dishes on 15/8/2017 at 23:51
(
http://www.pcgamer.com/the-uncertain-future-of-games-like-deus-ex-and-dishonored/) Article from PC Gamer on the uncertain future of our favourite genre, the immersive sim.
I myself love these kind of games, as should everyone on this forum, and don't really get the same kind of satisfaction as I do from other kinds of RPG-lites/stealth games/etc; despite any flaws. (I'm looking at you, obvious vents.) This is disappointing seeing how much I loved Dishonored 2, (ran fine on my PC with a *Core 2 Duo* - of course I turned down graphics settings, but it was totally playable) although I haven't played Prey (System Shock 2 is my least favourite immersive sim, so I'm hesitant) or Mankind Divided (unsure about performance) yet.
icemann on 16/8/2017 at 11:48
Well you tell me. After System Shock 2 and Deus Ex 1 came out, it looked like the "immersive sim" was dead a few years later.
Fast forward to many years later and we got Bioshock, then Dishonored, Prey and so on. I think we're going to be just fine and that it's FAR to early to be saying anything one way or the other. Let's wait 2 years then see how things pan out.
Thirith on 16/8/2017 at 11:56
I'm with icemann on this one. These things tend to come and go in waves. I've seen the return of various genres that seemed to be dead. I'd absolutely say it's a shame if we have to wait half a dozen years until another Dishonored 2, but I also think that gaming these days is pretty varied, so while there may not be many AAA immersive sims for a while, I'm sure there will be games that push those particular buttons. Perhaps not all at the same time, but I also don't particularly want games to copy the Deus Ex template but to develop their own takes on that template.
Sulphur on 16/8/2017 at 12:25
Since it's defined by experimentation and non-linear gameplay, I think it's a genre ripe for the mid-budget treatment instead of AAA. It's a shame the space between AAA and indie has all but disappeared, though.
Nameless Voice on 16/8/2017 at 12:30
What about Underworld Ascendant? Mid-budget immersive-sim made by a lot of the original Looking Glass folks.
I imagine that will be the next major Imm-Sim we see.
icemann on 16/8/2017 at 12:38
And System Shock 3 + the System Shock 1 reboot (which I'm still half half on, but am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on for now).
Pyrian on 16/8/2017 at 13:39
Quote:
Jensen tried so hard, and got so far. But in the end...
Duuude, that's messed up (in light of Chester Bennington's recent suicide).
TannisRoot on 16/8/2017 at 13:48
Isn't the problem the writing? Hard to get into an immersive sim when the world isn't believable. This is the biggest hurdle to my enjoyment of the new crop of immersive sims.
P.S. Breath of the Wild has many immersive sim elements and it did just fine.
demagogue on 16/8/2017 at 14:05
Even now just fine isn't the term I'd use. There's maybe one big example of something vaguely immersive sim-ish every three years or so, and even those are somewhat compromised compared to the late '90s versions. I don't think they'll ever go entirely extinct, but I don't think the genre is in very good health these days either.
Renault on 16/8/2017 at 14:20
Funny that the article doesn't even mention Thief 2014 (sales of 1.5 million according to Steam Spy).
I guess I'd worry a bit about the new Ultima and System Shock. What are their chances of success if big time names like Deus Ex & Dishonored (& to some degree Prey) couldn't produce a hit between them. Ultima and System Shock may be legendary to people here, but I'd guess most of the young crew in their 20s and 30s don't really care that much.