Gaming is Dying

 I miss those days when an 85% average was still considered to be good for a game to have. Now anything below a 90% is declared a flop. I miss those days when a game that sold a million copies was considered a success. Now if it doesn't sell 1 million on day 1 it is considered a failure. People are falling victim to popularity as the Wii refuses to stay on store shelves. I have no problem with people buying the wii because of the software. The issue arrises when people buy the wii because "its hot right now." This is the same reason why avid hip-hop fans are up in arms concerning soulja boy. It use to be about the lyrical content and the message, but now it's been transformed to some sing-a-long dance-a-long crap. I put it in that context because I consider the wii the soulja boy equivalent of the gaming industry. Now before you flame me, I love Nintendo. Some of my favorites like Mystical Ninja, Super Double Dragon, and Strider were on NES. But I'm going to keep it real and say that Nintendo has dropped the ball as far as evolution is conscerned. The changes made from gamecube to wii are so insignifanct that they are almost non-existent. On the other hand, you have the controller. But what else is there?  Suprisingly, in a sense the wii has created less tension because it's not in direct competition with the others. For that I give Nintendo props because they made the purchase decision a lot easier by separating from the crowd. Now let's talk about the fanboy plague. The fanboy epidemic is spreading like chicken pox with both sides arguing back and forth with little logic in between. It seems as though people put more trust in a review than their own judgment when it comes to getting a game. Then you have people slandering a game on a rival console not because it's a bad game, but just for the fact that it's not on their system. People are more apt to boast about sales as though it reinforces some kind of self-assurance that they bought the right console. This also applies to game averages as well. A lot of people love throwing around game averages when most of the time its subjective to the critics opinion. That's where the self-assurance comes back.  If a game is fun to you than it shouldn't matter what the critics say because you have your own voice. I can say personally that I don't always agree with the critics. Deus Ex and Halo are two of the most critically acclaimed games in the industry, with emphasis being on "the industry". I don't agree with all the 9's and 10's tossed at the feet of theses games because I have played them. That's the difference between being a sheep and actually being able to substantiate a claim. Don't get me wrong, these are two good games, but to me they are over-hyped. So before you say a game is a flop, fail or whatever diss you can come up with, play it. Gaming is about playing first then expressing your opinion not ad-libbing with the majority.

[PS360WII]

I disagree about the evolution. Wii is the only console out that changed anything. The others still have the same games with the same input just better lighting and bump mapping while the Wii is changing how we play games.... which they always do actually. Nintendo never uses the same controller they are always evolving and never get stagnant. Much like the NES the Wii is adding a new wave a gaming to us.

I 100% agree with you on the scores though. 7/10 use to mean it's a good game and should be played but now it's basically a death sentence for it. Shame really

[INehalemEXI]

Today's Gamers will all die someday, but gaming will live on...

[INehalemEXI]

A wise gamer once said.... ^^^^

feel free to qoute it but leave creds.

[Red-Trooper]

I think the gaming market has just come more competative and the consumers have come to expect more of games. its not really dying, its evolving

[mushroomwig]

Gaming....dying??? I don't think so. The indrustry is growing by leaps and bounds every single year, it's going to keep growing and it'll overtake hollywood.

[Cajun Chicken]

This gen, so far, personally has started disapointing me. I wait and wait for something of the calibur of Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank; however, these games do not turn up or the franchises have been messed up by developers down the line, such as the case of Sypro and Crash Bandicoot.

I just want a fun, friendly game with actual likable characters, I'm fed up of bulky, faceless, personality'less space marines, blank canvas'es and bald soldiers. I want to play as someone I actually give a crap about, I want to control someones destiny and games these days in my opinion, fail to do that.

I want a set of characters that make me smile, or a game that just tries so hard in the department of mindless fun without resulting in pointless gore just to give the game an identity and an 'attitude' because it has nothing but that, 'realism' or multiplayer to sell it so they make it 'hardcore' instead.

And then theres casual games which are making real, hardworking developers broke because of superficial people in adverts shaking around, gurning at a TV set claiming its fun because they've never played a real objective and narrative based videogame in their lives and rather poke something for fun in family gatherings.

[NOTORIOUSzeke]

Well put. Bubbles for you, sir.

[PS3Freak]

I still ignore reviews and play games for myself before i say anything about them. Hopefully that makes you all feel a little better. On a side note, the wii is ruining the gaming industry with its kid BS.

[JOEdANGEL]

If all games in the future are made like the shovelware coming out for wii now then yes, i guess you could say it ruined the game industry.

Even so, because of it, games aren't looked at as negatively anymore.
Parents aren't so reticent to buy games for their kids when there are lots of family friendly games for them to play. Its more of a toy than a serious game machine.