Rather than the specific "EA credibility watch", though they are the inspiration for the thread:

http://consumerist.com/2013/04/09/ea-makes-worst-company-in-america-history-wins-title-for-second-year-in-a-row/


Feel free to discuss DLC, planned obsolescence, DRM, etc. though.

4/9/2013 5:11:58 PM

The new fifa online is terrible. I haven't played a video game i'd rate higher than an 8 that has been made since 2009.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/9/2013 5:30:10 PM

EA is a dying company but video gaming seems fine to me.

Big budget games like Tomb Raider and Bioshock are as good as they have been in a long time, and now there is Kickstarter to cater to niche groups like never before.

4/9/2013 6:36:22 PM

Quote :

"video gaming seems fine to me"

- Always-online games / consoles
- DRM
- Day-one DLC / pre-planned DLC / preorder bonuses + perks
- no challenge in most games, whatsoever (subjective, I realize)
- ETC!

4/9/2013 6:41:17 PM

i don't care about always-on as long as it works

it just doesn't usually work

4/9/2013 6:43:22 PM

i think the only game i'll buy this year is GTA 5. that's it. i say that now, when I know COD always ropes me in. But I played BLOPS2 for like 2 months before putting it down; i'm not going to make that mistake again.

4/9/2013 7:05:36 PM

More like current state of triple A game publishing companies, right?

4/9/2013 7:17:59 PM

Quote :

"I haven't played a video game i'd rate higher than an 8 that has been made since 2009."

Hey, wait a minute...[looks at backlog of games]

...never mind.


On a more serious note, I see what you mean. I know people that buy games near release frequently and to the constant trade in for terrible game after game.

I haven't seriously played a Madden game since the Saturn, but did EA monopolize football again?

4/9/2013 7:50:06 PM

^if you don't know the current state of NFL licensed games, you probably don't really have the pulse of gaming (no offense)

Dark Souls
Guild Wars 2
Civ V
Borderlands 2
Journey
Assassins Creed 3
Battlefield 3
Skyrim
Batman Arkham City
L.A. Noire
Uncharted 3
Portal 2

and those are just the AAA titles in the last couple of years I can think of

[Edited on April 9, 2013 at 9:47 PM. Reason : .]

4/9/2013 9:46:29 PM

Tomb Raider was entertaining for one play through but there's no replay value. That and it hardly takes any time at all to 100% complete the game.

BioShock Infinite was disappointing. People are over hyping the story to the point where they are looking past the problems with the actual game play. I thought BioShock 1 was better in every way.

Just mentioning those since they were mentioned specifically in this thread. Of course opinions on individual games are highly subjective. I think a lot of it has to do with me becoming more and more jaded over time.

Quote :

"- Always-online games / consoles"

I've heard rumors that the next console Microsoft is putting out there is online only, no confirmations from MS on that though. Good luck with that because the day they do that is the day I find another hobby. They may not do it immediately but if the DLC stuff is any indication they'll wait until people adopt online only and then gradually introduce things like no used games, deactivating older versions of games (Madden 13 no longer works, gotta buy Madden 14 if you want to keep playing), etc.

I don't have a problem with online enhancing a gaming experience but I do have a problem with online being a requirement. I'd like to think that people would vote with their dollar and tell industry that they don't want to go down that path but I'm sure people will have no self control and end up buying it up in droves to get their fix.

4/9/2013 9:55:48 PM

^Microsoft Studios' creative director

4/9/2013 11:07:16 PM

Quote :

"^if you don't know the current state of NFL licensed games, you probably don't really have the pulse of gaming (no offense)"

No worries, not offended, but I'm all about Demon's Souls and Dark Souls and have tinkered with Madden games but not seriously.

Looking over your list, those are somewhat developed franchises and at least come from decent development teams. For a while, when I cared more about the state of games, it was my love of Demon's Souls that made me question the market that was full of casual games as a credibility watch. I know it's the money, it was more about hitting the five stages and getting over it. As long as every area of gaming improves it's not that bad. So I can see both sides of it. At least we have more options now and people who spend more on the preorders vs waiting are getting more bonuses than in the past. I'm interested to see the impact the option of direct downloading will have one B&M stores.

For Bioshock Infinite haters, was there anything specific or should I sift through the Infinite thread?

4/10/2013 5:22:51 PM

Quote :

"More like current state of triple A game publishing companies, right?"

ding ding ding

video games are fine

4/11/2013 1:42:19 AM

^^^

http://kotaku.com/microsofts-adam-orth-the-always-on-tweeter-no-long-472244698

Quote :

"According to a report on Game Informer, Adam Orth, the Microsoft creative director who last week upset some folks with his comments about always-online technology, is no longer with the company. A source close to Orth tells Kotaku that Orth resigned from the company and was not fired."

4/11/2013 7:18:49 AM

Most likely told to resign or be fired.

[Edited on April 11, 2013 at 8:21 AM. Reason : a]

4/11/2013 8:21:15 AM

That's what I figured. Folks on the kotaku thread seem pretty polarized about it. Some are saying he deserved it; others are complaining about the inconsistency of wanting greater dialogue with creators but then punishing them for their thoughts. I don't know that he's been punished for sharing his opinion: He's being punished for being so glib and incendiary while acting as a representative of the company brand.

4/11/2013 9:02:02 AM

Thanks, I actually realized/learned something in this thread.

The problem really is the AAA developers and titles, not gaming itself.

I would also submit the game review industry is a large part of the problem, creating a death spiral as they promote these AAA titles.

Bioshock Infinite >9/10 everywhere?? What? Was absolutely not better than a 7/10.

4/11/2013 10:00:03 AM

There are certainly problems with the industry as a whole. The global recession hasn't helped. Japanese games have always put gameplay first and their economic woes combined with a demand for "dating sim" games is hurting the flow of good games. Western games have always aspired to be too much like movies. Now they are all homogeneous pieces of turd where you push one analog stick forward and aim with the other then wait for the cutscene..

Quote :

" I think a lot of it has to do with me becoming more and more jaded over time."

That could be the case for some but one becomes more jaded when nothing new is brought to the table. Music for instance is constantly evolving and interests me. Nothing will be like listening to the Blue Album for the first time but I find new music I like all the time. Too much time is wasted on shitty tacked on stories and multiplayer. At least Bioshock had the integrity to do away with tacked on multi. Last generation was filled with great games. There may be 3 or 4 games this generation I would call great.

Uncharted 2 >>>>> Uncharted 3

4/11/2013 10:25:02 AM

Couldn't you argue that some of the onus on is the user? People eschew the radio and listen to independent artists because they want better music. The AAA industry is not the end-all, be-all of gaming; there are many independent production houses as well as interesting experiences to be had in indy gaming.

4/11/2013 10:28:21 AM

Aliens: Colonial Marines

4/11/2013 10:38:22 AM

I think it's interesting how the old pay-to-play MMO model has now evolved into free-to-play with premium microtransactions within the game. (except for WoW obviously).

4/11/2013 10:44:39 AM

Quote :

"i don't care about always-on as long as it works it just doesn't usually work"

The only time it has ever worked is for multiplayer online games, because it is always forced to prevent piracy.

Quote :

"Dark Souls Guild Wars 2 Civ V Borderlands 2 Journey Assassins Creed 3 Battlefield 3 Skyrim Batman Arkham City Asylum L.A. Noire Uncharted 3 Portal 2"

Fixed that for you. I would really like to add L.A. Noire was pretty good but the rest of those games are just rehashes of titles that were already least (most of which before 2009 like i said) with very minimal improvement. Civ V doesn't have shit on Civ IV. The uncharted games are awesome movies but the gameplay and controls are terrible. Borderlands is pretty cool but in the end you literally just do the same thing for the entire game. I don't like the elder scroll series but that's just me. I played assassins creed 3 for an hour before I got bored of it. Come up with something new Ubisoft. I've done this like 4 times already. Portal 2 was not as good as Portal. Deal with it. Battlefield 3 is not as good as Battlefield 2, which imho was not as good as BF1942 which was not as good as Desert Combat. I got to level 13 in guild wars 2 before I and everyone else I was playing with quit. I think its a good game but I think it is too easy honestly.

I haven't played Dark Souls or Journey but I crossed them out because I felt like it.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 10:45:48 AM

I think it's much harder to make a great game than a great film or a great album. I just don't think a few people can make one these days. Journey had a smallish team but that game barely turned a profit. I would like to see more games like Journey but with more emphasis on gameplay.

4/11/2013 10:47:57 AM

Quote :

"Bioshock Infinite >9/10 everywhere?? What? Was absolutely not better than a 7/10."

What's even more strange is that the overwhelming majority of gamers puts it up there in the 9/10 range as well. Metacritic: 95 from the critics (WFT?!?!?!) and an 8.9 user score. I guess I've just been too hard on the game but I'm about the same as you. 7/10, good for a single playthough, nothing to bring me back to replay the title.

Quote :

"For Bioshock Infinite haters, was there anything specific or should I sift through the Infinite thread?"

I'll try not to clutter up this thread with BS:I stuff so I'll go ahead and post some details there.

4/11/2013 10:57:57 AM

Quote :

"I think it's much harder to make a great game than a great film or a great album."

I hate to agree with you but so many things go into making a great game. I will list my requirements

1) Innovation. I do not want to play Call of Duty MW 17. Sorry. I played the first 12. Call of duty 2 was the best. Deal with it.

2) Intuitive controls. Don't make Y shoot. Don't make down on the d-pad knife. How do so many people fuck this up.

3) Gameplay. I have no idea how people make games challenging but rewarding. This is seriously a art.

4) Immersion. I don't care if I am playing whack a mole. Create an environment or story that is believable and that I want to be involved in.

5) This is the most important: Graphics are not important. At all. As long as there aren't crazy errors or something do not focus on this. At all. Most of my favorite games are on from the mid 90s to 2005ish. They are fun and memorable. I did not give a shit if I was driving around a block. It was fun. Spend less money on making my gun reflect the moonlight and more money on creating a level that has cool design.

6) Brevity. Unless you are Hideo Kojima, Don't make a sequel. I am looking at you assassins creed. What is it like Assassins creed 7 now? There is maybe enough innovation for 2 games and an expansion pack. Story makes no sense and I don't think anyone can follow that shit or cares anymore. If you pad out your story by creating new characters and enemies who aren't related to anything else other than 30 minutes of game play, save me 30 minutes.

7) Hideo Kojima: Stop making games. Please.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 11:02:12 AM

Quote :

"Portal 2 was not as good as Portal."

Really? Portal 1 had its good moments, but portal 2 was fleshed out more into a full game. Also the Cave Johnson and Wheatly roles were hilarious and the early aperture test labs added more depth (pun intended) to the game.

4/11/2013 11:10:38 AM

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/3153-Portal-2

I just base my opinions on whatever Yahtzee says. Portal 2 too lonk.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 11:42:14 AM

Quote :

"Dark Souls Civ V Borderlands 2 Journey Skyrim L.A. Noire"

were all fantastic games. krallum is high

and for anyone complaining that games aren't hard. go play dark souls

hell go play path of exile without friends feeding you items, or an established build.


Journey is not for me, mostly because i dont have the attention span to play a game where no one talks ... but it's incredible for what it is

4/11/2013 1:18:41 PM

Civ 4 is infinitely better than Civ 5
LA Noire is a bretty good game but it doesn't really keep up the pace and kind of loses its luster towards the end IMO

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

[Edited on April 11, 2013 at 1:48 PM. Reason : its no Manhunter: New York]

4/11/2013 1:47:15 PM

LA Noire commits the cardinal sin of not having really fun gameplay. Press forward, aim, Bob's your uncle.

4/11/2013 2:23:51 PM

Decent movie. Bad game. Uncharted Syndrome.

Also... the 'puzzles' are laughably easy. If you take more than 30 seconds to figure it out it pretty much calls you a retard and tells you what to do. The interrogation was really the only cool aspect of the game but it had little outcome on anything.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 2:25:58 PM

View video games same as movies. It isn't that the best movies/video games released each year are better or worse than in the past, it's just the amount of garbage that is released is so much more that it makes it seem worse but it's more about simply being diluted.

4/11/2013 2:37:10 PM

But that's wrong.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 2:48:31 PM

I don't think that is the case. There are many great movies released every year coinciding with the usual garbage. You can make a great film or an album with a limited budget. Lately, that has been the opposite for games hence the slump. Music and films are more evolved art forms. Games are still trying to find their identity and fill out the genres. Like I would call LA Noire and The Walking Dead more of an interactive story than a game. Games are activities you can get better at with continued time and concentration like Chess. I find when I am constantly advancing in skill at a game I am having the most fun. That is what has been lost. LA Noire was an interesting tech demo but nothing would have changed if you would have replaced the graphics engine with FMV.

4/11/2013 2:49:26 PM

I will say it again. I find it incredibly difficult to name an innovative game that is actually fun, released in the last 5 years.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 2:52:28 PM

Define "fun"

I vastly enjoyed Journey but I'm not sure "fun" is the right word for the experience

4/11/2013 3:30:06 PM

An experience that is fun? Towards the end of LA Noire I just felt like I was obligated to keep playing because of da story. The fun disappeared halfway through, due to the repetitiveness of the investigations aka assassins creed syndrome which basically became Group Brawl Creed.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 3:34:53 PM

/kick #Entertainment Krallum gtfo you monkey
/mode #Entertainment +b Krallum

4/11/2013 4:01:05 PM

Bioshock Infinite is the best game I've played in a couple of years probably. The art direction is superb.

4/11/2013 4:04:41 PM

Quote :

"An experience that is fun? Towards the end of LA Noire I just felt like I was obligated to keep playing because of da story. The fun disappeared halfway through, due to the repetitiveness of the investigations aka assassins creed syndrome which basically became Group Brawl Creed. I'm Krallum and I approved this message."

Yeah, I'm on disc 3 and I didn't ask for it and I feel exactly the same way. It's a decent story though.(My wife got it for me for X-mas for some strange reason this was the first year I didn't have any games on my list).

Funny enough she also got me AC3, which I haven't touched.

I basically I feel like I'm done with this generation and am just cruising for the next generation and Star Citizen.

4/11/2013 4:26:50 PM

/nick AstralAdvent
/join #Entertainment
/mode +o AstralAdvent
/mode -b Krallum
/leave #Entertainment
/nick Krallum
/join #Entertainment
sup?

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/11/2013 4:32:27 PM

nice try adultswim

4/11/2013 4:53:11 PM

lol I'm not even joking, I love it. It takes a lot for a game to hold my interest to the end. I'm generally a sucker for creative art direction rather than extremely innovative gameplay.

4/11/2013 5:57:01 PM

Quote :

"I will say it again. I find it incredibly difficult to name an innovative game that is actually fun, released in the last 5 years. "

Hotline Miami?
Fez?
The Walking Dead?

4/11/2013 6:01:48 PM

The best game of this generation, by a long shot, is Super Meat Boy.


The gold standard.

4/11/2013 6:14:37 PM

truth

4/11/2013 6:19:31 PM

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/7121-Failure-is-Such-a-Relative-Term

Good points. Hopefully next gen devs will learn to cut all the fat and the consoles will be cheaper to produce on. Also, indie devs will step outside of the gimmicky side scroller and get more innovative.

I really want to play to Super Meat Boy but I will never give the creator of Fez any money after watching the movie Indie Game.

[Edited on April 15, 2013 at 1:43 PM. Reason : .]

4/15/2013 1:43:09 PM

why not

4/15/2013 1:56:30 PM

^^? Are Team Meat and Phil Fish affiliated?

Super Meat Boy is awesome, you should def. check it out.

4/15/2013 1:58:51 PM

^I read his post like that at first too but I think they were separate thoughts, the latter half referring to my posting Fez a few posts up.

4/15/2013 2:07:55 PM