Odds are, something you like very much sucks.
Games still aren't judged on a theoretical level. Claiming that Pool of Radiance isn't great because it doesn't reach some subjective gold standard where melee weapons do a bit less damage and you can play a transexual somali imam is pointless. Or that Torment does not have great writing because some books are better.
You need to compare a game to 1) other contemporary games 2) previous games of it's genre and 3)take hardware and budget into consideration. If 99% of games of it's kind are worse, it's well designed, has a lot of depth, all things considered has good gameplay then yes, it is a great game, if you try to claim otherwise you're wrong. That doesn't mean future projects shouldn't aim for design perfection, but untill some one actually makes a flawless RPG, you can't make the claim that the aren't any great RPGs.
I've also listed reasons why, whereas you're like "But consoles... mass market..!"
No, I'm like "but gameplay...it's so boring!".
Dark Sun fans talking about decline would be funny considering Wake of the Ravager.
I picked Dark Sun because both games titles start with a d, for the sake of symmetry. Which ever decline and golden age RPG I picked, it wouldn't have made any difference, the point remains. This whole site is mostly centered around talking about decline of modern games.
They're not, but not for the reasons you think. There's no role playing.
So I can't bring up "What's a
Paladin RPG?" but you can.
"Well-designed game" = axe & scimitar? Blakemore's as cargo cult as anyone else. Grimoire is a cargo cult Wizardry.
I don't understand your terminology, mainly because I can't off the bat recall any one ever saying "cargo cult" besides you. Grimoire has more depth and better gameplay, therefore it is the better game. Deus Ex the Fall or iOS port of Shadowrun Returns might have "elegant systems design and optimized balancing with a sour hazelnut undertones and a sugary chocolate flavor" according to you, but Grimoire is still the better game. Extra Credits and JES types like to get off fantasizing about their game design theories but as long they can't turn those theories into a good game, it's all just a bunch of pseudointellectual masturbation. When these hipster types actually get to designing a game, there are so many different conflicting theories and ideas they've read from online guides and books and "game design courses" that the end result ends up being lame sort of nice game that
don't incite any kind of emotion in players, where as in 90s hoodlums like Carmack and Romero just decided to make cool games that they'd like to play. The legacy of their games is far greater than that of all of these wanna be academics CVs put together and multiplied by 3.
This wasn't my experience here or at NMA.
Obviously it's not the case here since it placed so highly two times in a row. But like I said, that's not nessecarily saying much as the entire top 15 is dominated by silver age/post-decline games. That means that despite its status as "oldschool RPG elitist forum", the members of RPGCodex do not in fact prefer oldschool RPGs. Or atleast purists like mondblut are the minority.
I've never said that NV is horrible (unless I engaged in hyperbole and can't remember it), just that it's worse than SS2/DX/VTMB due to having poorer gameplay/implementation of RT/RPG hybrid combat (or not being able to make up for it in other areas as well as VTMB) and level design.
And I should trust your specific judgments on the first two things, why? You don't come across as someone worth listening to.
Why should I pay attention anything JES has time to utter in between tweeting pictures of his food? He doesn't come across as some one who can back up his words with actions.
As for depth, simple things can be good.
Spoken like a true Xbro/iOSister. If depth and engagement aren't the main goals of game design, then what are? That's not to say more depth is automatically better when comparing games of different genres. A shitty strategy game might still have more depth than a good platformer, but the platformer requires more skill, has better level design and better gameplay and is therefore the better game. Within individual genres, whether it be strategy or platformer games, games are judged by their depth and design (and how well that all lends itself to the gameplay, how fun it is to play the game).
A good game is created when most people are satisfied, so I don't see the problem
People who play Farmville are satisied. People who made it are rich and also satisfied.
It's fine to acknowledge that something you don't like is good
I do. I prefer some other adventure games to Day of the Tentacle, but it's undoubtedly the best design point and click adventure I've ever played. Gameplay and design are most important, so if you were to ask me what's the best adventure game, I'd say DoTT. For same reason I divide games into different subcategories, athmosphere games, story games etc. New Vegas is a great hiking simulator type RPG.
"I have excellent taste so everything I like is good and everything I don't like is bad" is awfully conceited.
Talking about yourself in the third person is awfully conceited, mr Sawyer.
It does, considering he has a lot more freedom to make the changes he feels are necessary.
Yes, he has the freedom to make as good game as he wants around the rotten core of a RTwP game. I'm not knocking it untill I've tried it, but I doubt Obsidian can come close to Divinity and inXile (not to mention Grimwah). It's too early to say at this point since I'm avoiding spoilers and haven't completed all 4 games, not going to test them or read anything about them until they are all finished and released.
Mr. Blakemore should be thrilled.
He's an independant developer, not part of the industry like Spector, Gariott and every one else.
If you believe all old and young developers are terrible, you should try finding a new hobby.
Where did I say that all young developers are terrible? Show me a single memorable 90s developer who has made as good games working for the mainstream industry during the last 10 years as they did in the 90s.
If you think there aren't any great RPGs, you should try finding a new hobby.[/quote]
Also note: Developer actions speak louder than their marketing departments.
