The Golden Age Of Gaming Simply Can't Be Compared To Today

It's not that one era of gaming is better than another, it's just that with over three decades of advancement, this hobby has changed at its very core.

[JonahNL]

We will never ever have another golden age of gaming like the one we had in the 70, 80's and even the 90's. The reason games were so special back then is because of the limitations of the consoles. You had to put thought into the design of your game to make things work.

Nowadays it's all about shiny graphics and who has the biggest engine to boast with. Blegh.

[Knightofelemia]

You also forgot to say that it is the same titles over and over again this gen. Getting pumped out year after year. In the NES days there were sequals but not as much as today and you had to wait a year or two for the sequal. Also the older titles were orginal and full of great ideas. I perfer a console that can actually play games and not connect to Facebook. My favorite games from the Snes Days are still Maximum Carnage Lost Viking and Battle Toads to name a few.

[bicfitness]

Sorry, but I disagree. We are in the Golden Age of gaming. There has never been such a synergy of technology, ideas, output and choice and I see consumers do nothing but complain, complain, complain. We have PCs, 3 console makers vying for our dollars, handhelds, mobility platforms, every shade machine and of game from AAA to indie to MMORPGs and yet we can't seem to find satisfaction with anything out there.

I think its more a symptom of our Facebook, Twitter, self-obsessed, grass is always greener behaviours than a failing of the market. There are plenty of "simple" games, which the author of this piece seems to be lamenting for. We still have Mario, which has changed on microscopic levels and beautiful, clean games like Journey and Sword & Sorcery that simply have NO comparatives in early generations.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, everything is amazing and no body is happy. That's the problem (not my quote, but man, does it every apply to this generation).

[JonahNL]

Like I said, we'll never ever have a golden age like the one we had back then. Currently we are indeed in a golden age, like you just said, but it's way different, both in positive and negative ways.

[MultiConsoleGamer]

The "Golden Age" of gaming for most people is the era in which they first started playing games.

[joab777]

Very True. Its hard to bash tiday with games like bioshock, mass effect, journey, arkham city, dark souls, ni no kuni, braid, and on and on. And its hard to say it isnt when a game can be the highest selling piece of entertainment ever or garner 10 million subscriptions for years.

I am 35 so i will never forget the gold zelda i got with my first nintendo, playing smb or a link to the past. The first time i played 3d mario, FF, or Madden. But, i must say that having played far cry 3, ni no kuni, and tomb raider, waiting on bioshock infinite, i am having alot of fun right now too.

[ThatXboxGuy]

I blame Microsoft in part, for the downfall which has most begun this gen.It's hard to admit, because i've been a fan of them since the original Xbox but man, it's pretty clear.

The whole charging us to use our own internet connection, overpriced proprietary hardware and the relentless rehashing of the same franchises over, and over, and over.Year after year.

They're actually killing the industry.It's sad to see gamers actually stick up for them and their shady tactics.Timed exclusives, timed DLC, the scummy, shady MS point system.Just appalling.It's been half a freakin year almost, and still not a single decent exclusive.The hell MS?

[SDF Repellent]

@ThatXboxGuy (the artist formerly known as ThatKansasGuy)

It must've been hard on you, I can feel your pain. No gamer should go through what you had gone through and still survive to talk about it. Your courage and openness are truly inspiring.

Now, are you done pretending to be long time suffering Xbox fan yet, Kansas, or shall I called you Strongman Jr.? lol