I'm a COD-hater but I don't begrudge people their fun, I'm just no good at it and find it a bit grim and wearying.
A few years ago a guy at work said to me "What you've got to understand is I only like games where it's something that's like real life and easy to get what's going on. It's gotta be Fifa or driving or COD, sports ones are good too - but I don't like anything weird or confusing, like, stuff that's not in the real world just isn't for me."
I realised at that point that I believe the exact opposite of this statement. He wasn't a bad guy or anything but he did not have good taste in games imo. These are the people that have directed the change in gaming trends and the reason that many of us feel a vague disappointment with many of today's offerings and get a bit "out of synch". These guys were first brought into gaming when Sony pushed the 'lifestyle' angle with the ps1 and made it trendy, bringing in more of the masses - and what do the masses like to eat - Mcdonalds; it's safe, it's easy, you know what you're getting.
Most of today's games seem to be lacking a certain quirkiness which was inherent in the more japanese influenced games prevalent in the 8 and 16 bit era. It's as if everything has to be over explained with lengthy cutscenes these days and the theme has to be obviously marketable.
I'm grateful for the advent of Xbox live because it gives me access to all sorts of downloadable games, many of which show incredible creativity and originality - qualities that you will rarely see in the charts or in many COD/Fifa enthusiast's collections today.
Too much planning, and you'll never get anything done.
Karl Pilkington.
