Next Gen Im going Retro

[Dogg Thang]

Beyond a personal level? It's the personal that makes them important.

[Brad]

Exactly. Modern society is such that I don't get to do much hunting and gathering these days so I appreciate videogames that let me satisfy these primal urges!

[dataDave]

Next Gen Im going Retro

[Sketcz]

Those in this thread who've claimed games are important, what has led you to believe that? It's not a loaded question by the way, if something is important to you then it's important to you and nobody can tell you otherwise, but I'm interested to know why games, beyond a personal level, are important as I suspect that's what some were claiming.

When I was younger I was always trying to justify my liking of games to parents, teachers, peers who didn't get them (but did get utter rubbish like "foot ball"), colleagues who looked down on them, and exes who thought them silly.

Now that I'm older I no longer have this insecurity. I like games. I like them more than moral crusades - they are my moral crusade. preservation of data. I like them more than politics, which is just a bunch of arguing idiots making life more difficult. I like them more than many things, but not more than all things (I'm pretty sure I like stir-fry rice and Star Trek more than games).

In today's society of mindless plebs standing in queues at the store with their smartphone, checking Facebook updates, as if that's the social Zeitgeist, I really can't be arsed any more to justify why games are worthwhile.

They just are, by virtue of the fact I like them and others like them.

[wakka]

Those in this thread who've claimed games are important, what has led you to believe that? It's not a loaded question by the way, if something is important to you then it's important to you and nobody can tell you otherwise, but I'm interested to know why games, beyond a personal level, are important as I suspect that's what some were claiming.

I definitely think they're important. Interactive computer entertainment as a whole is something that I think has a lot of growing up to do, but is an amazingly flexible method of expression and entertainment. There's really simply nothing you can't do with games. It's that limitless possibility, I guess, that makes them important to me. Although I'm willing to admit that I am placing a lot in the potential of games.

On a personal level they're unquestionably immensely important to me. I've been playing them all my life and am sick of the way that they're derided as a lesser form of entertainment, or something for children. Playing virtually any game is infinitely more constructive than watching 99% of TV. I simply don't understand why most people think that watching Celebrity Juice or Keeping Up With the Kardashians is a more appropriate pursuit for adults. As opposed to following a narrative, solving puzzles, testing your dexterity, perseverance and patience. It's infuriating.

Unless you only watch BBC4, playing games is a vastly more enriching way of spending your time than watching TV.

[Brad]

This post ^^^^ made me sad. Limitless possibilities and yet so few really interesting ideas make it out /jaded

[wakka]

Have faith I am ever optimistic about the future of gaming.

[dataDave]

Yeah, just steer clear of what the mainstream are doing and what the reviews are saying.

[Geoff D]

Next gen I'll probably be Nintendo only - between the 3DS, Wii, Wii-U & my Snes that should keep me busy for the 8 minutes a week I get to play games now

[Wools]

This post ^^^^ made me sad. Limitless possibilities and yet so few really interesting ideas make it out /jaded

Considering how many stunning & original games have been made, it sounds like you are just a bit jaded.

And on the note about gaming being important. Films are classed as important & I see no reason why games can not be included. Super Mario 3D Land, Braid, Portal & Ico are just as great as Blade Runner, The French Connection, Raiders of the Lost Arc & Argo.

And despite what Sight & Sound might tell you, Films are just like games, to entertain and sometimes inform.

[Brad]

Hmmmmm. There are a number of great, original, imaginative games. They are surrounded by a gigantic ocean of brainless cookie-cutter clones though. I shouldn't complain though; movies suffer from this much more for example.

[wakka]

EVERYTHING suffers from it. What single cultural medium of expression or entertainment is a sea of genius with the odd ****fest? Most movies are ****. Most books are ****. Most music is ****. Virtually all TV shows are completely brainless ****. Brilliance will always be the exception rather than the rule. That's life.

And it makes the brilliant stuff even more special.

[Brad]

I know, it's the fact that games have more potential to do something beyond the norm than books or movies.

[dataDave]

Still, things can only be as good as the people and the effort put behind them.

[wakka]

Gotta disagree with you there FSW. Words on a page and pictures on a screen have limitless possibilities too. I don't think games are a 'superior' format. But consumers want the safe and familiar (romance novels, action films), and publishers and studios don't want to take risks.

It's a situation that's unlikely to change any time soon. There will always be those talented people making amazing things, they're just a little few and far between