PixlBit

Wow, this ended up being a little poetic, though you may not have intended it to be. Really enjoyed reading this. Especially that last sentence.

Anyway, I know how you feel. I've been feeling the same way even before the Wii U was released. in the case of Microsoft and Sony, it seems that so many of their games are really focusing on FPS combat and all this "serious" stuff these days. And it looks like the PS4 and Xbox One will just continue the trend.

I don't feel that fun factor that was there with console generations past. Be to keep it real, I probably will end buying at least two of the 3 current consoles over the next two years.

Thanks, it was just me actually thinking about what I wanted to say for a change. :)

Maybe I'll get in there at some point Jamie. I just can't see it right now.

I'm with you, Peter. I may buy a PS4 at some point, but I dunno. Not much out there other than The Order 1866 that interests me.

Judging from what I have read and people I have spoken with (both on Pixlbit and beyond), you are far from alone in this sentiment. In my personal opinion, I chalk it up to the overemphasis on "cinematic experience" in the AAA industry. While some of my favorite games of all time have been released in the XBOX360/PS3/Wii/Ds gen, with the promise of new technology it seems as though the emphasis on ultrarealism and apeing film will continue to be par for course. To quote David Jaffe, "we've let the gameplay muscle atrophy", and the interactive experience has taken a serious backseat to Hollywood storytelling and support of the ignorant, jackass notion that games "should be more". 

That being said, I will remain hopeful that after the dust of the new tech settles, and Nintendo gets it's footing with the Wii U, we'll be treated to some great titles that know that how a gamer interacts with a title isn't an afterthought, it's the foundation. Also, the burgening indy market will only grow, and could very well create the best games of this gen.

Right on! The industry is going where the money is - the mainstream - and that means making games more like film or TV shows (Uncharted and Walking Dead). I'm still excited by triple A games, but those clever Indie titles are starting to creep into my must-have lists and I'm thinking my next console might just be an iPad or the forthcoming Steam Box. Can there BE enough hardware options this next gen?

Very true my man. What I find confusing is that what makes shows like The Walking Dead and great movies so successful is that they excell in what that medium's strengths are - for shows like WD and Game of Thrones, it's TV's episodic format and the fact that you can tell an evolving story over the course of years or even a decade. Wouldn't it make more sense for the industry to be inspired by that by focusing on GAMING's own unique strengths I.E. gameplay and player-authorship because that is what makes it a successful and cherished artform, as opposed to copying the narrative style  of TV and film drama?

I agree that it could very well be the industry pissing in my cheerios and maybe there's still hope. I shall not be holding my breathe though.

Just remember there is always an enormous catalogue from yesteryear to tide you over during a drought of personal interest .

Art is an evolving thing, I think a chunk of AAA gaming is going through an awkward identity phase right now, not unlike teenagers, honestly. I am confident the mediums true strengths will be acknowledged, especially when the industry can no longer sustain budgets because of hiring Hollywood screenwriters, rendering cutscenes, etc.

I understand your feeling about the lack of excitement. A lot of the games that have been released just aren't my thing. I know that once I get a PS4, I'll probably just stick with the games I'm used to, the franchises I've enjoyed on the PS3, and maybe give one or two of the new ones a shot. 

The odd thing is that I've been starting to play more of the casual games on tablets. Majority of them are silly, and pass the time, but there are a few that I've stuck with. 

Noooooo!  Thou mustn't give up games... Thou art Mothman!!

I hear you about the current state of games.  But I think u would enjoy some indie releases on PC more....  it's a great scene and I am really into it.  I hear you about the console games though.  I'm mostly a handheld player these days, but I know that eventually there will be a new console game I get excited about. 

I wish to feel that Mario 64 feeling again too....

Both MS and Sony plan to support their current-gen consoles for another 2-3 years. At the end of that, the price will have come down, any kinks in the consoles will have been ironed out and more games will be available. I've never been an early adopter with consoles and I'm hilariously late with my PS3 purchase (night the PS4 was announced) but the reality - as you mentioned - is money, time and attention spent on more important things. People who will rag on you in any way for not having the new hotness are unworthy of your time or attention.

I've always been woefully behind when it comes to current gaming systems, so it's nothing new to me and unless there's a way to hook any of the new systems out there to my non-HDTV that's just how it's gonna be for the forseeable future.

In the meantime, I'm content enough with my og 3DS. Though I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't jump at the chance to own any of the latest console offerings available.

I hear you. Though won't be planning to leave gaming for the rest of my life, only the Wii U and Vita interest me to have on this current gen and even though I always had a spot for Sony and I hope to have a PS3, the PS4 hasn't really atracted me.

There is just too much game stuff out there now. You can't get away from games or system ads anywhere. Be it on your phone, tv, internet, billboards, etc. It's hard not to feel overwhelmed by it all. I'm pretty satisfied with what I got now and am looking to playing games I missed this gen, and there are a lot of games. 

I'm actually excited for Mario 3D on WiiU. I must have that game for sure!!! and Zelda of course. Eventually there will be cheaper slim models of everything and then you can buy used games or something. Now back to more A Realm Reborn!!!

I've been kinda feeling as you do.   Especially since I just got a PS3 to go with my 360, wii and older systems.  It's like a whole new world of games opened up, and cheap ones now at that!

Then I watched a review of Mario 3D world today.  I see a wii u a year or so in my future now.

I share your sentiment. There's not really much for me to be excited about either. I can only think of four upcoming titles that I really want. Two of them are on the Wii U, the others are PS3.

Welcome to once again being considered a full retro gamer. I'm sure you fully embrace that title but some don't consider it so when one owns a current gen title.

I'm in the same boat as you given I don't own ANY of the current gen systems, portable or console. Not sure if I'll join in this year given that there is so much to enjoy that I've yet to try on the PS3/Xbox 360. though I have to admit that the 3DS and Vita are a bit tempting.

Forgive me but I'll stay "timelocked" on the current gen for now. Who knows how much games will drop now in price in the coming months.

Understandable. I could probably not buy any more games and still skip out on the next generation just by catching up on my backlog. Not that I'll be doing that lol

I understand. Good games are being announced left & right but I haven't been that excited. Then again I'm not huge into fpses and Dead Rising 3 is just another zombie game in a sea of hundreds of other zombie games. lol. I was kind of excited about Killer Instinct until I found out it was an XboxOne exclusive. I was hoping it would also release on the 360,Wii U,PS3,and PS4. (Based on its' visuals and gameplay it does seem as if a less powerful system can still handle it. Woulda been nice to play it on my 360.)

Most of the games I'm "anticipating" are ones I missed years ago and I just now have the means to get them. For example, my psp copy of Castlevania: Dracula X chronicles should be arriving tommorow and I'm as stoked up for it as most gamers get stoked up over new releases.

You've still got lots to do on your PSP Ben. It should keep you busy for quite a while. I still have much I want to play on it but the 3DS won't let me.