I respect main stream gaming

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:27 pm

99pence wrote:Oh no Sonic Mega Collection is riding high in the european game charts. That must mean 2D platformers are mainstream. Quick somebody get out the charts and the spreadsheets. We need to have a mass debate to figure this all out.

What the hell's your problem, anyway? This is GameFAQs level maturity. Believe it or not, it's possible to make your opinion known without being obnoxious and condescending.

marcus12024 · Post by **marcus12024** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:41 pm

These days I find that I am growing tired of the "collect everything, unlock new artwork/characters/other crap" that is so prominent in many games. This stuff initially appealed to me, but I realized that earning the rewards was often much more fun than actually *receiving* the awards. This realization helped me figure out that I'm a gamer who enjoys the process of struggling to reach the end, barely scraping by, or dieing several times before reaching the end. The end result means little to me. A cool ending is nice to have, so is unlockable content, but it ends up being like a piece of cake - it tastes really good, is gone too quickly, and if you just keep eating more, you grow tired of it very fast.

Right now I'm playing Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, and am loving the hell out of it. I've died more than five times, twice in random battles, and have gotten pissed off on multiple occassions due to the difficulty of the game (and I'm only just over 8 hours in). But I love it. It doesn't hold your hand - in fact, it more or less smacks your hand away and encourages you to learn everything for yourself. You can go crazy trying to collect everything, find the secrets, etc. Or you can just play to have fun, getting a cool new demon that will help you beat the next boss. Now that's (good) gameplay.

As a small aside, I am often tired when I play games, since I often play right before bed. For a long time, when playing recent games, I can pretty much play like a zombie (being nearly asleep, having horrible reaction times, etc.) and still make "progress" in the game, ie: not die. That's poor design, for the most part. Too many games hold your hand, in such a way as to discourage you from getting good at the game, because there's absolutely no need to, unless you want to unlock a new costume or other such junk. If I'm playing an older game (especially shmups!), or a game like SMT: Nocturne, and I'm falling asleep, I'll be dead - in the game of course - before I know it.

Basically I'm not ignoring the fact that there are newer, mainstream games that I enjoy. I'm just reiterating the point that games should reward players by having deeper gameplay systems, not more unlockables.

99pence · Post by **99pence** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:26 pm

That was a quality piece of satire. People on Gamefaqs would pay good money for some quotes like.

Steven Spielburg has just been asking for the movie rights.

That's Spielburg all over though......oldschool.

judesalmon · Post by **judesalmon** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:29 pm

Can't we all agree to never post about mainstream gaming ever again. Life would be a lot simpler here.

TWITCHDOCTOR · Post by **TWITCHDOCTOR** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:37 pm

I always disliked the term "mainstream gaming", but now, quite frankly, I hate it.
Its now become some sort of elitist/snob-ish , "nose in the air" type attitude towards anything new that has to do with a control pad.

99pence · Post by **99pence** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:40 pm

judesalmon wrote:Can't we all agree to never post about mainstream gaming ever again. Life would be a lot simpler here.

Yeah I can.

Seeing as 'mainstream games' aren't a genre. Its a phrase that really means jack.

Apart from Toobin' and River City Ransom. Those games are proper main stream.

judesalmon · Post by **judesalmon** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:51 pm

99pence wrote:Apart from Toobin' and River City Ransom. Those games are proper main stream.

Marionette · Post by **Marionette** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:51 am

dave4shmups wrote:I respect mainstream gaming too. I just asked for an XBOX for my birthday!

Such the vacillator.

I love all of my mainstream systems, as well as their respective games that I own. I think mainstream gaming is just as great and just as crap-ful as it was all the years ago.

99pence · Post by **99pence** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:58 am

Tributary gaming is where it's at.

DEL · Post by **DEL** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:32 pm

I walked into a store the other day and a magazine caught my eye:-
"THE ULTIMATE SHOOTER GUIDE"
It was a Western publication, so I knew it would be full of FPShooters, but I thought "Ah what the Hell, lets pick it up anyway and see if there are any references to STGs"

Of course there weren't - it was 100% FPS all the way, with an article on the FPS Champ who was Quote; "Living the Dream."

I list this as an example of how the US and European Publishing Houses are successfully brainwashing the Mainstream public into believing that Japanese STGs do not exist. Magazines such as the one listed above are merely PROMO DEVICES for these Western companies who want you to buy their products only.

I suppose it would have been alright if they had been honest and called it:-
"THE ULTIMATE FPS GUIDE"

Regs, DEL
fossil

cigsthecat · Post by **cigsthecat** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:45 pm

TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:^Man, I really don't think anyone is finding your sarcasm entertaining.

Well here's one for ya. This whole thread was destined to be stupid from the beginning so why not have a laugh along the way.

judesalmon · Post by **judesalmon** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:06 pm

cigsthecat wrote:
TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:^Man, I really don't think anyone is finding your sarcasm entertaining.
Well here's one for ya. This whole thread was destined to be stupid from the beginning so why not have a laugh along the way.

How true.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:15 pm

99pence wrote:Tributary gaming is where it's at.

I may have to steal that one sometime.

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:18 pm

cigs for president

TWITCHDOCTOR · Post by **TWITCHDOCTOR** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 4:30 am

cigsthecat wrote:
TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:^Man, I really don't think anyone is finding your sarcasm entertaining.
Well here's one for ya. This whole thread was destined to be stupid from the beginning so why not have a laugh along the way.

Maybe I'm missing the point here, but I thought this thread was about appreciating modern video games. I don't see how a discussion of modern gaming could be "destined to be stupid"?

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 5:46 am

TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:.... Do I have a twin that I'm not aware of!?

Yes. AND I AM YOUR FATHER.

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Fri Feb 25, 2005 6:09 am

TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:
cigsthecat wrote:
TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:^Man, I really don't think anyone is finding your sarcasm entertaining.
Well here's one for ya. This whole thread was destined to be stupid from the beginning so why not have a laugh along the way.
Maybe I'm missing the point here, but I thought this thread was about appreciating modern video games. I don't see how a discussion of modern gaming could be "destined to be stupid"?

"I agree" quote the initial poster

and to cigs-if it was destined to be stupid...why are you posting? you've destined yourself to be marked on a stupid thread

judesalmon · Post by **judesalmon** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 6:06 pm

TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:
cigsthecat wrote:
TWITCHDOCTOR wrote:^Man, I really don't think anyone is finding your sarcasm entertaining.
Well here's one for ya. This whole thread was destined to be stupid from the beginning so why not have a laugh along the way.
Maybe I'm missing the point here, but I thought this thread was about appreciating modern video games. I don't see how a discussion of modern gaming could be "destined to be stupid"?

There are so many 'old-schoolers' here that anyone in favour of 'mainstream' games is just going to get shot-down. They seem unable to appreciate a game if a large group of people do also.

marcus12024 · Post by **marcus12024** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:16 pm

judesalmon wrote:There are so many 'old-schoolers' here that anyone in favour of 'mainstream' games is just going to get shot-down. They seem unable to appreciate a game if a large group of people do also.

I find it silly to talk badly about a game or avoid it just because it's popular. One of the most popular ("mainstream" I suppose) games out right now is GTA: San Andreas. I actually like this game, but I do know several people who don't. Trouble is, most of them have never even given the game a try, shunning it simply because it's so popular.

It's fine to appreciate and respect old-school games, but it doesn't make much sense to badmouth anything new. If someone has valid issues with a game, we should talk about those, rather than just bitching for the sake of bitching. Maybe that's an issue for another topic...I think this one's almost dead.

jp · Post by jp » Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:52 am

I enjoy WATCHING mainstream gaming. I like visiting places like IGN and watching the flame wars, as well as I like chillin' at my friend's house watching him play his newest download (not that I condone it, but truth be told I could care less). But I don't really PLAY much of the "mainstream" stuff... I just never get built up like I did during the final boss of Blast Wind or just before the final boss of Souky... I dunno, mainstream/next-gen stuff just doesn't do it for me. The most I get is playing DS when I'm sitting around doing nothing and just bored.

Super Mega C · Post by **Super Mega C** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:03 am

I think Game Informer is a good magazine. There, I said it.

judesalmon · Post by **judesalmon** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:20 pm

Super Mega C wrote:I think Game Informer is a good magazine. There, I said it.

That's just sick. American magazines just don't do it for me.

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:46 pm

I like game informer..because..i get it for free and its good bathroom reading material( therefore it stays int he bathroom!

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:28 pm

Look Out,Nintendogs!

FatCobra · Post by **FatCobra** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:53 pm

I don't know why I have to bitch and moan about mainstream gaming. I do have PS2 and I do enjoy some recent titles, like Midnight Club 3. I have got to stop and get on with my life.

I know I am pissing off alot of people but I'm sorry. The old school stuff is what got me into videogames in the first place.

Mainstream gaming is neither good or bad. I give up, there's no point in me bitching about it anymore.

You know....I'm kinda glad shmups are a niche, it makes us feel really special. I would not mind though if games like Gradius V would have crowded the shelves.

jp · Post by jp » Mon Jun 06, 2005 5:05 pm

I've been missing my Xbox. Its true, I sold it off because it wasn't really all that great to me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the early Sega exclusives (TJ&EIII, JSRF, GunValkyrie) and a handful of other games (Phantom Crash, Phantom Dust, Morrowind, etc.).

Of course, thats why the Xbox 360 will be the only next-gen console I get. I may get another Xbox though since apparently the 360 won't have COMPLETE backwards compatibility. God knows GunValkyrie and TJ&EIII won't be playable on it...

shmups.system11.org

I respect main stream gaming

MAINSTREAM