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Theres simply not enough talent in this industry. Everyone wants to be in Hollywood. Gaming culture and stereotypes have killed the desire to be a....

Represent.

Represent(ative) of bad opinions
OP likes to talk shit about Nintendo and they're exactly the ones doing what he/she wants the rest of the industry to do lol... Maybe stretching a little too far for him/her tho


WTF I NEED THIS <3
Where am I talking shit about Nintendo? They are innovative, but the hardware they work on is shit tier. So their innovations don't capture my interest.

Nintendo proves my point in that we have a bunch of developers who excel in one department and completely ignore another department. (example: FROM - great art design, egregious tech)
 

Sub_Level

wants to fuck an Asian grill.
Ironically, I think more games need to utilize cutscenes to tell their stories.

Cutscenes fully separate the gameplay from the story. Skippable cutscenes let developers actually properly tell their story by putting the camera where they want. They also let players skip it and get straight to the gameplay if they're not interested in the story and/or are on a replay. Cutscenes lets developers make truly videogamey levels & battles in between story beats.

But cutscenes are seen as the bad guy in the industry now. Developers want to make you play barely-interactive cinematic set pieces that "combine" story & gameplay. They want to make you walk-and-talk with an NPC. They want to make you hold forward on the analog stick while your character limps to the next animation point through a collapsing building. Cutscenes work and should be used MORE often, NOT less if developers want to tell a story.
 
Video Game Developer.

  • Every AAA game looks the same.
  • AAA Games take 5-7 years to make.
  • Everything is a fucking secret.
  • Gaming culture is an embarrassment.
  • There hasn't been any new game mechanics/formulas introduced in AAA gaming since the PS360 era.
  • The PS360 era was the last time game design evolved. Its been the exact same since then with better graphics.
  • Why are 99% of Open World games still following the basic GTA 3 mission structure and design formula?
  • What happened to destructible environments and physics?
  • Why the FUCK does BOTW have some of the best physics in gaming? On that weak ass console?
  • Speaking of graphics, only a few studios actually make great looking games now. 80% of them are under Sony control.
  • Why does every Japanese character-action game look like some anime ass shit with putrid visuals?
  • Why does FROM have amazing art design and shit ass tech? Why can only select few companies achieve both?
  • Why is nothing as cool as the last 40 minutes of Top Gun 2022?
  • Why do so many indie games use the same artstyle?

Where are the talented up and coming game developers?

Where are the Ari Asters, Matt Reeves, Roger Eggers, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Nia DaCosta, Chloé Zhao, Alex Garland's of the game world? Talented game up and coming directors with ambition and the desire to push the medium forward with great gameplay design, new ideas, and just pure quality?

Better yet, where are the James Camerons, Ridley Scotts, Tarantino's, Christopher Nolan, Alejandro González Iñárritu's, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese's of the game world? World renowned game developers who have produced top quality shit and pushed the medium forward.

Miyamoto is the most famous person the industry has ever seen, but he's stuck making shit for terrible and outdated hardware. Imagine if James Cameron was limited to making movies that could only be viewed on an iPhone screen and shot with a Canon T5i. Thats Miyamoto.

Why is no one trying to develop new gameplay mechanics, better more interactive worlds, new AI, better moment to moment gameplay loops, More visceral and immersive combat??

Why was Ghost of Tsushima praised so much? It had basic ass combat and every single enemy had the same exact death animation, the standoffs were all identical too, and the stealth gameplay was stuck in 2003 with auto-fail missions once your character is seen. Why is "hide in tall grass, throw stone" still the hallmark of every fucking stealth game? Why is everyone still following the same third person cover shooter mechanics that Gears of War introduced in 2006? Why does Starfield look exactly like No Mans Sky? Why is The Last of Us still basically the benchmark for storytelling in games a decade later?

Why can no game make you cry? Or genuinely laugh? Why are there NO new ideas anymore? Why is everything just bigger and not better? Why is everything so ... mediocre.

Fuck.

I guess the medium is still young. But I feel theres simply not enough talent.
I agree to a large degree - film is full of much more talent overall. Also you’re right - how the fuck is BOTW still the most interactive/best physics at this point why have we not gone farther than that
 
The solution to AAA games being stale for the past 15+ years is not to play less AAA games... OP does have a point. Sadly there is no real solution in sight. AAA is super expensive and thus devs can't take any risks, which means they will keep delivering super streamlined focus tested games for the most part.
 

mckmas8808

Banned
tenor.gif

Some gamers are losing their minds these days.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
I've seen a lot of games I want to play and I can't wait for starfield and forza. Maybe I'm crazy.

Resident evil 4 and street fighter VI...I feel like there's some awesome shit coming.
 
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Fat Frog

I advertised for Google Stadia
Video Game Developer.

  • Every AAA game looks the same.
  • AAA Games take 5-7 years to make.
  • Everything is a fucking secret.
  • Gaming culture is an embarrassment.
  • There hasn't been any new game mechanics/formulas introduced in AAA gaming since the PS360 era.
  • The PS360 era was the last time game design evolved. Its been the exact same since then with better graphics.
  • Why are 99% of Open World games still following the basic GTA 3 mission structure and design formula?
  • What happened to destructible environments and physics?
  • Why the FUCK does BOTW have some of the best physics in gaming? On that weak ass console?
  • Speaking of graphics, only a few studios actually make great looking games now. 80% of them are under Sony control.
  • Why does every Japanese character-action game look like some anime ass shit with putrid visuals?
  • Why does FROM have amazing art design and shit ass tech? Why can only select few companies achieve both?
  • Why is nothing as cool as the last 40 minutes of Top Gun 2022?
  • Why do so many indie games use the same artstyle?

Where are the talented up and coming game developers?

Where are the Ari Asters, Matt Reeves, Roger Eggers, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Nia DaCosta, Chloé Zhao, Alex Garland's of the game world? Talented game up and coming directors with ambition and the desire to push the medium forward with great gameplay design, new ideas, and just pure quality?

Better yet, where are the James Camerons, Ridley Scotts, Tarantino's, Christopher Nolan, Alejandro González Iñárritu's, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese's of the game world? World renowned game developers who have produced top quality shit and pushed the medium forward.

Miyamoto is the most famous person the industry has ever seen, but he's stuck making shit for terrible and outdated hardware. Imagine if James Cameron was limited to making movies that could only be viewed on an iPhone screen and shot with a Canon T5i. Thats Miyamoto.

Why is no one trying to develop new gameplay mechanics, better more interactive worlds, new AI, better moment to moment gameplay loops, More visceral and immersive combat??

Why was Ghost of Tsushima praised so much? It had basic ass combat and every single enemy had the same exact death animation, the standoffs were all identical too, and the stealth gameplay was stuck in 2003 with auto-fail missions once your character is seen. Why is "hide in tall grass, throw stone" still the hallmark of every fucking stealth game? Why is everyone still following the same third person cover shooter mechanics that Gears of War introduced in 2006? Why does Starfield look exactly like No Mans Sky? Why is The Last of Us still basically the benchmark for storytelling in games a decade later?

Why can no game make you cry? Or genuinely laugh? Why are there NO new ideas anymore? Why is everything just bigger and not better? Why is everything so ... mediocre.

Fuck.

I guess the medium is still young. But I feel theres simply not enough talent.
ok
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
None of those are AAA games. I want new experiences and medium advancing games in the AAA space.

In Hollywood, we just had Top Gun which had possibly the best set pieces ive seen in cinema. Its not the same.

Alanah Pearce or someone else?

But AAA games as the name suggests are a huge risk due to cost so they are inherently safe in terms of game design.

If you want experimentation your arent dropping 100s of millions of dollars and hoping for the best as a publisher.
Which is why if you want unique experiences look towards AA games.

Even the same Top Gun Maverick you keep referencing as proof Hollywood "does it better" is bullshit really.
Its not doing anything "new" its a fun as fuck movie, but its not world changing or moving the medium forward in anyway.
The majority of Hollywood blockbusters are cookie cutter just like the majority of AAA games are cookie cutter, because if you are gonna put down such an investment you need to have some level of confidence you can make that money back.

Truly world changing AAA games are few and far between, but that doesnt mean there arent a bunch of really good games to play still and that devs wont be experimenting with ideas.


If you want this innovation show publishers by buying those "not AAA" games that are actually doing unique things, it gives publishers confidence that new ideas are what people want.
Remember generally speaking publishers dont make things that people DONT want.
The reason they keep publishing the AAA games they are publishing is because the market has basically told them this is what it wants.

Support those smaller games, show the publishers you dont want cookie cutter games and watch the industry have a second renaissance as devs/pubs have to fight to really get our attention.
^This isnt gonna happen because the casuals will keep buy COD/FIFA/That game with pretty graphics that does nothing new, etc etc.

Ill keep doing my part looking out for hidden gems cuz thats where innovation is in the current market.
 

MacReady13

Member
I totally agree with the OP. Since PS3/360 generation there has been next to no innovation. Graphics/frame rates have improved yet I'm quite certain if you go back to most 360 games, minus the horrible frame rates, games are not much different to what is out today.

But hey, we have sub services now so gaming is better! And soon we will have apps on TV's to play games! Innovation!
 
  • Every AAA game looks the same.
Not truth.
  • AAA Games take 5-7 years to make.
True, and engines like Unreal are being improved daily to combat the inflation of time and costs and also allow smaller teams to attempt something close to AAA. We are in a growing pains period of a cost ratio.
  • Everything is a fucking secret.
Because you're impatient and expect a 2 years turnaround time with a gigantic budget after a game is announced. Even Disney is struggling to keep their quality of Marvel and Star Wars shows consistent by trying to make it a giant yearly release machine.
  • Gaming culture is an embarrassment.
Sometimes. There are people who genuinely enjoy the hobby and that's all. Stop browsing twitter.
  • There hasn't been any new game mechanics/formulas introduced in AAA gaming since the PS360 era.
Kojima tried to make a new type of game and people made fun of him and the game he made. The climate has changed, thanks to CoD, Skyrim Battlefield, Madden, Fifa, etc. People want familiarity and remakes. To add on top of that, companies like Capcom and Ubisoft are struggling to keep their gigantic ships afloat and because of these gigantic budgets, every new risk they take has to sell millions or else it's a net failure and makes them closer to mass studio closings/firings, and closing down completely.
  • The PS360 era was the last time game design evolved. Its been the exact same since then with better graphics.
Read above.
  • Why are 99% of Open World games still following the basic GTA 3 mission structure and design formula?
It's what sells. Publishers want money.
  • What happened to destructible environments and physics?
To keep it short: The gameplay has to revolve around said mechanics or else those two things make every game fall apart. Not every game wants that. Light physics and destruction is what people are doing for now, but graphics are still a larger priority with AAA. Now advanced enemy A.I. like in F.E.A.R. should and could be implemented more, but again it's more cost.
  • Why the FUCK does BOTW have some of the best physics in gaming? On that weak ass console?
The game was developed around it. Read above.
  • Speaking of graphics, only a few studios actually make great looking games now. 80% of them are under Sony control.
Sony has the right amount of money to sink into it. So does MS and you will see that one day from them too.
  • Why does every Japanese character-action game look like some anime ass shit with putrid visuals?
Because Genshin Impact sold billions and fans of anime aesthetic have tons of money and are much more vast in numbers than you think. For the east, that's their PUBG.
  • Why does FROM have amazing art design and shit ass tech? Why can only select few companies achieve both?
They're a middleware developer with a middleware amount of staff who won the lottery and who's now being treated like a AAA developer. They also aren't good with their engine but are too familiar with it to change engines.
  • Why is nothing as cool as the last 40 minutes of Top Gun 2022?
Try VR.
  • Why do so many indie games use the same artstyle?
Look at more video games.
Where are the talented up and coming game developers?
Some are deciding to stay quiet and not put their names out there too fast, because people on this site and other social media tend to want to run them out of the building the minute they make a single mistake or bad choice.
Where are the Ari Asters, Matt Reeves, Roger Eggers, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Nia DaCosta, Chloé Zhao, Alex Garland's of the game world? Talented game up and coming directors with ambition and the desire to push the medium forward with great gameplay design, new ideas, and just pure quality?
They're currently making the indie games that you're ignoring. They're trying to get their big break in the industry, but tons of people like yourself decide to talk down to indie devs and say that their games all have the same art style or are bad, but at the same time celebrate indie filmmakers. Funny how that works 🤷‍♂️
Better yet, where are the James Camerons, Ridley Scotts, Tarantino's, Christopher Nolan, Alejandro González Iñárritu's, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese's of the game world? World renowned game developers who have produced top quality shit and pushed the medium forward.
Read up on gaming history and icons. Matter of fact, watch G4's icons archives or Easy Allies' hall of fame on youtube. Secondly, there are quite a few game dev veterans who will tell you that the job is soul-sucking, from the gigantic amount of overwork to the negativity from fans, they end up simply leaving the industry without much love or adoration for it anymore because it has become somewhat of a masochistic career.
Miyamoto is the most famous person the industry has ever seen, but he's stuck making shit for terrible and outdated hardware. Imagine if James Cameron was limited to making movies that could only be viewed on an iPhone screen and shot with a Canon T5i. Thats Miyamoto.
Someone would have to run the numbers again, but I'm pretty sure Nintendo is having the most success this gen because of that decision. They realized that the graphics race isn't really worth it and were better off for it. Mass audiences don't care because they just expect fun games from Nintendo.
Why is no one trying to develop new gameplay mechanics, better more interactive worlds, new AI, better moment to moment gameplay loops, More visceral and immersive combat??
Read above.
Why was Ghost of Tsushima praised so much? It had basic ass combat and every single enemy had the same exact death animation, the standoffs were all identical too, and the stealth gameplay was stuck in 2003 with auto-fail missions once your character is seen. Why is "hide in tall grass, throw stone" still the hallmark of every fucking stealth game? Why is everyone still following the same third person cover shooter mechanics that Gears of War introduced in 2006? Why does Starfield look exactly like No Mans Sky? Why is The Last of Us still basically the benchmark for storytelling in games a decade later?
They managed to convey a really well told Samurai story reminiscent of a movie and that hasn't been done in a very long time, because Japanese samurai games tend to go to the extreme arcadey side of storytelling, cutscenes, and history, like Nioh and Samurai Warriors.

Why can no game make you cry? Or genuinely laugh? Why are there NO new ideas anymore? Why is everything just bigger and not better? Why is everything so ... mediocre.
Play more games than just AAA titles and you will get your wish.
Procreation.
I guess the medium is still young. But I feel theres simply not enough talent.
This medium is way, way younger than Hollywood, to the point where it's still compared to the toy industry and game preservation is still absolutely terrible compared to movie preservation. Give everything time. Technology has been moving at an alarming pace since the late 90s and we'll keep moving along.
 

deeptech

Member
You are absolutely right OP, i agree completely. I was wondering for years why does everything "AAA" feels so samey. Why is everything designed so safely? The lack of quality programming and detail like MGS games for example, lack of physics, braindead AI, insulting level "puzzles", out of touch writing and reddit humor, transgender (neon) aesthetic, etc... I think they know that with good marketing and hype anything they shit out will earn money, so why really try? I mean, check CP2077, the perfect example of why companies need not bother.
 

Urban

Member
If I Google for the word “butthurt” it will clearly show your thread as the first suggestion
 

mortal

Gold Member
I think taking the occasional extended break from playing video games usually alleviates this feeling.
Give yourself a chance to miss gaming and you'll appreciate it a lot more once you jump back in, at least imo.
 
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Thirty7ven

Banned
It’s true, this industry tried become a new avenue for artists to express human creativity but unfortunately it has become fast food for morons.
 
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Fbh

Member
It's the AAA gaming paradox: People want more unique and risky games, but they'll thrown a tantrum if it comes at the cost of graphics.
Imagine the mental breakdowns around here if the next big Naughty Dog game focused on physics, ai and innovative gameplay at the cost of not looking much better than Uncharted 4.
Pushing visuals further and further makes games more expensive, and publishers only greenlight boring samey games that they consider to have wide appeal and represent a low risk.

It's the same in every industry, movies are no different. I don't really get the point of throwing around names like Jordan Peele or Alex Garland. They don't make super expensive blockbusters, most of their movies are made under $50 mill.
The stuff that gets the super expensive visual effects and budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars is usually the same formulaic bland shit: Marvel Stuff, Fast and Furious, Star Wars, etc
 
I'm waiting in the McDonalds Drivethrough line because Everyone wants to be the next Gordon Ramsey instead of doing the hot, horrible, low pay work making burgers.
Why are hamburgers all the same? It's been this way since I was a little kid. No improvements in taste, texture, smell.
Why are Japanese hamburgers always slathered with Mayonnaise? Thats not supposed to be on a burger!
Why does Whataburger make the best burgers and everything else is a pale imitation?
This burger industry is just done. I've had enough.
 

spawn

Member
This is like that South Park episode where as you get older all of the old things that you used to like now all look and sound like shit
 

Neilg

Member
Making an independantly funded movie that you can write yourself, shoot with a total crew of 30 and 5 actors in a few months before editing with a single person is not really comparable to 2 years of pre-production with about 20 cooks in the kitchen then 3 years of full development requiring 300 staff, 4 different outsourcing teams and a yearly burn of $30 million.


You're looking for a real artist to execute a singularly focused vision, but that simply doesn't work when someone is putting $100m on the line and you need to give creative control to so many collaborators just to get it done at all. The closest we have recently is disco elysium. you'll NEVER see this in a AAA title.
 

Flabagast

Member
I agree 100% with you OP.

95% of AAA gaming landscape is an utter embarassement to every intelligent people, and it seems like it will only get worse.

However, from now and then you still can find stroke of absolute genius and real artistic achievements in the indie production. They are few and far between, but they exist.
 
Blame graphics whore?
They are probably the reason why games takes so long to make
Cause every game needs to melt eyeballs nowdays or they will called it trash
Devs are scare of their game being diss for the graphics
Poor art direction, visual style, and poor utilization of visuals to convey mood and atmosphere are more responsible for "bad graphics" than not pushing rasterization and bell + whistle effects.
 
Seriously why has no AAA American game really innovated in the past decade it feels like? Am I missing something - I very much could be
 

Rykan

Member
Movie games have been getting their ass kicked by game games for a few years now. That trend will only continue growing.

But overall I agree with your perspective OP.

Edit: And to answer your question...because AAA games all take 5+ years to develop, and are getting insanely expensive, so progress moves at a snail's pace.
Because you also have to take into consideration who is posting this.

For reference, OP posts shit like this:
Wrong.

Visuals > Performance. Always. In life too. Example below.

30 > 60

Graphics > Performance.

Beautiful 30fps visuals


Amazing performance at 60fps


enjoy your frames :messenger_loudly_crying::messenger_poop:

Give me better visuals. Period
"Why do games take so long to make and why do they not take any risks?" Well buttercup, It's because the focus on graphical fidelity has significantly increased the cost of video game development which means that there is less room for experimentation and innovation and developers work on less innovative but safe projects. The challenge of game development has become less "How do I create something interesting" and more "How the fuck am I going to manage 5 different studio's + outsource work to live up todays standard for visuals in video games" If you're wondering what the problem is, its you. You are the problem.You are the reason the industry is in the state that it is in.
 
Because you also have to take into consideration who is posting this.

For reference, OP posts shit like this:

"Why do games take so long to make and why do they not take any risks?" Well buttercup, It's because the focus on graphical fidelity has significantly increased the cost of video game development which means that there is less room for experimentation and innovation and developers work on less innovative but safe projects. The challenge of game development has become less "How do I create something interesting" and more "How the fuck am I going to manage 5 different studio's + outsource work to live up todays standard for visuals in video games" If you're wondering what the problem is, its you. You are the problem.You are the reason the industry is in the state that it is in.
Could like cutting edge visuals be pushed in a more helpful way? For instance if instead of pushing Raytracing, fps and 4k we allocated those resources to crazy good destruction, physics, ai, simulations

Like I care more about that then the standard for visuals these days - I don’t see every minute pixel when I’m playing a game - I do see the destruction, the water the fire simulations etc - they have barely improved in 15 years
 
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TheInfamousKira

Reseterror Resettler
This is going to be the new thing on GAF for awhile isn't it? Lots of threads with the OP swigging cheap bottles of vodka out of his tore up dress jacket while he props up his "the end is nigh," sign and speaks about Behemoth and his cedar cock heralding in the apocalypse, right?
 

Represent.

Represent(ative) of bad opinions
Because you also have to take into consideration who is posting this.

For reference, OP posts shit like this:

"Why do games take so long to make and why do they not take any risks?" Well buttercup, It's because the focus on graphical fidelity has significantly increased the cost of video game development which means that there is less room for experimentation and innovation and developers work on less innovative but safe projects. The challenge of game development has become less "How do I create something interesting" and more "How the fuck am I going to manage 5 different studio's + outsource work to live up todays standard for visuals in video games" If you're wondering what the problem is, its you. You are the problem.You are the reason the industry is in the state that it is in.

The fact of the matter is that the "play less AAA games" is a tired and BS argument. And the "Graphics killed innovation" arguments are actually helping my point. I just watched The Northman in theaters. It had FANTASTIC cinematography, special effects, as well as writing, character development and plot. The movie fired on all cylinders. Not one aspect of good cinema was ignored.. In the gaming world it's usually either/or, rarely do you see games that nail gameplay, graphics, story and innovation.

And it has nothing to do with Budget, something like A Plagues Tale looks great, is made by a small team on low budget. Theres nothing that says great visuals need to take 100 years and equal to zero innovation. Its talent.

SIFU, some of the best combat ever in a game, stylish visuals, low budget. Talented studio.
 

Represent.

Represent(ative) of bad opinions
Who the fuck care its not AAA or AAAAAAA!? If the game is fun then why does it matter!!? This graphic whore mind set is actually is making things worse for yourself.
Would you prefer if Top Gun was made by a small indie film maker who had to use stock footage of Jets or Tom Cruise with the super high budget and amazing cinematography with real Jets?

Exactly.

Production matters.

Im sick of people saying to stick to indie games.


AAA is more than just graphics. Its scope, production, visuals, ambition, sound, story, voice acting, scale of combat, etc, etc.

Snake on my phone from 1999 was "fun". I need more than that
 
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Rykan

Member
The fact of the matter is that the "play less AAA games" is a tired and BS argument. And the "Graphics killed innovation" arguments are actually helping my point. I just watched The Northman in theaters. It had FANTASTIC cinematography, special effects, as well as writing, character development and plot. The movie fired on all cylinders. Not one aspect of good cinema was ignored.. In the gaming world it's usually either/or, rarely do you see games that nail gameplay, graphics, story and innovation.
Non Argument. Video game development is nothing like movie development. At all. You clearly have never worked a day in this industry and brush it off as a "Lack of talent". It's not a lack of talent. It's never been a lack of talent. It's fucking hilarious to watch YOU, out of all the people on this forum, post that. The guy that was screaming at developers for including 60 FPS modes because "MUH VISUAL FIDELITY!!11". When the MW2 trailer dropped, the very first thing you did was scrutinize the graphics and post how it looks "Worse than the previous one!" based on like two screengrabs. You don't have anywhere near enough knowledge about game development to have anything even remotely approaching a worthwhile opinion on this.
 
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teraflops

Neo Member
Seems like there has been a bunch of up and coming studios/talent in recent years. Hopefully more to come if Unreal 5 really does deliver the ability for small/new studios to use the tools to match what was previously only available with AAA studio resources.

Off the top of my head there are studios like Ember Labs, Asobo, and Ninja Theory that broke through to AAA quality on smaller budgets.

Personally I think the prevalence of game design being based around long-term monetization is a bigger threat to quality than lack of talent.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
Would you prefer if Top Gun was made by a small indie film maker who had to use stock footage of Jets or Tom Cruise with the super high budget and amazing cinematography with real Jets?

Exactly.

Production matters.

Im sick of people saying to stick to indie games.


AAA is more than just graphics. Its scope, production, visuals, ambition, sound, story, voice acting, scale of combat, etc, etc.

Snake on my phone from 1999 was "fun". I need more than that
Then you gonna continue be bored of AAA games while miss out gems because its not AAA high production......and it all on you.

I personally can get excited both AAA games like


And smaller games like
 
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