sports video games - OUT OF CONTROL

[Healthy Merking]

PEACE

i recently got my hands on an x-box and picked up a copy of NBA 2K5

aside from the visuals (which are stunning)

my only other observation is that the video game industry has truly got out of hand

it would take a commitment of many hours to master the controls of this game

it seems that game developers have lost sight of the fact that what we are really working with here is an exaggerated and complicated version of 'pong'

the last system i was really into was dreamcast

having taken a 2-or-so year hiatus from video games and then picking up this one lets me know just how fast this industry is moving

honest-to-god this game is ridiculous

there are 3 joysticks, 8 buttons, and 2 triggers on the controller - HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO PICK UP AND PLAY THIS THING??

it is as though they are looking for me to make a full lifestyle commitment - an all-or-nothing type deal

it seems that a competent video game player and a really good data-entry clerk carry almost identical skills

i understand that the only way to improve is to make games more true-to-life

but along with this comes the realization that making things more 'realistic' involves a lot of brain commitment by the user

to recreate t-mac's dribbling abilities with my fingers takes almost as much effort as grabbing a basketball and practicing my crossover drive

does anybody else feel this?

PEACE

ADD ON

i guess we really are trying to create frankenstein

[Os3y3ris]

Welcome to modern gaming. Ever played Warcraft? Right now I play Hostile Intent. I need to learn every offical map, every gun's look, sound and use, as well as real life military tactics such as stacking, proper room entry, etc.

To play Tribes 2, I need to learn several vehicles (piloting and gunnery), tons of weaponry, circle strafing (of course), "skiing", jet pack usage, backback usage, proper base entry, defense neutralization etc etc. I STILL don't know all the keys and I'll be damned if I can ski.

Urban Assault requires me to control base and unit construction in first persron, manage troops in first person, drive the damn things, manage maps that are displayed on my screen, keep track of energy production and tons of other shit.

Modern gaming is a lifestyle if you intend on being good. Even the simpler games, like Halo, require basic skills with years of practice to even get started.

[Healthy Merking]

back in '87 i used to be able to beat mike tyson

now i regularly get dunked on

maybe i should just hang 'em up

[Osirus16]

to recreate t-mac's dribbling abilities with my fingers takes almost as much effort as grabbing a basketball and practicing my crossover drive

does anybody else feel this?

Nah, I've personally played that game and I can get used to the controls within a minute or three. Same with most any other game. I don't know how to explain the difference - I guess it just comes with playing games often. It's amazingly gratifying and fun knowing you can outskill most people you play against when you master one of those games though.

it is as though they are looking for me to make a full lifestyle commitment - an all-or-nothing type deal

That's probably not too far off...

[jonnygemini]

back in '87 i used to be able to beat mike tyson

now i regularly get dunked on

I knew it was over for me when my older brother (10 years) started schooling me on PS2 in Madden & NBA...I still can get him at World Tour Soccer...I like a little virtual reality every now & then