Grantland: The Shooter Obsession

[95 Vol Alum]

Interesting read on first person shooter games. Can't say I differ much from the writer. Glad my kids have no interest in gaming....one parental decision off the table. I do play them, ftr.

Tom Bissell reviews Spec Ops: The Line and explores the reasons why we play shooter games. - Grantland

 

[kwebbvols2344]

Arlington! Not many of us from around there.

 

[PotS]

Interesting article, for sure. I'm kind of burnt out on warfare shooters (like CoD), but I have noticed the trend towards unnecessary personal killings and how dramatic those scenes are portrayed.

I'm a civilian working on a military base, and I know enlisted guys that won't play modern-based shooters because of how realistic the scenarios are. They like shooters, but prefer fictional games (Halo, Gears, etc.) and historical shooters (the early CoDs and World at War).

 

[milohimself]

Interesting article, for sure. I'm kind of burnt out on warfare shooters (like CoD), but I have noticed the trend towards unnecessary personal killings and how dramatic those scenes are portrayed.

I'm a civilian working on a military base, and I know enlisted guys that won't play modern-based shooters because of how realistic the scenarios are. They like shooters, but prefer fictional games (Halo, Gears, etc.) and historical shooters (the early CoDs and World at War).

That's how I feel about it... That and, for me (and the article touched on it), I view most new age FPS as the pinnacle of lazy video game making. Life's too short for me to waste time on a game that's not at least somewhat of an enriching experience.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

That's how I feel about it... That and, for me (and the article touched on it), I view most new age FPS as the pinnacle of lazy video game making. Life's too short for me to waste time on a game that's not at least somewhat of an enriching experience.

Define enriching for me. Problem solving?

 

[95 Vol Alum]

Arlington! Not many of us from around there.

I'm from Collierville but am here now!

 

[milohimself]

Define enriching for me. Problem solving?

All video games are essentially puzzles, so I'll make that the baseline. I would much prefer a storyline that's at least moderately compelling. I want the video games that I play to be expansive and deep.

Give me an Elder Scrolls game over almost any FPS every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I'd rather have a new experience every time I pick up a controller rather than becoming good at doing the same thing endlessly.