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[Felessan]

Yup those online MMOs and modded games with anywhere from 10,000 - 3 million concurrent players and PC players access to all games from every mainline 4th,5th,6th,7th,8th and 9th generation consoles. Yup nobody cares about those.

MMO are long time niche and modding games as a strong advantage, really? that some harcore niche stuff. Same with playing NES games on your PC, it's probably 0.00001% of gamers who had evenslightest interest in it.
If you are geek - it's ok that you like your PC so much, but extrapolate it to normal gaming population is a heavy stretching.

Having another gaming machine that's userbase is primarily young adults outsell a another gaming machine who's target demographic is also young adults by tens of million units is somehow not cutting into market share or potential userbase/unit sales? Again you are a genius.

Children and young adults - those are different categories.
And who cares about switch sales when 90% of them are former GBA/NDS players, thus portable market that have little competition to home console market.

 

[nnytk]

You forgot Balatro and other indie/Nintendo titles. Or the apparently stellar GW2 expansion one of my friends is playing.

Either way, you're right! What a great year for gaming.

(...)

It's human nature to focus on flaws, fixate on problems.

 

[ZehDon]

... what? Since when is there a narrative this has been a bad year for gaming?

 

[Balducci30]

Rise of Ronin
Black Myth: Wukong
Space Marine 2
Kunitsu Gami
Dead Rising Remaster
Helldivers 2
DB: Sparkling Zero
Indika
Stellar Blade
ER: Shadow of the Erdtree
Astro Bot
Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH
Metaphor Refantazio
TLOU PII Remastered
Tekken 8
Infinite Wealth
Dragons Dogma 2
Animal Well
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
D4: Vessel of Hatred
Unicorn Overlod

And Cod BO 6, Splitterhead, Life is Strange Double Exposure and Lego Horizon are on their way.

How is this year considered bad and not one of the best year gaming? I baffled by the narrative of there is nothing to play. Like, how? Aspecially on ps5. I cant even keep up with whats coming.

There are a lot of complaints about this generation but i dont know gaf, this gen may be mine fav in the end.

What do you guys think?

Having played a majority of these games I’m hard pressed to say I loved any of them. Astrobot is probably the best one I guess? The rest I didn’t really care for much

 

[Jesb]

I haven’t played much in terms of this years releases. Looking at that list posted in this thread I only counted 3 games. But that has more to do with me catching up on my backlog and gaming exclusively on GFN. I think it’s been a great year. There’s a ton I want to play already out and still coming. It’s ending on some great stuff coming. Indiana Jones, Stalker 2, and COD.

 

[snapdragon]

MMO are long time niche and modding games as a strong advantage, really? that some harcore niche stuff. Same with playing NES games on your PC, it's probably 0.00001% of gamers who had evenslightest interest in it.
If you are geek - it's ok that you like your PC so much, but extrapolate it to normal gaming population is a heavy stretching.


Children and young adults - those are different categories.
And who cares about switch sales when 90% of them are former GBA/NDS players, thus portable market that have little competition to home console market.

Multi-player games that have 50,000 - 3 million concurrent players are not niche and neither is modding or emulation especially in regions with lower purchasing power.

The primary age group of switch players (and console gamers as a whole) are 20+ years by a wide margin, and Sony, Microsoft and nintendo all compete to attract these peoples attention. They have different ways of competing but it's still competition. The n64 would have done far better if the Playstation either failed or didn't exist despite the software of that system being radically different than the Saturn's and PS1's


I'm not entertaining further arguments and I'll leave it at this

PC's due to Sony and Microsoft incompetence along other reasons have received superior versions of 99% of games released on sony/MS systems, and PC's have many other mainstream both multi-player and to a less extent single player games that consoles will never receive.

So the argument for which platform has a superior library of software goes to PC by a long shot.

Now on cost efficiency, you will not be getting a PC as of right now that will achieve the same performance as a ps5 or XSX for the same price as those consoles however a system that is 150$ more than a ps5 will outperform it, have far more features, have a far superior and cheaper game library, will have free online player and could be upgraded.

PC wins on cost efficiency.

And as for features PC wins as well.

Anything a Sony/Xbox console can do a PC can do it better therefore its a superior platform.

 

[ikbalCO]

Tale as old as time

 

[pasterpl]

There is a difference between developer and game, a second party developer (signs a second party contract) can develop a first party game, Stellar Blade, Rise of Ronin and Helldivers 2 are first party games developed by second party studios. Sony funds these developers to make those games.

(In fact, in true terms, there is no such thing as second party at all, but that is what Sony calls them and what the contract states but really they are third party studios as Sony doesn't own them)

I have got a completely different view on this; if studio is not a part of Sony/Xbox/Nintendo Studios, any game they develop for these platform holders exclusively is 2nd party exclusive - Sony signs a contract with them to deliver services. In case of stellar blade Sony doesn’t even own the IP. 1st party for me is games developed by internal Sony studios. 3rd party is developer realising their games on every platform and supported by funds from any platform holder.

 

[playbignbox]

Having played a majority of these games I’m hard pressed to say I loved any of them. Astrobot is probably the best one I guess? The rest I didn’t really care for much

There are indeed many good games on the list, but one or two are truly spectacular.

I disagree with those who say it was a bad year, but the OP saying it was one of the best years of all time is an exaggeration.

 

[samoilaaa]

yeah, review scores don't really mean much to me.

and also I'm not saying there isn't good or great games this year. I am saying that in regards to "Years of Gaming" nothing this year is special, unique or interesting and just creating a list of things to consume doesn't change that.

I promise you in 3 years no one will talk about 99% of the games on that list. Maybe Rebirth because of the sequel and that's about it.

But I've said it already, I'm not just a consumer by habit. I am not going to play a game just because it exists and i need more things to consume, I don't watch Netflix on my phone in all corners of my house.

I know I'm not the common gamer/person here, I'm someone who ducked from Dota and Cod many many years ago because doing the same thing over and over was a waste of life, i'd rather work on something or expand a skillset in that scenario

i really pity people that play games based on reviews/metacritic scores

one example https://www.metacritic.com/game/god-of-war-ragnarok/

its a 94 game but its a game for braindead people that doesnt let you solve puzzles by urself , forced/boring atreus sections , boring story , weak level design

 

[NeverYouMind]

Tale as old as time

I have nicknamed it "brand inferiority complex" arguments. Apple owners have the same chip on their shoulder.

 

[Alan Wake]

It's been a good year. I've had tons of fun with Promenade, Banishers, Alone in the Dark (seriously underrated), Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, System Shock, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, Astro Bot (amazing) and Silent Hill 2 (amazing) as well as quite a few Game Pass games like Nobody Wants to Die and Still Wakes the Deep. There are lots of games I haven't played but I'm pretty sure I would like (like Dave the Diver and Crow Country).

Sure some disappointments too: Hellblade II, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown and Tschia among others.

 

[midnightAI]

I have got a completely different view on this; if studio is not a part of Sony/Xbox/Nintendo Studios, any game they develop for these platform holders exclusively is 2nd party exclusive - Sony signs a contract with them to deliver services. In case of stellar blade Sony doesn’t even own the IP. 1st party for me is games developed by internal Sony studios. 3rd party is developer realising their games on every platform and supported by funds from any platform holder.

I'm just going off what Sony considers first party (and surely that's what matters? If they consider a game first party then it's first party)

An example is what Ted Price said when talking about Ratchet before they were bought by Sony:



Also:

 

[rodrigolfp]

MMO are long time niche and modding games as a strong advantage, really? that some harcore niche stuff. Same with playing NES games on your PC, it's probably 0.00001% of gamers who had evenslightest interest in it.
If you are geek - it's ok that you like your PC so much, but extrapolate it to normal gaming population is a heavy stretching.

Those arguments are always hilarious.

What normal gaming population plays is irrelevant. What I play is the only relevance.

 

[Felessan]

Those arguments are always hilarious.

What normal gaming population plays is irrelevant. What I play is the only relevance.

What you play is irrelevant. What normal gaming population is the only relevance (hint - majority doesn't play NES emulators, not even remotely close)

 

[rodrigolfp]

What you play is irrelevant. What normal gaming population is the only relevance (hint - majority doesn't play NES emulators, not even remotely close)

Lol. What other people play or not doesn't affect what I want to play (unless it's multiplayer of course). Need a drawing?

 

[SF Kosmo]

It's more that it's lacking those big 10 million+ selling games, especially in Q4, than it is about quality per se.

There are always great games out there, and Metaphor and Astro Bot are certainly making my Q4 good, but these aren't huge blockbusters like a Zelda or God of War, or even a Baldur's Gate.

 

[dmaul1114]

Been a solid year for me with plenty I haven’t gotten to yet (and some from 2023 I haven’t gotten to yet).

I’ve been gaming since the mid 80s and honestly probably enjoy games more now than ever.

 

[supersale88]

It is indeed bad year for me, I can't keep up because I have no money.

 

[MSduderino]

We've reached an oversaturation period. Many players only get excited for the cream of the crop of famous gaming tentpole IPs, so most of those are next year (GTA6, MonHun, Civ7, etc.) or missed this year. More games probably came out this year than ever. Most complaints in this thread are about the lack of AAA big budget game releases, but the more the industry relies solely on these games to drive excitement, the more homogenized it becomes and less risk taking occurs. There were plenty of novel and reiteration of classic game experiences this year. Lots of people complaining about no new tentpole Zelda, and while I know what they mean, they clearly didn't play Echoes of Wisdom, because the game is fucking amazing.

 

[strike670]

I would add
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Emio: The Smiling Man
Persona 3 Reload
Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
To the list of games released this year.

 

[simpatico]

Remakes, expansion packs and by the numbers sequels. Meh. Decent. Do people really think these are transcendent classics? STALKER 2 is the only chance we have at a DLC not being GOTY

 

[Hrk69]

Remakes, expansion packs and by the numbers sequels. Meh. Decent. Do people really think these are transcendent classics? STALKER 2 is the only chance we have at a DLC not being GOTY

Do you really think a year needs to be full of transcendent classics to be called good?

 

[simpatico]

Do you really think a year needs to be full of transcendent classics to be called good?

Not if they're at least flowing in some respect. Right now in the west, for my taste we're in a multi-medium drought. Video games, movies, music, architecture eve; it's all suffering. If it was just a bad year for movies or a bad year for games, I don't think as many people would talk about it. It's newsworthy because it seems to encompass all forms of well-funded art.

 

[Optimus Lime]

The OP's list is horseshit. Anyone with any actual taste knows that the best game of this year was UFO 50, because it has actual gameplay, and isn't partially digested monkey shit vomited up by your favourite corpo, to be consumed by broccoli haired retards.

It has soul.

 

[Putonahappyface]

Pretty piiss poor year for me up until recently with very little games catering for my tastes. I've only played Robocop: Rogue City and Read Dead Redemption and the Undead Nightmare dlc so far this year. Both are amazing games and kept me hooked for weeks.

I've four games left for the remainder of the year which I've saved to play on the PS5 PRO.

 

[KiteGr]

It is a Bad Year if you are a Woke activist studio full of diversity hires.
People wised up and nothing Woke sells anymore...

 

[6502]

Speaking as an old enthusiast, I feel It has been a bad few years for those of us who are middle aged and haven't seen anything new since the wii.

So much is a rehash or so plain dull it is wearysome.

Robocop was ok but we have gone through 2 or 3 generations of people who were wowed each year; to 2 to 3 who are eating the same rehashed garbage and paying evermore premiums to do so.

There is no adventure anymore.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

I don’t see Thousand Year Door, Another Code and Alone in the Dark in there op. Stellar games.

And Stellar Blade, Echoes of Wisdom, soon to be Mario and Luigi, Horizon 1 remaster, darksiders 2 finally at 60 fps

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

Speaking as an old enthusiast, I feel It has been a bad few years for those of us who are middle aged and haven't seen anything new since the wii.

So much is a rehash or so plain dull it is wearysome.

Robocop was ok but we have gone through 2 or 3 generations of people who were wowed each year; to 2 to 3 who are eating the same rehashed garbage and paying evermore premiums to do so.

There is no adventure anymore.

Robocop came out last year and let's be honest, the game kinda sucks

 

[Three]

I blame no one but PS fans themselves for creating this narrative. Totoki himself came out with the statement that they weren't releasing anything major for the rest of the year. PS fans meltdown after every single showcase they put on. Then you have Concord. I don't know if people really remember it, but for months and months we'd have a "PS sucks" thread on the front page probably every day, and they were all made by PS fans themselves having meltdowns throughout the year.

Xbox fans for the most part are barely even on here. Same with Nintendo fans. And if they made threads like that they'd be banned. Most Xbox fans this gen have been happy with the lineup while everyone else trashes it as the worst stuff ever released. Most Nintendo fans are happy this gen but barely even post on here. PC gamers have never been happier.

PS gamers are kind of miserable this gen. It's the honest truth. So if they're finally happy with their year, then fantastic. Hope they keep up the positivity.

Lol at the bolded shit.

No they wouldn't get banned unless they were obvious trolls making troll threads, but that applies to playstation fans too.

The narratives are not made by PS fans. The threads you're referring to were not created by PS fans unless you honestly think adamsapple is a PS fan:

Sony Interactive Entertainment will not release “any new major existing franchise titles” before March 31, 2025

https://www.gematsu.com/2024/02/sony-interactive-entertainment-will-not-release-any-new-major-existing-franchise-titles-before-march-31-2025 Sony Interactive Entertainment does not plan to release “any new major existing franchise titles next fiscal year,” which ends on March 31, 2025, the...

www.neogaf.com

He was champing at the bit to create that thread too:

Guy tried to get Draugoth to create a thread saw it wasn't happening so posted it himself:

and when nobody did he decided to do it anyway.

This year was meant to be amazing for xbox and shit for Playstation, that was the narrative people were building until the actual year progressed and xbox games started coming to PS and xbox releases looked kind of dry. These weren't PS fan narratives at all though.