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The birth of a home entertainment system was a dream in many people’s minds until one day a Mr.Sinclair invented the Sinclair ZX81, the first ever home computer. From that very day we took one step closer to the future.
Well now we're at that future that so many people dreamed about and quite frankly, I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be. I know this has had numerous threads before and that everyone is sick of the subject but I feet that I have to give my opinion.
Nowadays we've got flashy graphics, online add-ons, DVD players and 8mm discs. Okay the GameCubes discs do look pretty cute but do we honestly need online capabilities or a DVD add on? No we don't. The fact that we have all these extra features is just going to do one thing and that’s bump the price of games consoles up through the roof.
Admittedly the online aspect of things is definitely the way to get excellent multiplayer gaming, the chance to pump 50 rounds of lead into a person who could be playing in New Zealand on Quake 3 is a chance that anyone would jump at. Since the beginning of consoles we have been taking larger and larger steps away from the point of consoles. The games on the earlier consoles are definitely more addictive than today’s games. That’s not to say that the games that are knocking around at the moment aren't fun because they are, some of them are good and some of them are great! The thing they're lacking though is that mysterious something. The something that makes sure you don't put down the game until 2 in the morning and you realise that you haven't blinked since 9. I'm talking about the sheer addictivness of games like Sensible Soccer and Tetris.
The truth of the matter is that if a games not addictive enough to keep you coming back for more then it hasn't achieved its aim. Well it would have achieved part of its aim, it would have entertained but it wouldn't have hooked you.
No I’m not saying that graphics aren’t nice. They are, it’s the graphics that add to the atmosphere of a game. They can be very good at building tension in a game. If you’re outside a haunted house and a ghosts just about to attack you, a lush 3D landscape with flowers growing isn’t going to do anything to add to help.
And now that we're going for extra features over games I'm actually worried that gaming as we know it might be left behind. A lot of people might say that this is the Future of Gaming but if it is then I don't want it. The thing I will look for in a game along with most other hardcore gamers out there is highly entertaining gameplay, good challenging aspects with a nice array of levels and sheer addictivness.
The SNES was great at this. the Super Nintendo Entertainment System didn't have great graphics. It had great games. Mario World is my number one game that I've ever played. It had 92 levels, fun and hilarious gameplay, a nice two-player option, and something that kept me coming back for more. The games graphics weren't great but they got me by. And that’s what matters.
RBS
Well now we're at that future that so many people dreamed about and quite frankly, I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be. I know this has had numerous threads before and that everyone is sick of the subject but I feet that I have to give my opinion.
Nowadays we've got flashy graphics, online add-ons, DVD players and 8mm discs. Okay the GameCubes discs do look pretty cute but do we honestly need online capabilities or a DVD add on? No we don't. The fact that we have all these extra features is just going to do one thing and that’s bump the price of games consoles up through the roof.
Admittedly the online aspect of things is definitely the way to get excellent multiplayer gaming, the chance to pump 50 rounds of lead into a person who could be playing in New Zealand on Quake 3 is a chance that anyone would jump at. Since the beginning of consoles we have been taking larger and larger steps away from the point of consoles. The games on the earlier consoles are definitely more addictive than today’s games. That’s not to say that the games that are knocking around at the moment aren't fun because they are, some of them are good and some of them are great! The thing they're lacking though is that mysterious something. The something that makes sure you don't put down the game until 2 in the morning and you realise that you haven't blinked since 9. I'm talking about the sheer addictivness of games like Sensible Soccer and Tetris.
The truth of the matter is that if a games not addictive enough to keep you coming back for more then it hasn't achieved its aim. Well it would have achieved part of its aim, it would have entertained but it wouldn't have hooked you.
No I’m not saying that graphics aren’t nice. They are, it’s the graphics that add to the atmosphere of a game. They can be very good at building tension in a game. If you’re outside a haunted house and a ghosts just about to attack you, a lush 3D landscape with flowers growing isn’t going to do anything to add to help.
And now that we're going for extra features over games I'm actually worried that gaming as we know it might be left behind. A lot of people might say that this is the Future of Gaming but if it is then I don't want it. The thing I will look for in a game along with most other hardcore gamers out there is highly entertaining gameplay, good challenging aspects with a nice array of levels and sheer addictivness.
The SNES was great at this. the Super Nintendo Entertainment System didn't have great graphics. It had great games. Mario World is my number one game that I've ever played. It had 92 levels, fun and hilarious gameplay, a nice two-player option, and something that kept me coming back for more. The games graphics weren't great but they got me by. And that’s what matters.
RBS
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ME!?!?!?!??
What makes you think i'll rub it in that Wookiee should be in the pension queue with his zimmer frame?
What makes you think i'll rub it in that Wookiee should be in the pension queue with his zimmer frame?
Wòókiee Møn§Ý€R wrote:
Yeah yeah, okay - I'm showing my age
> and geekiness - no need to rub it in! ;-)
:-D
there's no need to rub it in, Grix Sniper and YH'll do it for me :-)
Yeah yeah, okay - I'm showing my age
> and geekiness - no need to rub it in! ;-)
:-D
there's no need to rub it in, Grix Sniper and YH'll do it for me :-)
FantasyMeister wrote:
> RBS's original post, I fully concur, gaming is about gameplay, all
> else is a side issue. Frills like DVD and modems are nice, but
> non-essential,
Which is why i think the Gamecube will surface to be the most popular next gen console.
> RBS's original post, I fully concur, gaming is about gameplay, all
> else is a side issue. Frills like DVD and modems are nice, but
> non-essential,
Which is why i think the Gamecube will surface to be the most popular next gen console.
RastaBillySkank wrote:
> D'oh!!!! sorry, not all that good on gaming history past 1993
Yeah yeah, okay - I'm showing my age and geekiness - no need to rub it in! ;-)
> D'oh!!!! sorry, not all that good on gaming history past 1993
Yeah yeah, okay - I'm showing my age and geekiness - no need to rub it in! ;-)
Wòókiee Møn§Ý€R wrote:
> I think you'll find the ZX81 was not the first home computer. There
> was the ZX80 before that, and other models - including Steve Jobs
> & Steve Wozniak's first 'Apple' before that, and several others
> before that!
D'oh!!!! sorry, not all that good on gaming history past 1993
> I think you'll find the ZX81 was not the first home computer. There
> was the ZX80 before that, and other models - including Steve Jobs
> & Steve Wozniak's first 'Apple' before that, and several others
> before that!
D'oh!!!! sorry, not all that good on gaming history past 1993
meka_dragon wrote:
> RBS, 96 levels on Super Mario World mate, suggest you go back and
> find the other 4. ;-)
:-D oops!!! I haven't played it since I sold it (Wish I hadn't now...)
> RBS, 96 levels on Super Mario World mate, suggest you go back and
> find the other 4. ;-)
:-D oops!!! I haven't played it since I sold it (Wish I hadn't now...)
RBS, 96 levels on Super Mario World mate, suggest you go back and find the other 4. ;-)
No, seriously, playability has to be the most important factor of a game.
In recent times I've harked on about realism, but I've also always stated that this must ADD to the gameplay, not detract from it.
Ultra real graphics in a world with no objective has very little appeal after a while.
I agree that some SNES games were highly playable, but I think you may be looking back through rose coloured glasses.
There were certainly plenty of stinkers back in the SNES days too! Bubsy the Bobcat to name and shame just one. I so hated that damn creature, standing around in his stupid t-shirt with a 'B' on it. Thought he was so fast and could rival Sonic did he? Not a chance, crap, crap, crap!
Added features should just be that, added features, not what the game is wholly about.
The latest PS2 games can be on DVD format. This doesn't mean that we want many hours of picture perfect FMV between a few minutes of lacklustre gaming. It has been said the 'The Bouncer' is guilty of this, but it's yet to face those charges here.
So developers, take advantage of todays technology, but don't forget why we're all here. To play games and have fun.
No, seriously, playability has to be the most important factor of a game.
In recent times I've harked on about realism, but I've also always stated that this must ADD to the gameplay, not detract from it.
Ultra real graphics in a world with no objective has very little appeal after a while.
I agree that some SNES games were highly playable, but I think you may be looking back through rose coloured glasses.
There were certainly plenty of stinkers back in the SNES days too! Bubsy the Bobcat to name and shame just one. I so hated that damn creature, standing around in his stupid t-shirt with a 'B' on it. Thought he was so fast and could rival Sonic did he? Not a chance, crap, crap, crap!
Added features should just be that, added features, not what the game is wholly about.
The latest PS2 games can be on DVD format. This doesn't mean that we want many hours of picture perfect FMV between a few minutes of lacklustre gaming. It has been said the 'The Bouncer' is guilty of this, but it's yet to face those charges here.
So developers, take advantage of todays technology, but don't forget why we're all here. To play games and have fun.
On Wookiee's technical points I agree. The Z80 processor started the revolution.
(As a sidenote, who helped to invent the 1k Basic that was crammed into it? Why, it was Bill Gates of course!).
On RBS's original post, I fully concur, gaming is about gameplay, all else is a side issue. Frills like DVD and modems are nice, but non-essential, they should offer them as extras to the basic console, a bit like airconditioning and electric sunroofs in cars.
(As a sidenote, who helped to invent the 1k Basic that was crammed into it? Why, it was Bill Gates of course!).
On RBS's original post, I fully concur, gaming is about gameplay, all else is a side issue. Frills like DVD and modems are nice, but non-essential, they should offer them as extras to the basic console, a bit like airconditioning and electric sunroofs in cars.
I think you'll find the ZX81 was not the first home computer. There was the ZX80 before that, and other models - including Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak's first 'Apple' before that, and several others before that!
If you like the retro-style games (especially Mario World) take a look in the GBA forum on here!
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