much prefer the more modern games, at least from about Genesis/SNES onward.

[louisg]

I've been mostly just going back and exploring old games too. I never did 8-bit consoles much back in the day, so I actually have a lot to discover there.

Yeah, plenty of games haven't held up that well. But one thing I will say is that there's much more of an emphasis on gameplay in old console games than there is now, more attention paid to fairness (since you couldn't get around it as easily), making sure every minute of the game is spent actually *engaging* the player (since games weren't expected to be bloated), and that sort of thing.

For how far games have come technologically in the past 20 years, in some ways they really have regressed. They're both mixed bags, for sure.

[Ed Oscuro]

If you don't care about multiplayer, wait a generation to get into any "new" system. The savings will be welcome, especially so that you don't feel you're getting ripped off.

[ED-057]

I`ll just leave this here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4yIxUOW ... re=related

[louisg]

I`ll just leave this here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4yIxUOW ... re=related

They *did* do a new Doom. It's called Doom 3 and it's exactly this kind of rubbish!

[moh]

I`ll just leave this here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4yIxUOW ... re=related

They *did* do a new Doom. It's called Doom 3 and it's exactly this kind of rubbish!

I thought doom 3 was pretty good. It came before call of duty exploded, so it didn't have any of the stupid shit that came then (no DLC silliness, no "run away because you're hurt")

It was in a different style than the original, but it was also several years later.

Its not perfect, but not nearly bad as the modern FPS.

[Ed Oscuro]

I`ll just leave this here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4yIxUOW ... re=related

They *did* do a new Doom. It's called Doom 3 and it's exactly this kind of rubbish!

I didn't think much of DOOM III at its release but it's not rubbish by any stretch of the imagination.

It'd be better if they used the style (minus stupid enemy designs and whispering ghosts) to do a real sequel to Quake, if it had the fast gameplay intact, but DOOM III is good for being its own animal.

[CMoon]

Briefly, the newer consoles are obviously going to be dominated by newer, popular genres. However, the older genres are still around and kicking--see homebrew, dlc, atlus. Sometimes they are actually quite a bit better than the actual old school games--though its hard to escape nostalgia.

I also think sometimes it is worth taking the plunge and trying out some of the new ideas even if you are uncertain. As an older gamer, you no doubt have a little more disposable income and can afford to lose a bit of money checking out what developers are up to these days. Not my favorite games, but seriously never thought I would enjoy the Bethesda titles but ended up putting a huge chunk of time into them. Never thought I'd end up liking the Mass Effect games, but ultimately really dug them.

[Ed Oscuro]

Sometimes they are actually quite a bit better than the actual old school games--though its hard to escape nostalgia.

Indeed: "A smaller piece of a bigger pie is still more pie." In this case, the pie is both potential audience (although it seems like it would be very difficult to reach the maximum sales that SMB or Sonic 2 reached) as well as devevelopment budgets. The only problem today is that many devices aren't up to the old school experience - most mobile devices and tablets.

[Obiwanshinobi]

DOOM III is good for being its own animal.

Dead Space: Extraction is the type dare I say. Not a bad game.

[Ed Oscuro]

If DSE is anything like the original DS, I'm sure it will make me a sad panda.

[Obiwanshinobi]

DSE reminds me of Doom III most. Moreso than The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Man: Talk About a Long Title).

[Hibachi]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm always open to trying new games but am less likely to be swallowed up by hype i guess and although there is some niche stuff out there, i feel it is becoming harder to come across.My Xbox (Jp console included) collection contains about 100 games and the only type of game I don't play is sports games purely because they have never appealed. I've never been able to justify a PC gaming rig so haven't truly been able to explore then indie scene on that front. Maybe I need to take the plunge.

I bought Catherine the the other day for £10 and am enjoying that and love taking a punt on the obscure.

Shmuppylove had me pegged as I will admit that I have not gone further back than PC engine stuff as most of that in my opinion hasn't held up well.

I've just found in the myriad of crap (because there is no denying all consoles have loads of it) that there are a bunch of really charming games on the older consoles and have also found myself putting GC discs into my Wii again to revisit or finish.

I think that the reason for my initial post was that looking on the horizon, there wasn't a great deal of games coming up that said 'buy on day one' or made me feel excited like the old days.

Fuck it, I am an old fart.

[TransatlanticFoe]

I think that the reason for my initial post was that looking on the horizon, there wasn't a great deal of games coming up that said 'buy on day one' or made me feel excited like the old days.

Fuck it, I am an old fart.

I know that feeling.

Granted I've been playing catchup since coming back into gaming after a break between 2002-2009 (excusing a 2 year GBA jaunt, coming back with a Wii and gaming PC), but I've bought exactly 4 games in launch week... or even close to launch.

I see the current lull as a chance to catch up - continuation of Wii "point and shoot" controls will probably sell me on Wii U, but before that gathers steam I have a few PC/'Cube/Wii games to catch up on. The current release schedule looks pretty bleak, so this is quite good timing.

The current scene is no more constant 3rd or 1st person action games than the 90s were platformers or shooters.

You're mid-generations, so it might not be a good time to take the plunge PC-wise - though a strong gaming rig can easily be had for under £500 and will probably see you through the early days of the next generation.

[BIL]

Even if it's merely Quake II: Can't See Shit Motherfucker as opposed to DOOM, Doom 3 would've been a great action-horror game if it'd let the setting and occasional audio logs do the talking. The base feels convincingly overrun by occult terror, and the various pre-invasion accounts of inexplicable accidents, creeping mass psychosis and missing lab volunteers give a nice sense of encroaching doom, beyond "scientists opened a gate and a shitload of demons poured out." It's a shame the plot wasn't left at precisely that sentence, as it absolutely shat all over the good work elsewhere with its tedious relic-chasing and generic mad doctor antagonist. It's hard to feel oppressed when the sum of all the game's terror is personified in the form of Doctor Wiley. I wonder what nefarious plan he'll do next!

Where's a mute cybernetic brainspider lurking within the farthest reaches of festering demoniac depravity when you need him? :/

[Mortificator]

I honestly feel embarrased that the people who made Doom III thought they did a good job. It's like talking to an artist with aspirations of being the next Kirby, then he shows you his work and it's Ctrl+Alt+Del.

[shmuppyLove]

I say grab a new/old console that you never had, and explore some games for that.

PSP is a phenomenal platform, not just for portable gaming, but it will also do some light emulation duties, is cheap, and has tons of great games in just about any genre.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

I honestly feel embarrased that the people who made Doom III thought they did a good job. It's like talking to an artist with aspirations of being the next Kirby, then he shows you his work and it's Ctrl+Alt+Del.

There's a cheesy B-movie style survival horror series for the PS2 called 'ObsCure' - not a great game (although the co-op option was a unique touch) but I was always amused that a bunch of high school kids are smart enough to use duct tape to tape flashlights to their pistols/shotguns, but the Doom marine apparently can't find a single roll of duct tape or tube of glue on the entire base.

[BulletMagnet]

I was always amused that a bunch of high school kids are smart enough to use duct tape to tape flashlights to their pistols/shotguns, but the Doom marine apparently can't find a single roll of duct tape or tube of glue on the entire base.

Alan Wake showed that you didn't even need that!

[Vurpa]

Seem to be in the same situation here TS. Last console bought new was the GC but already then felt there was no magic left (from OoT and MM to WW - while a decent game - was just too much). My childish exitement for new consoles died the day Sega gave up hardware.

[Obiwanshinobi]

My childish exitement for new consoles died the day Sega gave up hardware.

Since that day Sega has released a couple of games I cherish above their "classic" games. I'm glad they didn't follow the DC underwater.

[Vurpa]

My childish exitement for new consoles died the day Sega gave up hardware.

Since that day Sega has released a couple of games I cherish above their "classic" games. I'm glad they didn't follow the DC underwater.

While it's cool that they're still around the way it is now is I've got no idea which console to pick anymore. Before Sega was the obvious choice but they're not in hardware now and the former second choice Nintendo has gotten progressively worse with what is imho gimmicky crap that is the Wii. I don't know which games you mean (VF series?) but Nights and Sonic already went crap on competitors consoles.

Guess it'll be worth getting a 360 in a few years time for the shooters but that'll be right around the time the coming gens are already old . Dream would be a new Sega console headlined by Shenmue 3 alas who knows if Shenmue 3 will ever be reality on any console wse .

[Obiwanshinobi]

I mean Shinobi (2002), Super Monkey Ball and F-Zero GX. I expect Crazy Taxi and Gunvalkyrie to be more of this goodness. What I like about Sega GAMES most seems to have begun for good in Dreamcast days. Honourable mention award goes to formidable forerunners: Comix Zone, Baku Baku Animal and Virtual-On.
My favourite MD/Genny games are not made by Sega.
Not sure if Sega is THAT Sega anymore, but Excite Truck - my favourite this-gen game of that kind - is on Wii of all platforms.

Sure thing, Wii wasn't really "new" in the next-gen sense (even less so if you already had a GameCube), BUT neither was PS2 [I don't believe DC was technically superior (where's any proof?), but I can understand how first-gen PS2 games evoked the "is that it?" response] and look at the PS2 library (and near-impeccable backwards compatibility) now. If you ignore its strenghs because you "don't like the console" or something along those lines, you just... DO need some games now.

Wii didn't really bring anything new to the controls table (nothing substantially different from mouse, keyboard, steering wheel, analogue joystick, digital joystick, DDR controllers, lightguns and so on) but, much like the first Xbox helped some PC games devs get into console games development, Wii helped the sofa & telly gaming crowd enjoy some relatively exotic ways of interaction (and expanded the gaming crowd quite a bit, so it brought more than one brand of variety along).

Times must be hard for "brand loyalists" as I'm afraid the biggest leap in consoles' history to date - from 16-bit consoles to PSX (in a nutshell, PSX could do everything - bar loadings off cartridges - its predecessors could, and then some completely new things) is out of consoles producers' reach in this day and age.

[Vurpa]

I mean Shinobi (2002), Super Monkey Ball and F-Zero GX. I expect Crazy Taxi and Gunvalkyrie to be more of this goodness. What I like about Sega GAMES most seems to have begun for good in Dreamcast days. Honourable mention award goes to formidable forerunners: Comix Zone, Baku Baku Animal and Virtual-On.
My favourite MD/Genny games are not made by Sega.
Not sure if Sega is THAT Sega anymore, but Excite Truck is my favourite this-gen game of that kind (on Wii of all platforms).

Wow I all but forgot about SMB. Still have a crazy hs in Monkey Target so will def agree on that one haha.

Owned a Sat back in the day as a kid actually. Was my first real console and while everybody else had PS1 I loved it so it's distorted my view of Sega quite a bit I guess to expect good amounts of quality from the inhouse developers. Then when the Xbox came got Orta and while impressive it didn't really have the same feel anymore. Maybe because of the lesser technical jump, maybe because it was an MS console or maybe because of the game itself just don't know. Outrun 2 kind of the same story after watching it roll over and over in an old cab in a supermarket as a kid the new one didn't work it just fel soulless.

Getting a new game feels so unsure. Getting an old classic you've never played before works well (giving the time to see ift he newer games are classics or just hyped ).

[Mischief Maker]

Half Life ruined videogames.

Yes, I said it.

[louisg]

You only really need one game system: Tiger Game.com

[Kaiser]

Half Life ruined videogames.

Yes, I said it.

Useless point because anything else could have ruined videogames.

[GaijinPunch]

As an older gamer I find I have less and less time. So while I can afford more games, I never have the time to play them. I also find that these days I need to be more creative in my hobbies do to my grind at work, so games take a back seat.

[Friendly]

If anything has "ruined" video games, it's their becoming mainstream and big publishers trying to produce million sellers without taking any risks, thus having to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
I woudn't consider them ruined, though- there are still awesome games being made, and there always will be. It only takes a single creative and talented person.
It's basically the same with movies. Most mainstream Hollywood movies suck for the exact same reason (companies trying to make millions), but every now and then a great movie is made.