Is the Video Game industry in trouble?

**Ranger10** · 03-12-13, 01:27 AM

This is a video a friend sent to me. Some of you may have seen it, but I haven't found it on our forums so I thought I'd post it here. It's 30 minutes long, but well worth the time. Very insightful and speaks a lot about some of the topics we've been discussing here for a while.

**SourceSkills** · 03-12-13, 02:46 AM

Agreed but I don't like how he only brushed on Activision. I honestly think their Call of Duty franchise singlehandedly brought the end to quality in video games and are just as much to blame as EA.

**Gumby** · 03-12-13, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by SourceSkills

Agreed but I don't like how he only brushed on Activision. I honestly think their Call of Duty franchise singlehandedly brought the end to quality in video games and are just as much to blame as EA.

I could not agree more. That series plays to the lowest common denominator in gaming and because of that has huge sales figures. Meanwhile great series like Battlefield go downhill in an attempt to compete. A great game will sell well. So stop making trash. I think it's similar to the high ratings for Jersey Shore and Honey Boo Boo. It's all a race to the bottom.

Gesendet von meinem Galaxy S3 mit Tapatalk.

**Alundil** · 03-12-13, 08:34 AM

Haven't watched the video yet. Though I will Ranger.

I agree that there's a race to the bottom, seemingly at least. I am also of the opinion that the CoD model has more to with it than anything else from a publisher standpoint.

But, I also can't pass over heaping a stinking pile of blame on my "fellow" (ugh) gamers. What we've seen over the past decade or two in terms of television content is exactly what we're seeing in the games content arena. Less substance, more style. Less refinement, more flash. Less stability (and you can apply this to the engines, the longevity of the titles, the ability to manage the players, etc) and more allowance made for "low" or crass play styles. Less thought and intellect (whether RTS/FPS/RPG) and more instant gratification and cheap awards.

So, is the video games industry in trouble? No. I don't think so. Given that the bulk of the population fits the worst of those ^ comparisons the video games industry will be just fine. Just like the television and music industries. It is people like us who are in trouble. We've been in trouble for a good long while. Hell this place was created because bigdog and sjt found trouble back in 04/05 (and previously). We all landed here and stayed because we'd found trouble elsewhere.

**SovietDooM** · 03-12-13, 12:38 PM

One logo of ACM? RAGH!!

Well honestly, I wouldn't mind a gaming industry crash. Every know and then you need to hit the reset button. Bethesda will always be there for me and so will my N64.

**Kanati** · 03-12-13, 12:49 PM

Every crash cycle brings forth new indie coders... Those indie coders are the ones that rise to the top and bring the industry with them. So crash away. We'll get a new crop of good programmers and maybe revive some great genres that have been lacking lately (turn based strategy, space combat sims, flight sims, etc)

**i8pptuakamonstercam** · 03-12-13, 01:27 PM

On a side note since kanati metioned flight sims, DCS - Digital Combat Simulator

BAM! the dev is known as eagle dynamics, and they are making and have made probably the best flight sims I have ever seen.

**Ranger10** · 03-12-13, 02:02 PM

I think what happens more often than not is the rush to get the game. The marketers do a good enough job selling the high points of the game that gamers rush out and buy it within one or two days of launch, only to have a huge let down. Thankfully, I avoided the Mass Effect 3, Diablo 3, and more recently the SimCity4 debacle because I refused to buy a game until you guy vetted it here first. I didn't do that with WarZ, but that was only alpha, so the jury is still out. Im not holding my breath though.

If we'd wait a week or two, then hear what others had to say, we could avoid sending all our money to EA, or Activision, or ____________ . I'm sure they look at their initial sales spike as a indicator of a "successful" game. So they rinse and repeat. Always making it dumber and dumber for the next gen.

I'm with Kanati 100%, let this industry crash again. Let EA, and some of the others die a quick painful death. Those indie games out there are usually far better anyway. It'll suck for us for a while, but there are those people out there who have the skills, resources and resolve to make better games and we're working hard on getting them out.

**SmokenScion** · 03-12-13, 02:03 PM

Take On _______ By Bohemia IS.

**Ranger10** · 03-12-13, 02:04 PM

Also, this is why I think TPG has a future in game reviews. I try to read each and every article put out here. It's highly informative and impacts my purchasing habits.