Quote:
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Originally Posted by Skybird
The magic is gone. We're getting older, computer games are nothing new anymore, we do not get surprised by new worlds anymore - they are standard, they are routine. There may be a future to live, but the magic is gone and it ain't gonna come back.  |
Well, the games have (IMHO) gone downhill for the following reasons:
1. New games require so much code that much of it is recycled from other previous titles, giving most games a similar look & feel to many other games;
2. The market has changed. The major market for PC games used to be the 20+ enthusiast/game crowd, now the market is much bigger and many titles simply pander to the lowest common denominator for the largest masse appeal possible;
3. Related to #2 is the growing share of the console market and desire to port PC titles to the machines, meaning they have to conform to their limitations and appeal to the same audience;
4. The technology has gotten so good that games are getting increasingly realistic, and there is more and more demand for 'realism', but often it seems this translates into superficial eye candy at the expense of actually making the game 'fun' or interesting, let alone novel or unique;
5. All of the above explains why there are dozens and dozens of RTS clones and 3-D shooters, which require only improvements to existing code/graphics, and pander to the widest possible audience so game makers get the maximum return on minimum risk. Doing something different, novel, is risky and potentially much less profitable.