Giant Bombcast 12-20-2011

@NoelVeiga said:

@JRock3x8 said:

I am hearing a lot of disappointment in this fall's bombcast. Modern warfare 3 was met with a lot of conversation pining for a next step or the future, not more of the same. SW TOR feedback was oh god, not more WoW. So where are we going for video games? Is a hardware transition necessary for new gaming experiences? Is it just developers coming up with new viable experiences that will sell well? Is all of this more of the same just a symptom of the down economy and hence developers won't take risks? I find it amazing that even hugely popular licenses like Mechwarrior can't get funding for a new multiplatform game. So what will it take for us to move forward in gaming? Is innovation just better graphics? Is it better motion control? 3D? Better online experiences?

I'd say not everybody agrees with that general feel you perceive:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-22-ken-levine-2011-the-best-year-for-games-since-2007

I've seen that sentiment in a few places and find it really odd. I haven't been so let down by a year in gaming since 2006, and at least that year had Okami, Gears of War and New Super Mario Bros. I honestly don't think I'll have a game of the year to pick this year and I've played Dead Space 2, Skyrim, Skyward Sword, Portal 2, Gears 3, Uncharted 3, Arkham City, Ocarina of Time 3D, Rayman Origins, Bastion...some of those are good, great even, but not stellar in any way that I would love to gush about them.

@MormonWarrior said:

@NoelVeiga said:

I'd say not everybody agrees with that general feel you perceive:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-22-ken-levine-2011-the-best-year-for-games-since-2007

I've seen that sentiment in a few places and find it really odd. I haven't been so let down by a year in gaming since 2006, and at least that year had Okami, Gears of War and New Super Mario Bros. I honestly don't think I'll have a game of the year to pick this year and I've played Dead Space 2, Skyrim, Skyward Sword, Portal 2, Gears 3, Uncharted 3, Arkham City, Ocarina of Time 3D, Rayman Origins, Bastion...some of those are good, great even, but not stellar in any way that I would love to gush about them.

So... why is that?

I mean, can you provide an example of a game "you'd love to gush about" and explain what is different about it when compared to this year's batch? I'm honestly curious. I've gushed about a few of those games you list, and I think a lot of other people have, for good reason, but I'm interested in knowing why some people would find them disappointing.

Do you think it's the technology angle? Is this brief lull in the graphics arms race causing some people to lose interest? I can see that, although I find it a bit disappointing. I honestly believe games are past being tech toys, which is partially why stuff like Super Meat Boy or Minecraft gets to be so popular, but I see a lot of people tapping their foot waiting for a new console generation.

Goddamnit Brad, you picked Bastion? Why didn't I listen to this before filling out my GOTY prediction?

@NoelVeiga said:

@MormonWarrior said:

@NoelVeiga said:

I'd say not everybody agrees with that general feel you perceive:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-22-ken-levine-2011-the-best-year-for-games-since-2007

I've seen that sentiment in a few places and find it really odd. I haven't been so let down by a year in gaming since 2006, and at least that year had Okami, Gears of War and New Super Mario Bros. I honestly don't think I'll have a game of the year to pick this year and I've played Dead Space 2, Skyrim, Skyward Sword, Portal 2, Gears 3, Uncharted 3, Arkham City, Ocarina of Time 3D, Rayman Origins, Bastion...some of those are good, great even, but not stellar in any way that I would love to gush about them.

So... why is that?

I mean, can you provide an example of a game "you'd love to gush about" and explain what is different about it when compared to this year's batch? I'm honestly curious. I've gushed about a few of those games you list, and I think a lot of other people have, for good reason, but I'm interested in knowing why some people would find them disappointing.

Do you think it's the technology angle? Is this brief lull in the graphics arms race causing some people to lose interest? I can see that, although I find it a bit disappointing. I honestly believe games are past being tech toys, which is partially why stuff like Super Meat Boy or Minecraft gets to be so popular, but I see a lot of people tapping their foot waiting for a new console generation.

In a lot of ways I've been trying to answer that question myself, but from 2007-2010 I can name at least five games I was totally in love with (Super Mario Galaxy, Mass Effect 2, Assassin's Creed 2, Arkham Asylum, Dead Space, etc...I've made lists for each of those years too). This year I've been mostly disappointed by the sequels I've played, and there's been nothing else to really capture my attention. I wrote reviews for Uncharted 3, Arkham City, and Dead Space 2 voicing my disappointment in each of them failing to capture what I loved about the previous games even if they were technically sound, and what I thought was wrong with them...and I'm not alone. Skyrim is legitimately great, as is Rayman Origins, and I enjoyed every part of Gears 3, but even as a huge Zelda fan I'm finding Skyward Sword obnoxious and trying on my nerves...

Oh yeah, Portal 2 was very good. I don't like the Source engine at all or anything by Valve usually, so that's saying a lot. I'm really thinking of writing a blog post about this year just to try to organize my thoughts about this year.

@vhold said:

@linus_south said:

Kind of really sick of enjoying great content to glance down to a fuck pile of hate in the comments.

What are the odds that people happy with the content are going to come here to make a comment on it? People are far more likely to criticize than to complement, don't worry about it too much, I think the Giant Bomb dudes are well aware of the way it works.

What the heck are you talking about, there is me getting quoted like 10 times, which hardly counts as, "a fuck pile of haters" and one or two dudes talking mess on Brad. While in contrast there are probably like 100+ positive comments. You guys are drama queens...

@Marokai said:

Also, Jeff, try not to mix up "lower quality of discourse" with "increased criticism of your actions." I've seen a ton of very intelligent, articulate criticisms in the last year around here, from individuals that aren't setting out to be trolls, they're just daring to state what they think.

I would love to see these comments you seem to think are so well thought out. Go find them, I'll wait...

If you can tell me one single thing Patrick has done wrong I would love to hear it. All he has ever done if do his job with the constant loop of the same idiots spewing their dribble about every article he's made or video he's in.

Even the "intelligent" ones I know you're thinking of do nothing but basically say they don't like him just because.

You can put all the biggest words and best grammar into a paragraph and if the main point is "I just don't like him" it's still complete trash.

When Patrick does something to warrant the comments I'll be right there with everyone else. Until then keep the hate to yourself, even if you were correct (which you're not) we don't fucking care.

I like Patrick, and I think his personality is gradually growing in the site. It's perfectly natural to a newcomer like him trying and testing a lot of things, until he finds his own personal style. Some people will need some time getting used to this new member of our great online family, though.

I'm happy to have him here with us, as our new friend! :)