Seventh Generation: The Years of Stagnation

[MrMatthews]

Well, the scenario just takes you backwards through the mansion. All the while, Wesker is talking about how powerful he feels after injecting himself with the T-virus. Oh, and Lisa Trevor is chasing him all the way to the front door.

Speaking of Resident Evil, how does the control scheme work for the PC build of RE4? Do you control Leon's targeting reticule with the mouse?

[TheEdge]

I have a PC controller thats looks like a knock-off Playstation one with no analogs. I picked it up at Target for $9.99

It works great, I use the D-Pad and the other buttons and triggers to aim and fire. RE:4 does have a mouse aim option but I haven't tried it. I also have RE 1, 2, and 3 on PC. They all play just like the console games with the PC controller.

[TheEdge]

The 16-bit era is when I really became a gamer (I was already an adult by then) so I have a great deal of affection for that era of games, but I'd say I'm most attached to my PS2 era games. The level of story telling and the level of graphics power that could really draw you in hook, line and sinker really blossommed at that point, at least for the types of games I play and enjoy the most. It really ramped up during the Saturn and PS1 era, but hit the big time with the PS2 in my opinion. Funny thing is, I don't really see where it has advanced any with the newer generation of systems, in fact,

I'd say the PS3/360/Wii era has taken a step backward in both story telling and gotta-play-that-game-so-bad-it-will-make-me-buy-a-new-console impact. Which probably why my PS2 is the most modern system I own.

^ AH-HA!

[MrMatthews]

"Ah-hah" what? I don't know if anyone actually completely disagreed with you. Even I agreed to some degree.

But haven't you seen sega's latest games on the Wii? Madworld seems pretty original(ish)

[TheEdge]

I was just soaking in how my thesis is ringing true throughout threads.

But yes, Madworld is a good step forward even though I could criticize it for being a wanna be Smash-TV with Sin City overtones but thats OK.

Sega has really impressed me with their recent game line up and I hope they continue with these edgy ideas because that reminds people of the old Sega we all grew up with.

[MrMatthews]

Well, you are finding people who agree with you, so I guess that's something. But my perception is that there are less people unsatisfied with this generation than the other way around.

Why don't you just write up a quick poll, asking that very question ("are you satisfied with your 360/PS3/Wii purchase?")

I'd be very interested to see the results and discussing them.

[TheEdge]

I guess I can say I have first person experience in being disappointed now that my sister got a Wii a little while ago. So I'm not just blowing smoke anymore, I truly have "hands-on dissatisfaction!"



But that Poll thing is a good idea. You should make one cause I have no clue how to.

[MrMatthews]

LOL - yes, you do. But i'll see if I can write one up. But IMO it needs to address only the people who have actually bought a current-gen system.

And what games did you play? i think the Wii is the most innovative console available right now, both in it's design and it's available software.

[Metal_Sonic]

i think the Wii is the most innovative console available right now, both in it's design and it's available software.

I'm surprised you didnt say it was the DS.

[Nicpezer]

Sega has really impressed me with their recent game line up and I hope they continue with these edgy ideas because that reminds people of the old Sega we all grew up with.

Sega didn't develop that game, Platinum games did, which has many former employees from clover studios, the folks that made games like God Hand, Veiwtiful Joe, and Okami.

I agree this generation does have that rehashed feeling. Some games just don't improve on old flaws or if they do it's not significant enough to stand out. I have played some great titles but that was only last year, the previous years I experienced some games with good concepts but as a whole it never felt as fun as the least gen stuff.

Nowadays the developers seem to focus on multiplayer, FPS games, or the shovelware that keeps coming out on the Wii. Sure the Wii is innovative but so few games actually feel that way. Wii Fit, Wii Music, no thanks, too shallow, I've seen games like Donkey Kong and Pitfall that have more depth than those titles. There are only a handful of good titles on most of the consoles depending on preference.

I think the reason why I feel that everything is rehashed nowadays is b/c I've been playing games for 20 years so I'll never see anything that really surprises me anymore. That still doesn't mean I can't have fun though.

[TheEdge]

Sega didn't develop that game, Platinum games did, which has many former employees from clover studios, the folks that made games like God Hand, Veiwtiful Joe, and Okami.

I agree this generation does have that rehashed feeling. Some games just don't improve on old flaws or if they do it's not significant enough to stand out. I have played some great titles but that was only last year, the previous years I experienced some games with good concepts but as a whole it never felt as fun as the least gen stuff.

Nowadays the developers seem to focus on multiplayer, FPS games, or the shovelware that keeps coming out on the Wii. Sure the Wii is innovative but so few games actually feel that way. Wii Fit, Wii Music, no thanks, too shallow, I've seen games like Donkey Kong and Pitfall that have more depth than those titles. There are only a handful of good titles on most of the consoles depending on preference.

I think the reason why I feel that everything is rehashed nowadays is b/c I've been playing games for 20 years so I'll never see anything that really surprises me anymore. That still doesn't mean I can't have fun though.

I know that. We all know they are not developed by Sega but they are going to have the Sega logo on it. So it's part of "Sega's Lineup"


I agree with your other statements though. Somethings missing.

[MrMatthews]

I think what it is is that the industry (among the consoles, at least) is in a comfort zone. I think 3D technology peaked (to some degree) last generation, so that's when developers went nuts with finally bringing refined 3D play mechanics and artistic expression together. After the growing pains of the PSX/N64 generation, games now looked and played fantastic.

This generation is just a minor evolution of the last. Games look even better, but they play the same, because there hasn't really been a need to make any improvements.

However, I think as we get deeper into this economic slump (with more and more developers going bankrupt), I think we'll see more of them trying to push the envelope and really bring their "A" games to make some bonafide hits. Developers like EA really seem to be trying lately. So I predict that this generation will end better than it began.

[jerry coeurl]

I agree. There is nothing that interests me out on any of the current consoles, save for some stuff you can get off of Xbox Live Arcade (Rez HD, SotN, etc.), which are all just older games anyway.

The last "new" game I played was NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams if I had any faith left in SEGA's ability to make a decent game it was flushed down the pipes along with the rest of that massive turd.

Am I the only one who feels like the Wii is a complete scam? I guess it's cool that Nintendo's back on top, but they made it there with the most gimmicky console this side of the Virtual Boy. Am I wrong in saying it's essentially the same as a GameCube, just with added motion sensor controls (whoop-de-freakin' crap!)? I guess the "innovation" is there, but they don't seem to be doing anything interesting.

The only system out now that I think is worthy of a purchase is the DS, and even I sold mine a few months ago because I hadn't bought any new games for it in over a year and a half. I think maybe I just have a mental block against anything released post-DC.

[MrMatthews]

The DS is in my opinion the best system of this generation.

[Elusive]

This generation is just a minor evolution of the last. Games look even better, but they play the same, because there hasn't really been a need to make any improvements.

Disagree (I think). Yes, we're still slaying fantasy creatures and shooting vaguely brown people - but with technology increases also comes the ability to do completely new things. Like the brilliant Spooky gunship mission in Call of Duty 4, for example.

Instead, I think we've moved beyond 'bolting on another graphics chip' console design, and more towards 'better the gaming experience overall'. For example, now that we've got consoles that can be attached to the Internet 24/7, we can patch games! we can download new content for our existing games! we can download entirely new games altogether! we can play against other people and call them faggots from our sofas without them being in the same country!