Gamer disillusionment (Column)
- Thread starter Tinman
- Start date
to0kenZA
New member
Very cool heartfelt piece dude. Some days I also feel like I'm hanging in there, waiting for better days. Maybe it's wrong to be like that, but you can't blame a person for being nostalgic. It is, after all, our past that made us what we are today and naturally you're going to look back at some memories with particular fondness. Especially the memories of games you played when you we're younger.
I think it's just a part of human nature, our inability to let go of certain things, or at least, just taking very long to move on. I bet you, one day, we're going to look back and say "Remember that game, Mass Effect? Where have those days gone.." That's why we need to start enjoying it, every step of the way. As the cliché goes (double cliché
): Don't live in the past, live in the present.
I think it's just a part of human nature, our inability to let go of certain things, or at least, just taking very long to move on. I bet you, one day, we're going to look back and say "Remember that game, Mass Effect? Where have those days gone.." That's why we need to start enjoying it, every step of the way. As the cliché goes (double cliché
): Don't live in the past, live in the present.
steaksauce
New member
I was just thinking along these lines this morning, your column just put it in better words.
I've been at the point a few times when gaming just wasn't fun anymore and I just got rid of everything to do with the hobby. But then some time usually passes and I find myself feeling llike something's missing and I try out one of the newer games after not playing for months or sometimes, years.
It takes a while to get the feel of it but its like re-inventing yourself in the process and just becoming a fanatic again.
I gave up gaming for 10 years and bought myself a console last year and already I'm starting to feel like maybe there are better things to do with my time and money. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good game but sometimes it starts to get a bit repetative, feels like its all been done before.
I've been at the point a few times when gaming just wasn't fun anymore and I just got rid of everything to do with the hobby. But then some time usually passes and I find myself feeling llike something's missing and I try out one of the newer games after not playing for months or sometimes, years.
It takes a while to get the feel of it but its like re-inventing yourself in the process and just becoming a fanatic again.
I gave up gaming for 10 years and bought myself a console last year and already I'm starting to feel like maybe there are better things to do with my time and money. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good game but sometimes it starts to get a bit repetative, feels like its all been done before.
Duke Dude
New member
Of think it's a mixture of Devs being scared and not being allowed to.
Look at Mass Effect, the first one was as hardcore as a RPG can get, then two came along and added more action (BioWare wanted to do this so fine) and personally I thought it was brilliant! Now EA get a hold of BioWare and now it is becoming an action orientated game to appeal to a wider audience! Hell they are even thinking of including multiplayer!! No once did you see BioWare state that they wanted to do this, rather EA is doing all the talking. That shows me that EA are making the decisions to make more money rather than deliver a good RPG. So in this case I think it's a case of BioWare not being able to make the game they want to make.
Then you get certain Devs who are just to scared to try something new! They might end up spending a kak load of money on developing a game only for sales to be poor because there was just not enough action to make the general gamer look at it. Sadly that is the case these days, that is why I am becoming more of an indie gamer! The games that there 20people studios produce is just phenomenal! I just bought Outland and wow! Does it show up PoP big time!! Dead Nation freaking trounces big budget zombie games and the list goes on!!
Look at Mass Effect, the first one was as hardcore as a RPG can get, then two came along and added more action (BioWare wanted to do this so fine) and personally I thought it was brilliant! Now EA get a hold of BioWare and now it is becoming an action orientated game to appeal to a wider audience! Hell they are even thinking of including multiplayer!! No once did you see BioWare state that they wanted to do this, rather EA is doing all the talking. That shows me that EA are making the decisions to make more money rather than deliver a good RPG. So in this case I think it's a case of BioWare not being able to make the game they want to make.
Then you get certain Devs who are just to scared to try something new! They might end up spending a kak load of money on developing a game only for sales to be poor because there was just not enough action to make the general gamer look at it. Sadly that is the case these days, that is why I am becoming more of an indie gamer! The games that there 20people studios produce is just phenomenal! I just bought Outland and wow! Does it show up PoP big time!! Dead Nation freaking trounces big budget zombie games and the list goes on!!
DenSweeP
New member
I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment Tinny. I still love to game with my mates online and talk rubbish on TS, but that has more to do with talking to my mates than it is about gaming. I mean, I would just as content if we were at a pub, or around a braai or playing some touch outside.
I find myself coming home in the evenings with no desire to go game. There are no titles sitting at home that have been plaguing my thoughts all day! No games really excite me anymore. The only title I'm amped for is BF3 and I swear, if it disappoints, I might just quit gaming!
I find myself coming home in the evenings with no desire to go game. There are no titles sitting at home that have been plaguing my thoughts all day! No games really excite me anymore. The only title I'm amped for is BF3 and I swear, if it disappoints, I might just quit gaming!
Well said!
I have a massive amount of respect for about 25-30% of the Indie developers.
The majority are also just in it for squeezing money out of bored housewives (PopCap clones anyone?).
Jabberwocky
New member
The soul is still there, with indie games.
JackBauer
New member
I have the same issue. So many games i own, but nothing that make me really want to game anymore. I played offline (no adsl in the suburb where i lived) till some friends introduced me to online gaming.
Bought a 3g modem and spend R1000 a month just to play COD4 online. Met some wonderful crazy people online (the mal moer Dala's, Atf people, SS and Mappie) and i have been hooked to online gaming ever since. Just wish BF3 or something really wonderfull will come out.......
Bought a 3g modem and spend R1000 a month just to play COD4 online. Met some wonderful crazy people online (the mal moer Dala's, Atf people, SS and Mappie) and i have been hooked to online gaming ever since. Just wish BF3 or something really wonderfull will come out.......
R4C3
New member
True Jack we need a GAME again hope BF3 will do the trick
Kuga
New member
Todays games are just MEH.
I get over games so quickly. Not like the good old days where a game can keep you entertained for hours on end. Now days it's just wham bam thank you ma'am.
I actually considered selling my rig because all the games are shit. Nothing keeps me absorbed anymore. Some days I get home from work and I want to do something, I put on a game. Sit in the main menu for like 2 minutes and then quit. Meh!
I get over games so quickly. Not like the good old days where a game can keep you entertained for hours on end. Now days it's just wham bam thank you ma'am.
I actually considered selling my rig because all the games are shit. Nothing keeps me absorbed anymore. Some days I get home from work and I want to do something, I put on a game. Sit in the main menu for like 2 minutes and then quit. Meh!
It's not so much the games that fail to epic degrees where MP is concerned.
I think I have finally figured out what bothers me about all the shooters and action games I've played recently.
YOU! Yes, YOU!
YOU are the problem!
I've been having great amounts of fun in Bad Company 2 lately. Local servers! YAY!
... Or not.
After playing a few extremely laggy matches on EU servers, I found myself having more fun there than on our servers.
It boggled me. I couldn't put my finger on what it was that made them more fun.
Until today.
It seems that the South African crowd is simply not content until they get to fuck everything up for at least half the players on the other team.
Yes, Baserape.
To an extent, yes, if you can't even hold one base, you deserve to get sliced in half.
On the other hand.
When last did you play Arica, Heavy Metal, Harvest Day, and those sorts of maps; where one guy doesn't IMMEDIATELY make a line for the enemy spawn base without even so much as 20 seconds going by?
That exact same player responded with "well all your snipers are camping in your base, so I go help them die!".
Funny thing, I left that server and went to an EU server playing same map at 1000 tickets.
I camped in my base. Never let my feet go outside the little fences. Nobody ever bothered to come get me... Odd...
And the match finished. I had a whopping 12/1 Kills/Deaths.
Hmmm. Not exactly a nice turnaround for a 1k ticket match.
Left that server.
Found another with 1k Tickets and again same map.
Went out to some cleverly hidden spots in the middle-areas of the map.
Match finished.
78/5.
So... while you're pissing around destroying the experience for 16 other people, you are also taking out a source of kills that doesn't even hold a rice-crispie to what that same guy could be doing if he wasn't in the base.
The only thing holding him in the base, is YOU!
YOU! Stealing tanks. Blowing people up who barely have time to press W.
YOU! With zero skill or common sense at all.
So I decided to turn it around a little.
Came back to SA servers and found that HillbrowTower was playing 1k tickets on that same map!
Selected an odd position about a third the map out of base and turned my back on the rest of the map. I turned back to take out baserapers.
I was scoring 60-something by the time I got disconnected by the server.
The team doing the baseraping had ONE flag... That one flag was BARELY held together by 3-6 guys. THE ENTIRE rest of that team was in our base. Or trying their very best to get in it anyway.
SO while the games might be dreary, I think the worst poison to the average gamer is the people he calls his friends.
In short, South African "gamers": You really all do suck a fat one...
I think I have finally figured out what bothers me about all the shooters and action games I've played recently.
YOU! Yes, YOU!
YOU are the problem!
I've been having great amounts of fun in Bad Company 2 lately. Local servers! YAY!
... Or not.
After playing a few extremely laggy matches on EU servers, I found myself having more fun there than on our servers.
It boggled me. I couldn't put my finger on what it was that made them more fun.
Until today.
It seems that the South African crowd is simply not content until they get to fuck everything up for at least half the players on the other team.
Yes, Baserape.
To an extent, yes, if you can't even hold one base, you deserve to get sliced in half.
On the other hand.
When last did you play Arica, Heavy Metal, Harvest Day, and those sorts of maps; where one guy doesn't IMMEDIATELY make a line for the enemy spawn base without even so much as 20 seconds going by?
That exact same player responded with "well all your snipers are camping in your base, so I go help them die!".
Funny thing, I left that server and went to an EU server playing same map at 1000 tickets.
I camped in my base. Never let my feet go outside the little fences. Nobody ever bothered to come get me... Odd...
And the match finished. I had a whopping 12/1 Kills/Deaths.
Hmmm. Not exactly a nice turnaround for a 1k ticket match.
Left that server.
Found another with 1k Tickets and again same map.
Went out to some cleverly hidden spots in the middle-areas of the map.
Match finished.
78/5.
So... while you're pissing around destroying the experience for 16 other people, you are also taking out a source of kills that doesn't even hold a rice-crispie to what that same guy could be doing if he wasn't in the base.
The only thing holding him in the base, is YOU!
YOU! Stealing tanks. Blowing people up who barely have time to press W.
YOU! With zero skill or common sense at all.
So I decided to turn it around a little.
Came back to SA servers and found that HillbrowTower was playing 1k tickets on that same map!
Selected an odd position about a third the map out of base and turned my back on the rest of the map. I turned back to take out baserapers.
I was scoring 60-something by the time I got disconnected by the server.
The team doing the baseraping had ONE flag... That one flag was BARELY held together by 3-6 guys. THE ENTIRE rest of that team was in our base. Or trying their very best to get in it anyway.
SO while the games might be dreary, I think the worst poison to the average gamer is the people he calls his friends.
In short, South African "gamers": You really all do suck a fat one...
OmegaFenix
The Legendary Troll Hunter
Gaming I enjoy, its Gamers that bug me.
to0kenZA
New member
Wow, that's quite a hectic stance..but to an extent I agree with you!
Mephisto_Helix
Grump Squad
I haven't bothered with nearly half as many titles this past year or two as I used bother with. Single player for the most part is really up to meh. MMO's / MMORPG's and good MP for a fps is where all the action is these days. It's a reflection on how dumb humans are getting.
@whuenis: Its got a lot to do with the size of the player base in SA. In Europe you find games more to your liking because of the larger pool of players, there's a wide variety of skill levels and types of players. In SA its just the same people playing most of the time. If there were more servers that were populated, I don't think it would be a problem.
Basically, blame Telkom.
Basically, blame Telkom.
JuiceCHKNHD
New member
Here's a VERY interesting article, over at Cracked.com:
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-6-most-ominous-trends-in-video-games/
Normally, you'd expect lots of humour from Cracked, but in this case, the article reads a bit more like a rant and paints a very bleak picture of our gaming future...
Juice
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-6-most-ominous-trends-in-video-games/
Normally, you'd expect lots of humour from Cracked, but in this case, the article reads a bit more like a rant and paints a very bleak picture of our gaming future...
Juice
I enjoy games with an actual storyline..
Max Payne 2
Portal 2
Baldur's Gate
Mafia 1 and 2
The more titles like that the better.
FEAR 3 at the moment impresses with its action however the models also feel very different and incomplete in places, plus the story is non existant. I feel they simply rushed it all. The FEAR story seems to never pickup and get anywhere. Rather disappointing.
I will continue in search of titles that don't bore me, but yes, I am in for something less shooter and more... Max Payne, Portal, BG style.
Max Payne 2
Portal 2
Baldur's Gate
Mafia 1 and 2
The more titles like that the better.
FEAR 3 at the moment impresses with its action however the models also feel very different and incomplete in places, plus the story is non existant. I feel they simply rushed it all. The FEAR story seems to never pickup and get anywhere. Rather disappointing.
I will continue in search of titles that don't bore me, but yes, I am in for something less shooter and more... Max Payne, Portal, BG style.
TheAvenged87
Not Robin
I get exactly the same feeling from time to time. I remember when I was a kid, I used to get the "WOW" factor from basically everything I played and I could keep on going until sunrise the next morning. These days, only some games can catch my attention for a long period of time and I certainly don't stay up until sunrise to play games anymore. I won't quit gaming anytime soon, there is still a hell of a lot of stuff to play out there that might still give me the satisfaction that I crave.