The generation's worst

I once heard a comment by some cynical old gamer that this generation of gaming has been the worst generation gaming he has ever experienced. He then proceeded to point out this generation's flaws including over priced DLC, a focus on online gaming over single player gaming, and an oversaturation of FPS games on the market. This is a statement I hear more and more from gamers, particularly older gamers who have seemingly become cynical towards their once favorite past time. The older more cynical crowd has also developed a resentment towards the younger generation of gaming as well. Often called the casuals, new gamers have been blamed for game designers making games easier or in their words "dumbing down" games to the point of being mind numbingly easy. They also blame them for being over privileged, ill mannered youth who pollute the digital airwaves of multiplayer services such as X-Box Live and Playstation Network with their homophobic, racist, and sexist remarks. Is the older generation correct? Has gaming begun it's slow, steady decline into oblivion?

There are somethings I absolutely hate about this generation. I hate the fact that DLC is often overpriced for arguably not a lot of content or even worse, what was already on the game disk to begin with. I hate the way that most companies are starting to turn single play campaigns into mere afterthoughts and focus on a more intimidating, more complex multiplayer game. I also hate how Japanese games re starting to become generic, almost parodies of themselves rather than the story and gameplay innovators they were last few console generations.

However despite these minor annoyances and the fact that more may be soon on the way (3D and unnecessary motion controls) I still do not mind, nor am I ready to declare this generation the worst out of all of them because it's not, in fact it's far from being the worse.

It's just a different generation, things are done differently and once looked at a little closer, things don't seem all that bad. Sure DLC has done some things wrong but it has also done a lot of things correctly. Burnout Paradise and Fallout 3 are excellent examples of DLC done right. Not only are the additions substantial and bring an entirely new playable are to the game, they were also reasonably priced and in some cases offered for free. Valve frequently updates their PC titles such as Team Fortress for free and adds numerous amounts of content to the game.

The emphasis on multiplayer over single player is disappointing but at the same time while single play campaigns may be shorter, they are also usually more intense and diverse than many of the other single player focused games of the past. Sure Modern Warfare 2 may have a shorter campaign than Goldeneye's but it also has more interesting set pieces, more intense levels, and more diverse combat situations than all of Goldeneye together. For the multiplayer argument, well it has been a part of gaming since the beginning of online and foul mouth racist homophobes have been here even longer, online gaming just gave them a new outlet.

Sure there is a lot I don't like about this generation, I am a more jaded adult who expects more from my games for the price I pay for them but as much as I have been disappointed I have been wowed even more. Some of my most favorite gaming experiences have come from this generation and hopefully even more await.

PS: For all of you retro fans, you have nothing to fear either, retro is making a comeback in a big way. More next post