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[Krustacean]

I think it's a little bit of everything. Tastes do change and nostalgia definantly plays a role. It seems more common lately that features are held back from a game for the sole purpose of making a sequel more interesting.

Take for instance the Sims, a game I don't even like but sells like Virgin Mary ebay toast. After all the mindless add ons and rereleases you still have no option of exploring in first person. I mean come on, you could even "ride" the attractions back in 1994's Theme Park. Thats just laziness and little things like that ruin modern games for me. Its funny but playing Commander Keen I don't find myself saying "gee I wish I had a jet pack right here" and I don't quit playing Doom just because a rocket launcher fails to move an empty burning barrel.

On the other hand you have these massive levels with sandbox elements yet you can hardly manipulate anything. I think as games get more "realistic" that aspect really takes away from the experience. It doesn't bother me in old games but now, if there is a glass window, I expect that it will shatter when unloading a 12 gauge into it. If it does break, I expect those shards not to evaporate into thin air but fall to the ground and crunch when I step on them. Thats the kind of detail you should be getting for $60 on a piece of software designed with the tools and knowledge and experience of todays game makers.

Of course a lot of that can be considered personal nitpicking and in that case I am the only one to blame. That is why I picked up an engine and decided to start looking into making games myself. Now if I find myself complaining or frustrated about a purchase, I can add it to the list of things to incorporate someday. If I wouldn't have started doing that last year I am sure my interest in games would be at least a little bit lower than it is right now.