Gaming Downturn?

[BuzWeaver]

Aug. 19, 2004 — Has the computer game industry peaked?



That may seem like an absurd statement. After all, computer games are now a $7 billion industry. New game platforms seem to be appearing almost every month, the magazine racks are filled with gamer magazines, on-line games like CounterStrike are gouging into the Nielsen ratings for young men, and the pinnacle of computer games, Half-Life 2, is just weeks from its (supposed) introduction.

In other words, computer gaming has never been richer, better, or more popular. How dare I say it's all downhill from here?

Because I've been there before. And having been there, I can see certain danger signals that are lost in the general acclaim.


http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Business/SiliconInsider/SiliconInsider-1.html

[Psyonisis]

,

[Lord FlatHead]

Just ten minutes ago I had the same thought. You can only get so much out of a two-dimensional display and a few speakers before the novelty wears off.

VR helmets are still gay though.

[Darkstalker]

BuzWeaver said:

and the pinnacle of computer games, Half-Life 2, is just weeks from its (supposed) introduction.

Huh ? I don't think HL2 is the pinnacle of computer games, at least not to me. There's always something better that will come out, maybe not in the near future but someday.

[Ralphis]

Lord FlatHead said:

Just ten minutes ago I had the same thought. You can only get so much out of a two-dimensional display and a few speakers before the novelty wears off.

VR helmets are still gay though.

Two words buddy: NES

[darknation]

Ralphis said:

Two words buddy: NES

No it's not.

[deathbringer]

I AM A CLOSED-MINDED DOOM ZEALOT WHO THINKS THAT THE ZENITH OF GAMING WAS REACHED FOR ALL TIME ON 10-12-1993!!!1

[Fredrik]

Games have gotten worse ever since 1998 or so.

Well, that's my opinion and it's right.

[darknation]

I wouldn't know, I can't play anything post-quake3 due to my shitty system.

[Captain Red]

GTA III & Deus Ex are both excellent post 1998 games in that they actually took the industry forward... there have been several ‘good’ games, though not may original ones.

[Mr. NobodX]

One day, the independant, open source gaming will rule the world.

[Quast]

Mr. NobodX said:

One day, the independant, open source gaming will rule the world.

not with longhorn

[Mr. NobodX]

Quast said:

not with longhorn

Of course not with Longhorn! That's why God said "Let's there be Linux!" ;p

[Sharessa]

Electronic gaming peaked with Fallout and has been downhill ever since.

[zark]

Mr. NobodX said:

One day, the independant, open source gaming will rule the world.

I hope not.