All that glitters is…shiny and black?
This year ends with a new console generation beginning. A new set of games, a shiny black box to place in your entertainment center, and new memories to make with friends, or in your dark basement all by yourself. Each new console launch comes with those things, more or less, though the Nintendo Entertainment System wasn’t shiny at all. We all enjoy the feeling of opening up that new gigantic box that beholds your entertainment for years to come. It doesn’t matter when you get it, it’s new to you, and you’re giggling on the inside about it. You’ve got a new console, and it’s all yours to keep…for-ev-er.
Now as wonderful of a feeling as that is, I’ve never owned a day one console of any sort. The earliest console adoption I had, was a year post launch. Yet, I still felt that sensation of newness, that feeling of joy and excitement. I spent this last generation clamoring for the latest releases to see who, or what innovated a genre or just capitalized on a well calculated formula. Games like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and Spec Ops: The Line were plentiful and varied in scope and in scale. Title, after title, after title, it became overwhelming for both my time and wallet. And now there is a new generation of games to keep up with!? I am not alone with the desire to keep up with the newest and greatest, not realizing I still have something awesome that’s been collecting dust right in front of me.
Back in my day, sonny
I miss the days when it didn’t matter what game you had, or when you got them. Lets rewind to the days of the OG Nintendo, the NES. I don’t recall ever purchasing a “new release,” much less a section at Wal-Mart dedicated to it. You bought what you knew your friends haven’t played, so you could have a late-night binge session by swapping cartridges. Us old folks call that “trading.” But you bought games that seemed fun, you didn’t buy them because they’re the newest, most awesome-est experience. I remember just basing a purchase off how cool the cover art looked. Gaming nowadays seems based around so much instant gratification and socialization, it’s hard not to crave more content, more games, and more from your console. But what’s wrong with what you already have?
“Games, are games, are games…” is a terrible PR response, but a great mindset as a consumer and a gamer. Does it matter where or when the content/game comes from? I hope not, for me it certainly doesn’t. Playing Crazy Taxi or Nights a year later on the Dreamcast, didn’t ruin any part of my experience with those games. The first time I played Halo my face melted off. And as a casual console player, I’d never experienced something like it. The social experience, the excitement… no game had ever made me feel that way. Now grab on to something folks, it was a year after release, and I was still able to enjoy the game for what it was, even after all that time.
Now I say…I say…here now, boy
There are plenty of reasons to wait on purchasing a next-generation console. For some people its money, relationships, or lack of a big exclusive title like Halo. But needn’t I remind you, video games in this last generation have made leaps and bounds in genres that we didn’t even know needed it. Game engines with incredible graphics, unforgettable stories, addictive multiplayer, they all played a vital role in these consoles’ history: indie games that told incredible stories and captured our hearts, blood pumping shooters with well written dialog and intriguing story. Lets go back and explore them, there’s no way you could have played them all, and you might be missing out on something great.
Developers usually don’t hit their stride with new hardware until 2-3 years in. Games like Fallout: New Vegas (I’m just now playing this game) and Portal 2 weren’t released until much later in the console cycle. Unlike Fight Night Round 3, which released in that 2-3 year time frame, was The eye-opening game that just screamed ‘next-gen’ to me. The fidelity, gritty realism, and fluid control scheme made for a great use of the hardware’s capabilities. Also around the same time were some of gamings most influential titles like, Gears of War and Oblivion; two games that are still incredible in their own right and hold up quite well. This is yet another reason a new console generation isn’t in my cards any time soon.
Just wait, it’ll get better
There’s plenty of time to take advantage of the next-gen, but try catching yourself up with the horrifically lengthy backlog of games first. I prefer to call the backlog my “Pile of Shame”. History has shown us, as time goes by our games improve as do the prices and quality of the consoles. The longer you wait, the better off you are to get a more reliable machine, a larger library of must-have games, and most network issues have been worked out. So there really seems like there’s no downside to staying behind, in terms of making the sudden leap to next generation. Until I see that show stopper, that one game I just can’t live without, I’ll continue to play the same console, and the rest of the 8 year library I’ve barely yet to scratch.
Published: Dec 1, 2013 07:23 am