I don’t find video games much fun anymore

[fallacy]

As Jim mentioned, the creativity well is dry. Remember when a new game concept came out? People in their 20's-30's have to remember their first introduction to a ton of different genres. RPG's, FPS's, fighters, simulation. How special they were and new in concept. Remember when the talk was about even a game like Tetris? Everyone was talking about this game made by some Russian scientist used to make other Russian scientists even smarter. It was cold-war badassery! Like Rocky IV style. No one thinks of any game in that way these days, even if it is the 1000th incarnation of Tetris.

Ya I think your right about the new concepts. It seemed like there was always a completely new concept that came out and hooked you into it. A lot of that was thanks to computers eventually being able to run games in the early 90’s. I can list so many computer games that kept me hooked in my high school years that you could not play on any console at that time.

[emphatic]

This all boils down to what type of games you enjoy. I've always loved ARCADE games and nothing else. I did a bit of Quake 2 multiplayer and Carmageddon in the 90's before finding MAME, but nothing comes close. Many of use who grew up with the classics are overwhelmed at first by the many choices of the Internet (availability) and emulation and at first we love all the nostalgia, but for me, the nostalgia wears off pretty quick. It's not what drew me to arcade games in the first place, but the awesome feeling of seeing a game for the first time and falling in love with it. Sure, I get a warm feeling everytime I hook up Rygar, Black Tiger or Sky Shark in my JAMMA cabinets, but I just can't look at them the same way as when I was a kid.

I started collecting games to get the magic feeling that you just can't get from emulation and to focus on the games instead of updating your favourite lists or frontend for the 11th time. And then a few years back, I discovered that there are actually arcade titles being developed today that I enjoy playing, like DeathSmiles, Akai Katana, Do-Donpachi Daifukkatsu etc.

Video of the DDP DFK 360 port:



I play this in my cabinet, and it's just as awesome as I remember games being back in the day. Only more.

[VanillaGorilla]

Video of the DDP DFK 360 port:

The video is not available in the USA. Guess I gotta set up my proxy...

[SavannahLion]

Video of the DDP DFK 360 port:

The video is not available in the USA. Guess I gotta set up my proxy...

Damn, mine's offline. Buggers.

[emphatic]

Video of the DDP DFK 360 port:

The video is not available in the USA. Guess I gotta set up my proxy...

Damn, mine's offline. Buggers.

Sorry fellas, I wasn't aware. I hope some of these will work instead:
http://www.youtube.com/user/shmuperplay

[Dartful Dodger]

I don't understand why people can't admit that there're to old or that they've grown up.

I have friends going gray who say their father went gray early too.
To them I say, "Dude you're old enough to go gray."

To you I say, "Dude you're old enough to stop playing games."


This is nothing new. 30 years ago I had friends who didn't see the point in games and this was when every game was new and different.

Kids who don't like games just realized early that games are a waste of time and they don't have time to waste.

Some people never grow up which is why they'll always enjoy playing games.

[VanillaGorilla]

Sorry fellas, I wasn't aware. I hope some of these will work instead:
http://www.youtube.com/user/shmuperplay

score: 1.071.908.242.272

A trillion?!?! The modern shmups are insane...the ship just pumps out like a constant stream of firepower, to the point where firing seems almost superfluous. It just looks like a game of just dodging the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- flying at you 

[Donkbaca]

why are games relegated to kids?  Adults do tons of crap to waste their time. So, if instead of playing an hour of wii per night, I substitute that in for an hour of mindless tv watching, I am somehow more grown up?  Or if instead of playing a couple of hours of games, I instead go see one of those godawful movies.  Does that make me a grown up?

I don't buy the "too old to play games" bit.  Its dumb, time is time.  I am not too old play games, I just don't have 100 hours to get through some of them, and there aren't as many pick up and play for an hour or two type games anymore.

[VanillaGorilla]

I have noticed a 'changing of the guard' on this forum in the last year... A lot of the old members dont post a whole lot on the main forum or the project announcements anymore. Its starting to seem like us guys in our 40's are now the 'new' old ones , and perhaps as you enter into your 5th decade, the games start to get put aside.

[leapinlew]

I have noticed a 'changing of the guard' on this forum in the last year... A lot of the old members dont post a whole lot on the main forum or the project announcements anymore. Its starting to seem like us guys in our 40's are now the 'new' old ones , and perhaps as you enter into your 5th decade, the games start to get put aside.

Hang around, it happens all the time.

[DNA Dan]

So, if instead of playing an hour of wii per night, I substitute that in for an hour of mindless tv watching, I am somehow more grown up?  Or if instead of playing a couple of hours of games, I instead go see one of those godawful movies.  Does that make me a grown up?

That just means you've gotten too lazy to even move your thumbs.

[fallacy]

I don't understand why people can't admit that there're to old or that they've grown up.

I have friends going gray who say their father went gray early too.
To them I say, "Dude you're old enough to go gray."

To you I say, "Dude you're old enough to stop playing games."


This is nothing new. 30 years ago I had friends who didn't see the point in games and this was when every game was new and different.

Kids who don't like games just realized early that games are a waste of time and they don't have time to waste.

Some people never grow up which is why they'll always enjoy playing games.

I am pretty convinced it has nothing to do with your age. Just like movies there are games made for kids, teens and adults. Taste may change but games are an open pallet. You have games like World Of Warcraft that something like 9 million people have been playing for the last 8 years ranging from ages 10 to 55. There might be some age past 55 where just about everyone stops caring about games but …

[jennifer]

        The interaction with friends is gone, hanging out smoking cig"s, [and whatever] , keg beer at the bowling alley, and row"s and row"s
of awsome games. Times have changed, kids today are chained to a console.

[emphatic]

score: 1.071.908.242.272

A trillion?!?! The modern shmups are insane...the ship just pumps out like a constant stream of firepower, to the point where firing seems almost superfluous. It just looks like a game of just dodging the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- flying at you 

Yeah, that score is insane.  It's hard to see from those videos how the game works as the guy playing is milking the game to the extreme, but it can be played in a couple of different ways, and it also have different game modes that are aimed to players of different skill. But the game is superbly crafted (if you like shmups) and really awesome when played the correct way (for a high score). Casual players can enjoy it too of course (playing for survival), but the real payoff is when you click with how to score the huge points etc.

I only play games that don't try to be feature films with some lame action scenes with a spinning camera view thrown in.

[Dartful Dodger]

I am pretty convinced it has nothing to do with your age. Just like movies there are games made for kids, teens and adults. Taste may change but games are an open pallet. You have games like World Of Warcraft that something like 9 million people have been playing for the last 8 years ranging from ages 10 to 55. There might be some age past 55 where just about everyone stops caring about games but …

It's not the actual age, it's maturity. You're growing up.

My point with the gray hair is because that's an obvious sign of maturity, yet my friend was pretty convinced it has nothing to do with him getting older.

There are kids who don't like playing video games and there are adults who do. Different maturity levels.

[fallacy]

It's not the actual age, it's maturity. You're growing up.

My point with the gray hair is because that's an obvious sign of maturity, yet my friend was pretty convinced it has nothing to do with him getting older.

There are kids who don't like playing video games and there are adults who do. Different maturity levels.

Saying that people who still like video games are just immature is just silly. Why are you even on this form if you think video games are immature?

[Donkbaca]

so if video games is an immature thing to do, then what, pray tell is a "mature" way to waste your time?  Or do mature people just eat, ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, work and sleep?

[jennifer]

        I"ve been collecting cab"s, jukes, pin"s for decades now [probbibly around 200 now] give/take. For me, I rarley play games anymore, It"s
become more about the perfection of the restoration...... and the sad song"s on the jukes.

[Donkbaca]

That is very immature of you Jennifer....

[ids]

That is very immature of you Jennifer....

lmao 

However, if Dartful really means that as we age our interests and tastes change - well, there could be something to that.  Maturity is the wrong word here.  I am as immature as they come (and, it seems, older than many here) and lost my interest years ago.  Not sure if that it's an ageing thing.  Has nothing to do with any changes in my life - nothing has changed.  Duno, hard to explain.

[VanillaGorilla]

hanging out smoking cig"s, [and whatever]

Be still my heart, I miss passing off my smoke to someone else when my turn to play came up..we always used to share em! We went to the parking lot for the 'whatever' tho. God those were the days...

[Woodshop Flunky]

My dad and I use to watch the sun rise playing MicroProse Tank Platoon, Origin's Ultima series, SimCity and other PC games in the 90s.  Before that we played Zelda, Kid Icarus, Mario... on NES.  I remember one day I went to school and my dad was sitting on the end of my bed in his pajamas playing Zelda; guess where he was and what he was wearing when I got home from school .  Before that we played the arcades.

My dad is pushing 70 and he still wears out his PC with games.

[Dartful Dodger]

I think I’m not explaining myself properly, the main point I wanted to get across is that lack of interesting games aren't the reason for your lack of interest in them. You are older/mature/responsibler and you just understand that money and time can be spent more wisely elsewhere.

I spent more time building my cab than actually playing it. For me the skill and knowledge required in building the cab was more fun than playing the games.

Back when you LOVED playing video games and you thought they were the most interesting thing on Earth, who were the people that didn't play them?

This is just an honest question to ask yourself, so I don't care about your imaginary younger brother who was the most immature person on earth.

If you think my posts are immature I'd like to add that I still enjoy an occasional game now and then, when I'm not doing more mature things.

[Donkbaca]

"when I am doing more mature things"

like what?

I disagree with your assessment that video games are immature.  What is more mature?  Building stuff? 

[Dude111]

Games today are trash compared to the stuff we had in the 80s for sure!!

I can totally understand why everyone on that thread feels that way!

[VanillaGorilla]

God those were the days...

It's not like they quit making marijuana, you know.

Oh really? They still make MJ? I had no idea....I thought they stopped all that about the same time as disc cameras and PK Rippers....

[tist]

I'm 23 and wonder if ill ever get burned out by games. I've been playing since I was about 4 and have always found them exciting. The best times were playing cooperatively or against my friends. The internet makes it easier for that real player vs player interaction.  Dont get me wrong, I'm still a huge fan of the games before my time, but its obvious they possess some repititiveness that'll make some players bored.

[eds1275]

I also don't think mature is the right word. And getting grey hair isn't a sign of maturity, either - maybe older. Whoever said tastes change is closer to the truth. Maybe if you throw a tantrum when you lose it is.

[Nephasth]

I don't think it's a matter of realizing it is more important to do a "mature" activity when you get older, but finding something more constructive and worthwhile to do with your time.

[DCsegaDH]

I'm 25, I started playing Mame since 2008. I like this thread!

I grew up in the 1990's playing arcade games, but I lived out in the country so I only went to arcades only every 3 or 4 months. I'm just glad I got to around arcades unlike kids these days. I sometimes go to Gameworks and play DDR and SFIV when I get the chance.

I like playing classics like Donkey Kong, Tetris, Joust, and Burger Time (my favorite 80's game). I was too young to play them when they first came out, but I love playing them now. I don't play console games that much anymore, only a couple of hours a day of Gears of War 2 on Xbox 360, but that's about it. I play Mame regularly too, just in short bursts though, but I don't have my cabinet setup yet.

The games just got more complicated and so did the controls too. I still enjoy 2D better than 3D. I'm tired of the same FPS, but I still enjoy both old and new video game systems.

[Paul Olson]

I just added a Time Crisis 3 to my garage arcade, and I am having a lot of fun playing that. I don't think it is about maturity at all. Or really even priorities for the most part. I think it is the experience that is lacking most of the time. I enjoy gun games on MAME and the Wii, but until I get recoil guns to work in MAME, I don't think it can match the experience of the TC3.

I think most people's idea of being mature is going to work and coming home to watch the inane family sitcoms. sorry, if that is maturity, I don't need it.

I will keep playing games, and putting them aside when I get bored. Games need to be entertaining, and some are for at least a while.

[DCsegaDH]

I think most people's idea of being mature is going to work and coming home to watch the inane family sitcoms. sorry, if that is maturity, I don't need it.

I will keep playing games, and putting them aside when I get bored. Games need to be entertaining, and some are for at least a while.

 
Yeah I agree, video games are their to entertain us. My life is already boring enough with video games, I can't imagine how boring it would be without them. I remember awhile back I used to come back from work and play Guitar Hero, nothing like relaxing with some video games

[Malenko]

There are a few major problems with modern games.
............................

7) Same game over and over again.

 Most games use the same engine over and over again with little to no real difference.  The only real change is the graphics.

...................

 I would also say originality..  But heres the deal...  I could play a zillion versions of the 2d supermario games... and as long as they remain challenging, with only a few changes and tweaks, they will still remain fun to play.

I no rite?

Back to the subject, if they arent fun stop playing and take a break. Ive had more fun building tweaking mame cabs, repairing and restoring old cabs, then I have playing them. I used to play games A LOT, now Id rather take my dogs for a walk/run, but I still play on occassion

[RayB]

If it's a matter of maturity then why does the median "gamer" age keep increasing?

responsibler

Now I think you're just screwing with us. 

[NOP]

Something along these same lines that I've noticed is that movies from the 80s, and moreso from the 70s, tend to be really, really slow to me now.  Watch any number of movies, from comedy to horror, from the 70s or 80s, and you'll find that they seem to feel really slow paced compared to what we get now.  I think this is a direct sign of our culture moving toward instant gratification, new, now and different is what is expected.

I think video games got swallowed up in that culture movement.  While I still have a place in my heart for old games, I too feel like they are just nowhere near as exciting as they used to be.

[Mikezilla]

If you think my posts are immature I'd like to add that I still enjoy an occasional game now and then, when I'm not doing more mature things.

Im with Donk on this. A lot of times, people are swayed by society's view of what they find cool, like they "have to grow up" because thats what youre SUPPOSED to do...I just find it funny because a "grown up" seems relative to me. I would also like to know what these "mature" things you do are. Go to a 40 hr a week job? Pay your taxes? Mow your lawn? Go fishing? Pleasure yourself when your significant other isnt around? I do all of those things and I play games when I get the time. I did really enjoy building the cab as well, and of course, playing the games isnt going to be as compelling as it was when you were a kid but cmon. We build and play these things for the nostalgia of it. You cant capture the same moments you play MAME now than you could when you played the original console in the arcade.

And to touch on NOP's post, I think everyone has ADD now. There must be something in the water. Nobody has an attention span longer than a goldfish. 

[Bootay]

Something along these same lines that I've noticed is that movies from the 80s, and moreso from the 70s, tend to be really, really slow to me now.  Watch any number of movies, from comedy to horror, from the 70s or 80s, and you'll find that they seem to feel really slow paced compared to what we get now.  I think this is a direct sign of our culture moving toward instant gratification, new, now and different is what is expected.

I think video games got swallowed up in that culture movement.  While I still have a place in my heart for old games, I too feel like they are just nowhere near as exciting as they used to be.

I can agree with this, except for the line "instant gratification, new, now and different is what is expected." Most movies and games are not new and different. They are all carbon copies of one another. This culture wants instant gratification, and are afraid of change. Everything must be familiar. Most things that are different get overlooked. Not always but most of the time.

[DNA Dan]

Pleasure yourself when your significant other isnt around? I do all of those things and I play games when I get the time.

Why would you allow that to limit your game time? 

[ark_ader]

If you think that arcade gaming is bland, the another hobby awaits you.  Just put the cab in the closet/garage/shed/parents house and forget it.

The day will come when you are off doing something else, and you will hear or see an old arcade classic.

Then you will be back.

Otherwise keep on gaming, and give yourself time to have a play.

Even if it is only one hour a week.

[nitz]

Very interesting thread!

I'm reminded of a period I went through where I lost interest in video games. I'm 29, so I wasn't going to arcades during the golden age. I cut my teeth on the NES and SNES. The first time I ever played a video game was in 1989. It was Super Mario Bros. at a friend's house and I was instantly hooked! I made it my mission to get a NES and got one within a year. I played it constantly and later got a SNES as well. I was also old enough to play arcade games now, and discovered games like Pacman and Street Fighter II. Wish I could have played more classics in the arcades, but this was the '90s and fighting games were king.

Then I heard about the Nintendo 64. I was really excited about it, got a crappy summmer job and saved all the money up so I could buy it the day it came out in September 1996. This was the beginning of the end of an era. I did like the Nintendo 64 - I actually still have it and play it once in a blue moon, but the excitement of video games seemed to be wearing off. Super Mario 64 is a great game, but I never got as worked up and interested in it as I did with the NES Mario games or Super Mario World. And the library of Nintendo 64 games was disappointing. Aside from Nintendo made games, there was almost nothing worth playing - it was mostly just games with pretty graphics (sometimes you didn't even get that!), but with crummy game play and play control. Heck, even some of the Big N's offerings were disappointing compared with the SNES era. I got a Playstation after seeing how cheap some of its games were compared with Nintendo's, and hearing such great things about Final Fantasy VII and the Resident Evil games. Things just went from bad to worse. Aside from a few flagship titles, PSX games were very mediocre, and the load times would ruin the pacing of a lot of games and could really suck the fun out of it. (I personally think the original Playstation was the most overrated console of all time, but that's another topic. ) I was starting to feel like video games had run their course for me. This was around 1999 and I was turning 18, graduating, moving out of my parent's house, going to university, working, and getting interested in other stuff. Video games kind of felt like a piece of my childhood that I was outgrowing. I hardly played them anymore for the next 3 years or so.

Then, I was online one day and discovered emulation by accident while looking for something else, can't remember what. By this time, I had (stupidly ) sold my NES and my SNES was packed up in a box somewhere. I downloaded a NES emulator and a complete romset feeling like it might be amusing to mess around with. I instantly got hooked again! It started to dawn on me that I hadn't really changed. It had nothing to do with age or maturity or outgrowing anything. I really loved these old school games, and somehow I had forgotten that while getting caught up in the hype of always having to play the next big game/console. I was into games again, and played NES and SNES emulators constantly.

Fast forward a few more years, and I saw the King of Kong when it first came out, and then I had to have my own arcade machine! I started playing with Mame and discovering and rediscovering all these great classic arcade games that I was too young to play when they first came out. I just can't get enough of them now.

I actually did get a couple more consoles through the years - a Gamecube on a whim because I found a great deal, and then a PS2 mainly to emulate NES and SNES on my TV (which was great except it broke down after a year ), but they just confirmed that I'm really a classic game player through and through. I have a friend who gets me to play Wii or XBOX 360 games once in a while, but frankly, I just can't get into them. It's mostly just cut scenes and/or a bunch of confusing controls integrated into a boring game that I don't want to take the time to learn how to play.

So I don't feel interest or lack thereof in video games has anything to do with age or maturity. It's just personal taste. My friend who loves Wii and XBOX is a year older than I am, and some of my favorite games are stuff that came out around the time I was born. One thing I do believe though, is that the classics are going to live forever in some form. Video games are just like movies, music, or TV shows. The really good ones are still good no matter how old they get. The stuff that was average and below, ages poorly and gets more or less forgotten. I don't think there will be a lot of people playing XBOX 360 20 years from now. But I can definitely see myself and a lot of others still enjoying the classics 20 years from now. I love '80s and '90s arcade and console games and minus that 3 year period, I have been enjoying them for the last 22 years. I don't think I'll ever get bored with them or outgrow them.