the state of PC gaming

[Dis]

the cost wouldn't be so high if everyone didn't insist on 3D and the highest graphics. I don't need cutting edge graphics, although I do prefer something decent to look at.

But I play ugly games like SMAC. So graphics can't be too important to me .

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Dissident
the cost wouldn't be so high if everyone didn't insist on 3D and the highest graphics.

Yes. At times in this thread it seems like some people think companies do this just to spite us. They don't, they respond to their customer base. With casual gamers (who like eye candy) outnumbering more serious gamers by a larger margin than ever this is a key point.

However, as I always say in these threads, overall the standard of games today in absolute terms is the best ever. It's easy to remember the Civs and the X-Coms and forget all the absolutely pants games you had to play to get to them.

[Traianvs]

I like some eye candy, even though my computer is never state of the art (so I can never use full gfx).

Kotor is a good example. The big decors and planets really did something to the athmosphere. Too bad on the other hand because of that the world is a lot smaller. Most locations were pretty straightforward, you knew what you had to do.

[pg]

Originally posted by DrSpike
However, as I always say in these threads, overall the standard of games today in absolute terms is the best ever. It's easy to remember the Civs and the X-Coms and forget all the absolutely pants games you had to play to get to them.

the quality is at the best ever but the total number of releases are a fraction of what they were before. years ago there were many better games just because so many more pc games were released. the problem is there aren't many smaller developers like there used to be.

[Grumbold]

Personally I think the quality is the same. You get plenty of dull, mediocre or just plain buggy games every year. The best games are definitely very good but of late I have not found a truly excellent and replayable game to match the old classics.

Perhaps you could argue that its partly a matter of income and tastes. Now that I have penty of spare cash I can buy a new game the minute an old one palls slightly, while in the past it was a choice between the 100th game of Civ or Master of Magic or nothing at all. I don't like FPS and that seems to be where many of todays "best" games come from.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by DrSpike


Yes. At times in this thread it seems like some people think companies do this just to spite us. They don't, they respond to their customer base. With casual gamers (who like eye candy) outnumbering more serious gamers by a larger margin than ever this is a key point.

However, as I always say in these threads, overall the standard of games today in absolute terms is the best ever. It's easy to remember the Civs and the X-Coms and forget all the absolutely pants games you had to play to get to them.

I wonder if there are any games that were strong on gameplay, and were 2d and otherwise weak on graphics, that have been released in the last year or two and done poorly?

Galciv I suppose? But didnt that make money, though only be restricting itself to nontraditional retail channels?

Im not disputing that publishers are driven to 3d graphics by their customer base - im just not sure that that is what is keeping the other kinds of games from being made, or at least not in isolation (from issues of shelfspace, etc)

[Zero]

Originally posted by lord of the mark



I wonder if there are any games that were strong on gameplay, and were 2d and otherwise weak on graphics, that have been released in the last year or two and done poorly?

SNK VS Capcom Chaos.............. SHUDDER IN DISGUST!!!!!

[Zero]

Lets see, how about naming games that have real good 3d graphics but absolutely nothing else?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Zero
Lets see, how about naming games that have real good 3d graphics but absolutely nothing else?

thats not the point, im sure people could come with those - my question was relative to the notion that anything thats 2d will tank in the current market, even if its otherwise good.

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Zero
Lets see, how about naming games that have real good 3d graphics but absolutely nothing else?

Quake 3

[DrSpike]

Idiot.

[Zero]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


thats not the point, im sure people could come with those - my question was relative to the notion that anything thats 2d will tank in the current market, even if its otherwise good.

i think u misunderstood me, whatever that was you took it as.... i was simply trying to go off topic.

i say farcry. that game had nothign except good graphics..... ok maybe story plot. i wouldnt know if it had it. because you know me, id rather read a good book for story plot.....

traj: q3 wil never be on that list..... thats the nice version

mean version STFU n00b!!!!! OMG OMG WTF LOL

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


thats not the point, im sure people could come with those - my question was relative to the notion that anything thats 2d will tank in the current market, even if its otherwise good.

LotM you shouldn't ask for examples as proof, since if the proposition is true there would be no or few examples, since developers behaviour is endogenous here.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by DrSpike


LotM you shouldn't ask for examples as proof, since if the proposition is true there would be no or few examples, since developers behaviour is endogenous here.

I presume youre saying that developers at least tried 2d games, which did poorly and learned from that. Which would mean there would be examples, though perhaps not as recent as I specified. Or are you saying their market research is SO good they KNOW a good gameplay 2d game would tank, without having to look at the experience of actual releases? Its possible, Im really not up on market research techniques in consumer products.

[Zero]

oh wait, i can answer all those with example from fighting game genre in japan.....

2d games that sucked: SVC: Chaos
2d games that was huge success: Guilty Gear XX

However, i cant think of any examples thats recent in US.... I think US market demands good graphics over gameplay more......... guilty gear did tank in US market.... but then again any fighter seems to tank in US these days.