SuntannedDuck2

@BAMozzy Business wise yes but like I said Indies can be sometimes creative or nostalgically boring and repetitive due to their narrow experience of games too. They don't always try something different either. In terms of what they can develop sure I get that, but otherwise they don't even cover well what they can do in interesting enough ways so they still seem safe or empty and the 'illusion' to me is not effective if the gameplay shows how empty the game actually is.

Also companies want to be accessible (in cases that can be fair, it varies per accessibility for those that can't play, or add a skip feature and make it for trophy hunters or whatever, or give hints and so on options) and boring but also by doing that, 'everything works' but why not make more side areas for hardcore players? Oh we can't do that. Why not?

Oh we can't have 2 systems, well maybe offer it via DLC or offer a toggle. Oh we can't do that.

Part 3:
For average people I get it for immersion, but to me at least programming/animation/gameplay has to be immersive, not something with tropes or real world logic limiting games because they don't have an imagination, that are fair to have/bend or easy for idiot casuals to understand and compare to reality and their narrow view of how fiction can be applied and doesn't because people's imagination or what can be recognised can't be pushed further by limitations or devs mindsets, pubs leadership or customer's acceptance of what is allowed in media limiting things more and more.

Not all generic characters leads to boring games (many like Mario/Pitfall Lost Expedition have great movesets and fit cartoony logic but are more fun to play yet are human, but not generic realistic human and story first games approach). Some have great gameplay but many do because graphics/story get the focus and basic gameplay repeats for years and console generations over and over again.

Gameplay is repetitive and stagnant yet story/worlds/graphics get pushed more and more.

Otherwise I commend your fair angle and comment.

But otherwise I swear I live in a boring world with boring people and some fair rules but also people being really not worth my time or creative enough and so we get boring products with too much restrictions, some valid, others not and annoying to see stuck in the state they are in.

Part 2:
Others compete with similar ideas or players or even UI, we have to use the same and not relearn or push other types of mechanics for safe reasons people don't want to, (varies per setting and stories they want to tell). Indies either are creative or nostalgic and boring and offer nothing because they are too nostalgically inspired but don't have the skill level to recreate or offer gameplay on the same level as those skilled to pull off some things in niche or popular games 20+ years ago. I know I play the niche ones and popular trends of the past, play the modern ones and compare, Indies, AA, AAA, whatever.

Gaming doesn't have to be a book/movie with themes/and lessons, it has an interactive element and the interactive part making it a game is lacking for casuals/idiots or devs that also fit that state of mind.

I'm sorry but I'm not seeing it. Left behind game ideas I can research in less then 5 seconds, like anyone else watching cat videos or having a narrow view of what they experience and refuse to research (or different animations for combat or platforming) does creative or not, sad for marketing or gave up and followed others.

Making movie style quality is not a bad thing, but I was fine with it when it was 'some of' not ALL of it.

Oh Returnal being fine but is that 'all Housemarque' need to make in the future for their budget or people wont respect them? Is that the mentality nowadays for studios having a budget? If so that's delusional. What they want to do is up to them, but just making a point.

Same with racing, the 'can only be a simulator or has to have real licenses/brands' and players wont take anything else because forget the rest we had, realism is all gaming is, since when?

NFS Unbound having garbage limited playlists of races. Yeah great repetitive design. But it's cell shaded characters or smoke trailers. Inertial Drift/Distance are great, alongside Woden GP a GT clone in UI/progression but isometric, a fair spin but still inspired. Same with other games out there. Everything else first, but not the gameplay.

I mean how many human characters are easy to relate to types, generic animals as 'animals' and don't have more imagination applied to them unless anthropomorphic and some animal perspective drama or whatever. But just reskins of human characters in movesets. Wow what an upgrade.

I don't play old games because the characters were wish fulfillment type super humans or heroes, I played them because the mechanics were fun, the pacing and showcasing them in level design was interesting. The story/gameplay was better balanced, not the basics of game mechanics to walk, collect, fight, loot, etc. but more story/graphics.

If they focused on gameplay we would see more graphically interesting games. That's also a point.

Even when people explain situations of gameplay like Raycevick did of what you do in Assassin's Creed to me I was like yeah, outposts, collecting, talking, combat, (they said it differently but I'm outlining it a simpler way) but you can say that but the interactivity is still the bare minimum despite the scenario. Rules that are easy to understand then 'weird' because it's too much for casuals brains or even hardcore's brains. Again I'd play as a bar of soap I don't care. It's how it plays not what it looks like.

@BAMozzy Final hurdles how? A puzzle game doesn't translate to a book or board game well, shooters sure but maps can be pretty static (with many characters sure, but onces without and just loadouts, why not some things move or do more in the maps), RPGs are just long movies with errands and dialogue but less interactivity, and stats as a supposed excitement. To understand the power of a character sure but after a while it gets boting. Also like Conception's 4 quad turn based, patented or not, where is more then the things we have gotten with turn based RPGs? Sigh.

I can play as a bar of soap and it can have any mechanics to shape shift, use bubbles, have weight mechanics, whatever, I don't care what the character or scenario or safe story or a deep story with a bar of soap and other characters. If the level design/abilities are interesting I'm happy, aka programming/level designers and animators. Yet we get the bare minimum and it's disappointing.

The last modern racing games I enjoyed was Onrush, maybe Grid Legends, Wreckfest was fair, but 2 I hope has more or it's just safe and boring. Otherwise been playing dirt bikes, ATVs, annual ones like WRC, MotoGP, F1, and others of the past arcade/sim in search of mechanics and I have found many, not just oh it fits those scenarios.

Why would I care if they had more reference/tropes and more grass/buildings or NPCs, I couldn't care less. If more NPCs sure for quests/other things, lively sure. But more grass/buildings couldn't care less, I'm fine with grass texture terrain or flatness. I hate OLED/nits, I don't care what lighting/shadows or Ray Tracing, why not use ray tracing for lighting puzzles? But nope. Why not a percentage of light used in interesting ways, blocking it out. Adding more to light puzzles, but we don't.

Water being more interesting not just 'wow it looks nice' that has been stagnant, it moves, but not enough, fair scripted moments but not much great puzzles or other scenarios.

PN03 had weird movement, Baby Steps isn't comparable but could be just not for combat focus. People look at Baby Steps as goofy, in a serious game people would write it off more. I've played old/modern weird controls games before and had fun with them being that way over normal controls.

Under The Skin or other disguise/perk focused games.

Echoes of the End finally improved and refined water rising/lowering, gravity walls, or other mechanics. I was glad to see some game bring them back.

Ratchet/Mario galaxy has planetoids, Kya/BOTW had wind in different ways.

2D 3D of Mutant Muds/VB Warioland, Super Paper Mario, Crush.

Progression/event rules of racing games (not just race/drift or time trial or other genenric ones these days, what to '2' or so. And repeat that for 20 hours, come on, the rules or strategy are so repetitive now, i don't expect 5 disciplines of racing, I mean use the cars in interesting ways, have an imagination for event types, not everyone has to have fuel, cone challenges and more like even GT4 to 7 do but others as just racing can be boring).

I get it for graphics sure, but gameplay, making it accessible to everyone, easy to understand, sure, but some gameplay ideas have been dropped and not continued, that's my point, I don't talk popular games I talk niche games as well, not giving them another go and playing it safe Indie/AA/AAA in the modern era, or Indies only look at the popular which is annoying, others have returning very slowly.

Looks fine. So was Regina and Mac a fair Indie game. That aside, it's always 'this big IP has a fan project here and there'. Always has to be that, forget the other games with good ideas, or Indies too inspired with generic ideas too, it's always characters. Sigh.

Dreams is great for this but wow it's always about the characters, gameplay is just a dead concept isn't it? Besides the bare minimum.

@BAMozzy That may be true but even Indies can be similar.

Or veterans making similar. To me as someone seeking gameplay I haven't been impressed in 2 console gens. So to me my perception is very diffferent but regardless of leadership sometimes being right, sometimes being wrong, or whatever ideas from temp or part/full time staff, it's up to the mentality regardless of their studio setup.

Their ideas and their references to it/tropes and more angles they look for have been clear to me not just competition so closely.

Trends aren't bad but I find the current trends worse then past ones approaches to offering interesting ideas to them.

But that's just me, most people seem ok with them.

Whether long or short term staff sure. Whatever their time there, their contributions, whatever the case.

Well they had the chance, they made a generic game to compete but not appeal to people. There is a reason I play old racing games niche or popular, for their better ideas, not competing but not offering a good selling point these days.

When Onrush or Juiced 2 had more event variety and more fun for me then any others it shows I'm picky but or a reason, the proiroties for the games are clear and I'm just not interested.

Heck even NFS Hot Pursuit 2010 on Wii I had more fun then then the generic approach of the HD/remaster because it's events and presentation was way more fun, like many PS2/PSP/Wii ports or unique versions I have more fun, graphics mean nothing to me, gameplay does. I binged the Wii version, that doesn't get revived and won't ever again, it was an option they dumped to offer on Wii and nothing more.

It could have been many things but even Wreckfest 2 isn't appealing to me as it will be more of the same and offer nothing extent of personality, it has some but wow do many racing games look and offer bland progression ,event variety and rules for them. Wreckfest has no car licenses (like Flatout and Burnout which I am ok with no licenses) but the problem is they don't use that to make it better they still offer the same generic design as those with car/track licenses and just annoy me at the potential they don't put effort into.

Can be said but when the trailers are more exciting then the awards, cameos/musical moments, annoying presentation and Geoff trying his beet but making me care less and less.

Yeah nah to me it's the trailers, I couldn't care less about the awards. I don't even care about the games for the awards either. My taste in games is completely different.

Even then the trailers are whatever too, but it's either the trailers, awards or nothing and I could go for nothing but trailers could have something decent.

@StitchJones Singstar, Eye Toy, Getaway/Black Monday, Gangs of London for PSP, Blood and Truth. Some PS Move based games.

Either crime thrillers or peripheral based games basically is the easiest way to sum them up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Studio

From fair casual games, to the crime thrillers they did. To this with former staff, I just go wow this could have been a great co-op or singleplayer game but its a generic multiplayer game.

Easy pass. Studio London prior staff or not they can do better.

The artstyle is fine but I can tell the gameplay will be generic, the concept is generic and 'to fit the market' wow, talk about bland modern game design continues.

Them trying something new is not a bad thing, it's just this angle is just so whatever and forgettable.

@Michael2008ish Agreed, to clarify I meant to play Nier Automata (where to go next, the icons and maps were way too confusing for me compared to some metroidvanias, but yes the plots are for sure).

@themightyant Interesting, thanks for clarifying. Did not know that. Well I can assume a partial then for the IP itself or however that works? That aside thanks for that.

Nitrome did one of them, interesting, I'll need to look into that.

Well I made clear my points in the Crystal Dynamics survey years ago, still have all my answers stored away in a text document.

So whether they just re-release them sure, whether they make a new one if viable, whether they have good ideas and fit the original not make it modern and bland.

I didn't think much with the release to the many Tomb Raider re-releases connection but still.

I have yet to get to the Soul Reaver games or even Stubbs the Zombie, I got them a while ago, but made my purchase to support them.

Bought Gex, both available re-released Soul Reavers and Tomb Raider 2013 I am near finishing my 1st Switch playthrough which would be my 3rd playthrough as had 2 playhtroughs on 360. I haven't gotten the other Tomb Raider games at all (got the PS3 trilogy collection) haven't replayed or tried to finish more then half or so of Rise of the Tomb Raider, not touched Shadow of the Tomb Raider at all.

That aside I need to get onto Deux Ex PS2 re-release so I'll get onto that for digital purchase on PSN. I bought Battle Engine Aquila, did the Blood Rayne games as well and may other Ziggurat releases as well.

There is only so much I and many others can support if others aren't going to and we aren't a sizeable enough audience.

Or whatever the studios plan on doing with their bigger projects.

To me it's a Sega Rally or others type game but those nostalgically, it's ok I tried the demo on Switch and it's fine, I expect more not just a nosalgia, but maybe I am not the target audience, which is also fine. To me WRC3 PS3/360 offered enough modes and progression for me to enjoy it. Others are ok but not really my thing, the management, stages or challenges of WRC8+ are ok but I preferred WRC2 PS3/360 more. I own the WRC 1 to Rally Evolved PS2 ones by Evolution and they are alright but not my thing, good for what they are but yeah not my thing.

Not sure about this one, probably not for me. Even dirt bike or ATV games have been more my thing in how they handle things really. But even some of those can be hit and miss.

Not all need to be Inertial Drift or Distance but to me even Woden while good to me felt more nostalgia or ok idea of isometric GT1 & GT2 (a fair angle to things sure) but even still, some parts are a bit awkward and the track designs also are very inspired too which is a bit annoying, wanting your game to be like it has real world tracks sure but not many original ones? Is a bit disappointing. Woden GP 2 is better as upgrade allow for more compared to skill issues a player can have in the 1st game. Or gauging distance in isometric games as well. Or finding the right cars to use.

Nostalgia isn't a bad thing but many racing/platformers do it and I am not impressed.

@Michael2008ish True, very true. I have yet to get to Katamari, got one of the remakes. I haven't played Nier Replicant but thought Nier Automata was good just more confusing then other Platinum games. But both are solid IPs.

To me the hardware angle has been totally fine. Cerny has shown his moments in hardware and software. Knack I enjoyed, the story was eh but the gameplay while could have used more then the bits as a health bar and use 'better' for gameplay instead of just a beat em up with pretty eh level design situations even a human could play in besides the few elemental abilities or scale of Knack.

PS3 had a lot of ideas/directions that were interesting, some unnecessary features unless you want PC like features but I liked the idea, didn't make it worse to me as a games console, back compat machine, (eh installs or no background updates), media device or printer supported/cards featured on early models type device.

The support for the peripherals is another factor and to me Portal is just such a backtrack to re-introduce remote play for a 3rd (mobile support and reworking of Vita app)/4th time with Portal.

PSVR2 was good it's just Sony's willingness to support it as much as Vita and not chicken out so early with high expectations all the time.

I get the 'let 3rd parties support it till we cut support in 10 years' which Vita got even if people say 'oh Vita got cut off' yeah so did Dreamcast last 1998 to 2007, so what are you players on about with your oh less AAA, yeah but Indies/Japanese AA and odd AAA existed, but overlook things, sigh let alone fair big IP but mobile style ports (not counting homebrew).

So that aside the hardware has been fair of what devs want for hardware, and software tools, that's totally fine I don't think the openness has been that bad.

Many of us make up our minds waiting, buying or never caring for the next consoles, so the openness hasn't been a bad thing I think. We as customers can want things and devs/pubs can work around what is there or request with enough demand for Pro hardware or other models or whatever the platform holder thinks is worth it for the revisions of screens, battery life and minor changes per model.

But I don't think it was that bad.

To me the software/game design direction has been the less appealing, not the hardware. I don't have expectations with hardware anymore I really don't care. Peripherals i do, controller gimmicks I do. The base hardware I don't care what it offers if devs are smart with artstyles by all means I'm happy. I don't care for Ray Tracing/other stuff but I can turn it off.

The price increases are hmm, and the discounts haven't made me interested once in the console, as the software to me is the problem, the OS/UI is fair but not as good as PS4 for navigation changes, the store being active then a separate app I do find annoying, but understandable, but other then that it's still better then the Xbox One/Series crossover dashboard (regardless of feature differences, the layout is so bad), but not the hardware.

The games just don't interest me. The hardware is balanced for the period and price at points in time no doubt. Never questioned more or less power from the hardware as I really don't care, I think it's in a sweet spot there.

I just don't care to use a PS5/Xbox Series, got access to them, don't want my own, don't care to use them at all for PS4 enhancements, lack of access to Playlink games, a quite PS5 like Xbox One/Series, other features are 'there' but not a deal breaker. Sure a few games but I'm not desperate for the consoles or those games at all.

It better work well, not all original staff make a game better but if the right direction I'm all for it.

I've been playing the older ones and while I've only beaten Conviction so far I'm interested. Not a stealth fan but I'm willing to try a few here and there when in the mood to try them.

I should try Styx at some point too maybe.

Splintercell remake and Prince of Persia Sands of Time Remake are my last few Ubisoft games i care for I got their niche games (not all like Child of Light or Valiant Hearts or the Assassin's Creed 2D China, India Russia series or whatever else I haven't looked at, their extreme sport games are 'fine' but not my thing, their modern shooters aren't my thing really, but the others I may look into like the first two I mentioned.

But I did Red Steel series and Mario Rabbids) so I'm out of anything interesting from them and a new Rayman is whoever knows away at this point if ever.

Good on them. I haven't played a Like a Dragon/Yakuza game, I got a copy of 3 on PS3 cheap and it's OST disk I haven't played it yet, or considered the PS4/5 era of things at all.

I enjoyed Binary Domain a lot exploring many shooters of PS3/360 gen, even the few Japanese developed or published shooters of that era. Binary Domain, Vanquish, Front Mission Evolved, and more I assume to uncover.

Won't deny some silly things or even fan service can be annoying in any series. So they would need to balance it better then ramp it up.

Most people that play the Like A Dragon games want all the charm the series has, not to fit things these people that don't even play games or play the series even care about. They will look and go oh it fit my preferences when I look at it from a distance, wow how magical, still won't buy it. Gamers or non-gamers.

The sooner studios get that and understand what overseas customers are buying the series for to begin with, the better. They need to stop reading what people say and make games for audiences that are buying them.

In terms of the remakes or spin offs I mean whatever direction for those who knows really but even still.

Their the players putting the sales into the series and by all means they will continue to if the direction is good enough for what they look for in each entry.

That makes sense to me.

As long as RGG/Sega don't push too much, which they have with a lot of releases.

I haven't considered the series as I'm not into open worlds (I'm not that big on crime thrillers but even still I've give a few a go) but even still, what the series does best has been clear like many games with fun things to do, fair story and setting.

It's why I buy weird or passionate Japanese games to begin with, their charm and gameplay. I like the ideas and tone or silliness and seriousness balance they have. If they want silly situations I'm all for it.

@themightyant Shovel Knight Dig was 2022 but PS5/Series X 2025, so wasn't even on PS at all just PC, mobile and Switch and Pocket Dungeon 2021 console/PC/Mac, with mobile 2023 (varies per platform) no Xbox One/Series for some reason but Dig was, they were after Shovel Knight and it's expansions/updates, those were separate games.

All the other media the character has been in. Amiibo prior. Merch.

If you didn't know they released, that says it enough like others as well as I myself didn't follow those really and barely knew they released, heard about them briefly but never looked at them much till a few searches on occasion.

Their marketing for them weren't that great I think.

Other then a few moments or the Shovel Knight concert or mentions from one of the marketers on Spawn Wave Podcast, sure I heard about the concert and Mina, but the other games not really.

@SeaDaVie I'd say so too,but I also think their Dig/Pocket Dungeon games weren't well marketed, I vaguely knew about them but barely heard they released, they aren't completely my thing.

Shovel Knight Dig was 2022 but PS5/Series X 2025, so wasn't even on PS at all just PC, mobile and Switch and Pocket Dungeon 2021 console/PC/Mac, with mobile 2023 (varies per platform) no Xbox One/Series for some reason but Dig was, they were after Shovel Knight and it's expansions/updates, those were separate games.

All the other media the character has been in. Amiibo prior. Merch.

I 'may' consider them but even still. Same with Mina, sure the game awards or whatever other appearances it got, sure a Shovel Knight concert, but even still, I've only vaguely heard or not seen them much places.

The concert and other mentions of Mina was more from one of the marketing team that appeared on the Spawn Wave Podcast on occasion, that's about it.

@Exerion76 The free updates to existing owners (or like me got a pre-owned Wii U disk copy and got the free updates so it didn't check if it was a new copy or not)/upped price or separated campaigns was one thing and nice.

The other Shovel Knight games with genre/gameplay ideas many people probably weren't into or never heard of is another factor. I don't know if they marketed those well at all. I vaguely knew about them but didn't really follow them at all, I did some searches and they have released but even still. Marketing for those I don't think was as big as the original game or it's expansions/updates.

I mean who bought Shovel Knight Dig or Pocket Dungeon even if they had ideas after the card game one they made for Shovel Knight's I think last update/expansion besides the multiplayer one. Or whatever roguelike otherwise dungeon angle thing they were.

Part 2:
Do they think Mina won't do well? As if MANY 2D/top down Zelda clones don't exist. What are they expecting, what have they been spending?

Not all of us bought Silksong. I didn't. I'd be more interested in Mina, it wasn't immediately in my go to for now, but I had considered it in a back of my mind way more so.

Delaying it too much when they could just make changes, add an option to toggle, apply it to DLC, I mean the fact they made the updates to Shovel Knight free if you had any prior purchased copy but upped the price if a newcomer was fair, but I mean I got my Wii U disk copy pre-owned and got the updates for free.

They are a great Indie studio and I guess maybe in some's eyes Triple i I have no idea. But even still. 200k is I guess fair but they aren't expecting Hollow Knight numbers here are they (obviously not that high but even still).

They have a sizeable audience that's been waiting for the game and enjoyed the Shovel Knight games I assume but then again. I didn't get Dig or the others as they weren't my thing, even if fair different types of ideas/gameplay variety I can respect.

Just like Chibi Robo Zip Lash or any other things, this sounds ridiculous.

PlayTonic it's their own fault for making an Indie publisher after 2 games.

Among other publishers being difficult and going 'oh we won't support this niche IP we barely cared to support well with marketing or otherwise' yeah I so trust AAA when they say that.

This with another Indie. What were Yacht Club thinking?

Pressuring people does not make us want the game more, I don't take sympathy.

If it's a reasonable price I will support them as I liked Shovel Knight and it was my start of getting into retro style Indie 2D platformers. Mina looks good and I respect their quality touches.

But after all the prior showings, whatever marketing, whatever delays I do find this very odd. They could have handled this better.

Very strange, the amount of marketing, or work on it, why? On the Spawn Wave podcast one of the marketers, great person had been hyping it or the Shovel Knight concert or other things.

I barely heard about Dig/Pocket Dungeon but they had released and I searched them a few months ago I think.

Shovel Knight is good, the others maybe people weren't into or yes studios get 1 game that does well for them and propels them or studios get too particular of expectations and set them wrong but even still.

Mina wasn't my immediate day 1 sort of game or anything. An if I feel like it type. I don't give sympathy purchases to anyone. But I'll pick it up as I know their quality.

Steam World Heist 2 I was excited and unsure about it's direction and well it disappointed me in some of it's direction. Great game just ideas I wasn't that into, same with Pikmin 4, I knew before purchasing too.

What were Yacht Club doing? I don't take to things like this. It's more strange and makes me question them, not give sympathy, what were they up to?

Were their expectations too high for all the previous Shovel Knight games? What was with the delays, they didn't want DLC or to add options later. I'd love if games added options or slight version changes but we don't get that and we get games delayed with their new central focus. I get why but still, it's what annoys me a lot of the time. Takes longer but changing focus a lot does too.

Like me wanting multiple puzzles for all difficulty levels or a skip feature, not just 1 type and hints, takes a while but I'd respect it more if devs did that (or other things in other ways) not just enemy damage values and AI all the time with difficulty settings. If it's a game with puzzles of course. Or not just hints.

Like if people wanted other campaign direction or other tweaks. Say not into skill trees, tie in upgrades per level up, or whatever else I get decisions are made and built up for the core, but i mean, options as annoying as they may be to the core of the game, sometimes can appeal to audiences wanting options then the structure they are given and go eh, pass. Regardless of the dev time, or the central focus changing from 1 system or idea to another. Make it DLC, make it an option built up enough.

Whatever gets delayed and what is the focus of a game, apply the ideas elsewhere via DLC or updates? As much as I don't like DLC, it is better to balance things out then make dramatic changes or add too much and it being delayed too far. Delays help but only to a point depending on the state it is in development when it can be applied later.

If major bugs then sure that's completely understandable.

Then again I support a lot of games that flop so like my track record is very good. I end up getting them cheap as I know my contribution at full price won't help anyway but that's with bigger releases.

Indies it varies what discounts or not and the base price. If Mina is say $20 to $30 I'd say sure, if it's $40 it's not hour count to me it's price and how much i really want something or have to work out another wallet top up.

Very cool to see ex devs making these again as to me just seeing Housemarque make more higher budget games is fine but as if that's all they need to make, some cinematic action adventure but still keep enough of their shoot em up or 2D shooter or others types like their other games but roguelike, as good as Returnal is, I think seeing ex devs make something their more used to or a different angle is nice to see.

Cinematic isn't all big budget is but apparently it in is AAA land.

I'm not always into these types of games but I respect them and have played a few from time to time (I see too many horizontal/vertical scrolling shooters too).

I got a fair amount of the way through Matterfall as my first Housemarque game and it was good. Challenging but good.

I may look at this though, the level designs look interesting and what I wish more shoot em ups were, fair arenas, or level layouts like fighting games are why I find many shoot em ups or fighting games lacking. I haven't even tried Geometry Wars 3 (have Geometry Wars past entries in the PGR series, entries 2 to 4 had a Geoemetry Wars for it, and I need to play more of Geometry Wars Galaxies as well on DS.

I haven't even tried Nano Assault other then the demo on Wii U, but never bought it. But can it and Shinen's other games on other platforms if feel like it.

If only it were silhouette cars and not just the black cloth over them. XD

Fair but many of them seem 'ok' of cars, also a NEW OPENING MOVIE. In the time that team went about making that they could be doing something else. Come on, we didn't need one. This is why their development sucks. Priorities wasted on stupid things, keep the one, we don't need another one.

In the time it took them to make the dealership cutscene they could have made it exploreable to walk around or in VR but no keep it a generic menu.

New events, sure, I myself haven't played the game in a bit and haven't cared to, I'll take a look but to me the menu books haven't been fun, the challenges were ok, the circuit experiences are very higher difficulty compared to GT Sport or comparable in annoying difficulty to GT Sport. So I end up giving up on them due to the dev times being too particularly tight on approach and I can't beat them at all.

Overly 'a fair update' but to me still typical and rather boring stuff, typical updates with a little bit of something, but nothing that exciting.

Wow more menus books ,more recycling tracks, adding cars and barely anything actually exciting of new tracks or angles to handle the menu books, it's just wow more car categories to fit, nothing that exciting or hard to develop.

The game has the variety other racing games lack but it also makes the progression super boring compared to past games.

Fair segment and the particular trophies, how you overcame some in particular ways. I would say a segment of weird things you've experienced in games, but not sure how easy to define those moments are in comparison. Footage or photos or just text well explaining things. Either way.

But if it's a bunch of boring games (there is only some much I can care about the technique and a game itself) then eh pass. But just those you have platinumed and experiences I mean sure, not a bad idea for a segment. But just assuming we will hear a lot of the same in these so not really my kind of segment but I respect the idea though, it's a good new segment.

Then again I've played many games I enjoyed with more exciting ideas and not platinumed them because why would I for all their garbage for the platinum, or didn't have a platinum or only those ideas in games without trophies at all, or from a different era story beat or 100%ed or self made challenges/restricted played without upgrades other then those needed.

I platinumed Grid Legends and how that game had some dumb trophies and dumbed design for a 'decent' racing game that didn't annoy me as much as Grid 2019 or other bad ones of 8th/9th gen. I'd easily rip Grid Legends appart for some of its dumb modern design garbage that had no impact on the game but had to fit the modern design goal quote. XD

For me a Platinum doesn't mean much, not just for the games I have a platinum for either, being what a few VNs, an FMV one recently, old games I know that got remasters, not a lot because most games I can platinum aren't that challenging or if they are I know that old game inside and out, for most others they have some much garbage little things, or multiplayer trophies I'll never get or care to as don't play multiplayer. I can't be bothered with trophies unless it's fair enough, if it's some awkward combat moves to pull off on many enemies, or in a certain way such as spin attack (just an example) 8 enemies and there isn't many 8 enemies to easily bunch up situations, I'm not going to be able to do those trophies, or difficulty ones or awkward collectibles. I'm just not and refuse to do them.

Cool to see. Didn't play the others but I am curious about Of Orcs and Men on PS3/360 that's for sure, more my type of game design/combat then the stealth of Styx, but still cool to see more Styx games coming.

@themcnoisy It's game design, it's what trends/things people approach IN THOSE TRENDS. I go back to old trends and see some great, I also see some safe garbage that got more appeal because people do that. Marketing or just whatever is easy to understand, familiar or whatever other factors.

Well I do write forums posts. Why would I write a comment and have nothing to say, no examples to give, I have the character space to post something so I use it. Also I know most people don't think how I do or don't care. Devs don't. I can also make suggestions and people say oh a bad game, so why should I bother if people fit a narrative or whatever they are fair in thinking yes of their preferences of games, that's totally fine. I type for myself sometimes not for others to care.

Is game design too complex for people to understand? Or other angles devs can go in?

There is business and there is gameplay design. I think game design, hence I made my Disagea, my GOW Ragnarok's DLC or whatever it was called, Hades clones and other comparisons of what they have done. Not hard to pick up on.

Notice how I"m not saying veterans can't make a game like this (also how i mentioned No Man's Sky or Nightingale, veterans who made survival sandbox games to 1 good results the other not as much), I'm all for that. It's just what they will do with it, what angles people play in business that disappoints me.

I don't take it as surface level as why make a big deal out of a Roguelike Scrabble game, it's what they put into it. Genres are fine, gameplay matters. Or why they chose to offer 'that'. Sigh.

Part 2:
Also originality is hard to offer/define, not denying that. But i mean some people do come up with original ideas, some people can't be bothered remixing well enough their own ideas. Some can't come up with programming/animating random materials together. Because they focus too much on reference usually reality then coming up with just random things no matter if it makes sense. I'd play a a bar of soap and shape shift for forms or light/heavy weight puzzles or use bubbles to fly or hit buttons to open doors.

All sorts of things (Random idea, thought up in 2 seconds, not much depth other then design I think but still, has no presentation people would care for, that bar of soap isn't human relatable for one XD). I really couldn't care less. But it's not marketable enough a bar of soap is it compared to a generic human or a boringly used cute animal character for such a boring moveset that doesn't even range in interesting ways.

These days I've seen more boring human/animal animations and movesets then I have years earlier. It's up to dev mentality/priorities of story/world then gameplay and it's been annoying. I care for code possibilities, not for some marketable visual nonsense

Playing TR2013 again, or Echoes of the End has been fun (other's PS5 helping them out) with it's water puzzles or other refinements to old ideas.

I play any games modern or old for their gameplay. So if I don't play acclaimed games, I have given suggestions to Indies or modders for ideas, (I'm not saying my ideas are perfect or anything either) as those ones are more accessible of themes, mechanics and more then yes I AM clearly if most people ignore the more creative ones if the themes and mechanics and settings were more appealing. Most people don't play games for out there mechanics or settings, popularity and most people won't play something too weird, or too technical.

All the shooters I've played, why else do generic settings for COD/Battlefield win over more out there sci-fi ideas, hmm I wonder why audiences do that, uh huh, Battlefield hasn't had it's swap mechanic in any other game but 2 Modern Combat on PS2/Xbox OG/360, I wonder why. Not just limits of the feature in ideas they had but it's not setting appropriate is it compared to destruction, it's not immersive enough it's too gamey. Plenty of shooters had features comparable to Half Life or other ideas entirely. Who played them, certain audiences but most people didn't care.

Popularity doesn't mean quality of those ideas, it means making, it means what people come across, what's easily understood.

if I play games with ideas left behind or modern design leaks into Indies (or nostalgia and they can't even replicate the scale of old games just the 'oh the characters, oh the generic errands and worlds', yeah what originality those Indies put in despite their skill level, it's not gameplay it's themes/settings/characters that get the focus, lol, yeah what originality they have).

@Weebleman Guess away. I play on old and modern consoles. But what originality have I seen on current gen? All I see is refinements of what already happened on PS4 which is to focus on story, worlds, themes, settings, gameplay wow the same RPG systems and quest design or other stuff we got by big devs. Lol yeah what great refinement.

Also oh I'm not part of the current gen/popular console or generic popular games played club. Do you think I care. XD I couldn't care less. People, sigh. I seek ideas, I don't care what most people play or look towards, I've got better things to research/play then being part of the current talk of the town mentality, I have no FOMO.

Looked at past trends and mechanics and the left behind great mechanics ones weren't the popular games, imagine that. Also how many games with right stick not camera have you played in the modern era? They still exist but not many, wasn't the worse controls on old consoles either, but to most it might as well be nowadays because familiarity not bad design.

I can play anything left behind and still have more fun then 'story, character types, typical tropes, typical safe movesets, audience appeal, current gameplay trends people haven't refined well of ideas with compared to past ones' among other things.

Not like I don't go oh Mario Galaxy had sphere planetoids, Ratchet had big ones and earlier, but like Nintendo fans care.

Heck Conception on PSP Japan only at the time/PS4 more regions had quad sided turn based combat, limited dungeon elements (oh but not the presentation of a game many would care for, because that matters to people more), like anyone cared compared to other refinements of turn based combat JRPGs or WRPGs or real time moments. It's what people see, when it releases, how much impact, how different is it, familiarity, etc. a lot of factors.

Hey I had ideas for Foamstars that were different from Splatoon, like people care if I came up with modes to use it's foam in interesting ways. Most people wanted to fit a narrative of the game sucks and have nothing worthy to say. Wow how great those people contributed. I gave suggestions and I don't even care about the game. But it had potential, they just wanted a 2 modes remixed from other games easy money maker. I saw more in that.

Under The Skin Capcom can use it's perks system as a live service. Won't happen, a niche forgotten game but still, useable for multiplayer in the modern era still.

Indies only on current gen, sure, probably plenty I haven't seen, I can't have heard of every Indie game ever, I've seen many great ones sure that I haven't played, many interesting angles or artstyles (can't remember them, so shows their impact on me personally but sometimes i forget games or mechanic direction in games I don't play or did). I'm not playing them but I don't say I don't respect them, I absolutely do. But I rarely do too.

For every few good Indies there are nostalgia idiots and copy cats and many others with no great ideas/potential (not using their minds more creatively) and just want money or go oh this is my favourite game I want to refine it with my weak ideas too.

With limited options I won't even have played or don't think much of as those to vote for and confusing layout, yeah pass.

Echoes of the End Enhanced would have been my pick. Everything else I played was Indies from many different genres that don't even get acknowledged, visual novels, FMV games, maybe some odd regular genres people look at, but very niche games or revived ports to modern console of N64/PS1, etc. type games/remasters. So my changes as low, very low. So I played nothing big scale this year, haven't since 2022/2023 really that's how much I've not cared about the 2020s.

I know putting a text box leaves it too open or more moderating but even still, they didn't put enough options by the sounds of it and I didn't like this year at all, the games I played or would have considered won't be listed so to me the big games of this year I can't vote for so I won't.

Also no GTA 6 is fair, it was at 2023 and if it was be offered 'every single time' it would easily get votes, why bother, factor in other to vote for instead (sure others would be listed but why bother if it's just 80%+ and under 20% to the other votes, this is an exaggeration but still possible) so why both offering it every year, they already know people are going to put it so why not highlight other games as options.Also if players don't play many games or don't anticipate many that's on player preferences. Companies want to do fair by other developers/games and i think that's fair even if a business modve it's a fair one then the few games people look to. Companies want to showcase more games not just 1 game every single time that overshadows others. GTA6 could end up bad who knows. But I doubt it will Rockstar has quality even if I think the games are clunky as ever and no amount of scale, AI and more generic locations, tone/satire, makes me care. I'd rather play any crime themed game over any GTAs and I have.

Just because it's the biggest game doesn't mean it needs to be there if the results will be redundant then for the other games, it doesn't show them off well either in comparison which is unfair to those other games. It's clear the scale of it and audience appeal.

I couldn't care less for GTA at all, heck the only Rockstar IPs I cared for was Beaterator on PSP and Smuggler's Run on PS2 that's it, GTA, Midnight Club and others did nothing for me and even then I prefer DMA Design not Rockstar but Rockstar North hasn't made a game of those types in the DMA Design format or audience appeal in years, will we see Space Station Silicon Valley ported/revived by Limited Run like Gex, or the PS1 version as bad as it is on PSN, or on N64 NSO or like Glover was the N64 version ported to modern consoles after having awkward Piko to then Qubyte release situations? But even I know even every time I ignore GTA's presence and scale.

1.Couldn't remember, assumed Japan or Europe, didn't remember Australia getting it later. Redid my answer but did Japan at first then then went eh I'll login in and restart my answer. I'll say 0 here.

2.Is it even surprising. XD Remakes or otherwise there is a reason them and Obsidian are the ones doing well this gen. I don't care for their games but their release output has been good. 1

3.Can we really forget, of course we pay attention to leadership these days. 2

4.I do remember that change, was a weird change but so much of Dualshock 4 was, then again what features did it offer touchpad, better vibration (I only know that Azure Guvnolt and Clannad used so go figure there of vibrration scaling in niche games besides the more of a triggers/feedback change compared to HD Rumble which isn't that good and Impulse triggers of Xbox 2013+ which are good). 3

5.A fair mix of letters but memorable. 4

6.Oh right yeah that one. I forgot with some upgrades, or overlooked it for the other one. So many get upgrades at this point eh. Like i care, I don't really care for any of those games really. DMC5 was ok, the others were, 'there'. 4

7.You really think I"m not going to remember that, the like Media Molcule last remaining creative studio. I have disowned the others at this point, even Sackboy/Ratchet/GT, GT7 is ok but the others I'm just so disappointed with. I pay attention to studio names as well as publishers, I collect and look them up constantly. 5

8.Pure guess it seemed high enough so went eh why not, I don't remember, I never played it, I didn't care for the game. 6

9.Guessed wrong but I don't care for any of these or metacritic scores. I should have gone the particular one but i went eh, critics versus players and I also don't care what it scored/what community it's part of or game design. So eh. 6

10.If wasn't for how particular it was compared to past years yeah I wouldn't have known. 7

11.I assumed same year as the console then went nah they did it earlier. Honestly to me I barely pay attention to the change as I play old games and barely see the logo, so like i really care. 7

12.Yes we all remember it being that short. 8

13.It was talked up a lot but it was on Xbox later not PS5/PC and otherwise it seemed the most likely. 9

14.Assumed it was middle or a particular number in my head and went that sounds about right, not that low or not that high. 10

15.What person cares about how much it weighs versus how it looks big. Not surprised I guessed wrong. I don't care, it would feel about the same when carrying and the stupid stand and otherwise would make it awkward anyway, vertical or horizontal. 10 is my final score.

So particular stuff, details i don't care about, or forgot.

A fair mix of questions, I do like the weight question it is a very interesting angled one, the rest are pretty fair if you paid attention to articles, details Sony put out or just follow the business side general though.

So much for a console I barely touched/had access to, don't have my own and don't want one, and like researching consoles before buying them, know everything about them (or enough about them and may miss some details or skip over details I don't care about such as acclaimed games and other nonsense when I care about what I care about of particular 3rd parties or other 1st party on a console instead, before having one, like N64 for example, only care about the 3rd parties, then having one feels weird then get used to it).

Understandable, hope it's doing well, gotten Forbidden Sands and Two Thrones so can't wait for this remake to finally get into some of the other Prince of Persia games.

@Slidey_Moments sometimes yes other times I would disagree.
Also seeing it as scrabble but scoring system as such.

It's like AI or roguelikes I can see random number generators compared to this and go I don't get the big deal. Because to me it looks fine but I don't get it. Tiles having different values, ok sure, fair varied board spaces I guess. Ok. I don't get it.

Seen better attempts and distinctive games in past trends with more varied ideas more so then this era.

Trends aren't bad I know people can say that but I do see past that. But this era to me shows it at its worst I find.

What tropes, what design and skme quality of life other times not.

I don't expect killer games. I play whatever good or bad I don't care for popular games. I ignore the popular or propped up Indies so I can be out of the loop. I don't see much in those games. Not all are viral hunters and many are genuinely good yes I just don't have any interest in them.

I play all genres. I do Indies also O don't have rhat AA/AAA only expectations.

I also see a lot of garbage retronor modern. I do explore it all not just the highlights.

A lot of nostalgia garbage Indies too as well wasting their potential and it makes me sad. Starting somewhere sure. Reference sure but too much so for nostalgia or other hit games, easy appeal to audiencss oe they themselves are too blinded. Sigh.

Sometimes it can but most times I have seen not much worthy come from them. Even sharing my ideas with nostalgia Indies they go wow never thought of this idea. I don't expect much by sharing my ideas they can do whatever they want its their games at the end of the day. I'm still not going to buy them depending on what they end up with. But still I am willing to share my thoughts and ideas while being fair.

I don't think its a case of seeing more or more then the highlights. Even looking back I see the garbage of the past as well I don't look at just the highlights only thats just unbalanced I don't prop up the past I look at its good and bad too for ideas left behind and underappreciated too. I am looking at all eras.

I'm into 3/10 to 7/10s. Or certain angles. But I am also into gameplay that varies.

To me some.card gamss I don't probably see much i whatever rules/what they do.

Same as some.games I see a theme or a angle of a trailer or other things and go eh I don't see it as any different. Showing or hiding what it is in the trailers. Looking like a lot of others and I'm like what is the point they are making about their game to set it apart.

Veterans to me either have their No Man's Sky/Nightingale approaches.

Their Yooka Laylee/Calisto Protocol/Azure Gunvolt/Bloodstained and others approach.

This game fits more the NMS/Nightingale approach or Song of the Deep or others and its fine.

But it can also come off as like GOWR or Last of Us 2 the oh we have this update to focus on roguelike and tbis and that and I'm like wow what experimenting you did to fit with Indie trends. Pass. Also no I did not play those Sony IPs at all.

@themcnoisy i haven't it didn't interest me. But I respect it. Hence I said won't comment on it. Respect but won't comment on what I have not enough reference for. So I am being fair there.

Drivel well all the competition or even side modes in games. Sigh. I don't play big games ir well talked about games because rhey don't interest me. So if I am uninformed that's why. I don't care about them or what they offer. I play vastly different retro games or Indies instead.

I see garbage nostalgia Indies and write them off.

Trends and competition I see things and go eh. Seems fine I guess.

I am playing less because game design mechanics are just not that appealing in the modern era I find.

Volume or heavy talking about some games more then others means nothing if the core and quality doesn't nterest me. Hundreds and quality varies of course or expectation too yes.

I am playing all genres but not what everyone else plays.

The odd good is in there no doubt but where I see its usually not the case.

I have played Hades. I didn't care for it. Got a disk copy from a family member who loved it. I played a bit and went eh it has perosnality. But its core didn't hook me at all.

I have played Coded Arms and enjoyed that and I don't hate roguelikes really it's just I didn't find it appealing how many are applied.

But then again played many metroidvanias and gone eh I can't , while others I can actually progress in them. It varies per design of the game.

Also past gens. Where? I wasn't playing them or maybe didn't see them and don't know about them. I have seen and not played many games, but maybe I missed hearing about them then.

Also to make it clear I didn't care for PS4 gen at all. I am still on 8th gen because PS5 gen honestly has done nothing compelling for me personally. Game design, Portal is a downgrade from Vita (not the full handheld part the remote play part for dual screens), PSVR2 is great hardware, hit and miss games and especially sad controls from PSVR1 or Move/Wii.

For everyone else not to discredit their experiences by all means. But to me I haven't seen anything and even IPs I did care for sigh. I'm dropping them 1 by 1 or more due to their direction . I don't hate change its just the choices and changes they have made aren't for me.

Had more fun on retro consoles niche gamss then Indies I have discovered myself on PS4/Switch 1 and not playing the popular ones as I don't care for any of their ideas.

I barely understand RPGs because even their core design of stats, quests, level design don't interest me and so many games use those systems nowadays so I play even less games because of that.

@GamingGod you haven't seen enough of their media then.

Sure a lot of anime or cute stuff appears but not all of it is.

It is hard to spot though even as someone has explored as much as I have of it the western application, otkau aka nerd appealing and in between. It varies.

Also played enough western or Asian cartoony/live action or whatever realisric or FMV even style stuff. I still would go for gameplay not tone but thats just me.

@Weebleman whatever. Tell the industry to be better then.

@DennisReynolds So do I to have fun, I have fun different ways, that's all. I did say people can enjoy what they do.

Gameplay can help with story, so do you just want story? But it can't be presented as just a story game it has to have basic enough gameplay to communicate it? This is why I always find that funny is story base games exist in other forms but it has to pass enough visually before story base gamers will play it. I play visual novels for the story like any other action adventure/RPG or whatever else, I'm willing to go that direction, most story base gamers won't.

To me I could play as a cube, have a stupid tone and if the gameplay is good and the programming/animators are good then yeah, but to me programming isn't just oh it's optimised or the engine it's the devs put effort into mechanics and doing something with their game, not the bare basics.

Remember when games had gravity and spherical worlds and many other cool ideas, when programmers had actual skill and effort to put into their games, not just basic mechanics, yeah those don't exist anymore, gameplay just the bare basics and combat/walking and doing errands and not a lot nowadays. Gameplay understandable by idiots, accessible games aren't bad, but so many or Indies too passionate but can't even make anything good from their nostalgia mindset, oh said characters and world with none of the gameplay that made those games great, sigh, talk about disappointing, they want to fit that vibe which is pointless as the gameplay heightened them, but they can't even make anything good enough (not expecting the same skill level from them, that's not the point, but just good enough ideas, but they can't even reach that level because they are too blinded or miss the point those games did so great) happens nowadays.

Hence mentality, that's why I get annoyed, Indies miss the point, AAA do what they need to for audiences interested and that's understandable for money or audience appeal, that's fine. But even AA are just as unambitious and 'competitive'. Indies are just as trend happy and add nothing to their 'competitive projects'. Why would I support brainless developers? They don't spin up enough of themselves into it. Just reference material and badly using it to cut corners or not think about good ideas. Just easy ones. They don't even use their own potential just play it safe. What a disappointment.

Games are a business. I know it's a hobby. Doesn't mean I can't want better for it? Am I not allowed to? Just because most people want to play garbage, by all means. Just because engineers have fair ideas for hardware and the software teams don't have an imagination and reference garbage and in turn make garbage. From Indies to AAA even AA we keep seeing safe or nostalgic garbage.

I'm not into artsy things. As if my Foamstars suggestions point wasn't to show I care even for garbage to still have potential with modes. How is that to make me feel 'superior'. Sigh. I have given suggestions to Indie devs directly during planning stages, and still let them make whatever they want. I am 'fair', I'm harsh but I'm fair. How is that hard to understand. I can hate something but still understand what people are going for. It's their project, not mine.

Well if developers had better ideas, which they don't I'd be playing them. But they don't so they keep making slop.

For those people fair deals.

For me it's not a good enough price and every time a discount is mentioned I get bombarded by people saying to get one. I refuse to get one, it's not reverse psychology or FOMO or new product shininess or their experiences that don't reflect mine but mine might as well be non-existent as it's meaningless. I hate the console, it's peripherals, I hate current game design and never wanted one. But some people are too stupid. I have 3 PS5s around me, I don't use them. I don't care to use them.

@Nakatomi_Uk Agreed but they have to for those audiences unfortunately. The illusion of value when they likely go cheap or most people have them that already care about them. It's just hilarious.

@DennisReynolds Again with the 'oh you fit one group'. I already stated I play games LEFT BEHIND. The people who read emotion and not words, I don't spout emotion I speak words.

I hate dev mentality. Why is that so hard to understand.

Sorry but I play all genres and own many failed/niche consoles, I research mechanics.

I make suggestions for games as bad as Foamstars to add more to them of potential. Like normal people/hardcore care. They are too narrative mentality or derivative to think, I do so much thinking, I don't speak to people as why bother, too much to explain and easy to save time on doing that.

I have made myself clear last time, plenty of times in articles. Typical same mentality people use and they are the furtherest from what I'm actually saying because I'm clearly an anomaly with a thought/angle most people haven't had before.

I'm a collector and a researcher of game mechanics. Made and make many game/genre examples, but apparently that goes over everyone's head. Did essays with examples mean nothing? Clearly why bother in conversation if people skip over any details at all. Why cite my sources of game examples if it's a waste of time.

Devs/players are a waste of time.

I respect them doing something different, like many veterans (not just 'we made the same thing but different publisher, ideas we couldn't and you either enjoy it or not).

But I don't know with this one. If the roguelike elements are good sure, I enjoy tactics games and Disagea using geo panels in interesting ways for level design is why I like it not just it's humour/tone.

So if this can use the good parts of Scrabble score tiles by all means.

But the Balatro comparison not familiar enough with it's rules really to comment on.

That aside this seems like instead of other Indies it's veterans going oh we want to copy this Indie and I'm like sigh can no one come up with smart ideas anymore? Just go 'oh this is popular, time to compete' like how boring can you developers be? Seriously? Come up with something better for your own card game or other types. But no. As mindless in mentality as other Indies that take notice. Bunch of moths to a light, bunch of mindless people.

Or is it the article is just being ridiculous grouping those 2 things together to describe it?

I wouldn't put either as unlikely really.

I like good puzzle games, but to me eh this seems like wow cards are understandable, I like cards, oh these rules to add on to things, oh roguelikes are popular, like do you people have anything good in your brains left at all? (not making their own interesting card or dice or others type game), Balatro is popular for what it does well but people developing clones which they are then refining or really adding enough of THEIR OWN design ideas, just piggybacking because humans are that mindless and stupid after other's success for a good idea which is why I refuse to support such slop/filth by any developers Indies to AAA.

I get adding one's own ideas they wanted the original doesn't have (or like many do with house rules) but even still, I'd like something more original or presented as more their own ideas, not piggybacking off another's success/money/not even replicating or doing enough of their own to even make it worthwhile compared to the original either, which is why I write them off.

As so many compete with the mentality and it makes me just turn away to all devs no matter the skill level or budget. Indie, AA, AAA, veterans moving to other studios to form.

Not like seeing all the Hades clones wasn't just as 'even more games to write off'. They may have their angles but wow, I've seen better approaches to trends and these days trends, making money, mentality of design is so blatantly boring there is a reason I support less games, they are also so pathetic and the people making them make me just disappointed.

I play every genre, play old/modern, doesn't mean I don't see the stupid mentality in developers and let it pass, I don't.

They want to emotionally appeal to audiences, offer enough per medium, make money and offer console power.

There is a reason I know this and don't fit their standards/expectations, I fit the gameplay impresses, which none have in 20 years with dumbed down ideas, cinematic/historical/safe fiantasy/scifi and other boring real/contemporary referencing for casuals so the games have just more boring movesets, boring environments and so on.

With characters so dull I can't be bothered listening to them.

So yes, they target audiences very well. People into them aren't wrong it's just obvious their strategies for money, console use that's subpar to pathetic and emotionally engaging people which to me just means I move away as to me I don't tolerate any media, I don't relate and I tell companies to get stuffed for emotionally focusing on writing or boring references to reality and have no imagination or smart comedy even if it's a sitcom.

Games are just the lowest form of core design these days, and mobile is even more dumbed down and each brand might as well just be a stamp in the top corner instead of the work in progress, because the brands are used so weakly who even cares, the depth is not there that made them good to begin with.

Lol emotional targeting companies snore, PS3/360 start, PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series have sequel & reusing IPs, who didn't know? Wanted PS1-3 IPs, don't 1 PS5. Few PS4.

Upset those not interested/cut off prior IPs, were too small. XD

Also why would I want GOW to be a Last of Us clone. It has differences sure, setting, side missions/HUB approach, Gears 5 tried a few things & it was eh. Sucker Punch did fair open worlds since Sly. Guerilla tries with Horizon. Bend caught up with Days Gone to fit Sony's strategy. GT/Astro fit their way. Others gone.

Gameplay not boring, worlds/characters, etc. wow factor, so pass. Rift Apart is worse then Nexus/Crack in Time in execution/ideas.

I am ok with some dramatic changes, dev trends responses are eh in design these days, long drawn out or safe. I'm playing all genres or past trend shooters/platformers/racing with more exciting ideas even generic games more approachable won in the end, not just marketing.

Or past games entries ideas, others are too bland, approachable but not fun ways, priorities changed for worst not better. Not nostalgia/consistency, bland design with appealing to other markets & casuals which is fine for money, bland & basic & ruining them till they have nothing left, just approachable.

They lost what made them appealing in the first place or the IPs had a fair core but not for continued for trilogies or even longer anymore. Not just the 'wow factor'.

Safe IPs that do well, milk and appeal to audiences because they fit enough story telling, themes, graphics, worlds/references, reality and cinematic qualities I already had no interest in so yes they are working fine with what companies and many audiences wanted.

Many casuals jump in, hardcore jump in if they like consistency (hardcore change their minds if a direction doesn't suit them but companies assume they won't).

They want safe IPs, merch, other mediums to convert them to. Even the IPs that are there they fit a certain standard. Or Namco/back compat team working on the PS1/PS2/PSP licenses. That's been obvious for years.

Why do you think I talk game design/suggestions, their business models work or suck, people can enjoy those IPs, but I couldn't care less, I never use any of the PS/Xbox hardware or IPs because it's been obvious their strategies.

I already have gone my own path to collecting/researching.

Updates/remasters, same games, for devs to learn for the sequels sure, or other IPs. But to make 'all entries look pretty' I don't care. I'm not attached to ANY modern gaming IPs, their 'story, holiday/tropey fiction/historical destinations PS3/360 era refined design'.

The waiting 10+ years for technology peripherals/gimmicks to land with next generation of customers to wait & disappoints like PS Portal compared to other attempts.

I already was not a fan of PS3/360 games, certain ones sure, but PS4/Xbox One I already wasn't into the carry over game design that has spread to EVERYTHING, so to me I wasn't fussed.

There is a reason I can mention Echoes of the End, or suggestions for what i want to see in games. But that's about it. Most of my time this gen has been articles and playing old gen or even retro consoles.

They kept milking the same IPs that worked, dropped the others they didn't care about.

Why else was I annoyed at removal of many studios or old IPs that can be used, they just haven't thought about smart ways to use them. So why should I support them? They clearly don't want me to.

They change their minds all the time, this one can stay up, this can't, ignore physical copies, give us more money, why bother discounting this one (I doubt it's licensing or confusion for customers and any other nonsense and more to do with whatever angle they want in the Director's Cut and the new shiny version, as usual companies make excuses, there is a reason people back up games and ignore companies nonsense of 'we control this product' while everyone archives every version and we play whatever we want regardless of leadership, dev team, marketing staff, etc.).

They want money but if they want money they need to realise people consider playing it not just giving their money away so easily or replay it like crazy again and again. Sometimes the remix/re-release content isn't worth it anyway. I get more excited for prototypes ideas then final or re-release content. So to me it isn't exciting at all.

They could also just use other IPs well and we would be interested, they haven't so I haven't cared to support them at all. Square tried their new IPs and well I bought them, they flopped so no reason for me to bother supporting them anymore.

If they do this to every release you just wouldn't buy it and know something is better, find other games to play in the mean time, so why bother.

I only buy different editions if it's a deluxe with an artbook/OST digitally by AA Japanese devs nowadays, or the odd physical AA game that just happens to have an artbook, or because i want the standard edition physical but I only get 1 edition and that's it. Otherwise I don't care and it's standard edition digital or physical. I haven't been that into Sega IPs really the past few years. Valkyria Chronicles I guess besides older releases that aren't on eshops. That's about it. Otherwise I'll wait for physical copies of Sega GT 2002.

If it's just for Atlus games it will be annoying (hopefully not Atlus published either and it spreading) but doesn't affect me that much. If it's to all then yeah if Sega want to annoy more people by all means they are on the right track.

Also remixing a game just makes things annoying, DLC sure but remixing it just makes it even worse.

In terms of offering between platforms sure. In terms of a fair target I'd say it's a bit high but it's still a fair low target then 3 million or 5 million. Maybe it's price, maybe it's what the games offer? I don't know for sure. Maybe PC gamers are into different types of games, or 3rd parties already have formulas of games people have already played before compared to Sony's games fitting such formulas.

The cost to port, building up an audience to build up into their games and so on.

I mean their mobile ports seem hit and miss. Horizon looks promising, Ratchet looks underdeveloped. WipEout didn't do a lot great with it, Sackboy Run is probably fine. Fate GO does what it does with Fate/anime fans compared to the rest of us anime fans who don't care and have gaming standards.

Or not everyone wants to play movie style games. I don't. I was ok with a few on PS2/3 but them going all in on them made me move away. Xbox's IPs are just 3rd parties I didn't like anyway and other modern design I don't like so it made no difference there either.

At least they don't have a PS Launcher. But even still not like the Helldivers PSN thing didn't probably make people go, yeah no thanks. But they want that data, advertising and more when who cares. People have Steam Achievements os who cares for PS trophies.

People have PS+ or had PS Now prior if they cared that way too.

PC has a lot so who knows what all are into but I mean, even a cinematic or a cartoony game or whatever doesn't nothing if the game design isn't appealing to me.

But do companies forget not every audience cares about the same types of games? Or have the same specs or other factors. Or maybe emulated their PS1 and PS2 era IPs they haven't offered that may appeal to people more then their PS4/5 era IPs. Maybe.

Or plenty of other games to play instead. Singleplayer, multiplayer, whatever the case.

I have all 3 platforms and I don't even care about Sony or Microsoft's current games. Haven't in 2 console gens.

I don't game on PC much but even still. I wouldn't have bought their games on PC even if I did have the specs.

Not for troubleshooting either. I just find them boring.

Fair but I've seen $100 off many devices, still not appealing. $100 is really nothing to me, if the starting price is too high I still won't buy it. Already got a PSVR2 and while it's good, barely use it. The games motion/button uses were just sad and disappointing even compared to the better and not as backtracked game design of PSVR1 or Wii/Move games.

The hardware is great, great software techniques, really impressed with it, it requiring a PS5 doesn't disappoint me, the cable for what it's offering, is great, I don't care for wireless if the power is sacrified, so to me power doesn't matter but in VR I would say it would then portability and the lackluster game design of Meta VR games or mobile games as unique games are the only ones that go to these platforms and they all are terrible compared to PS2, Wii, PSP unique versions or ports of all 3 of those as a base line they were way more fun compared to HD versions even. It's just the execution is just bad on PSVR2 or Meta headsets for games.

Some gems probably in there no doubt, there always are, I own a Vita/Wii U for niche games and their great niche libraries of course I'd agree with gems, of course i like old consoles control schemes as some games are better those ways then if they were the same safe modern control scheme, they vary, but eh.

PSVR2 is more appealing then the Portal though, the Portal disappoints me even more of it's use cases compared to Vita (not because it's just a remote play device, that's fine and it's great to see them continue that option, it's because it's so limiting of a remote play device use cases that is why I hate the Portal, I wouldn't even buy a new full handheld the features would be eh and the games already don't interest me, I don't care for a PS5 why would I a full handheld from Sony either).

I mean sure, but at the same time I don't care. I don't want a PS5 still even after many discounts at JB HIfi. I still don't care about power, or price if the product is still not appealing to me, the games aren't, the peripherals aren't, the console isn't.

Part 2:
I don't care how each person's elves/dwarves are, they are still that and still boring then more original designs & execution of roles the characters have of fantasy creatures is my point. Not literally, creatively how they apply them. How a reference is or how an original creation is. Something even Indies mess up and are too 'passionate' and apply them in the most disappointing ways.

How they use their pattern, how they present it in an interesting way or dramatic if they can. IF. They offer them interestingly for tropes/trends, sure but I haven't seen that, so that's why I get disappointed.

It varies what they make, what execution. I don't give praise like candy, I give it when I think it deserves it.

I'm not that interested in such an interview as I'll keep getting disappointed by what they have to say & where their passion is an so on. I wasn't impressed by their results so far. They won't always speak in PR but to me it might as well be with how some present their products and leadership or passion.