Exactly, that's the whole point. The games today get compared to games in the late 90s, but so were the games we discussed 5 years ago, yet people weren't all "doom and gloom" back then. Why? Pick any game within the last 5 years and it won't do any better or worse compared to Planescape, MM or Baldur's Gate than any game within the last 2 years. There's no reason to be any more negative today than 5 years ago. Things haven't changed one bit.
I can't speak for others, but I don't think it matters when it started. It matters that it happens, and I certainly intend to keep lamenting that which I don't like.
The reason you might sense more doom and gloom, is that people are getting increasingly tired of the trend. Bioware used to be one of THE best developers around for people who enjoy deep and challenging gameplay. As I said, there's a perception that their games have steadily worsened in that way.
I don't follow your logic that something must have happened recently to bitch about it. It's an ongoing trend that shows no signs of stopping.
Personally, I think the worst thing that could happen would be for the remaining enthusiasts to forget what the genre used to be - and to support the greed and creatively bankrupt direction of the current AAA industry. I can promise you that I have no intention of ever "letting go" - as long as I think there's the potential for change.
No, read what I wrote above. It all boils down to gaming not having changed since RPGWatch was launched. There's no reason we should be more negative today than we were years ago. You need to go back a full decade to visit a different era of gaming, where tactical combat/turn based was common and so on.
I don't agree with that at all. I'm not clear on when it started, exactly, but I personally see a game like Doom to be one of the very first steps towards what I so loathe about the industry. I have no idea why you think we should stop commenting on the state on the industry, because it began worsening so many years ago. As long as it goes on, it's 100% relevant.
I don't see a steady decline. Games today are no better or worse than games were years ago. I'd really like to see titles from 2006 that were better than games released recently - Risen, Dragon Age, Fallout: New Vegas. Any titles between Night of the Raven and New Vegas that indicates a steady decline.. ?
I think there's a steady decline. Risen and New Vegas are exceptions made by smaller companies still dedicated to the art. Dragon Age was a strong game, but I personally find it inferior to everything they did before Jade Empire - and development started way back when they were still about art. Mass Effect 2 is a good example of a decline from the first game, which was a decline from KotOR.
Bioshock is a huge decline in the genre since System Shock 2 - even though there are many years between them. Games have to actually come out before you notice these things.
Dead Space is a huge decline from the same game.
Most people consider Oblivion a significant decline from Morrowind - and I will agree that many important things are VERY inferior in Oblivion.
If the games in the late 90s were 9 out of 10, and games today are 7 out of 10, there has to be games at 8 out of 10 in the middle somewhere if there's supposed to be some sort of steady decline and not just the end of the "golden era".
Ehm, I'm talking about my personal opinion - not official scores. Personally, I would have rated System Shock 2 9/10 - and Bioshock and Dead Space 7/10. Dragon Age would be 8/10 - with BG 9/10. Mass Effect 8/10 and KotOR 10/10. Mass Effect 2 7/10.
That's my whole point: They've been doing this for a long time. In fact, everything after Dragon Age development started has been this way - this is not new. It's not recent. It has nothing to do with EA or consoles or dumbing down or any other doom and gloom prophecy out there - it's simply what BioWare has been doing for the last 5+ years: Story driven games, not tactical games or games with lots of exploration.
Why are you so upset that people are still not happy about it? Why is it not ok for people to dislike the direction?
It's fine that you're not seeing the decline and that you are fine with the industry, and you're welcome to support Bioware - so why isn't it ok the other way around?
You may not agree with the direction (I know you probably don't, since you're a fan of open world RPGs, and that's perfectly fine), but that doesn't change the fact that the direction has remained the same for a long time now.
Yes, the direction is the same = downhill. I didn't like it when it started, and I don't like it now.
There's no reason to be shocked *now* - that's a bit late. People seem to treat KotOR as if it was BRILLIANT but DA2 as if it's going be a dumbed down console piece of crap. That's hypocrisy at its finest, considering how simple and streamlined KotOR really is (don't get me wrong - I like KotOR a lot, but there's a fat chance I'll also like DA2).
I like to wait until it's released, but if DA2 gives me anywhere near the same level of experience as KotOR did - I'll personally buy you a large cake.
What I'm trying to say is: The general attitude has become significantly worse in the last year or two. I simply can't find a reason for that. I honestly try to see what people are going on about, but I keep failing - the overall quality has remained steady for quite some time now, ever since the "golden age" of RPGs ended.
I'm not sure I've really noticed.
I think you've enjoyed what Bioware has done, and you have no problem with what they're doing. This is probably why you have such a hard time when people disagree.
I think it's about the ability to see beyond oneself. Personally, I can see how many people could truly enjoy the cinematic aspects of modern Bioware games (I do myself) - and I think their stories remain quite strong. They're great at the visual spectacle and the overall presentation. So, if you're not big on intricate gameplay, challenge, or evolving mechanics - then I can certainly see why you'd love Bioware games.
I don't like what they've been doing to gameplay structure and I think their games get worse for every bit of streamlining they're adding to avoid upsetting those who don't care to really engage in the gameplay fidelity.
