Microsoft acquires Zenimax

sygnus21 said:

As far as I know Microsoft has always "owned" Windows

That's what I wrote, wasn't it?

sygnus21 said:

It's a sad day because you have yet another game developer being eaten by a mega corporation. In this case were headed for more dumbed down X-Box style games. I came up in the mouse and keyboard era where you had to customize every piece of gear and weapon. Now it's one button fits all console type gaming - with Microsoft's X-Box "vision" pushing dumb down forward.

Not one, but eight developers, and they had a parent company, Zenimax. And they were already "dumbed downed" before this acquisition so nothing is really changing here for you. I don't feel any sadness because this is how the industry works. The AAA market shifts to what's lucrative, usually for the worse in my opinion, but if I don't like it I don't buy it. If you feel like games are dumbed downed there are always alternative games out there that fits your needs. Just ask.

Faith said:

If you feel like games are dumbed downed there are always alternative games out there that fits your needs. Just ask.

First things first - since we see things differently I'll say we'll agree to disagree agreeably

That said, I've been gaming since 98, so I have cause to say what I've said; and yeah, games have been dumbed down since. And when I "ask" about a game I look towards my Steam account, or my Origin account, or my Microsoft store account, or my Ubisoft account, or just the individual games I've bought since 1998

Thanks.

BTW - Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues - Windows 7 Help Forums. Point? I didn't just start gaming today

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
If you subscribe to game pass you're happy

Good price, bad quality for me. My experience with Metro Exodus was horrible on game pass

sygnus21 said:

First things first - since we see things differently I'll say we'll agree to disagree agreeably

That said, I've been gaming since 98, so I have cause to say what I've said; and yeah, games have been dumbed down since. And when I "ask" about a game I look towards my Steam account, or my Origin account, or my Microsoft store account, or my Ubisoft account, or just the individual games I've bought since 1998

Thanks.

BTW - Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues - Windows 7 Help Forums. Point? I didn't just start gaming today

And when did I state that games aren't dumbed down? I agree with you, but what I mean is that it doesn't change the facts as to why. My point is that things change with time, and in this instance they usually change because the market shifts. There's a reason why the video game industry is the largest entertainment sector in the U.S, and it's not by coincidence. 'Dumbing down' games is lucrative because it reaches a larger audience for future consumer spending. Do I like it? not necessarily (I like to judge games after I play them, usually not by who's acquiring them), but niche genre of games are always available when there are any demand for them, which there are (that's why I wrote "just ask" in my previous post).

None of these acquisitions here will make the games in question less dumbed down, so to speak, because they already were by your viewpoint. Ask anyone who played Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim what's their favorite. You'll find interesting answers based on when they played them, or how old the person is. Does it mean that Oblivion is dumbed down in comparison to Morrowind? Or that Skyrim is dumbed down compared to Oblivion? Objectively, most certainly, but that doesn't necessarily relate to quality. I don't look at games and immediately discard them based on what platforms they are on, or if they support gamepads or not, that's not how I do it, and honestly I find it quite shallow especially when that bridge between platforms - both software and hardware - are not the same like they were 20 years ago.

Faith said:

My point is that things change with time, and in this instance they usually change because the market shifts. There's a reason why the video game industry is the largest entertainment sector in the U.S, and it's not by coincidence. 'Dumbing down' games is lucrative because it reaches a larger audience for future consumer spending. Do I like it? not necessarily (I like to judge games after I play them, usually not by who's acquiring them), but niche genre of games are always available when there are any demand for them, which there are (that's why I wrote "just ask" in my previous post).

And we agree; though my point is corporations are destroying the independent game developers dedicated to "PC" gaming and instead we get the console conglomerates. I was hoping these companies would be able to stand on their own, and thus make their own decisions and deadlines for better quality games.

Faith said:

None of these acquisitions here will make the games in question less dumbed down, so to speak, because they already were by your viewpoint. Ask anyone who played Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim what's their favorite. You'll find interesting answers based on when they played them, or how old the person is. Does it mean that Oblivion is dumbed down in comparison to Morrowind? Or that Skyrim is dumbed down compared to Oblivion?

Yes, Morrowind was far less game console than Skyrim. That said, I did (do) enjoy them very much. With that, just because I criticize the state of gaming today doesn't mean I hate, it just means I miss the old days.

Faith said:

Objectively, most certainly, but that doesn't necessarily relate to quality. I don't look at games and immediately discard them based on what platforms they are on,

Nor do I or I would never bought The Outer Wolds from Microsoft's Store. A game I'm playing again after purchasing the newly released DLC

At the end of the day, it would nice if Zenimx stayed independent, but I get economics. Still...