I was thinking about the "current" and next generation of games and consoles.
I'm not asking for the moon and the stars out of devolpers but here are a few things I would like to ask for and would like to see in the near future.
1. Please get rid of load times.
This is the one thing that has been a constant as well as a plague upon games since going to CD format. I know its probably impossible to get rid of them completly but the 360 and PS3 are by all accounts a couple of the most powerfull computers on the market. So why am I still having to stare at "loading"? You want me to get into the story then don't cut it up into pieces. You can't load my next destination ahead of time even if I have no choice but to go there?
2. Please don't force me to update my software/hardware just to play the game.
What if I don't have a reliable connection to the internet? Am I just screwed? This is aimed mostly at consoles, PC is kinda understandable. I'm sure there is some reason you can't, but couldn't you just package the required driver on the game CD to be installed if needed? That 360 I bought first released can't play a game released for it one week ago? Even after you know exactly what your working with to begin with. Last I heard Xbox live was one of the options available to the consumer to enjoy, not a requirement for the consumer in order to enjoy playing.
3. Please don't sell varations of the same product to me.
This is anything with "____ Edition". When going shopping I do not want to see a game or console and right next to it have the same thing with "____Edition" right next to it. There are execptions but I don't want to feel as if I have to pay more in order to get more out of the same game or machine. "The model costing $200 will improve your gameplay" "_____Edition has more content, more unlockables, more of everything" are things I don't want to hear.
4. You can have much better graphics, but do you have to drown the machine with them?
This goes back to #2 somewhat, and I am impressed with some games but at the same time I wonder if its really needed that you push the the hardware to the max. Great graphics are nice but if it hurts actual gameplay by adding longer load times or required updates just to run then I feel it does more harm than good.
If some of those issues could be adressed I feel would have real ground breaking effect on the future of games.
I feel as if the games are hitting an "invisible wall" they can't seem to get around.
In my observation, going from PS2 to PS3 or Xbox to Xbox 360 or Game Cube to Wii wasn't as profound as earlier generations.
Going from 8 to 16 bit was a big step as was 16 to 32 or 32 to 64 or to 128.
At the risk of hearing a "my console can beat up your console" war, I feel that there is no real diffrence in the Wii, 360 or the PS3.
Want proof? http://vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php?cons1=DS®1=All&cons2=PS3®2=All&cons3=X360®3=All&start=39089&end=39453&weekly=1 compare the sales.
Even going so far as helping to find the cure for cancer or cracking the genetic code, (seriously) the most powerfull systems didn't surpass the system by all standards was crap by comparison. (check the DS) Unless you have a serious eye for it your not going to notice the gameplay diffrence. Sorry but there are way to many casual gamers now.
