Well, as of right now there are only two upcoming games that I am actually excited about (SPORE and Super Smash Bros. Brawl), so I kind of get what you're saying.
I really don't think, though, that the gaming industry as a whole is mined out of ideas. It's just that until gamers stop buying the same old stuff, game companies aren't going to want to come out with anything fresh. There are exceptions to this (HL2, Katamari, The DS...) but it seems like those are too few and far between to keep me as interested in coming games as I was years ago, during the N64/PSX era or even during the early PS2/XBOX/GCN generation.

I've been feeling this way too, to an extent. Last year I started playing City of Heroes and pretty much stopped regular gaming besides playing through Tales of Symphonia, but since I finished that CoH kept me from other titles. Now I've left CoH for a good variety of reasons, and I still can't find anything to hook me on home consoles, though the DS and Animal Crossing has certainately hooked me.

Even then, I'm not playing like I used to, and I miss being deeply involved in a game. I'm hoping the new Zelda keeps me hooked like Wind Waker did, so I do look forward to a few titles, but mostly the things that look like they'll be an amazing experience when I can play them.

It's the summer lull. This happens every year. Personally I beat it by buying a PS2 and a bunch of used games. Since you already have one, I suggest getting a DS. You will not be underwhelmed, I guarantee it.

I've actually felt this way for about a year now.

It seems like I've completely fallen out of the gaming scene. On occasion, I'll take a glance at new games, but I have no desire to buy any. I don't really care for the 360 or the PSP and the PS3 is going to be too high. As far as the DS and Wii is concerned, I just plain don't like Nintendo any more.

Let's see...

*upcoming games that are coming out this year that caught my interest*

PS2:
--Okami
--Yakuza
--Devil Summoner
--Tales of the Abyss
--Valkyrie Profile II: Silmeria
--FFXII

DS:
--Rocket Slime
--Yoshi's Island 2
--Touch Detective
--Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
--FFIII
--Contact
--Hotel Dusk
--Elite Beat Agents
--Lunar Knights
--Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon
--Pokemon Ranger
--The pink DSLite itself.(please let the US release rumors be true)

Wii:
--Wario Ware
--Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess

...nope, no underwhelment over here.

If anything, I'm overwhelmed by the awesome-ness of gaming this year--especially with the DS. My purse will be crying!

DS am AWESOME 2006!

Also, I hope my brother gets that X360 he wants so I can finally play Oblivion. Yay!

Heck there are even more games I want now! Like the intriguing Bit Generations line for the GBA and Rhythm Tengoku. I would have to import them for now though.

Maybe, you just need a break from games...or a DS for an alternative experence. heh

Quote:

---

I really don't think, though, that the gaming industry as a whole is mined out of ideas. It's just that until gamers stop buying the same old stuff, game companies aren't going to want to come out with anything fresh. There are exceptions to this (HL2, Katamari, The DS...) but it seems like those are too few and far between to keep me as interested in coming games as I was years ago, during the N64/PSX era or even during the early PS2/XBOX/GCN generation.

---

I hate to tell you this, but the industry has always been like this..."following the trend of the gen". For example, you won't believe how depressing it was seeing some low rate, Street Fighter-wannabe outselling something like Chrono Trigger and Super Metroid combined because 2D-fighters were the "in-thing" in the 16-bit era.

Dead Rising for Xbox 360.

Thread over.

I want to agree, but I've not played it yet. Dad doesn't like those sorts of games, the ones that are violent for the sake of being violent (or because there's a freaking mall full of zombies, take your pick), and have virtually no strategy (whether or not that's true about DR) - and he's the one who owns a 360. Plus my little bro is always playing it, so I guess he just wants games that said brother can watch him play.

Like Halo. Which I don't approve of myself, but it's a little late now.

Oh well, it'll happen eventually.

For the record, said parent won't even let me try out Street Fighter 2. This is kinda silly, but it's occurred to me that I've never once in my entire life played Street Fighter 2. How this has happened, I may never know...

Oh, yeah.
The cost of playing games is going up, and so far, the only titles I'm looking forward to are:
Final Fantasy XIII
Sonic the Hedgehog
My favorite series got discontinued (see siggy), and current games seem to be getting less and less creative, and full of fancy graphics, but little or no plot. It's disheartening.

I bet my reflexs 'pwn' yours SH.

Anyway, I'll vent on fake blood or real blood, choice is up to the rest of the population, back to topic.

Srol, the MMO market has been utterly destroyed by WoW. Because of that low graphic piece of trash now EVERY company thinks that can make a quick buck on some slapped together MMO with a franchised skin. They, however, are too stupid to realize the allure of WoW was not what they thought it was. It was the fact that it was an online game that people could "pwn noobs" at and it would run reasonably fast on their mom's Pentium III with a half gig of ram and crappy video card.

After that thing took rank there were no good MMO's. I only see two on the horizon that _might_ be worth looking into. Pirates of the Burning Sea, a pirate mmo with RTS ship fights, how can it be bad? And Vanguard, McQuaid's ever charging forward pet project fabled to be his attempt at a REAL sequel to Everquest.

As for the rest of the market, it does look fairly bleak. We have Spore do out... when? Is still dated for march or did it get pushed back again?

On the FPS scene we have a few up and comers. The dark horse "The Ship" is quirky but pretty cool. Kevin says its fun, I haven't played it. We all know about Prey, Aliens vs Indians, nuff said. And on the horizon is Battlefield 2142, which if EA continues its downward spiral will be like a mechwarrior game without the mech customization, plotline, and with more bunnyhopping.

We also have Dark Messiah which, again according to my favorite ratboy, is a step up from Oblivion. To which I asked if that wasn't in fact Morrowwind and had a PC Gamer magazine thrown at me in place of a response.

Of course there's Phantasy Star Online. Which I've very iffy on with the current state of MMO games. I'll buy it if Fex makes me.

Of course it ALL pales in comparison to Dead Rising. Which alone has me itching to spend your hard spent casino money on a 360.

~Rico

Don't you mean Phantasy Star Universe?

:: shrugs :: I had never played an MMO before WoW in my life. I picked it up because I've been a long-time fan of the WoW universe, and frankly I liked the design philosophy behind the game that you could make great art without needing the latest video card. It was fun for about a year, but I always got bored and put my account on hold when I reached end-game because it got too tedious. After a while, I had started so many new characters that the beggining content got tedious as well, although some things re-energized my interest here and there, like the Penny-Arcade Alliance on Dark Iron.

Frankly though, I think I just don't like MMO's. I can only take the mindless grinding to level up if its a story and universe I enjoy, and I can't even say that about WoW anymore.

I might go back to my 60 Dark Iron mage when I get a new computer and off this hand-me-down Mac if my guild asks me too. Otherwise though...I dunno. I think if I get a new computer, it will open up a lot of doors for me gaming-wise. I've always been more of a PC gamer than a console gamer. I cut my teeth on games like Wing Commander and Wolfenstein 3D. The only reason I went with consoles at all was the allure of renting games and not having to save up $50 to buy a game when I had an allowance of $3 a week.

I think one of the reasons is that I'm just sperled when it comes to video games. I've played a bajillion first person shooters in my life, from Dark Forces to Half-Life 2. Over time, no matter what the bells and whistles each one has, they all play pretty much the same. What separates the men from the boys for me is if the game has a narrative that I can sink my teeth into and get interested.

One of the games I've been playing the most lately is Star Chamber. Okay, that's mainly because it's one of the few games that'l work on this crappy computer, but that game is so based around story. I know most people play it for the multiplayer portion, but I love the single-player campaign games and the intricate plots you get every turn depending on your strategy.

Bleh. 3 AM. Writing incoherently. Time to die

Plop

WoW=win. But I still play Guild Wars. =b

Anyway...yeah, kinda what Cyke said about Summers for gaming. There's a lotta DS stuff I'm looking forward to, and it seems like a promising Holiday season, assuming the Wii and Twilight Princess is released.

~T2K

But see, the thing about the Wii is that it's going to be very touch-and-go when it comes out, in that it could go either way in sales depending on whether the public at large and not just the gamers take to it. So it could either be A close second or a distant third in the console race.

And if Twilight Princess Wii is just another Link's Awakening DX as far as extra content goes, I'll just fish my GameCube out of storage and play it on that.

There are only two ways to play an MMO. A chatroom where you can kill stuff, and a mindless grind to be teh uber. And a LOT of MMO's negate the former with no character customization (WoW) and no community areas/emotes/etc (EQ2).

The thing that made WoW so huge was something blizzard never even thought about. The big thing was like I said, the fact that almost anyone could run it, unlike SWG, EQ2, L2, CoH, etc. Then you add in small stuff like the simple combat system, quick leveling early on, simple craft system that was STILL a crafting system, cartoon Warcraft style graphics (Which do look awesome for what's used to process them), funnyass emotes (Seen all the WoW videos around? Not as many as SWG had but you don't see hardly any EQ2 videos and I think everyone as seen the "Internet is for Porn" WoW video.)

You combine all that little stuff that Blizzard probably didn't even think about and while none if it alone is anything that really matters, you get a game that has a little of everything that the average gamer likes. Instant gratification, teh funny, glowing eyes, bright colors, and big explosions.

I'm a customization whore though, the one point WoW was sorely lacking in, much like Lineage. If WoW had had the template that CoH or EQ2 had. I'd probably be a myth on it instead of SWG now.

~

the only game i'm really looking forward to right now is PSU, all the others just don't really grasp my attention.
i'm a bit jaded towards the new sonic games as i simply can't afford the consoles.

What's more, is that games are now more focused on making the younger generation happy with graphics, not those of us that started out playing Atari, Pole Position, and other such classics, which the younger generations will most likely never know.
To me, games such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (2D at its best), Legacy of Kain, never got the recognition they deserved. Or even the classic Mario and sonic games for that matter.
I'm babbling. Bottom line: creativity in games is taking the back burner to graphics.

Srol, have you ever thought about trying a game from a genre you usually haven't tapped into? Like if you tired of FPS maybe you should try a racing game or a point and click adventure or a 3D fighter or any freeware game they you can play on the PC like Cave Story.

Quote:

---

What's more, is that games are now more focused on making the younger generation happy with graphics, not those of us that started out playing Atari, Pole Position, and other such classics, which the younger generations will most likely never know.
To me, games such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (2D at its best), Legacy of Kain, never got the recognition they deserved. Or even the classic Mario and sonic games for that matter.
I'm babbling. Bottom line: creativity in games is taking the back burner to graphics.

---

Eh? It was all about the graphics. I'm sure that SMB3 was one of the more advance looking NES title at the time. Donkey Kong Country main appeal was the pushing the SNES limits in the technical graphic area. People were also probably wowed by the multitude of colors many prominant 16-bit titles displayed such as Chrono Trigger and Sonic the Hedgehog. Heck, Castlevania:SotN was praised because of the hi-quality art direction in 2D.

I think many people here who are jaded about todays gaming about how its not good as it used to be are wearing:

of nostalgia.

Believe me, there were a lot of crap being sold back in the day. And if anything, I say gaming is better than it was in the NES days as there was a hellava lot of shovelware on that system.

Oh and if anything as of now the game industry is mostly aiming towards the 16-34 crowd, not the younger generation.

Dammit Ashide! Let me HAVE my nostalgia. It's all an old washed up gamer like me HAS!

Just for that I'm not going to give you the antidote.

~Rico

^Heh. Be glad I can't find the US video game sales charts for 1994 at the moment or your nostalgia of "the good old days" will cry. 🙂

Quote:

---

Eh? It was all about the graphics. I'm sure that SMB3 was one of the more advance looking NES title at the time. Donkey Kong Country main appeal was the pushing the SNES limits in the technical graphic area. People were also probably wowed by the multitude of colors many prominant 16-bit titles displayed such as Chrono Trigger and Sonic the Hedgehog. Heck, Castlevania:SotN was praised because of the hi-quality art direction in 2D.

---

Uh. No?
Notice how everyone praises FF7, but have probably never realized how great FF3 was (ask any decent gamer), because of it's plot and characters. Same with LoK. It got discountinued because no one wanted to deal with in-depth storylines and less-than-perfect graphics.
It still sucks how alot of children will never know the older, greater games.
Creativity is lacking in today's games. For example: Kingdom Hearts. Most unoriginal piece of garbage I ever played. Yet, is insanely popular. LoK: beautiful, original, and different. Failed miserably. Coincidence? I think not.
I am unimpressed by many of the upcoming titles, as they all seem to follow the same formulas.

Most unoriginal piece of garbage I ever played.

So I take it you've played a lot of Disney/Final Fantasy crossover action-RPGs? Kingdom Hearts is a lot of things, including mediocre, but it isn't unoriginal.

Quote:

---

It still sucks how alot of children will never know the older, greater games.

---

... until the first time they step into Hot Topic, and then they act like they're all about it so they can seem "cool".

LoK had more going against it than 'bad graphics'. Like endless box puzzles. Like completely aping Devil May Cry in Defiance. Like having Blood Omen 2 be completely mediocre in every sense of the word.

I bemoan the shunning of truly great stories like every other gamer (hell, the criminal neglect of Killer7 by the entire world still pisses me off), but the failure of the few doesn't mean that every great game gets ignored.

Me? I'm optimistic. I have to be: Guitar Hero 2's coming out in a few months. Since I'm still playing Guitar Hero 1 almost a year later, I'd say that Guitar Hero 2 could carry me easily through the next year.

Notice how everyone praises FF7, but have probably never realized how great FF3 was (ask any decent gamer), because of it's plot and characters.

If you're trying to make a graphics point, FF7 looks like total ass. Event he first day it came out me and my mates thoguht it looked like total ass.

Your character looks like a f**kin lego.

Not to mention FF7 sure as hell didn't age well graphically like SotN did. Heck, I would go far to say in certain aspects FF6 looks better than FF7.

Quote:

---

Creativity is lacking in today's games.

---

Quote:

---

I am unimpressed by many of the upcoming titles, as they all seem to follow the same formulas.

---

I like how these statements comes from the same person whose most anticpated games are FF13 and Sonic 2006 which is very ironic. The former mentioned game is funnier since it is becoming a franchise within a franchise just like that FF7 complitation crud. Even better if this person haven't even heard of Okami or Loco Roco.

Quote:

---

Notice how everyone praises FF7, but have probably never realized how great FF3 was (ask any decent gamer), because of it's plot and characters.

---

FF6. The game is not FF3, it's FF6. FF3 was an NES game that never saw the light of day outside of Japan, but will come this fall/winter on the DS. Then things'll REALLY get confusing, so to alleviate it, the SNES game is FF6, and that's final. (No pun intended.)

I like how these statements comes from the same person whose most anticpated games are FF13 and Sonic 2006 which is very ironic.
I might add that I've played Sonic 2006, and it's basically Sonic Adventure with better grahics. Wildfire is much better.

Secret Rings, you mean.

And seeing as I liked Adventure, your description doesn't do much to alter my "cautiously optimistic" outlook. 🙂

Still, though, I'm more interested in the Wii right now. Like, what would or wouldn't be on the Virtual Console, when it's finally coming out, what price it is, what on Earth I'm getting with it, if anything... the usual.

Quote:

---

Dammit Ashide! Let me HAVE my nostalgia. It's all an old washed up gamer like me HAS!

---

Meanwhile, a 'washed up gamer' like me would kick your butt in any decent game (assuming you've played any).

Quote:

---

So I take it you've played a lot of Disney/Final Fantasy crossover action-RPGs? Kingdom Hearts is a lot of things, including mediocre, but it isn't unoriginal.

---

Then whats with all the filler Disney characters and stereotypes in it?

Again, you are complaining about stereotypes when you are looking forward to FF13 and Sonic 2K6?

Quote:

---

Meanwhile, a 'washed up gamer' like me would kick your butt in any decent game (assuming you've played any).

---

Dude.

Are you asking for a fight with Rico?

That's MY shtick. Get your own!

Quote:

---

Then whats with all the filler Disney characters and stereotypes in it?

---

Functions of the plot. And what stereotypes? I never saw any big-lipped black people, squinty-eyed Asians, or bubble-headed blonde women. o.o

I'm assuming he means clichs based on how certain characters act, but the FF franchise is full of them and judging by the people who are producing the FF13(s) it won't be any different.

I know. Sarcasm is always best if it's responded by more sarcasm and not pointed out.

But yeah, that's true.

Cliches; a Staple of EVERYTHING in life.

Including Chuck Norris.

Well, its sort of hard to detect sarcasm on the internets.

When and where godboy? :3

~da rabbit

I wonder how long that excuse will be milked?

One game I actually was kinda excited about was the recently announced game Portal by Valve. I watched the demo video and THAT was a game I wanted to play just because it looked hella fun. It looked like the sorta thing I could play around with for hours before actually doing anything to progress through it.

Unfortunately, moving out on your own doesn't leave you with much moolah. Every day I'm forced to raid my savings to pay bills. I have a minimum, which i'm not going to let my savings account get below, and unfortunately, the way things currently are, affording a computer that would be able to play Portal, or any PC game for that matter, seems impossible.

Makes me sad really. I cut my teeth on PC gaming. I only got into consoles because I could rent games without buying them and now I'm stuck with a 4 year old iMac that takes 3 minutes to open Firefox. It's a damn shame.

There is one game that I'm really looking forward to, it's nothing technically astounding, graphically stylish, or uniquely innovative, and it's on PS2 rather than next gen, and isn't the best looking PS2 title either. However, with each trailer I've seen, and gameplay clip too, I get more and more excited. Maybe it's the music in the trailer....or the fact that you can superkick, Bruce Lee style, someone into orbit...either way, the game I'm talking about is Clover's God Hand.