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Categories: Commentary
Tags: blog banter
Welcome to the latest installment of Blog Banter, the monthly blogging extravaganza created by bs angel and coordinated by Game Couch. Blog Banter involves our cozy community of enthusiastic gaming bloggers, a common topic, and a week to post articles pertaining to said topic. The results are quite entertaining and can range from deep insight to ROFLMAO. Any questions about Blog Banter should be directed here. Check out other Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!
From Crazy Kinux, Does every game need to be a grade-A blockbuster title? Would you be willing to play more average games or should every game shoot for the 10.0 rating?
And my answer is a decisive “it depends.”
I have a PC, but I have a complicated deadbeat Dad relationship with it. It’s a great PC and I love it like anything, but I only spend time with it a few times a month – if that. I like to think my PC and I have fun together, but there’s a lot of baggage because I barely make the effort – and really, the PC belongs with its mom because she loves The Sims 2 so much.
So that leaves me gaming with my Xbox 360 and my DS. Now here’s my observation about gaming: there are great games you’ve never heard of, but they aren’t for the 360. Have you ever walked into GameStop and seen a 360 game you’ve never heard of? I mean, even you aren’t refreshing Kotaku every five minutes, I’m guessing you still have a generally high awareness of Xbox 360 games. And I’ll carry that assumption over to the PS3, also.
However, I’m routinely surprised by the amount of games – the sheer diversity of games – available for the DS. And the Wii to some extent. And there’s a whole universe of awesome Windows/Linux/Mac games that no one’s ever heard of – except for those MobyGames guys.
So here’s my point: every game doesn’t need to be a grade-A blockbuster title and I would be willing to play more average games if they were great in their own unique way. But games like that aren’t coming out for the 360. Honest to Cthulhu, I never need to play another average shooter on the 360. Every shooter on the 360 should be a grade-A, 10.0 blockbuster title. But I would be willing to play rougher, less graphics intensive adventure games, RPGs, flight simulators, strategy games, etc. And that’s what I love about my DS.
Participants : Zath!, Delayed Responsibility, Silvercublogger, weblog.probablynot.com, Crazy Kinux, Gamer-Unit, Unfettered Blather, MasterKitty, XboxOZ360, Omnivangelist, Lou Chou Loves You, Game Couch
CrazyKinux:
I think that in that sense, you’ll see more of these unknown games on platform like the DS, and even more on the PC. Maybe you should give your dear old PC a bit more TLC and discover new games. =) Just a thought!
You’re totally right about the over exposure of 360 and PS3 games.
Silvercube:
Yeah, I have a DS too. Lots of gems on there.
I don’t really play any PC games, the only I have is Sim City 4.
I stay pretty up to date with video game releases by looking at a video game release chart on Gamespy.
Great article :)
I actually have only visited Kotaku a mere three of four times.. I don’t find the site very interesting for some reason.
Terry:
@CrazyKinux what I need to do is connect the PC to my TV so I can play on the big screen from my couch — but I don’t know how the keyboard/mouse set up would work.
@Silvercube Thanks! And I’ll check out Gamespy’s chart. I usually check out IGN’s release dates, but I’m willing to spread the love.
Silvercube:
Here’s the link:
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/index/release.html?constraint.year.game.release_date=2008&constraint.return_all=is_true
You can sort by system, date, etc. It’s awesome :)
deckard47:
Now you make me want to go check out all the tiny and indie RPGs that are floating around out there. Plus I gotta check out those DS games now.
Phreak:
Nice article, I fully agree with you on the DS over view. I walked into my local game store wondering what games I could buy for the DS and was greeted by a huge wall of greatness. I was so surprised that there were that many games, as for your PC… I understand me and my PC have an internet whore relationship, but I do play one game on my PC, its called RAN Online
Phreak:
Oh and I will never stop using your picture!! LOL