The 'Onliners'

**thrAsher** · 01-26-2005

I know you're out there.

You 'onliner', you.

Can't play a damn video game unless you got some jackass 12-year old in Kansas that you can roast when you're done plugging Magnum rounds into his head 15 times in a TS match.

I'm not knocking you, so believe it. I'm just an old fogie, and remember goofing off on Chrono Cross back when BBSes were the norm. I played the hell outta Zelda, got my freak on w/ Super Mario, and was hacking away at Ghosts 'n Goblins. I remember the first Final Fantasy hitting the NES. It was Ultima w/ character.

So, the point to this thread is, do you think gaming is evolving, or 'de-evolving', due to the craving for online play?

Are we missing the essential in gaming? Are we forgetting how to explore and to learn, and going for the quick fix, the fast frag, the immediate sensation?

I think we are. I think games want to be movies as much as the later now eagerly embraces the prior. I tend to think gaming in America has dumbed down to such a point, that anything the utmost new and refreshing is hailed as superior. Take most of the PS2's cult hits of last year....Katamari Damacy most prevalent.

It's a divided world, my twitching little friends. What was once golden is now novel, and what is now golden only wants to be.

We are living in the time of the 'big shift'. Games are changing. What I want to know, is are you cool w/ that?

I'm looking at my Gamecube, w/ no online at all, and thinking we could just skip past some really cool **** in this newly revived market...and I think I here some Bob Dylan playing.

Or maybe I'm just a nostalgic ol' freak. I suppose this thread will answer many of my questions, or at least I hope it will.

Please, discuss.

**Variation-XBA** · 01-26-2005

I miss BBSs

heh...

I agree that gaming has definetly changed since way back when, but its arguable if its better or worse.

I personally miss genre's like the ole Monkey Island, Kings Quest, Grim Fandango etc. We will probably never see anything like those again in the near future, cause if it doesnt have huge guns, realistic physics, bullet time, tricked out cars, or an online fee, the "average" gamer will not give it the time of day, and usually doesnt get the fair share of advertizing it should have anyways.

I find games these days (cept the few I do love), simply don't hold my interest long enough, that or they pump out WAY too many "A" titles that you NEED to get. I rarely finish games I get now. Back then that used to bug the hell out of me and I would sit and play until everything is 100% completed (Final Fantasy 7 for example). Now, it just kinda gets a playing now and then, not sure why.

I agree with the "anything new and refreshing is held as superior", and Katamari was a PRIME example. Remember how hot and cool Parappa was when it first came?

**Mitchell** · 01-26-2005

games=good

**thrAsher** · 01-26-2005

Parapa the Rappa!!!

I am seriously too twisted by Japanese games. My Dreamcast is like a time-travel machine. I play 'Bangai'O' and can only wonder why the hell games aren't so addictive anymore.

I mean, I walked through Halo 2. I'll be eighty before I can own Ikaruga.

Hold on tight, Variation, it's a turbulent couple years coming up. Console gaming is stepping on hardcore PC gamer's toes (think 'Deus Ex : Invisible War', or 'Thief III' for one ).

It's a whole new marketplace, and some of us console junkies are getting left out in the cold, especially on the Xbox.

Or so my opinion goes...

**MerimacHamwich** · 01-26-2005

The games are out there, you just have to find them, and spread word of mouth. Don't get melodramatic, get pro-active!

**thrAsher** · 01-26-2005

I'm not talking about abortion or gay rights, man. I'm talking about geeky, mind-absorbing adventures.

Okay, so little diff, but you feel me.

Not trying to be melodromatic, but I am sensing a shift, one that's been happening, and I'm just feeling wary.

I think we're being marketed heavily, and that we need to be more pro-active in what it is exactly that we want. For instance, I am sick and tired of shooting stuff.

But thanks for putting a cap on my argument, Ham, it was probably needed.

**Variation-XBA** · 01-26-2005

Originally Posted by thrAsher

Parapa the Rappa!!!

I'll be eighty before I can own Ikaruga.

Hold on tight, Variation, it's a turbulent couple years coming up. Console gaming is stepping on hardcore PC gamer's toes (think 'Deus Ex : Invisible War', or 'Thief III' for one ).

It's a whole new marketplace, and some of us console junkies are getting left out in the cold, especially on the Xbox.

Yea, RIP Parappa

Don't kid yourself, you will NEVER beat Ikaruga...sorry, you and I know it's true :P (I'm still trying as well)

I think the next 2/3 years will be very interesting for the people that don't own each system and a pc and basically only have 1 system and thats it. Luckily I can play the best from every world and genre, but the amount of people that come in my store asking "When is Halo comming for PS2" and retarded stuff like that, I feel is only going to get worse, and the 'casual gamer' these days is much less informed than say 5-10 years ago. Why do you think stuff like GTA sells? It's a following, and I want games that actually are GOOD, and push boundries and new ideas, get some credit (Ala Halflife2).

Just think, in another year or 2, we will have all over again, the XB2 vs PS3 wars, fanboys telling everyone that their system is better, and again, no one caring about the games, just endorsing their product because THEY think it is better.

Cant wait....Gunna love explaining to people at work "So....what xbox 2 do you have? The Flash ram version, the HDD version? The PC version? ....oh....sorry, you need THIS xbox to play that game"..

Bah, my rant is switching from topic to topic...Unless E3 has some major surprises, I personally not that thrilled for anything MAJOR-OMG-NEED-IT-NOW for the next long while. (There are a few like Zelda'05 and such, but nothing compared to waiting for HL2, H2, Doom3, etc etc)

Sigh....

**thrAsher** · 01-26-2005

Zelda is going to melt brains. Mark my words. It'll sell a boat-load of 'Cubes, late cycle even.

Still, Japan will always have it down. They know how to 'immerse' the gamer. American studios only seem to know how to 'fool' the gamer. They make you feel like a tank on two legs. Japanese companies know how to make you feel like saviour of the entire universe.

Big difference, for some of us. Most of my favorite games are one-player games where the world is your oyster. That world is wavering, I think. We just want to shoot each other in the face, anymore. What happened to involved gaming, versus twitch gaming? Why the need to headbutt some kid living in Idaho?

**Variation-XBA** · 01-26-2005

Originally Posted by thrAsher

Most of my favorite games are one-player games where the world is your oyster. That world is wavering, I think. We just want to shoot each other in the face, anymore. What happened to involved gaming, versus twitch gaming? Why the need to headbutt some kid living in Idaho?

All my classic favs also are all one player, but now a days, if it doesnt have online, I'm generally not as interested, so I have changed as well, don't know why. I like the social aspect of online gaming now.

I agree though that twitch gaming can get old quick.

**thrAsher** · 01-26-2005

See, playing silly crap like 'Wind Waker' on the 'Cube has had me thinking. The game is brilliant. Tight controls, consistent graphics, a dynamic world. Lots to look for. It's not so much a game, as a 'place', a 'time' to interact w/.

I guess I like games that are more like dreams. Shooters are just so hectic, so neurotic. I crave old Sonic games, like the NES days. I like the puzzles, the epiphanies when you solve 'em.

****, man, I'd giggle if I had a cartridge in my hand again. But do know, I'm not knocking the new school. I'm just feeling a bit miffed. I want some persistent worlds, some depth, some wonder. The Xbox isn't giving it to me. It won't platform to any respectable degree, spells RPG 'Baldur's Gate', and has this sado-masochist infatuation w/ the FPS.

**Reclaimer** · 01-26-2005

I'm a creative person. Musically inclined, artistic in some ways and I'll even dare to say that I'm an intellectual person. However, when it comes to gaming.. my evolution through the world of games has always thrived on twitch gaming. I'm the other side of this, man. I love it. My car needs to hit 200mph all the time. I need to run through a hyper active battle with virtual bullets coming from every angle. I need pulse pounding combat, and I strive to be the one that headbutts that kid from Idaho.
I enjoy being the two legged tank and I guess I'll mark myself as the eye candy first, the rest comes later kind of guy.
I'm not less of a person for wanting this either. That's just the way it is. Role playing games bore me. Zelda? Yawn, no thank you, I'll play Contra. I've played Deus EX, and I got tired of it because I just wanted to shoot people all the time.
Believe me, I used to play the real deal role playing. Yeah, I used play D&D. But then that just got on my nerves.. too slow. My brain works just fine. It's the rest of me that needs to be entertained.
I am intelligent, but I require my games to be 100% full throttle or I will get bored.
Every game, every console, every PC since the begining.
My true love? Flight Simulation. I get the best of both worlds. A bit of action, and a bit of comprehensive problem solving. Though I sometimes get the urge to abandon my flight plan and cut in and around the near by sky scrapers. Which is harder to deny depending on the airplane I'm using.
Anyway, it's just the way I am. Maybe that's why I joined the military and specifically chose to be an Operations Specialist. I can get the best of both worlds in real life. Problem solve and then go out and give my body an experience.
Anyway.. there's two worlds out there and you're gaming experience is usually one or the other. But is really one better than the other? Depends on who you are.

**Variation-XBA** · 01-26-2005

Originally Posted by thrAsher

See, playing silly crap like 'Wind Waker' on the 'Cube has had me thinking. The game is brilliant. Tight controls, consistent graphics, a dynamic world. Lots to look for. It's not so much a game, as a 'place', a 'time' to interact w/.

I guess I like games that are more like dreams. Shooters are just so hectic, so neurotic. I crave old Sonic games, like the NES days. I like the puzzles, the epiphanies when you solve 'em.

****, man, I'd giggle if I had a cartridge in my hand again. But do know, I'm not knocking the new school. I'm just feeling a bit miffed. I want some persistent worlds, some depth, some wonder. The Xbox isn't giving it to me. It won't platform to any respectable degree, spells RPG 'Baldur's Gate', and has this sado-masochist infatuation w/ the FPS.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, if SOMEHOW you would make Zelda a MMO (that was free for all you whiners that think it's BS for monthly fee's), I would be set for life.

Feels kinda weird when I sell GBA games when 95% of eveyrthing in my store is cd format. Once PSP comes out it will only make that feel stronger as well.

Sounds like you need a good MMO or something Thrasher

That's my fav genre for the past 6 years.

**LTM360** · 01-26-2005

Earlier games rule (Contra III: The Alien Wars pwn you). But the MMO-Genre is rediculous. Thrash... get WoW NOW! Hey that should be thier slogan "Get WoW, Now!"

**MerimacHamwich** · 01-26-2005

I know I'll get flamed for this. But, as we all know Japanese development on the PS2 far outweighs Japanese development on the Xbox. If you are looking for those types of games, with lots of story involvement, cutscenes and puzzles, I'd highly suggest getting a PS2. That's where those games thrive. Not to mention you can also run all of the PS1 classics on it.

The PC is also a monster for Shooting games. The other heavy genres are RTS and RPG, but still, I think not quite what you are looking for. The PS2 is saturated with the quirky game market, the oldschool influenced and "future"school want.

Heck, just head to some local game shops and check out the hundreds of PS2 games out there. I'm sure you'll find more than a handful of what you want. Maybe start off with Ico?

**Variation-XBA** · 01-26-2005

Originally Posted by LTM360

Thrash... get WoW NOW! Hey that should be thier slogan "Get WoW, Now!"

Too bad you can't get WoW now anywhere :P

Don't listen to him thrash, it's overrated and a badnwagon :P *waits to be flamed*

**MerimacHamwich** · 01-26-2005

I dunno, I think WoW get's overhyped, yes, but it is a very fun and easy to get into game. Level 8 Troll Shaman. W00t.

**Variation-XBA** · 01-27-2005

Originally Posted by MerimacHamwich

I dunno, I think WoW get's overhyped, yes, but it is a very fun and easy to get into game. Level 8 Troll Shaman. W00t.

Wow, been playing for an hour I see :P

**CRAYMAN** · 01-28-2005

I think the market has shifted to an older demographic. Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Half Life, Doom, Sports titles and the aging of Link in the Zelda series are indications. I see plenty of games that are single player experiences and immerse you in the environment, but are tailored to the adult gamer. You still see Mario titles, but the ones that get all the ink are the adult titles. Furthermore, adults don't have as much free time, because they have JOBS and families competing for their attention. This makes them more discriminating when they do purchase a title. (I want to purchase a Gamecube in order to play RE4, but I still have Splinter Cell 2 sitting on my shelf...UNTOUCHED).
Splinter Cell 2 gave us the best of both worlds and as consumers we like this. A great single player experience AND online competition!?1/1! Halo 2 is another example.
More games are being made to be experienced with a friend, whether beside you on the sofa or 100 miles away via an online connection. Co-op anyone? Splinter Cell 3 is a great example of evolving market forces. A co-op interactive campaign mode is what the public WANTS.
Gone are the days of the reclusive gamer, who whittles away his days on a computer in solitary confinement.

IT"S GOOD TO PLAY TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!1

**Duke** · 01-28-2005

I'm going against the "I only play live" grain here. While I'll still purchase a lot of the AAA titles, I've shifted back to the solo experience as my #1 priority for a game.

BG&E, Metal Arms, those are the games I really, really enjoyed. I honestly haven't truly "loved" any of the live titles since GR. They're all fine, and playing vs. live players and w/ friends can't be devalued, but in the long run, I want to walk away from a game and just have really enjoyed it regardless if my team was full of noobs or someone's glitching or what have you.