The modern gaming industry is big money. Most "blockbuster" titles cost millions to produce. The larger gaming houses have succumbed to the Hollywood production mentality. Likewise, a majority of today's gamers expect big budget production values on games - as was mentioned earlier with graphics over gameplay.
It is sad that, because of the highly competitive market that video games is, most manufacturers sacrifice quality and gameplay for getting the product out sooner. Still, you have a few standouts in the industry that spend extra time in development to make a (usually) better product.
Also, because the industry is so big now, you have an over abundance of horrible developers and products. Even the larger companies are getting lazier - pretty much because they can. The consumer base has changed quite a bit from the old gaming days. The general gaming populous tends to buy crap. While graphics wow and draw people in, gameplay and overall value is usually left on the lower-end of expectations by the majority. Quality is in the eye of the beholder. Just a thought...did you notice when 128kbps MP3s began to be accepted as "CD Quality"?
I am with you Brian. I have noticed my own gaming habits and preferences change toward something of more lasting value, and my purchases have slowed. There isn't as much out now that catches me the way those classics did. I also find it ironic that the games of today are more complex (as desired by the gaming populous) yet offer less, whereas the older games were quite simple, giving hours more enjoyment. Thus is life. I am beginning to understand how some old farts view newfangled contraptions with contempt. Society changes. Gaming is not immune.
It is sad that, because of the highly competitive market that video games is, most manufacturers sacrifice quality and gameplay for getting the product out sooner. Still, you have a few standouts in the industry that spend extra time in development to make a (usually) better product.
Also, because the industry is so big now, you have an over abundance of horrible developers and products. Even the larger companies are getting lazier - pretty much because they can. The consumer base has changed quite a bit from the old gaming days. The general gaming populous tends to buy crap. While graphics wow and draw people in, gameplay and overall value is usually left on the lower-end of expectations by the majority. Quality is in the eye of the beholder. Just a thought...did you notice when 128kbps MP3s began to be accepted as "CD Quality"?
I am with you Brian. I have noticed my own gaming habits and preferences change toward something of more lasting value, and my purchases have slowed. There isn't as much out now that catches me the way those classics did. I also find it ironic that the games of today are more complex (as desired by the gaming populous) yet offer less, whereas the older games were quite simple, giving hours more enjoyment. Thus is life. I am beginning to understand how some old farts view newfangled contraptions with contempt. Society changes. Gaming is not immune.