My Theory

conus00 · 02-01-10, 09:04 PM

I think you both nailed it.
Kids don't even read books nowadays.

Highbury · 02-01-10, 09:08 PM

I think the game companies want it this way. They want ADD kiddies that always need a new game every two weeks. It costs them less to produce such crap and they make more then they do off of people who are content with a good title for 3 - 5 years.

Méo · 02-01-10, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highbury

I think the game companies want it this way. They want ADD kiddies that always need a new game every two weeks. It costs them less to produce such crap and they make more then they do off of people who are content with a good title for 3 - 5 years.

Yeah! another good point.

KL-alfman · 02-01-10, 09:19 PM

cut the pocket-money!!

tomoose · 02-01-10, 09:24 PM

Yup, it's all about "attention span", LOL. I forget where I saw/heard this but as a graphic example look at any modern music video such as seen on MTV (MTV is hard to watch on any given day anyway!

). Not one camera angle/view will last more than 5 seconds before it changes. I've actually tried this and it's accurate. Each time the camera view changes in the video start counting, you'll rarely reach 5 seconds. That about sums up the "younger generation" and the quick fix/disposable society we live in (and is probably a clear sign I'm getting older, LOL).

Task Force · 02-01-10, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomoose

Yup, it's all about "attention span", LOL. I forget where I saw/heard this but as a graphic example look at any modern music video such as seen on MTV (MTV is hard to watch on any given day anyway!

). Not one camera angle/view will last more than 5 seconds before it changes. I've actually tried this and it's accurate. Each time the camera view changes in the video start counting, you'll rarely reach 5 seconds. That about sums up the "younger generation" and the quick fix/disposable society we live in (and is probably a clear sign I'm getting older, LOL).

MT... V NOOO!!! onlything they play is rap.

yea, for people with short attention spans...

Frederf · 02-02-10, 01:11 AM

The amusing thing is we are made to feel guilty for re-selling games rapid-fire despite that behavior being exactly that which is cultivated in us. Similarly, publishers and developers complain about the budget that modern graphics requires, again because that is what behavior is cultivated in us.

Entertainment being competitive strives to outdo other entertainment by having "more" and "bigger" events without a thorough understanding of how those events work. A game is often marketed as "more exciting" if enemies come at you in double the numbers, but we all know that doubling the size of the monster or the number of times it breaks out of a wall exactly on cue doesn't double the value of the entertainment. We also know that constant excitement is not possible as excitement is only achievable contrasted with slower-paced events.

An ideal Silent Hunter for example would not increase the rate of torpedoings and sinkings in some blind dash to "make more exciting" but instead let those events being brilliant in their rarity while doing as much as possible to make the times over than those events enjoyable. Examples could be mechanical breakdowns, better weather, D/F radio modeled, etc.

Safe-Keeper · 02-02-10, 01:40 AM

Well... they've released four games so far, and they've been fairly sim-my. Can't blame them if they want to try a new tack. It's like the new Star Trek film, I guess, some people like it when you break from convention, some people don't.

I, too, would prefer a sim over this action game, though. I enjoy action games (like the Star Wars Rogue Squadron series), but they often irritate me more than they entertain me. The macho Hollywood approach just isn't for me.

JScones · 02-02-10, 02:00 AM

It's certainly about the "instant gratification" and the "I want it and I want it now" society that's crept in over the last 5 or so years.

I'm seeing it at work - 21 year olds that come and then leave because they weren't promoted to CEO within the first week (no, not exaggerating).

jerm138 · 02-02-10, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frederf

A game is often marketed as "more exciting" if enemies come at you in double the numbers, but we all know that doubling the size of the monster or the number of times it breaks out of a wall exactly on cue doesn't double the value of the entertainment. We also know that constant excitement is not possible as excitement is only achievable contrasted with slower-paced events.

THIS is why I think Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is one of the WORST games I have ever played.

I've played shooters from the beginning, starting with Wolfenstein3D. I spent many years playing the Rainbow6 and Ghost Recon series. I liked these games for the same reason I like Silent Hunter... lots of brainwork and planning that pays off when you get a finely calculated attack. 20 minutes of anticipation followed by 2 minutes of excitement will get your heart pumping!

COD4MW2 was just a non-stop barrage of "action." Definitely made with the ADD generation in mind. You become numb within the first 10 minutes of the game. The excitement is gone, because you're just constantly mowing down enemies, 100% of the time. It never slows down. Anticipation never builds (except for the couple of missions where you're sneaking around, but even there you're being directed where to go and what to do, so you can't plan anything.)

Iron Budokan · 02-01-10, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conus00

I think you both nailed it.
Kids don't even read books nowadays.

Reading has always been an eclectic activity. And you're right, kids don't read print books, but they do read e-books, more and more.

I expect the argument was much the same when the Gutenberg Press came into being. "These kids nowadays. Don't know the value of vellum!"

Captain Sub · 02-01-10, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Kids don't even read books nowadays.

Yea and I as a kid feel pretty damaged, as I have aquired this "faster, quicker, more exciting" mind over many years through this new age of hyper-entertainment. It's ruined my peace and patience and reading books really is harder for me now.

peace

theluckyone17 · 02-01-10, 10:17 PM

Could be Ubisoft and the Dev's are going by the assumption that the "short attention span" market is larger, and they can make more profit by orienting the game towards them.

However, they've still got the core followers in us old school simulator types. We're obviously devoted to the series. We're willing to spend the time modding the game into a simulator.

So if they market the game towards the "SAS" crowd, in addition to providing the tools to modify the game into a sim, then they've hit both markets with a minimum of effort (thereby maximizing profits).

Leo_93 · 02-01-10, 10:29 PM

I totally agree with you theluckyone17, its not like the SAS crowd will want to mod a Sim into a navel shoot em up game anyway right.

Robsoie · 02-01-10, 10:39 PM

To please every crowd that can be potentially be interested in your subsim, just make plenty of realism optional settings that anyone can modify to tailor the product to his liking.

That worked perfectly in past subsim to get both the action player and the simulation player on the same product without frustrating any of them, it was just a matter of enabling or disabling whatever realism options you wanted.

It was possible to get nearly an arcade level subsim in which torpedoes where autoguided by the most elite "i spot and hear everything" crew, to hit any target that moved after the player was just putting the crosshair on them, or having to setup your firing solutions just to enrage because that was a damn dud torpedo that just made the destroyer now going to be angry after he avoided your previous carefully calculated one.

02-01-10, 09:04 PM	#1
conus00 Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2008 Location: DB85 Posts: 804 Downloads: 166 Uploads: 0	I think you both nailed it. Kids don't even read books nowadays. __________________

02-01-10, 09:19 PM	#4
KL-alfman Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Weimar Posts: 930 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	cut the pocket-money!! __________________ Life, Liberty and Property!

02-01-10, 09:24 PM	#5
tomoose Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 930 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	Couldn't agree more. Yup, it's all about "attention span", LOL. I forget where I saw/heard this but as a graphic example look at any modern music video such as seen on MTV (MTV is hard to watch on any given day anyway!). Not one camera angle/view will last more than 5 seconds before it changes. I've actually tried this and it's accurate. Each time the camera view changes in the video start counting, you'll rarely reach 5 seconds. That about sums up the "younger generation" and the quick fix/disposable society we live in (and is probably a clear sign I'm getting older, LOL).

02-02-10, 01:40 AM	#8
Safe-Keeper Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 3,234 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Well... they've released four games so far, and they've been fairly sim-my. Can't blame them if they want to try a new tack. It's like the new Star Trek film, I guess, some people like it when you break from convention, some people don't. I, too, would prefer a sim over this action game, though. I enjoy action games (like the Star Wars Rogue Squadron series), but they often irritate me more than they entertain me. The macho Hollywood approach just isn't for me. __________________ First Strike Mod tester. Hardcore sub skipper.

02-01-10, 09:08 PM	#2
Highbury The Old Man Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 51.557, -0.102 Posts: 1,311 Downloads: 177 Uploads: 0	I think the game companies want it this way. They want ADD kiddies that always need a new game every two weeks. It costs them less to produce such crap and they make more then they do off of people who are content with a good title for 3 - 5 years.

02-02-10, 01:11 AM	#7
Frederf Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 665 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 1	The amusing thing is we are made to feel guilty for re-selling games rapid-fire despite that behavior being exactly that which is cultivated in us. Similarly, publishers and developers complain about the budget that modern graphics requires, again because that is what behavior is cultivated in us. Entertainment being competitive strives to outdo other entertainment by having "more" and "bigger" events without a thorough understanding of how those events work. A game is often marketed as "more exciting" if enemies come at you in double the numbers, but we all know that doubling the size of the monster or the number of times it breaks out of a wall exactly on cue doesn't double the value of the entertainment. We also know that constant excitement is not possible as excitement is only achievable contrasted with slower-paced events. An ideal Silent Hunter for example would not increase the rate of torpedoings and sinkings in some blind dash to "make more exciting" but instead let those events being brilliant in their rarity while doing as much as possible to make the times over than those events enjoyable. Examples could be mechanical breakdowns, better weather, D/F radio modeled, etc.

02-02-10, 02:00 AM	#9
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	It's certainly about the "instant gratification" and the "I want it and I want it now" society that's crept in over the last 5 or so years. I'm seeing it at work - 21 year olds that come and then leave because they weren't promoted to CEO within the first week (no, not exaggerating).

02-01-10, 10:17 PM	#13
theluckyone17 Captain Join Date: May 2006 Location: Niskayuna, NY Posts: 482 Downloads: 103 Uploads: 0	Could be Ubisoft and the Dev's are going by the assumption that the "short attention span" market is larger, and they can make more profit by orienting the game towards them. However, they've still got the core followers in us old school simulator types. We're obviously devoted to the series. We're willing to spend the time modding the game into a simulator. So if they market the game towards the "SAS" crowd, in addition to providing the tools to modify the game into a sim, then they've hit both markets with a minimum of effort (thereby maximizing profits).

02-01-10, 10:29 PM	#14
Leo_93 Aviator Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59 Downloads: 134 Uploads: 0	I totally agree with you theluckyone17, its not like the SAS crowd will want to mod a Sim into a navel shoot em up game anyway right.

02-01-10, 10:39 PM	#15
Robsoie Machinist's Mate Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 130 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	To please every crowd that can be potentially be interested in your subsim, just make plenty of realism optional settings that anyone can modify to tailor the product to his liking. That worked perfectly in past subsim to get both the action player and the simulation player on the same product without frustrating any of them, it was just a matter of enabling or disabling whatever realism options you wanted. It was possible to get nearly an arcade level subsim in which torpedoes where autoguided by the most elite "i spot and hear everything" crew, to hit any target that moved after the player was just putting the crosshair on them, or having to setup your firing solutions just to enrage because that was a damn dud torpedo that just made the destroyer now going to be angry after he avoided your previous carefully calculated one.