On "Next-Gen"
(Before we get started, this is directed at the general attitude toward old-gen consoles on most gaming sites. Nothing to do with anyone here.)
Every time I see that a cross-gen game has been delayed/cancelled on an older console I can immediately tell you what the comment section looks like.
If you haven't seen one of these articles, the comments basically say that if you don't upgrade you are everything that's wrong with gaming and why everyone can't have nice things. Because we won't get good "next-gen" games until they stop supporting the "outdated" hardware that was made "irrelevant" barely over a year ago. (Because every single one of gaming's issues has obviously gotten better with newer hardware, and not worse.)
Apparently all those people don't know, or don't care, that the PS2 had a game released as recently as last year. The PS2. Granted it was FIFA, and I believe it was only in Europe, But still. And I believe it still had online servers for some games, but I can't find current data on that. (Apparently my PS2 can access the internet. The more you know.)
The main problem I have with this is it neglects the actual issues that everyone currently has with the medium. For one thing, games are made to be advertised and sold, rather then played. It doesn't really matter how the game's perceived, as long as it makes money. (This seems at least true for AAA games.) Anyone who still plays Destiny can assure you that almost nothing has been done to improve it. But they assure you buying the expansion pass will fix it. Somehow.
And secondly, anyone who thinks that "next-gen" is going to bring something earth shattering to the table obviously hasn't been paying attention to trends that have been going on since companies realized they could put a 2 after the title. And that's that most AAA companies aren't going to take a risk when they can release another COD or AC or Halo and pretty much be assured of some form of success. Not to say there's anything wrong with those games, it's that they're a part of a larger issue.
And It's not like this is those companies faults. I mean, Portal and Portal 2, for how awesome and the amount of praise they've gathered, still pales in comparison when it comes to sales of franchises like COD. (or at least that was the case last time I checked.) And let me tell you. That is still one of the trippiest things I've seen on a TV screen.
I mean, the biggest thing that I've heard about the MCC is that it's bringing back Halo 2's multiplayer. That's the exact opposite of adventurous. That game is ten years old.
But honestly, the fact that, with the amount of progress that's been made, and the fact that every one of the big three's consoles come standard with internet features, PAYED internet features,(2/3. Whatever. It won't be long until Nintendo does it too.), which wasn't the case for the PS2/Xbox/GC era, and the best online multiplier experience was apparently back on the Xbox, and it is apparently good enough for them to advertise it as a selling point. And you complain that I haven't upgraded from my almost year old console because I'm somehow ruining gaming by holding back progress.
Get out.
*deep breath* Alright. I'm done. Carry on.
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