What's wrong with games today?
It's several things combined. Customer demand and marketabilty are two things that come to mind.
What geographical background do gamers have today that was different from say 10 years ago?
The gamer's expectations and needs has changed, so has the gamer's time constraints.
The typical gamer of today expects a game where they can get replay value, graphical wow factor, a story-driven and immersive plot, and ofc how many things you can blow up at the same time!
The gaming development i believe is facing the same conundrums as the film industry and the music industry.
What hasn't been done before? What hasn't been tried before, and more importantly, succeeded?
People are running out of ideas quiet frankly, that's my opinion.
How many movies, music or indeed games produced in the present time have a de ja vu feeling? I'm speaking for myself there, but i'm sure that that rings true with others.
I don't really buy the 'time constraints' or 'budget constraints' that people are putting forward as an arguement.
Prime example: WOW Cataclysm.
Certainly no budget constraints there, nor was there any time constraints.
Result: the game was made better in certain areas, however, as a whole, the hardcore WoW community felt that the xpac was 'dumbed down' and catered a lot more to a 'casual gamer' crowd.
That's called 'market share, right there!
Dumbing down a game often results in increasing your share market, ie your wallet size.
Not true all the time but true 98% of the time. Perfect business sense. And that is also what's wrong with games today.
The dumbing down, because cooperations are too self-engrossed in predicting profit margins or market capture or forecasting how many millions of copies they will sell, or how 'easy' it will be for a person of casual gaming quality will be able to enjoy it.
Point is, games are being developed more for the general gamer in mind, one who has less time these days to devote hours upon hours, or the casual gamer, who's priorities are elsewhere, but still wants to experience the game everynow and then.
I think most of the games on the market at present are very shallow, void of much quality, certainly in the sense of story and plot, or where you can be 'taken away' and plunged into a dream world where reality merges with fantasy, whilst controlling yourself via a game pad or the humble mouse and keyboard.
Or maybe the OP is being nostalgic maybe as well?
Seriously though, i agree with OP, in some cases. Digging out the ole classics and thinking man, what a great game that was.
Games like Armored Fist, or Diablo 1 and 2, or Duke Nukem or Civ 1 on the old 486.
And that says a lot doesn't it?
Conclusion?
Yes, there are some wonderful games out there!
Yes, they push your gpu. Yes they push your skill level with the mouse or game pad.
But really, isn't it the same old mindless shoot em ups, or same old hack and slash mindless drivel with it all being glossed over with some admittedly stunning graphics here and there or cut scenes straight out of the imax theatres.
So?
The meat of the game though hasn't changed, nor will it.
The future of gaming looks bleak.