----In the snow during summer!
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
So, there's this article here: https://www.ign.com/articles/theres-been-a-big-shift-in-gaming-and-we-all-know-it-after-three-decades-of-lego-video-games-the-worlds-biggest-toy-company-reveals-how-its-staying-relevant-amid-seismic-changes-in-playJJJJJEEEENNNNNKKKKKIIIIIINNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSS
It talks about how Telltale Games and Lego are responding to changes
in how the younger generations play video games. The argument being
that the older generation (that's probably most people here on
Usenet!) played games as escapist fantasy. We used games primarily as
a method to immerse ourselves in other worlds, or for the challenge of
the experience, but the game itself was our primary focus.
But --says the article-- younger gamers see the game more as a method
to engage in the social aspects; the mechanics and world-building are secondary concerns to the matchmaking, the teamwork and the
communication.
Which I can't say for sure is true or not since --it probably won't
surprise many here-- I don't have a lot of close contact with kids, especially LLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYY
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almostIn the snow during summer!
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
On Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:16:29 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almostIn the snow during summer!
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
I didn't know we went to the same school! ;-)
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> looked up from reading the >entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
On Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:16:29 -0800, Dimensional Traveler >><dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
In the snow during summer!
I didn't know we went to the same school! ;-)
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/9rup9z/when_your_parentsgrandparents_tell_you_about/#lightbox
So, there's this article here: https://www.ign.com/articles/theres-been-a-big-shift-in-gaming-and-we-all-know-it-after-three-decades-of-lego-video-games-the-worlds-biggest-toy-company-reveals-how-its-staying-relevant-amid-seismic-changes-in-play
It talks about how Telltale Games and Lego are responding to changes
in how the younger generations play video games. The argument being
that the older generation (that's probably most people here on
Usenet!) played games as escapist fantasy. We used games primarily as
a method to immerse ourselves in other worlds, or for the challenge of
the experience, but the game itself was our primary focus.
But --says the article-- younger gamers see the game more as a method
to engage in the social aspects; the mechanics and world-building are secondary concerns to the matchmaking, the teamwork and the
communication.
Which I can't say for sure is true or not since --it probably won't
surprise many here-- I don't have a lot of close contact with kids, especially when it comes to playing video games (and the few times I
do engage with them, it's usually them humoring the old fogies and not
their 'natural' style of gameplay). But looking at the popularity of
video games like "Fortnite" and "Roblox" and the proliferation of
endless "survival" games, it does make sense. The gameplay in a lot of
those games is sub-par but they make excellent platforms for people to
get together and work together. And if that's your primary interest,
it probably doesn't matter if the underlying framework isn't all that
well made.
But it probably does explain why a lot of us 'oldies' are becoming increasingly disillusioned with modern releases. Publishers are being
forced to balance two entirely different priorities in gaming: the
ones who want strong gameplay and/or world-building, versus an
audience that doesn't care so much about that but needs the game to
cater to their social needs.
Me, I couldn't give a damn if a game had ten-thousand cosmetics (or
weapon varieties) because I'm playing the game mostly for myself. But
if I'm one in a crowd, then I would probably need something to stand
out. Even old-timers who enjoy multiplayer probably care more about
things like weapon-balance and map-design than how their avatar looks.
But the younger set want something different.
Which isn't to say there's something wrong with that (although I do
think it a bit sad that so many kids rely on online experiences as
their primary way to socialize. But it's a different world today than
it was when I was growing up* so obviously expectations/needs are
different). It does mean that the games themselves are changing, and
even if I personally don't like it, it doesn't mean the games are
worse. Just different.
Fortunately, my generation (and the ones on either side) are still
prominent enough that our needs will continue to be catered to for a
while. And certainly not _every_ kid today plays game solely for the
social aspects; single-player games with strong characters, good world-building and solid gameplay will always have a place. But
they'll probably become rarer as years go by.
Well, I guess I couldn't honestly expect my likes and dislikes to
dominate forever. It's not like I don't have a backlog of thousands of
games to rely upon, too, when the bottom falls out and every game is
made for the kids first either. Plus, things go in cycles, so
eventually the kids of the kids of the kids will start demanding
'good' games again.
It must suck to be a big-name publisher, though, trying to balance the
wants of both groups.
----
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
Truly, it is a different world. ;-)
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
So, there's this article here:
https://www.ign.com/articles/theres-been-a-big-shift-in-gaming-and-we-
all-know-it-after-three-decades-of-lego-video-games-the-worlds-
biggest-toy-company-reveals-how-its-staying-relevant-amid-seismic-
changes-in-play
It talks about how Telltale Games and Lego are responding to changes
in how the younger generations play video games. The argument being
that the older generation (that's probably most people here on
Usenet!) played games as escapist fantasy. We used games primarily as
a method to immerse ourselves in other worlds, or for the challenge of
the experience, but the game itself was our primary focus.
But --says the article-- younger gamers see the game more as a method
to engage in the social aspects; the mechanics and world-building are
secondary concerns to the matchmaking, the teamwork and the
communication.
Which I can't say for sure is true or not since --it probably won't
surprise many here-- I don't have a lot of close contact with kids,
especially when it comes to playing video games (and the few times I
do engage with them, it's usually them humoring the old fogies and not
their 'natural' style of gameplay). But looking at the popularity of
video games like "Fortnite" and "Roblox" and the proliferation of
endless "survival" games, it does make sense. The gameplay in a lot of
those games is sub-par but they make excellent platforms for people to
get together and work together. And if that's your primary interest,
it probably doesn't matter if the underlying framework isn't all that
well made.
But it probably does explain why a lot of us 'oldies' are becoming
increasingly disillusioned with modern releases. Publishers are being
forced to balance two entirely different priorities in gaming: the
ones who want strong gameplay and/or world-building, versus an
audience that doesn't care so much about that but needs the game to
cater to their social needs.
Me, I couldn't give a damn if a game had ten-thousand cosmetics (or
weapon varieties) because I'm playing the game mostly for myself. But
if I'm one in a crowd, then I would probably need something to stand
out. Even old-timers who enjoy multiplayer probably care more about
things like weapon-balance and map-design than how their avatar looks.
But the younger set want something different.
Which isn't to say there's something wrong with that (although I do
think it a bit sad that so many kids rely on online experiences as
their primary way to socialize. But it's a different world today than
it was when I was growing up* so obviously expectations/needs are
different). It does mean that the games themselves are changing, and
even if I personally don't like it, it doesn't mean the games are
worse. Just different.
Fortunately, my generation (and the ones on either side) are still
prominent enough that our needs will continue to be catered to for a
while. And certainly not _every_ kid today plays game solely for the
social aspects; single-player games with strong characters, good
world-building and solid gameplay will always have a place. But
they'll probably become rarer as years go by.
Well, I guess I couldn't honestly expect my likes and dislikes to
dominate forever. It's not like I don't have a backlog of thousands of
games to rely upon, too, when the bottom falls out and every game is
made for the kids first either. Plus, things go in cycles, so
eventually the kids of the kids of the kids will start demanding
'good' games again.
It must suck to be a big-name publisher, though, trying to balance the
wants of both groups.
That seems at least partially true. Both kids play Roblox, and my Daughter's getting into Minecraft. Both with friends from school. She still plays other stuff. A little bit with me, and she plays FNAF games
by herself.
My son is a big souls fan, so he's played a lot of that. I don't think
he likes the Co-op/PVP part though. He plays some multiplayer shooter
on Roblox, but don't think he really interacts much beyond shooting, and complains other keep saying he's cheating he's not. He trounced me
severely and others at the game when I tried it with him a couple years
ago, and I could se he's wasn't cheating.
    ----
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
Truly, it is a different world. ;-)
Both mine get driven both ways most of the time. I had to walk both ways uphill in the hail through the floods and high winds during an
earthquake every day. (We've only had snow maybe once every 5 years
here, and it was like an inch total.)
On Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:39:54 -0500, Xocyll <Xocyll@gmx.com> wrote:
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> looked up from reading the >>entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
On Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:16:29 -0800, Dimensional Traveler >>><dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost >>>>> no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
In the snow during summer!
I didn't know we went to the same school! ;-)
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/9rup9z/when_your_parentsgrandparents_tell_you_about/#lightbox
It makes you wonder what the next generation will tell their own kids.
"I had to write my school papers in pencil... and then
hand it in to the teacher IN PERSON!"
Technically I _did_ walk uphill both ways to school. It's just that I
lived on the one side of a hill, the school was on the other, and the >quickest way between was to over the crest.
And when it snowed, it _was_ in summer.... albeit for the other
hemisphere.
I _may_ have fibbed a little bit about the dinosaurs wandering about, >however.
On 12/1/2025 6:36 PM, Justisaur wrote:<snip>
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Both mine get driven both ways most of the time. I had to walk both waysApparently I forgot to include the fact that I live on the San Andreas >fault.... :P
uphill in the hail through the floods and high winds during an
earthquake every day. (We've only had snow maybe once every 5 years
here, and it was like an inch total.)
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost >>>>>> no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
I _may_ have fibbed a little bit about the dinosaurs wandering about, >>however.
The Blue-haired old ladies mumbling about "Whippersnappers" can probably >count as dinosaurs.
On Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:27:33 -0500, Xocyll <Xocyll@gmx.com> wrote:
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost >>>>>>> no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
I _may_ have fibbed a little bit about the dinosaurs wandering about,
however.
The Blue-haired old ladies mumbling about "Whippersnappers" can probably
count as dinosaurs.
Or any petroleum-powered car (they are, after all, given life by
dinosaur goo).
Or, you know, birds.
Or maybe I just went to school with Marc Bolan and his friends. ;-)
On Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:39:54 -0500, Xocyll <Xocyll@gmx.com> wrote:
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> looked up from reading the >>entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
On Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:16:29 -0800, Dimensional Traveler >>><dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 11/29/2025 10:17 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost >>>>> no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
In the snow during summer!
I didn't know we went to the same school! ;-)
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/9rup9z/when_your_parentsgrandparents_tell_you_about/#lightbox
It makes you wonder what the next generation will tell their own kids.
"I had to write my school papers in pencil... and then
hand it in to the teacher IN PERSON!"
Technically I _did_ walk uphill both ways to school. It's just that I
lived on the one side of a hill, the school was on the other, and the quickest way between was to over the crest.
And when it snowed, it _was_ in summer.... albeit for the other
hemisphere.
I _may_ have fibbed a little bit about the dinosaurs wandering about, however.
So, there's this article here: https://www.ign.com/articles/theres-been-a-big-shift-in-gaming-and-we-all-know-it-after-three-decades-of-lego-video-games-the-worlds-biggest-toy-company-reveals-how-its-staying-relevant-amid-seismic-changes-in-play
It talks about how Telltale Games and Lego are responding to changes
in how the younger generations play video games. The argument being
that the older generation (that's probably most people here on
Usenet!) played games as escapist fantasy. We used games primarily as
a method to immerse ourselves in other worlds, or for the challenge of
the experience, but the game itself was our primary focus.
But --says the article-- younger gamers see the game more as a method
to engage in the social aspects; the mechanics and world-building are secondary concerns to the matchmaking, the teamwork and the
communication.
Which I can't say for sure is true or not since --it probably won't
surprise many here-- I don't have a lot of close contact with kids, especially when it comes to playing video games (and the few times I
do engage with them, it's usually them humoring the old fogies and not
their 'natural' style of gameplay). But looking at the popularity of
video games like "Fortnite" and "Roblox" and the proliferation of
endless "survival" games, it does make sense. The gameplay in a lot of
those games is sub-par but they make excellent platforms for people to
get together and work together. And if that's your primary interest,
it probably doesn't matter if the underlying framework isn't all that
well made.
But it probably does explain why a lot of us 'oldies' are becoming increasingly disillusioned with modern releases. Publishers are being
forced to balance two entirely different priorities in gaming: the
ones who want strong gameplay and/or world-building, versus an
audience that doesn't care so much about that but needs the game to
cater to their social needs.
Me, I couldn't give a damn if a game had ten-thousand cosmetics (or
weapon varieties) because I'm playing the game mostly for myself. But
if I'm one in a crowd, then I would probably need something to stand
out. Even old-timers who enjoy multiplayer probably care more about
things like weapon-balance and map-design than how their avatar looks.
But the younger set want something different.
Which isn't to say there's something wrong with that (although I do
think it a bit sad that so many kids rely on online experiences as
their primary way to socialize. But it's a different world today than
it was when I was growing up* so obviously expectations/needs are
different). It does mean that the games themselves are changing, and
even if I personally don't like it, it doesn't mean the games are
worse. Just different.
Fortunately, my generation (and the ones on either side) are still
prominent enough that our needs will continue to be catered to for a
while. And certainly not _every_ kid today plays game solely for the
social aspects; single-player games with strong characters, good world-building and solid gameplay will always have a place. But
they'll probably become rarer as years go by.
Well, I guess I couldn't honestly expect my likes and dislikes to
dominate forever. It's not like I don't have a backlog of thousands of
games to rely upon, too, when the bottom falls out and every game is
made for the kids first either. Plus, things go in cycles, so
eventually the kids of the kids of the kids will start demanding
'good' games again.
It must suck to be a big-name publisher, though, trying to balance the
wants of both groups.
----
* There fewer dinosaurs and cavemen around, for one thing. And almost
no kids nowadays have to walk uphill to school both ways anymore.
Truly, it is a different world. ;-)
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