The Next Age In Gaming?

I'm reading up on the sheer number of MMORPG's coming out in the next
year or two, as well as some on the ropes (Stargate). It sounds like,
just as the Crash seperated the first wave of gaming with Atari,
Mattel, and Coleco, this could be the dividing line for the next
gaming age -- did it play online with other players exclusively?

Is single-player offline becoming a thing of the past?

I know it's not going to die. Between the casual games market
(although, in later levels, I don't believe Diner Dash can be
considered "casual") and the portable market like the DS, the single
player experience isn't going to go away. But it seems like more
talent is shifting from that and going to these online series.

This wouldn't be bad, except for the fact that it does rob some
things. I have a Wii, for example, but I'm not online with it, and my
computer doesn't have DSL, so online gaming is pretty much out.
Besides, one of my chief complaints, stemming from when the one-on-one
fighter was the king of the video game world, is that companies
looking to cash in will use the two player experience as a sort of
cheat -- why bother trying to design a halfway competent AI. Just
provide the context, let the games provide the content.

Anyone else feeling a little left behind by current gaming trends?

Pete Holland Jr. wrote:

> Anyone else feeling a little left behind by current gaming trends?

I think there is a natural evolution going on that, honestly,
I'm totally fine with, especially given that game playing is
less and less a priority as you get older.

Being aware of this trend in gaming shows you're at or near
that point too - although, it can be hard to recognise or admit.
I mean, you *want* to game on and be a TRU kid all your life,
but the modern landscape is forcing many of us to not want to
take part in or even be able to relate to.

For me, I'm totally fine being "left behind" as you say it.
Games are no longer written for people like me and they
haven't for years. Their target audience is completely different
and much, much younger. At this point, I'd rather reminisce
about "old skool" games or partake in conversations about them
or stuff like this.

-Frank

www.coinopdreams.com