Gaming industry in creative slump?

[grape_man]

I've been looking through steam and none of the games really peak my interest except Arma 3 and a some flight sims. Does anyone feel like the gaming industry is in a creative slump. All of the games put out by the big companies seem repetitive and boring.

 

[Rakehellion]

What games have piqued you interest in the past? There's more to the world than Steam.

 

[Craig234]

No, this has been an issue as old as gaming. There are a ton of great games out.

 

[Blanky]

I've been looking through steam and none of the games really peak my interest except Arma 3 and a some flight sims. Does anyone feel like the gaming industry is in a creative slump. All of the games put out by the big companies seem repetitive and boring.

98% of the stuff on steam is indie garbage not even worth a free download. The problem is steam has so much stuff on it you end up thinking everything is crap only because most of it is. There's a great deal of noise.

There are some dearths in games these days, though. Real time strategy is essentially a dead genre, for example. Space sims died many years ago.

Despite this, I think gaming is in good shape overall. Lots of new games and some original ideas because so many people are making games.

 

[bystander36]

Creativity is not an easy thing when there have been so many ideas already developed. Something new becomes increasingly difficult as time goes on. Everything is likely to develop be in small increments. The more awesome moments you have, the harder it is for you to even be excited about new things.

 

[Dumac]

I kind of know what you mean. AAA Western games all kind of feel like one another at this point. None of them really get me excited or interested anymore.

That said, there are a ton of games out there. I've enjoyed quite a few these past years, and am looking forward to more in the future.

Somewhere out there is probably a game that interests you. There's no way you've experienced everything already.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Basically, I agree with you. That is why I hardly ever play recently released AAA games. However, I would have to say Dragon Age Inquisition is probably the closest to creative of any recent games.

Surprisingly, and sadly, except for DA:I, the recent game purchase I have played and enjoyed the most is the Rise of Nations remake on Steam.

 

[futurefields]

I've been looking through steam and none of the games really peak my interest except Arma 3 and a some flight sims. Does anyone feel like the gaming industry is in a creative slump. All of the games put out by the big companies seem repetitive and boring.

Nope, can't say I agree.

Games are better than ever in my opinion. GTA5 is probably my "desert island" game.

Just take a few days off, get some good nights sleep under your belt. Your interest will return.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

what games have piqued you interest in the past? There's more to the world than steam.

blasphemy! Long live gabe!

 

[TheSlamma]

No you just have bad taste, there is tons of good games out now. If you don't like anything out then maybe it's time for you to give up gaming and go play golf or some shit

 

[Maximilian]

Kinda felt that way until I played alien isolation.

It came from a dev who have only made strategy games in the past... strategy games!!! And they pull off one of the best survival horrors I have ever played. I was rather impressed tbh.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Yea, I will say that I dont think there's been a year go by I haven't played at least one game I consider very good and in the last few years there have been many.

Having said that though, you're only going to get more jaded as you get older.

And maybe you prefer games slanted to the console crowd rather than PC? There is a difference sometimes.

 

[PliotronX]

I think the innovation is happening in indy games, my nephew was screwing around with demos on a PS3 and he couldn't figure out this game I think was called closure. I'd never seen mechanics used like it. Kind of a Gish sidescroller but it was addicting as hell.

 

[Bateluer]

OP calls out the industry for a lack of creativity, then holds up ARMA3 as an example of a game enjoyed . . . a standard fare military shooter.

 

[Sulaco]

OP calls out the industry for a lack of creativity, then holds up ARMA3 as an example of a game enjoyed . . . a standard fare military shooter.

To be fair, there is nothing "standard fare" about ArmA.

Love it or hate it for its execution or (perceived) clunkiness, it is really nothing like the dime a dozen "CoD Shootrz" outside of a military emphasis and having guns.
The sheer scope, depth, flexibility, and realism, simply is not even approached or attempted in any other game, and therefore is about as far from "standard fare" as you get.

 

[grape_man]

What games have piqued you interest in the past? There's more to the world than Steam.

I really like simulation games, flight sims especially, games of strategy like civ and total war. There is a series of games published by 1C called Men of War, they try to make combat realistic like no health bars, if a tank gets hit in the right place the ammunition will explode (which is really cool). The GTA series are alot of fun. I mean there are good games out there but I just feel like alot of the big companies are putting crap out there or just doing a half assed job (assasins creed, farcry, cod, bf). On a side note I just checked steam and they have Construction simulator 2015 on there now, which I'm genuinely excited about it.

 

[Anon_lawyer]

In a lot of ways I think gaming is in great shape. Lots of good games, both new and old available. But, the ballooning budgets for AAA games worries me. I bet lots of potentially great games are not made because they'd be big budget and are seen as a little too risky. Look at Star Citizen raising $65 million dollars for a game that isn't even out yet that is an evolution of a genre that died out at major studios. Obviously there's a real desire for genres of games that don't get much attention. Not so much a lack of creativity as an unwillingness to take risks IMO.

 

[lozina]

I wish there were more thoughtful, deep complexity strategy games. Seems Paradox is the only one doing them.

 

[Anteaus]

I've been looking through steam and none of the games really peak my interest except Arma 3 and a some flight sims. Does anyone feel like the gaming industry is in a creative slump. All of the games put out by the big companies seem repetitive and boring.

It's not just you. While I do thing some developers are still pushing limits, many of the larger publishers are more interested in huge Day 1 blockbusters and less about being creative. I think I read somewhere about it being called the "Maddenization" of the industry. Basically, they create formulaic franchise games that release on a annual or bi-annual basis that don't stray far from the base formulaic gameplay. In some cases, even removing it. Call of Duty, Assasin's Creed, and Sims are three that I can think of easily. The MMO genre is also going through this for the moment.

Fortunately, I see some good things on the horizon.

 

[chimaxi83]

OP calls out the industry for a lack of creativity, then holds up ARMA3 as an example of a game enjoyed . . . a standard fare military shooter.

Do you have any idea what that game sim actually is?

 

[carling220]

I was just about to make a thread about a lack of games, so I thought i'd instead just contribute here. I can't find anything to replicate the tomb radier, DMC, Arkham series third person exciting game I am after.Even when I used the PS3, Uncharted series was incredible, plus infamous etc.

I think there are good strategies, such as TW, and assetto corsa is the best driving game i've played for physics.

But I agree, a lack of games around at the minute. I think you have the same issue as me OP, you maybe arn't actually seeking for creativity, maybe you just want more games that are like the ones you've already played.

 

[Red Hawk]

From my perspective, nah. I'm currently having a blast with Dragon Age Inquisition, and earlier in the year I played the heck out of games like Fire Emblem Awakening and Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Can't wait to get my hands on Smash Bros 3DS.

There are some dearths in games these days, though. Real time strategy is essentially a dead genre, for example. Space sims died many years ago.

...Star Citizen can't get here fast enough. Real Time Strategy may not be as prevalent as it once was, but it is kept alive by things like Starcraft 2 and Sins of a Solar Empire.

 

[T9D]

https://chaturbate.com/female-cams/

 

[Stringjam]

To be fair, there is nothing "standard fare" about ArmA.

Love it or hate it for its execution or (perceived) clunkiness, it is really nothing like the dime a dozen "CoD Shootrz" outside of a military emphasis and having guns.
The sheer scope, depth, flexibility, and realism, simply is not even approached or attempted in any other game, and therefore is about as far from "standard fare" as you get.

I would agree. ArmA III attempts something very few developers are willing to tackle.....tactical FPS.

Where it fails is interface. This game seriously needs to enable a system for voice commands. The keyboard interface just doesn't work to command efficiently.

 

[GHz_ghost]

Kinda felt that way until I played alien isolation.

It came from a dev who have only made strategy games in the past... strategy games!!! And they pull off one of the best survival horrors I have ever played. I was rather impressed tbh.

God, that game is so good. I love the ALIEN movies and this is definitely the game I have been waiting for for years. It does what it does so well. There is such a great sense of dread you get while playing it.