To those who might consider themselves “well-rounded” with careers and families and sports etc. Does that magic and sense of free time to dig deep into something ever come back?
AAA game labels spend billions on producing mediocre quality bullshit sequels just to maximize revenue predictability rather than quality, originality or artistic value. That's their choice.
[Possible Existential Crisis Warning] https://www.failflow.com/die
Also, there is such a thing as too big a game. I've played some great games lately that could have used being 30-50% shorter.
This may seem counter-productive and like it might ruin the fun, but the opposite turned out to be true. Since free time is finite now (and arguably always was), it helps to get the most out of a game, prioritize which games I really want to play, and what I expect to get out of the experience.
Cut down on tv series and your gaming time suddenly shows up :)
Either you decide that it's a hobby worthy of your time and MAKE time between your other responsibilities (or remove some of them) or you make peace with the fact that you don't really care that much about this hobby and that you're done with it.
What are you on about?
Part of what I nostalgically yearn for was that feeling of, "my homework is done, it's a Friday night, there's no hockey tomorrow morning. I have a Pentium 2 in my room, summer breeze through the window, the world is asleep, there's a distant train rumbling quietly by, and I'm about to spend an hour reading up on every detail of Baldur's Gate while it installs."
This is probably gone. There's so many parts of this that don't work anymore. But I guess I really cherish that it happened. Those were absolutely magical nights.
Divinity: Original Sin was one of the best games I've ever played. I don't game much these days but that one sucked me in hard.
I tried playing other CRPGs (Divinity was my introduction to them) to fill the void but they didn't have the fun combat that Divinity did (Path of Exile) or were very story focused (Planescape: Torment, I would have def loved this one if I was younger and had the time).
Also, getting older and having more responsibility typically means you become wiser. I no longer want to waste that much time gaming. I'm good with a few hours a week. There are so many better uses of time that I have. I've got outdoor hobbies like mountain biking that take priority over screen time. I spend 40hrs a week doing work on a screen and have a hard time feeling good about MORE screen time when I get home.
Some people have said "Oh, we don't judge like that" but no, I've seen the commentary around non-AAA games being judged. They do make those comparisons.
Then diablo4 credits almost 10k people in making it, and although a fun game, feels like its basically still in beta with all the basic features its missing.
I try AAA games on Xbox Game Pass once in a while and I really don't get why they pump this stuff out without recruiting some talent to design it. It's almost worse than big budget Hollywood sometimes.
I definitely have to pick & choose which games I delve into more carefully. I basically only play 10/10 new games & classics now.
Also, if given a choice between a 5-7h game, and a 15-20h game I'll pick the shorter one.
Then I also set time aside in my weekly calendar to game. I try to have it be a mindful, rather than mindless activity.
So does Diablo IV. I understand this sentiment for smaller studios, but from Activision Blizzard? Blizzard DOES have the ability to put in the effort, so I am just going to ignore Chris Basler entirely here.
I prefer spending some actual quality of time (having a walk, having a conversation) with my SO instead of staying idly next to my SO and half consider it couples time.
Ghost of Tsushima - could have used being a good 30% shorter.
Witcher 3 and Horizon Forbidden West - entirely non repetitive but still took forever. Could have been shorter with little loss.
Horizon Zero Dawn - felt just right. Surprisingly, Elden Ring felt the same, in spite of it being a lot larger. But then I'm a rabid fan of Soulsbornes (I still think the best was Bloodborne and that's probably the shortest.)
Indie devs that try something entirely different with the RPG genre will have a shot.
AAA studios have ZERO excuses, some studios like Bethsesda & Rockstar did what Larian is doing decades ago on their own genre and they still are reaping the fruit of this strategy.
I have to admit that I can't imagine competitors like Ubisoft pulling this off even if the life of the business depended on it
I wish there were more games like the 1st Divinity Original Sin. Personally one of the best humour and writing in a game I'v ever played. Very laid back and down to earth, and not taking itself very seriously (considering the fantasy cRPG genre)
Original Sin 2 is good, actually better, but it's more mature and more dark, totally changed the tone from the first game
Better story but less interesting and easier combats. I know of at least one person who loved the first mostly for the gameplay and got bored very quickly with the second. Both incredible games anyway.
You are way too negative. Maybe try the game first? They have a stellar track record (Divinity I & II) + you can just read the reviews considering the game is in early access for +2 years. And they did listen to player feedback.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/Baldurs_Gate_3/
(+ checking your profile: Larian is in Belgium, it's a fine local product you should be proud of)
To smaller studios: if you can't compete with scope, try bringing something new to the table. Isn't it your role as indie?
Big companies that don't quite have the mega multi 100 million budgets of massive conglomerates like Ubisoft or EA.
Devoured both (500+ HRS on DOS2) and I agree, however DOS2 has the most fun combat I ever experienced in a game, not only in RPGs.
> James Berg, senior technical program manager for accessibility at Xbox, noted that the amount of dev effort put into Baldur’s Gate 3 could equal 2-3 other games in the RPG genre combined. “It’s Rockstar-level nonsense for scope. Only a few studio groups could even try this.”
This is serious, devastatingly sad levels of cope. This is one of the three most valuable companies on the planet, who just blew almost $70 billion dollars on the largest acquisition in video gaming history, comparing Baulders Gate to Rockstar, a company with over 5,000 employees making literally the most expensive games on the planet. Oh, fun fact though, Halo Infinite is also, easily, a top 5 most expensive game ever made; I bet James Berg doesn't want to remind you of that.
If the people at Larian take offense at statements like James', its justified. James, and many of the other devs/people in the replies, are essentially saying "oh its resources, I mean they've got such a structural advantage in making such a good game, it can't be skill, it can't be an intense and unique alignment of mindset and goals, its just money!".
Let's see how many other ways game developers can say "we have visionless leadership":
> Diablo IV senior designer Chris Balser also agreed with Nelson Jr., saying that it is important to remember that not all studios operate under the same conditions. He compared Baldur’s Gate 3 to Ultima VII, the favorite RPG of Larian founder Swen Vincke — “that’s a game that had 12 years of prior games feeding into it.”
I am LOSING my mind at the cringe from these game designers. Previously never before seen levels of excuse-making and cope. Let me check my notes here... Oh! Right! Diablo 1 was released in 1996! Diablo 4 definitely didn't have, checks calculator, 27 years of prior games feeding into it, let alone ELEVEN years of evolution and refinement in the previous game alone... which Blizzard basically threw out the window. (to be clear, D4 is a fine game, but there's a lot of very genuine criticism that they forgot most of what they learned with D3).
> Obsidian Entertainment design director Josh Sawyer noted that “having the foundation set and the funding to build things on your own terms is invaluable.”
Well, if Xbox not releasing a single good game in, like, four+ years didn't have you concerned for Avowed before, seems like Josh is trying to tell us that we should be. Three responses from people within Xbox Game Studios (technically!). I mean, I'm not one for identifying patterns where there may not be one, but... Xbox hasn't released a hit, exceedingly well reviewed game since... I don't even know. Flight Sim is a mainstay. Maybe Ori in 2020? Minecraft has the strongest back in the history of business, singularly keeping tens of thousands of people employed.
See, I think Rockstar is gonna keep making awesome games. Whatever Naughty Dog and SSM make next will be awesome. Nintendo? Physically incapable of making bad games, they can't do it. CDPR? They screwed up, but they still make incredible games. Its no wonder that its all the Xbox people hopping in to these threads. If there is a structural difference between Larian and other game developers, that difference is Passion, and that's it; and that speaks volumes more about Xbox and the other devs in that thread than it does about Larian. Go find a mirror, and make better games; market economics won't feel the pity you're so hoping to make us feel.
No one is going off to compare Baulders Gate 3 to, I don't know, Hollow Knight (actually, that might be a fine comparison!). They will compare it to Avowed, TES6, Starfield, and Diablo 4. It should be no surprise that there's a lot of people inside Xbox who feel embarrassed about comparisons like that.
On game length, I also default to shorter experiences. How Long to Beat [0] is perfect for that.
Larian Studios makes good games, but by no means are they a "gold" standard.
The Divinity series has a very interesting take on the RPG genre that's not to everyone's liking. And their world-building chops so far are somewhat lacking, compared to the original Baldur's Gate series.
It's also going to be interesting how faithful it is to the mechanics of D&D, and whether Larian again will make a game where you have to scrape by every right, rather than feeling like a powerful RPG character.
If you share an interest then go for it. What I meant is that some folks prefer to prioritize watching something "meh" on TV with the excuse of spending time with your SO and then complain they don't have time for gaming.
Instead of half assing two things: free time and familiar time. Spend some free time on your personal interests and then spend time with you SO where you are both engaged with each other!
It ends up being a bit like easy-listening rock; doesn't offend anyone, plays by text book "rock" rules, delivers exactly what you'd expect, and nothing more.
It wasn't the games, or even the time, it was my age. That's gone now, and I'm finally admitting it to myself.
I think the grown up version of gaming is coding. It's tackles the things I enjoyed, but in a more mature way.
but it'll never be like being in 8th grade and playing starcraft until your eyes bleed, and then hanging out that the pool; repeat.
I give a pass to Fallout for creating one of the most fun universes.
Returnal is way up there though, it is possible to make good AAA.
Other gems are Frostpunk, Outer Wilds, Vampire Survivors.
Can't remember what else.
Aside from whatever Soulsborne shows up, I've only bought games on sale for years. Still have more than I can play. A lot on 75-90% off.
While one starts to recognize repeating themes (and assets), I was shocked to find out how much the original Dark Souls feels like the predecessor to Elden Ring, just more intimate and simpler (for better and worse).
All that said, I'd still recommend Elden Ring to any first-timers.