I don't think games are fun, the way they should be

MMGN.com's iamtom explores why he thinks video games aren't fun any more.

[Yi-Long]

"I haven’t had fun with video games in a long time. They’re almost a chore to me."

I understand the complaint, and in some ways I agree with it, but I feel there are still very much FUN games around.

Usually though, these days they seem to be found on PSN and XBLA. Games like Joe Danger, Trials Evolution, Super Meat Boy, and Motorstorm RC. Games which are both challenging AND -FUN- to play.

[kevnb]

if they aren't fun, don't play them

[Mutant-Spud]

I agree with what he's saying about "realism", even a really nutty game like Borderlands or Alice: Madness Returns can be designed in a way that makes sense but when you have this deadpan, serious tone all the way through the game, with "emotions", "political intrigue" and "choices" people will inevitably get sick of playing. You'll notice that the most popular programs on TV, like CSI aren't "realistic" and they mix humour and seriousness together, it's not just grinding misery and violence like in the Witcher or Mass Effect 3.
Personally I generally prefer games with little or no story or open world games where you can take off and just mess about and do story missions when you feel like it.
I thought the criticism of FC3 was a bit unfair since that's one game which does mix up humour and drama and it lets you off the leash to play the way you want to.

[g-nome]

If they feel like a chore you are playing the same game for too long , play in small episodes and add some variety to the mix. And give some ' franchises ' a break for a year or two.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

I disagree.

[Dogswithguns]

Playing too much it gets stale.. gotta take a long vacation.

[e-p-ayeaH]

When i feel bored of modern games i just go back to the old games i enjoy the most.

[Jakens]

I like to have options to do the things I want in my game or to play the game my way. I want to be skiping boring parts easily.

Article said "But why have irritating little systems to just make people keep playing longer? I don’t want to spend 10 hours looking for a rare flower on the top of a hill to make a certain potion that gives me a 1% increased chance of finding the item for the recipe for my super weapon. That’s not fun to me".

[3-4-5]

I've had some of the most fun playing Dragon quest 9, FFTA2, and now Fire Emblem: Awakening.

These gaming experiences happened one after another with about 1-2 weeks in between and it's been some of the most fun I've ever had gaming in my entire life. ( I'm 27 )

So I think it's just that this person doesn't enjoy games like he used to.

You need to find new and different reasons for liking each individual game instead of just all games.

[glennco]

there are a lot of games that play exactly the same with clichéd boring storylines. I don't think it is that he doesn't enjoy games, i think he is just bored with the lack of innovation. when the biggest sellers are the least innovative this will be the problem... boredom.

[glennco]

I agree with him somewhat but far cry 3 was a breath of fresh air and restored a lot of fun for me.

[morkendo23]

FUN games were games back in the 80's an 90's simple, easy, fun games such as: METAL SLUG, CONTRA,GRADIUS,R-TYPE, BATTLE TOAD,DOUBLE DRAGON,BATTLE ARENA TOSHIDEN,G-DARIUS,RAY CRISIS,RAY STORM etc....

NOT THE boring GAMES OUT NOW.

[Picnic]

Papa and Yo, The Unfinished Swan, The Cave, Limbo. There's fun there, the first 2 on PS3 only, and they are all emblematic of the best kinds of 16 bit and 128 bit games that there used to be.

Then there's Tales of Monkey island and Sam and Max on download. Yes, you can argue that in some cases this revival of the point and click genre is just a passable imitation of what it once. But it's nice that they're back as an option.

It's some of the top budget games that feel more generic.
The number of well known games that you can now get on PS3 where you are some kind of super powered being with a huge sweeping blade in your hand might not be able to be counted on the fingers of both hands.

If history repeats itself, things will got the way of cinema and theatre as gritty storyline and some attitude are preferred to refined wit and elegance. What we present today, becomes our wish for tomorrow. Apocalypse and roaming mutants is it? What was wrong with just getting in a Crazy Taxi? (Motorstorm Apocalypse is excepted from this- it's great).