Is this the worst generation ever for games?

[SuperDanX]

Im going to get shot down in flames for this im sure, as i know many of you think this is the best generation ever, not the worst. However frankly im bored to tears and can barely muster any enthusiasm for even previously much loved franchises (metal gear/resi etc) it all just seems soooo boring. Yes im an old man but does anyone agree? I thought last gen was superb but this is just boring*yawns* Discuss or 'cuss.

[prinnysquad]

It's not over yet so I've no idea.

Maybe there are a few reasons for your disaffection?
A lack of challenge in many games?
Other hobbies being more appealing (I know you've been on a film-fest for a while now and discovering new things is often a bit of a rush!)?
The modern system of games buying is too consumerist? i.e., play for one week then everyone moves on?


I still think there's many great games out there, but maybe the context for enjoying them the way you used to is lost?
I hope this thread doesn't turn into a game-list-fest!

[Dogg Thang]

I believe the appropriate response would be - what, are you nuts? The DS alone disproves that and the amount of great games for other platforms is huge.

I imagine there are many factors here, possibly age and life situations being among them. I wouldn't fret. You'll soon discover gardening and your life will have new meaning.

Really though? Nah. There's a lot of cack out there this gen, no doubt, but there always has been. People will be wondering the exact same thing in a generation's time. And then the generation after that. And so on. But life situations could definitely play a part. As Prinny says, maybe the context is no longer right.

[ezee ryder]

Simple answer to your question is no.

I have had this discussion many times with some friends and I think there is culture among some gamers where it is "cool" to think the current generation of games are "nothing" compared to what has come before them. It borders on elitism with some people.

Fact is there are games being released now that great, good, average and crap. That doesn't just apply to this generation tough, it happened in the past too. I guess some people just look back at older games with rose tinted glasses.

[Pavey]

Dan, it's not you it's me.

[Pavey]

What i mean is it's probably you (in a nice way), i have spates like that. Think it's just a sign of getting older. Lack of enthusiam for the same old same old.

[kernow]

I must admit I am having trouble finding things to play. I only own a PS3 (oh and a wii), so I don't have access to the wealth of 360 titles people go on about, but modern gaming isn't really cutting it for me. This generation has had some great games though, I admit that. Its just I can't find a thing to play on my PS3 at the moment, thank god for PSN with its affordable throw-away titles.

I had a look in town today for something new and it was just depressing looking at the shelves. I know some people will go 'but what about infamous' and other such things but I've played the demo and it just didn't interest me. I know some of you are younger or whatever so you might be more interested in the current gen. Mostly to me most of it seems like the same old tired game from last gen underneath, but with shinier graphics.

I'm not trying to be 'cool' or whatever and slate everyone elses preferences, however I do look in the 'show your gaming purchases' thread and just sometimes think 'wow, I'd never buy or play that personally'



I don't find the DS interesting anymore either, I played a lot of good games on it when owning mine, but it just got really tiresome in the end.

[SmokeMeAKipper]

No [obligatory filling up of characters to get this posted]

[abigsmurf]

If you excluded the DS, I would say definately. However the DS has such an immense range of titles it balances out the lack of variety in the other consoles. You could argue that the DS is last generation mind.

I do agree, I'm not getting excited for PS3 and Wii titles at the moment, the Wii is perhaps the biggest I've experienced in a console, so much unrealised potential and none of the spark you see on the DS. There's a rise in lowest common denominator games. FPS' have to have Halo style health/shields (or some form of immortality), action games have to have Gears of War cover mechanics (even RE5, when RE4 was a superior game to GoW). Then there's guitar hero and Rock band. I wasn't interested with the first one, I'm sure as hell not interested in the glorified song packs coming out every 3 months.

I've still some hope, the best games for consoles come out when they're on their decline, I know I'm getting a huge amount of playtime out of my PS2 at the moment.

E3 will be incredibly important this year, most of all for Nintendo who need to remind people why they're such a well regarded publisher.

[SuperDanX]

Lol, its nothing to do with being cool or elitism, just it all seems so samey. Kernow summed it up well for me. I also own a ps3

[philbw]

I would say yes, and no. Agreeing with others, the DS has some amazing titles and the innovation in some DS games is brilliant. BUT on the home console front I've got to say I'm not feeling as excited as I was with previous gen games... Everything feels same-old-same-old. Even the Wii, with its new way of playing has got too samey too quickly...

I wonder if thats why I've gone back to my SNES??

[monel]

I know most would disagree with me but I don't really like this generation at all. I used to play a lot of quirky Japanese software and since I own a 360 as my main platform I find myself returning to Ridge Racer and one or two other games but look through the games for sale at Gamestation etc and find nothing interests me.

I didn't have a PS2, had a Dreamcast and Xbox so I think I missed out on a lot of quality titles last gen. I might go down that route but for various reasons maybe I'm just not into games anymore.

Everyone loved SF4 for instance, and I was hyped for it by these boards, but I didn't like it in the end. Although I played SF2 for years and years.

[noobish hat]

Yes, you are correct. I was having this same conversation (for the millionth time) last time after examining the gamefaqs' 'best game ever' brackets, which from 2001 to present are entirely devoid of any classics. I'm not saying there's nothing worth playing, but I honestly don't believe in twenty years' time there will be many games remembered as classics from this era. Handhelds are a slightly different issue, but I certainly don't think there are as many great games on the ds and psp as were on all the preceding handhelds. I was stuck on the train earlier and all I had was my DS and a couple of games, so I put on Meteos. All I could think was 'I wish I had my original gameboy and tetris on me'. Unfortunately they were where I left them, on my bathroom floor. I've got a 360, but so far all I have played on it really is Nazi Zombies on COD5 - not even the main game.

[abigsmurf]

I think one thing which has been noteworthy is the lack of exiting Japanese titles. There have been a small amount of stuff but not enough. They've been outsourcing too many key franchises and not producing creativity in their high profile titles.

I get the impression that the Wii's success took them by surprise and by the time they could react, the Wii market was flooded with shovelware. The PS3 wasn't strong enough for Japanese developers to commit to and they seem to be a lot less keen on doing multiplatform releases.

Perhaps will see signs of life at E3 before a strong TGS later on.

[Skull Commander]

For me this is the best gen since the 16 bit era. I'm a cynical bastard at the best of times, but this gen has single handed made me love online games (thanks to Street Fighter titles and Call of Duty titles) , embrace downloadable titles, and has brought a new audience of games fans in, thanks to the Wii, and the rise of the music title.