What do you think? Is James Carmack right?

[DarkHalo003]

http://www.1up.com/news/john-carmack-doesnt-take-kindly-snooty-fps-haters



First-person shooters are arguably the most popular and mainstream of videogame genres. And as a result of that, there has been a backlash from a certain segment of gamers who are tired of seeing FPS games released left and right. John Carmack, id Software co-founder and a key player in the development of some of the most influential of early FPSes, like Doom (http://www.1up.com/games/pc/doom/), Wolfenstein 3D (http://www.1up.com/games/pc/wolfenstein-3d/), and Quake (http://www.1up.com/games/pc/quake/), doesn't agree with the hate and resents the implication that making an FPS is synonymous with avoiding creativity. After all, as he puts it, "As long as people are buying it, it means they're enjoying it."


It's basically saying that as long as people buy CoD games, regardless of one being shipped out every year/half-year, it's okay because they're enjoying it. Thoughts?

On one side I see what he means; just because there are a lot of games that share a title doesn't mean they're bad. Example: Halo games or Final Fantasy games. On the other, CoD is a special case because it's more or less the same thing done over every game. While Single-player is usually unique and holds its own value, CoD multiplayer really hasn't changed since #2 or maybe Modern Warfare.

So, what do you guys think about what this guy is saying?

[Kornman00]

Not sure about this James fellow (:realsmug:), but John's (and id's) older id engine is what powers CoD ;p. People just need to stop bitching about FPSes. People will always buy stupid fucking Justin Beiber CDs just as simpletons will always buy games, like CoD, which are shat out like diarrhea (in a constant splattered mess). Goddamn cry babies, build a bridge and get over it.

[Amit]

If John Carmack is still being paid for Activision using the id Tech 3 engine, well then of course he's going to say it's okay for CoD games to be pooped out Activision's crusty asshole every year. Why is he bitching at indie devs when only a select few even express any negative feelings about big developers and publishers.

[ODX]

"As long as people are buying it, it means they're enjoying it I'm making money."

I keep hearing nothing but shit from the id guys recently. Things like "we have the best graphics hands down on the consoles compared to our competitors who are only running 30 FPS" and the likes.

They're a good company and all, but some of the things they say just absolutely disgust me beyond all belief. At times it seems like they've laid claim to the FPS genre as their property or something as well and that everyone should pay them for stealing their idea.

[Pooky]

My problem with the recent CoD games is that they're dumbed down and randomized to the point where any idiot can wade in and get lots of cheap kills. Which is fine for casual gamers to buy and enjoy, but it gets rather tedious when MLG wannabes pretend like it actually takes skill.

Personally, I liked it better when games appealed almost exclusively to the 'hardcore' crowd, but as video games become a true mainstream form of entertainment they're going to be subject to the same marketing strategies as other mainstream media.

Hey, let's go watch Prequel remake of the sequel 2: the remake!