Video games have always inspired entertained and thrilled teenagers; children and adults alike. It all started during the late 80s, where the first game took such a turn, businesses and people alike decided to design and build better video games. The late 90s was indeed the true "golden era" for us gamers. Warcraft 2, Sid Meier's civilization, fallout...Sure it is sufficed to say that the graphics were pixelated and appalling, but we didn't mind did we? For it was the game play and the enjoyment we got out of the game that we enjoyed.
Now, through the new century, new gaming genres, graphics and sound are continuously being improved. In fact, they are continuously being improved, that i can state over 25% of the gaming company's time is spent on the visual and audio appearances of the game rather than the core game play that makes it a true entertainment.
There is evidence, even in game review websites such as Gamespot and IGN they have given many bad reviews on some of the new long awaited games that have had successful predecessors. One example is a PC rpg/rts game called The Guild. The first Guild game received a good review of 8.5 (all review grades are from the Gamespot website) Whereas the Guild 2, which was indeed have much more improved graphics and sound received 6.2 This is but one example of many which reinforce the fact that the game play in games are now decreasing. Empire earth 3 is another example to reinforce this, its successful predecessor received a 8.0 whereas empire earth received a 4.0 Many Empire earth fans were excited of the long awaited third instalment, only to realise that it was "buggy" (contained many glitches/problems and bugs in the game) even in many reviews, in general they all stated that the game needed a patch for the bugs in the game.
On the other hand, this point can be favoured in the opposite statement. As some gaming companies did manage to create successful game with splendid and almost lifelike graphics and audio. Such examples that follow are the all popular "crisis" and "half-life" for example.
A brilliant turn based game that I know on the pc, contains probably the oldest graphics that is almost similar to that of an early Windows 95 game. Dominions 3, has been rated game of the year by some of the most well known game review sites, like IGN and has been rated well over 9.1 by Gamespot. This game may look very bad and discouraging for you to play, well on the contrary it is by far most the most complex strategy game in the decade.
You can compare it with Dungeons and Dragons, as the core game play elements branch out in all directions for example, religion; quests; heroes; individual aspects of a soldier i.e. morale, personality, hit points etc. It was not the graphics that made this a successful game but the actual game play elements inside. This is a very modern game, made during 2006. As you can see, not all games need a good appearance but the way it is played.
In conclusion, it seems that the golden age of games has come to an end, as a majority of all the newer games contain more graphics then the genuine core game play elements. But it is not harsh to say that not all the new games are bad, as they are quite popular. On the other hand, this type of statement may rely on the "series" games on all consoles like the Empire earth series or the Dynasty warriors' series.
