The Gamer's Quarter

kuzdu · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:59 am Post subject: Disturbing News

This is my first topic post, so I apologize if it comes off a little awkward. Anyway, I've been following gaming news recently and I've become nervous about what I've been reading. Between David Jaffe saying that he doesn't believe that games can reach any kind of real emotional level, Peter Moore saying that downloadable games are the future, and Ralph Koster predicting that single-player games are going to be extinct in ten years, it sound like gaming isn't something I'm going to want to be doing for very much longer.

As far as Jaffe goes, I suppose it ends up being a matter of opinion. However, the predictions of Moore and Koster seem very possible. While I acknowledge that a switch to downloadable media might make it easier for smaller companies to get their work into the market (depending on who runs the channels), I must confess that there's something I like about holding a game in my hand. I like that when I buy a game I can set in on my shelf. I like to be able to glance over my collection and think about what was going on in my life while I was playing each game.

What is the most serious to me though, is the idea that single-player games are going to disappear. Don't get me wrong, I've had some really good times in multi-player games, but the best have always been single-player experiences. Maybe I'm just an introvert, but I really feel that there is a certain kind of feeling, a certain catharsis to completing a game, finishing a story, by yourself. This may also spring from the fact that I play video games for the stories just as much as anything else, and the stories of multi-player games just don't seem to be that rewarding.

Anyway, I guess what I'm asking is not how all of you all feel about any of these particular subjects (though your opinions would certainly be welcome), but what if all these prophecies came true. Would you guys keep playing? Even though video games are a big part of both my past and my present life, I'm not sure that I would.

friedchicken · . Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 496 Location: Port Land, OR

I'm right there with you on your appreciation for single-player gaming. Pretty much the only person I know locally who also loves games is my wife, and as for online gaming... I know it could be such a time and money pit for me that I have never and probably will never get into it at all.

But I have to say that I take 'future of gaming' predictions with a grain of salt at best. Until the significant majority of gamers have access to high speed Internet, there's just no way that game makers are going to completely ignore the offline folks.

I'm not especially worried about my gaming future-- like a lot of the posters here (it seems) right now about 3/4 of my gaming involves older systems and obscure games or games I didn't pay any attention to when they first came out years ago.

purplechair · . Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 378 Location: in my pants

None of those things sound very likely to me.

- Single-player games will always be around because people will always want them - there may be a current trend towards multiplayer games, but it's not going to carry on forever.
- Games can already reach emotional levels, so that one's already bollocks.
- Downloading games will probably become more popular as the infrastructure improves, but I doubt the whole industry will ever go download-only. Not until we're all wearing silver suits and flying space cars and stuff.

If this stuff did happen? I'd keep playing so long as the games were good. Planetside seems to fit all of those predictions, and I like it. (I can't wait to get in on the free-to-play scheme!)

Swimmy · . Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 990 Location: Fairfax, VA

Completely downloadable systems seem unlikely to me because people aren't going to want to pay $60 just for data. Psychologically, it's probably easier to justify paying that much for a game if it's a physical object.

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

purplechair · . Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 378 Location: in my pants

I hear they're going to let people play for free, but only up to level six. It might not sound like much, but because you can "unlearn" one skill every 24 hours (and get the skill points back), you could probably try out most of the stuff in the game. You just wouldn't be able to do it all at the same time. You even get access to a bionic enhancement at level six (if I remember rightly).

It sounds like the paying account holders just need more people to shoot at...

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

I can't go back to PlanetSide. That game's grind is unbelievable. Even when I was going around with large groups and taking strongholds regularly, it was taking me forever to gain experience. Then I played Core Combat and quit after finding it useless (and beyond confusing to the point where I got the hint that people just literally threw the core together). When most games get into the grind phase and let you level up, that's just one of the boxes of the many that need to be filled up before you can enhance anything here. Although I have to say that going around with an experienced group was awesome - they would all jump out and have exact spots they had to be at and hold, it was like watching a SWAT team of minor mechs and tanks.
_________________
Come to me, Mordel. We shall depart.

purplechair · . Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 378 Location: in my pants

Who cares about levelling up? It's an FPS! You just grab a gun and go nuts!

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

I do! They keep killing me! I need stronger stuff!
_________________
Come to me, Mordel. We shall depart.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

"Ralph Koster predicting that single-player games are going to be extinct in ten years"

Bullshit. BUT! Nonetheless I can always revert to the argument that there is more than enough stuff right now available that is one player to keep me busy for the rest of my life. Seriously.

Yea, the other stuff, don't worry about. Games are already capable of emotion. Play silent hill 2 if you are not sure of that.

Now, the physical-less media scares me and I really see it happening. Having my hard drive crap out on me with lots of "physical-less media" on it, and other similar situations, has me fearing it. But, with Bill Gates pushing it as hard as he is I can only see it as the direction we are heading. When we get there though I will be that guy paying the extra $5 to get a backup disc mailed to me from the company.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

TheRumblefish · . Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 258 Location: Florida

ApM · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject:

I was trawling Joystiq yesterday and found these articles.

David Jaffe also said things like, "You have to wonder what would happen if we had more people with creative sensibilities; if more games had a soul, had something to say, something that resonates." Really, his comparison of games to thrill rides and porn is bemoaning the current state of the industry -- it's hard to get creative games that mean something made.

And as far as single-player games being doomed, well:

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject:

I was going to mention how most of the stuff in the first post was taken totally out of context, but you totally beat me to it, and now I've got to just nod my head and say "yes."

I do want to talk a bit about downloadable games. I'm sort of like you in that I'm not down with the idea of only being able to buy non-hard copies of my games, but at the same time I've got an Xbox 360 and I often find myself playing Xbox Live arcade games instead of real games simply because I'm too lazy to get up and put in a game.

This could mean that I'm just a really, really lazy dude, but part of the reason for this is that I'm playing games in my free time when I'm entitled to be lazy. I want fun at the palm of my hand. Dhex once said that he likes Steam because it means he doesn't have to put the disc in his hard drive. This is important. PC developers have long been putting a priority on anti-piracy measures in front of customer convenience. It's inconvenient to have to put a disc in, especially when the game is required to be totally installed on your hard drive to play it anyway.

But like Swimmy said, when you're paying $50 or $60 for something you better be getting a physical object. The best solution is offering a hard copy of a game with bonus stuff in stores for $50 or $60 and offering an online-only version over the internet for $30-50. Actually, the best version is the shareware model where you can try it for free and then unlock it for cheap. Regardless, it's best when the customer has more than one option and they are rewarded regardless of which method they choose to purchase the game through.

Do I see game purchases going exclusively online in the future? Not a chance.

Do I think it will become a second option in the future? Absolutely. I would never go to a store to buy Marble Blast Utlra, but it was well worth the $10 download.

-Wes
_________________

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

There is a huge difference between the content that is on Xbox live and the games you buy in stores. That is like... hmmm... I don't know, someone buying Snood 2 for their DS?

Also, Geometry Wars 360. What happens when XBox live is no longer up and your hard drive crashes after your 360 has been in the closet for 5 years 10 years from now? How will you show somebody it?
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject:

OH MY GOD YOU'LL BE OUT $5!

Seriously though, the shit you buy is linked to your Xbox Live name and I'm sure that if you switch systems they'll let you download them again or something.

Keep in mind, the possibilities for "or something" in this case are fairly large.

-Wes
_________________

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject:

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

kuzdu · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

I understand that I took a lot of the things I quoted out of context, but I wasn't really trying to make a point, I just wanted to voice my concern and see if it was warranted. Apparently it isn't.

Peter Moore is to some extent probably paid to be hyperbolic, and I think that David Jaffe just does it for fun. However, I can't seem to get away from what Ralph Koster said. I think that it's one thing for services to be provided to create a community of gamers, that's great, but I get nervous when I hear something like "the myth of the solitary gamer", because I feel that most of my favorite games were designed around that very idea.

Anyway, thanks for the responses so far. It's good to have a sounding board for my paranoia.