I'm just a gamer....

[Hoodoo]

Thought maybe I'd take a few minutes and write a little piece about the state of gaming, both currently and classically

 

 

1. Does anyone really think gaming will ever be strictly downloadable content, with no more physical games (meaning cartridges,discs,etc.)? I sure hope not, because if so, a lot of gaming history is rendered obsolete. I might be one of the most backward gamers in the world, but I do NOT like online gaming,period. At all. From the Evercrack loonies, to the dickheads who populate MOST queues in online games for consoles (SOCOM immediately comes to mind, as do the WWE Smackdown Vs Raw games,where people cheat,kill you,then tell everyone how bad you suck), I'd MUCH rather game alone, or with one or two friends IN MY LIVING ROOM, like the old days. People crammed around consoles to play Joust or Missile Command is what gaming SHOULD be about, togetherness and friendship! There's something to be said for a couple joints, a twelve pack, two good friends and a VCS with about 100 games that just cannot be said about online gaming,not really. Buying games is the same, at least to me...There's something about buying a game, opening the box,getting that big whiff of blown in factory air, unlimbering the manual for the first time, all of that.....that will all be lost if all games go download.

 

 

 

2. Some Game: PS2 version VS Same Game: XBox version. I get so tired of hearing people arguing about how this game is so much better on the blah blah than it was on the yadda yadda. Does it matter? Really? Can't you just love the version you love and be quiet about who loves the other versions? Yes,okay, the arcade version of Defender is vastly superior to the Atari 2600 version, to.....you. Maybe I don't think so, maybe I loved it BECAUSE it was different,slightly than the original. Maybe I LIKE the original, but maybe I LOVE the 2600 (not so in this case,for me, but as an example.) Gamers shouldn't judge each other. Yeah, I might be the first one killed in Halo, but I'll ANNIHILATE you at Contra, or Frogger, or Pac*Man, that doesn't make either of us better than the other. Just makes us better at different kinds of games. Don't knock what I like, and I won't knock what YOU like.

 

 

3. "Oldschool" gamers who consider themselves superior to others. Nope. You're not. (See above!). I am a primarily old school gamer ( I last played anything past the VCS about.....two months ago?), but that does NOT make me "better" nor does it make me any different. People have taken the competition of video games WAAAAAY too far, even to the actual comparisons of systems,etc.If you like to play, you are a gamer. PERIOD. There's no "you have to be a certain skill level" or "you're not a REAL gamer because you don't play (insert title here,mostly its Halo with people like this, or conversely, PacMan for the oldschoolers)". Utter bollocks. Gamer: (noun. GA-MUR) One who plays games. It's that simple. Whether its a three year old learning to play Frogger for the first time, or the grand world dragon Mortal Kombat 69 Champion, they're both gamers, folks.

 

 

4. Uptight collectors. Some people are just a little too uptight about collecting. Not intending to flame at all, but someone paid 5000 dollars for Video Life....I love my 2600, but there is absolutely NO way I'd pay 5000 for ANY video game. PERIOD. EVER. That's stupidity, or pure cold arrogance with money. There is so much more you can do, even for yourself than buy an old Atari game that will sit on a shelf that likely NOONE BUT YOU understands. I've been gaming a lot of years, and I have a LOT of rares, including Quadrun (actually ordered from the ORIGINAL run), but I play the hell out of them. Quadrun especially! Mine's worth a lot less, but you know what? My GAMER life would be less without having played it. I got stuff people have no idea why I bust the box open and play, but its simple...I WANT TO PLAY! That's why I buy, pure and simple. Every game,system,controller, everything, I buy because I want to PLAY!

 

 

 

Well,to those of you who stayed this long, thanks for listening to an old man gamer for this long.....feel free to comment, and remember, nothing I said I say meaning to knock anyone, rather, I'd wish gamers could be more TOGETHER about things......

[Atari5200]

1. I hope the content isn't all downloadable as I prefer to have actual cartridges/cd's/whatever. I disagree with you on online gaming, though there are alot of jerks, there are also alot of good people and i've had alot of fun playing online Socom for the PSP and GRAW for the 360.

 

2. Thats typically just fanboyism. Some games are better and some games aren't, but you continually have the crowd, i think the Nintendo crowd is the absolute worst, that think everything that is for their system is far superior and would argue the point til they die, even if it is cold hard fact that it isn't. This is the most annoying thing about your point.

 

3. I grossly disagree with you. I've been gaming for over 20 years now, from 1983 with my first 2600 up until now with my 360. I can pretty much take any game, even ones i've never played before, give me 10 minutes to try it out, and then I can mop the floor with the competition. Gaming for me is no fun playing with the people I normally play with when I win all the time, which is why I like online play, I can choose games for my skill level and yes, there are different skill level of gamers. I agree that anybody that plays games is a gamer, but there are different levels of gamers. I play every day, even if its only for 15 minutes, a day does not go by that I have not played a game. Though I do not openly compete or brag about how good I am, games are games, in a game, there are winners and losers, gaming is competition, especially multi player. Yes there are the ones that take it to extremes, but at the end of the day, a game is a competition, whether against a human player or a AI player.

 

4. I agree. maybe if i won the lottery and had nothing better to spend my money on i would buy games like that. If i can't find it in the wild, the most I would spend on a classic game on ebay would be around $10-15, i splurged and bought Frogger 2 for the 5200 for $23 a couple weeks ago. My collection is decently sized, 30+ systems, 1000+ games, and 98% of these have come from the wild and without breaking the bank.

[Pixelboy]

1. Does anyone really think gaming will ever be strictly downloadable content, with no more physical games (meaning cartridges,discs,etc.)? I sure hope not, because if so, a lot of gaming history is rendered obsolete. I might be one of the most backward gamers in the world, but I do NOT like online gaming,period. At all. From the Evercrack loonies, to the dickheads who populate MOST queues in online games for consoles (SOCOM immediately comes to mind, as do the WWE Smackdown Vs Raw games,where people cheat,kill you,then tell everyone how bad you suck), I'd MUCH rather game alone, or with one or two friends IN MY LIVING ROOM, like the old days. People crammed around consoles to play Joust or Missile Command is what gaming SHOULD be about, togetherness and friendship! There's something to be said for a couple joints, a twelve pack, two good friends and a VCS with about 100 games that just cannot be said about online gaming,not really. Buying games is the same, at least to me...There's something about buying a game, opening the box,getting that big whiff of blown in factory air, unlimbering the manual for the first time, all of that.....that will all be lost if all games go download.

There are advantages to both avenues. You may not get to hold your brand new game in your hands on Christmas morning, but you won't misplace (or damage) the box and manual later either. On the other hand, I hate "online" manuals. I prefer paper any day of the week. So I agree with you somewhat.

 

Besides, I see two completely different issues mixed together in your first paragraph: Downloadable games and online gaming. It's like mixing carrots and tomatoes... In any case, there have always been dickhead gamers, even during the early days of video gaming. It's just that now you have to cope with dickheads from all over the world, instead of just your own neighborhood. If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen, as they say (and from what I can see, that's exactly what you've been doing).

 

2. Some Game: PS2 version VS Same Game: XBox version. I get so tired of hearing people arguing about how this game is so much better on the blah blah than it was on the yadda yadda. Does it matter? Really? Can't you just love the version you love and be quiet about who loves the other versions? Yes,okay, the arcade version of Defender is vastly superior to the Atari 2600 version, to.....you. Maybe I don't think so, maybe I loved it BECAUSE it was different,slightly than the original. Maybe I LIKE the original, but maybe I LOVE the 2600 (not so in this case,for me, but as an example.) Gamers shouldn't judge each other. Yeah, I might be the first one killed in Halo, but I'll ANNIHILATE you at Contra, or Frogger, or Pac*Man, that doesn't make either of us better than the other. Just makes us better at different kinds of games. Don't knock what I like, and I won't knock what YOU like.

But then what will people talk about? Would you really like to see the following discussions on gaming forums:

 

- Well, I like the ABC version of game XYZ.

- Really? That's nice. I prefer the FGH version of that same game.

- I respect your opinion. Forgive me while I yawn.

- Much obliged.

 

I think you fail to see the subtle purpose of these discussions, which have also been around since the dawn of video games: Atari 2600 versus ColecoVision versus Intellivision? Spectrum versus Commodore 64? Nintendo versus Sega? I've been hearing the "my system and its games are so much better" arguments since forever, and I've even taken part in them on occasion myself . The actual subject of these discussions is irrelevant. Kids just like to confront each other and win verbal arguments, or at least reach a stalemate. It's a question of striving to achieve a certain social status, and gaming just happens to be the perfect proving grounds for it. Mature people will recognize the "social status" of a gamer by the intelligence of his arguments, but you can't expect kids to understand that concept. Some may, but certainly not all of them.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the real problem that you have is the lack of respect and general immaturity of a lot of gamers, both online and offline. Seems like those people could use some proper social education, don't you think? I agree completely.

 

 

3. "Oldschool" gamers who consider themselves superior to others. Nope. You're not. (See above!). I am a primarily old school gamer ( I last played anything past the VCS about.....two months ago?), but that does NOT make me "better" nor does it make me any different. People have taken the competition of video games WAAAAAY too far, even to the actual comparisons of systems,etc.If you like to play, you are a gamer. PERIOD. There's no "you have to be a certain skill level" or "you're not a REAL gamer because you don't play (insert title here,mostly its Halo with people like this, or conversely, PacMan for the oldschoolers)". Utter bollocks. Gamer: (noun. GA-MUR) One who plays games. It's that simple. Whether its a three year old learning to play Frogger for the first time, or the grand world dragon Mortal Kombat 69 Champion, they're both gamers, folks.

This is another demonstration of what I said above, about kids liking to confront each other just to pump up their own ego. Generations of kids may come and pass, but the underlying need to confront and win arguments will always be part of the human equation.

 

 

4. Uptight collectors. Some people are just a little too uptight about collecting. Not intending to flame at all, but someone paid 5000 dollars for Video Life....I love my 2600, but there is absolutely NO way I'd pay 5000 for ANY video game. PERIOD. EVER. That's stupidity, or pure cold arrogance with money. There is so much more you can do, even for yourself than buy an old Atari game that will sit on a shelf that likely NOONE BUT YOU understands. I've been gaming a lot of years, and I have a LOT of rares, including Quadrun (actually ordered from the ORIGINAL run), but I play the hell out of them. Quadrun especially! Mine's worth a lot less, but you know what? My GAMER life would be less without having played it. I got stuff people have no idea why I bust the box open and play, but its simple...I WANT TO PLAY! That's why I buy, pure and simple. Every game,system,controller, everything, I buy because I want to PLAY!

Now this one I have to take exception to. I think it's pretty condescending on your part to judge collectors like that. How collectors decide to spend their money, and how they may perceive the stuff they acquire is no business of yours. That you may see games as just games is your right, but certain factors like general rarity, overall demand, and how much money people are willing to spend to acquire certain items makes people view such items in different ways. It's like saying the Mona Lisa is not worth huge sums of money because it's just a painting.

 

I'm guessing you saw that 5000$ high bid on eBay? In order to reach such a high amount, at least two bidders (sometimes more) must enter into a bidding war. That means more than one person wants the same item, and if those people have deep pockets, then all the more power to them. If you had been the seller of that copy of Video Life, would you be here complaining about that 5000$ high bid? No, you'd just be counting your money and laughing all the way to the bank.

 

 

Well,to those of you who stayed this long, thanks for listening to an old man gamer for this long.....feel free to comment, and remember, nothing I said I say meaning to knock anyone, rather, I'd wish gamers could be more TOGETHER about things......

They actually are together, just not the way you'd like them to be.

 

P.S.: No offense, BTW.

[AtariJr]

2. Thats typically just fanboyism. Some games are better and some games aren't, but you continually have the crowd, i think the Nintendo crowd is the absolute worst, that think everything that is for their system is far superior and would argue the point til they die, even if it is cold hard fact that it isn't. This is the most annoying thing about your point.

 

I know you have a horrible view on nitendo and the people who play them.. but thats a bit unfair. Xbox and sony fans can be just as bad and narrowminded as nintendo fans. everything form "Halo is the best fps in the world" to "gamecube is for kiddies, sony is the best, its all i care about" ... i mean common, we have all heard them all. I think the reason why Nintendo fans are more defensive is because, just like me, they see it as one of the last chances of games being a progression of what they were and not just a crap load of fps, gta titles, and sports titles. im not saying thats all of what there is on the other systems, but when it comes to good fun that doesnt need to be wrapped in either senseless violence, cursing to excite 13 year olds who think its cool, or a 50 dollar sports game you just bought last year with ... a new roster, nintendo usually delivers. most of us here started playing video games in the 2d era where games where like this... so in my opinion and many nintendo is one of the last outlets for that.

 

now dont shoot me down saying thast all i freakin love, becuase you all know ive been playing my ps2 and my saturn a hell of a lot more than most of my nintendo systems as of late, but I just wanted to share my opinoin on why I, and many people respect the company.. that respect turns into defensiveness. however, i will say that most of the "insert console name sucks" type of wonderful thoughout grammer comes from sony or M$ preteens.

 

on a lighter note, i think your posts towards nintendo anything are a perfect example of a mature gamer being just as much of a fanboy on the "other side". first to shout out others are wrong, and you say it in a way that leaves little to no neutral view.. ie: "i like the system but..." instead its "i hate the system , i hate the people, i hate it all"

Edited May 16, 2007 by AtariJr

[n8littlefield]

Just want to add my 2 cents on #2. I think that comparisons of versions of games is vital. Many, many gamers are multiple console owners and do have the right to discuss and be educated on which version is best. Most of the time I see comparisons it's not for bragging rights of one console vs another but for to help multiple console owners make the right choice.

 

 

And Atari 5200 - you are obviously antiNintendo, we get it - your bizarre opinion of the Wii name causing a death is pretty good proof of that. Have you considered the fact that Nintendo didn't cause the death, that maybe a woman willing to participate in a stupid radio stunt did? I mean, you're basically trolling against Nintendo everywhere and your signature is pretty solid evidence showing that.

[Atari5200]

first of all. I do not like the Wii, i will admit that. I do not like the DS, i'll admit that. But am I anti Nintendo? I don't think so. Go look at any post on Gamespot regarding Nintendo and Sony and you'll see exactly what i'm talking about. Just look around, i didn't say Sony or Xbox fanboys aren't any better, but from my experience from different game sites, Nintendo fanboys are the first ones to jump right in and start bashing everything, this post is a prime example.

 

I own many, Nintendo products, in fact I own EVERY Nintendo product released in the US, hardware. From the NES to GameCube, with duplicates of many. I play the systems, I buy stuff for the systems. The Gamecube replaced my PS2 for quite some time before I bought an XBOX, then the XBOX replaced both my Cube and PS2, though I still played the Cube for games like Tales of Symphonia and others that you just can't find anywhere, the DS, i feel was a huge waste of money, so my PSP gets the majority of new portable games. It's my own taste and my own opinion.

 

Plus i know Nintendo did not cause the death, but the Wii is still a shitty name for anything. Please, would a car company name a car a Wii? Would you eat a Wii-burger at Burger King, hell no. And there's nothing you could say to me that would ever change my mind about the name and the radio contest. If the Wii wasn't such a god damn stupid name, there would have been no Wee for a Wii contest. Or would it be Revolt for a Revolution and mass killings would have occured by my logic then...HMMMM???

[thomasholzer]

Didn't Nintendo kill kids with the NES already, if I remember right?

[n8littlefield]

They certainly caused some fun with that Pokemon cartoon in Japan! It's not a good cartoon unless seizures are involved.

 

And 5200 - your signature is still ridiculous. Radio stations are stupid publicity whores. People are willing to do anything to get something for free. That combination killed that woman. Car dealerships have done almost the exact same contest to win free cars (last one touching the car wins) and last I heard there was never a Ford Urinemobile. Shows like Big Brother have done contests where it's inferred that part of winning would be not taking a bathroom break. Would they have done the contest without the name Wii? Probably not. Is it a unique event that someone held their bladder for a contest? Definately not. Are you being foolish blaming Nintendo? Absolutely.

 

Am I a Nintendo fan? Yes. After years of Playstation 1&2 I have made the switch and I'm an incredibly happy customer right now. I'm thrilled with my DS and Wii and unless one of the other two companies does something great, I'll likely stay Nintendo only this round. I do think some Nintendo fans get roused easily just because they have tolerated years of ridicule as "OMG Nintendo is Kiddiez", regardless of having great libraries of games that include M rated titles. I think that Nintendo is finally in an upswing and there is simply a lot of built up resentment towards the "serious, mature" gamers that is coming out now.

[bdog_147]

1. I think there will be a time when the game companies will ditch disc media and force you to download the games to the system hard drive and use a credit card to pay for them or those "points" cards and enter codes or what have you....I don't know if this will happen or even when, but it's a possibility.....I don't want this to happen as I would rather have the disc....

 

2. Ps2 version VS. Xbox version. well obviously this is totally ones opinion. I have both systems and for some reason i try to get the xbox version. I like the xbox just a tad better I don't know why I just do. Sometimes "x" version will be better then "y" version and i would like to have the best version to play. If you only have one of those systems just get that system version and be happy.

[jboypacman]

I like to think of myself as a "classic" gamer who plays "old school" games every once in a while.

 

I do not own any "modern" game systems or games and if it got to the point where games could only be downloaded i dont think it would effect me too much.

 

As far as which is better X-Box(360) or PS2(3) i would say the Atari 2600 is better.

 

I really dont think of myself better because i am a "classic" gamer nor would i think i was better if i was a "modern" gamer.We all video game fans no matter what we choose to play so we are all in the same brotherhood.

 

I could not and would not pay large sums of money for a video game(I dont make that much money and my wife would kill me! lol.)

 

As far as the whole on-line gaming thing goes it can be fun but its something i just dont do that much.It just never really excited me.

Edited May 17, 2007 by jboypacman

[shadow460]

1. I'm not partial to downloaded games vs cartridges vs discs vs whatever other weird media there is. I, too, would rather have a cartridge, so if it goes to solely downloading games, I'll stick to older systems.

As for multiplayer, either way is fine. I'll happily waste you in a four player crowd of goldeneye or a one on one match of Yuri's Revenge when you've got 20 president IFV's ready to take on my single rhino tank. If we're online, cheat all you like, and I'll still kick you around so much that I wear a hole in my boot.

I'm not good at every game, and there are some I'll never master. However, I do stick to some that I'm beyond awesome at. For example, I stuck to Emperor: Battle for Dune for almost a year, and I wound up in the worldwide top 25 of the House Harkonnen players for two months straight. I also was in the top 100 Yuri's Revenge players when that game was popular. I whipped up on a lot of people who cheated, in addition to a lot of cocky ***es and a lot of average Joes.

 

2. Buy all three (or all twenty) versions and this argument becomes moot in a big hurry.

 

3. Old games, new games, who cares as long as they are fun? If "Grand Theft Auto 213: Oklahoma City" is fun, then it should be played no matter how stupid the series gets between now and then.

 

4. If collecting is your thing, you are interested in games for a different reason than a gamer is. there's nothing wrong with that. If you suddenly get a hankering for Atlantis II or the Saturn version of Command & Conquer: Red Alert, you'd better have deep pockets.

[Markimus of K.]

Just some thoughts I've had for a while in reference to #1 online gaming...

 

My first online gaming was with Phantasy Star on the Dcast and I thought it was fun but really a huge waste of time, so I am clearly not in the demographic for that.

 

That aside, as a classic gamer, I really like owning all my consoles and thier associated media. The current generation seems to be focusing on online content. Ok, but my computer does the online stuff. I read about people buying Nintendo Wiis and PS3s and XBox 360's and having to wait until they all connected and downloaded the latest "firmware" update.

 

I think this bodes not well for the LONGEVITY of the systems that we are all used to. We have our Atari 2600's etc... we won't be able to do that with the current generation. As soon as company A says it's no longer profitable, it cut off and you might as well fuhgeddaboudit.

 

To use the same example, I paid $60 for PSO, and now I can't play it because the servers are down, now that's just one game but the way this gen is going I can see the same thing happening for an entire console.

 

"nah, we don't support the 360 anymore. Too Bad, buy our new console and we will support it for a year at least! We promise!"

 

ie, the current gen has no legacy to it. I know that no matter what happens I will still be able to enjoy my Atari, Sega, Nitendo systems forever without having to worry if the company still "allows" it...

 

my apologies, I must be old but I like my gaming self contained and not controlled by someone else...

 

Markimus of K.