Did Black Ops 2 finally destroy the gaming industry?

This is such a subjective statement. CoD gamers are no different from "gamers." Anyone can be a gamer as long you like to play video games. People will buy CoD for whatever reasons; they're fans, like multiplayer, playing with friends, etc. It's so pointless to judge on someone's taste in video games. I will admit, I didn't buy BO2 because I'm tired of CoD, but that's me, there are people that really love the series and want more of it.

The indie community has none of those aforementioned benefits. Yet it is still thriving, both with talent, design, and even sales.

It's not being destroyed, it's branching. You just have to know where to look (Desura's very good for indie titles).

You shouldn't confuse Activision with other developers.

I think part of it is down to us reaching the end of the current consoles life spans and it is time we started hearing more concrete news regarding the new consoles. This always happens at the end of a consoles peak time, games decline in quality and innovation because the console has done everything it can so the designers resort to rehashing those old formulas. This generation may have some more life left in it but only if we accept that we're not going to see anything groundbreaking as it's all been done on these platforms already. I just hope that the next hardcore consoles we see will bring with them some fresh thinking and not just more of the same with better graphics. TommyT456

I disagree. Hardware/graphics capability has next to ZERO influence on the innovation or quality of new games. Games can be innovative and fun without 3D graphics, and people still make them and they are successful. Physics in games would probably be the only thing missing that would be incorporated in next generation consoles, but that obviously does not make a game more innovative or enjoyable. OP is right, this has to do with the state of the market, and what publishers have found people are willing to shell out for. A next generation of consoles will not solve this problem, only a grass roots movement of people waiting for reviews, and purchasing ONLY quality titles whenever possible. People stopped buying Guitar Hero copies every six months, and look what happened. Now let's just stop buying these TERRIBLE first person shooters.

actually the end of a consoles lifespan usually generates the best games, because all the developers have full experience with the hardware, and lots of examples of what the hardware is capable of.

first person shooters are a strong part of gaming. It's not the genre, it's the concepts. Look at Dishonored for instance, if enough planning is in place a good new IP can happen. Skyrim is also another example of what is possible. I think the only real reason Black Ops/COD have such hype behind them is the fact that War has been a major part of our culture for the entire Console Segment... Navy Seals in the news, secret military hardware and tactics brought out in the open, etc. Now if someone could just make a decent FPS Superhero Genre of games, that would be the next Black Ops/COD. I've been thinking about this for years and it's really confounding why none of the game companies haven't tried to cash in on this revived Superhero interest. Imagine Superman in FPS point of view, or Batman? Or any of the other hundreds of Superheroes. Oh also imagine Starwars FPS, or another Skyrim like FPS. In Skyrim you are basically a Superhero type character, and your "Powers" pretty much lay the foundation for what would be possible I see Superman and Batman FPS right there in Skyrim alone...

first person shooters are a strong part of gaming. It's not the genre, it's the concepts. Look at Dishonored for instance, if enough planning is in place a good new IP can happen. Skyrim is also another example of what is possible. I think the only real reason Black Ops/COD have such hype behind them is the fact that War has been a major part of our culture for the entire Console Segment... Navy Seals in the news, secret military hardware and tactics brought out in the open, etc. Now if someone could just make a decent FPS Superhero Genre of games, that would be the next Black Ops/COD. I've been thinking about this for years and it's really confounding why none of the game companies haven't tried to cash in on this revived Superhero interest. Imagine Superman in FPS point of view, or Batman? Or any of the other hundreds of Superheroes. Oh also imagine Starwars FPS, or another Skyrim like FPS. In Skyrim you are basically a Superhero type character, and your "Powers" pretty much lay the foundation for what would be possible I see Superman and Batman FPS right there in Skyrim alone...

00J

I think what you are saying is right, but I also think CoD type games are the "in" thing. Like CoD4 formula has been redone for the last few years by numerous games, CoD, MoH, etc. People like having that instant gratification. Unlike the good old days of BF2, where it took months or weeks to unlock a new weapon. Whereas today it takes a week to hit top level. Not to mention most of the player base of console players is alot younger no adays. I mean I havent played a CoD since Blops1, but I mean if it aint broke, don't fix it. We all know Activision is money hungry for DLC and new sales. So it's kind of stupid to change something that is a number 1 seller every year to a new formula. They know if they change it and break the formula people would **** and moan and probably not buy it. Its just ashame that it had to be on such a generic shooter that did something right one time and now they have to milk it out, and destroy a once good franchise. (Long live CoD1, and CoD2)

New hardware always brings new innovation. That's what I have bet on. I think it's time for a new big IP. I think that the new Halo trilogy under 343i is set to be a big "reboot" (not that Halo needed rebooting). The new ideas that they have brought are great, and I can't wait to see what they, and other new developers, do with the next-gen hardware.

Just look at PC: The PC platform always gets fantastic indie games because they are not limited by hardware. I think that once the bar gets raised, we will see games start to improve.

Oh, and fingers crossed Activision kills CoD with its own greed, selfishness, and lack of innovation.

COD has been sucking ever since COD MW2. The aging of the console tech has nothing to do with lack of developers creativity and publishers on the FPS bandwagon. The latest Ghost Recon Future Soldier was actually pretty fun to play, and I am still playing it. I thought UBISOFT did a fine job with that game, as it has high replayability, and is not linear, and has quite a few new gadgets and has an "open feeling" in the campaign which most other fps lack. Players have been complaining about linear shallow shooters for years. I can think of only two console games in the tactical/military /shooter genre that are actually outside the box of all the Battlefield COD MOH garbage being produced- Rainbow Six Vegas 2, and Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising. RSV2 is a game which allows total freedom in truly customizing your character, weapon loadouts, and tactics on the fly throughout the game. YOU order your team to stack up on the door, choose the type of entry you want to make etc. It's awesome. OFP is the closest thing to an open world military sim the console has. It wasnt very polished, but you can play it numerous times and complete missions in different ways with varying equipment. Basically, the current developers are putting out pretty looking, scripted predictable shooters, that require little thinking or planning. Just shoot your way out of everything, no tactics, no planning, etc. Games like OFP and ARMA exist on PC, and blow COD out of the water. They have been around for 10 YEARS. It has nothing to do with aging technology of consoles!!! But they require thinking, and a little more patience than most kids want to put into playing their games. I love a good firefight like everyone else, but I also enjoy the freedom to use my brain and have choices and tactics in a game. These things make it more realistic and replayable. Old school shooters like Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, etc. all used to be more wide open and very customizeable. The COD generation has attratced many developers to steer in that direction, and as a result, we have numerous productions of basically the same old **** Look at the new MOH and Black Ops. What's new about them? Nothing. If Activision is going to hype a game about Tier 1 this and Special Forces that, I would expect that as a player, I'm going to actually be able to DO something special in the game, like more interactive controls, special abilites like rapelling and access to special equipment etc. But, it's just another shooter with characters dressed up in the latest tactical gear, that's all. And personally, I can't stand multiplayer, unless it's BF2. everything else is too tight and unrealistic. It's not fun for me to run, shoot die. Spawn, die. Spawn, die, repaet. When will developers listen???

COD has been sucking ever since COD MW2.

The aging of the console tech has nothing to do with lack of developers creativity and publishers on the FPS bandwagon. The latest Ghost Recon Future Soldier was actually pretty fun to play, and I am still playing it. I thought UBISOFT did a fine job with that game, as it has high replayability, and is not linear, and has quite a few new gadgets and has an "open feeling" in the campaign which most other fps lack. Players have been complaining about linear shallow shooters for years. I can think of only two console games in the tactical/military /shooter genre that are actually outside the box of all the Battlefield COD MOH garbage being produced- Rainbow Six Vegas 2, and Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising.

RSV2 is a game which allows total freedom in truly customizing your character, weapon loadouts, and tactics on the fly throughout the game. YOU order your team to stack up on the door, choose the type of entry you want to make etc. It's awesome. OFP is the closest thing to an open world military sim the console has. It wasnt very polished, but you can play it numerous times and complete missions in different ways with varying equipment.

Basically, the current developers are putting out pretty looking, scripted predictable shooters, that require little thinking or planning. Just shoot your way out of everything, no tactics, no planning, etc. Games like OFP and ARMA exist on PC, and blow COD out of the water. They have been around for 10 YEARS. It has nothing to do with aging technology of consoles!!! But they require thinking, and a little more patience than most kids want to put into playing their games. I love a good firefight like everyone else, but I also enjoy the freedom to use my brain and have choices and tactics in a game. These things make it more realistic and replayable.

Old school shooters like Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, etc. all used to be more wide open and very customizeable. The COD generation has attratced many developers to steer in that direction, and as a result, we have numerous productions of basically the same old **** Look at the new MOH and Black Ops. What's new about them?

Nothing.

If Activision is going to hype a game about Tier 1 this and Special Forces that, I would expect that as a player, I'm going to actually be able to DO something special in the game, like more interactive controls, special abilites like rapelling and access to special equipment etc. But, it's just another shooter with characters dressed up in the latest tactical gear, that's all. And personally, I can't stand multiplayer, unless it's BF2. everything else is too tight and unrealistic. It's not fun for me to run, shoot die. Spawn, die. Spawn, die, repaet. When will developers listen???

one50

Yes, these COD games seem to be getting stale. I loved the old games, COD4 and COD:WAW. These games I could sit down and play for hours. Ever since Modern Warfare 2, that love and drive has stopped. I wish I could bring it back, but I cannot. The connection issues will have to calm down before I keep playing this game a lot.