this is ruining the games industry.

Summary

The video script discusses the flawed approach of judging single-player games by active player counts instead of traditional merits like gameplay, story, and graphics. It critiques the trend of equating popularity with quality, using examples like 'Spider-Man' and 'Starfield'. It also touches on the overemphasis on live service elements in games, leading to an oversaturated market and the neglect of single-player experiences. The script concludes by advocating for a return to evaluating games on their own merits, not just player retention.

Takeaways

• 🕸️ The script praises the gameplay mechanics in 'Spider-Man for PS4 Remastered', particularly the web swinging and music.
• 🏆 The story of 'Spider-Man' is compared favorably to other top games like 'Red Dead 2' and 'God of War'.
• 🎮 The script criticizes the trend of judging a game's quality based on active player counts instead of personal enjoyment or critical reception.
• 📉 It points out the issue with using player retention as a measure of a game's quality, especially for single-player games.
• 🌌 The script mentions 'Starfield' as an example where active player count is being scrutinized despite being a single-player game.
• 📅 The discussion highlights that many games, including 'Starfield', face a drop in player count after the initial excitement fades, which is normal.
• 🎮 The script suggests that the gaming industry's focus on live service games has led to an overemphasis on player retention metrics.
• 💤 It humorously mentions that the sponsor, Helix sleep, is comfortable enough to sleep on, even comparing it to the comfort levels in various video games.
• 📊 The script argues that player count drops are not indicative of a game's quality, using 'Elden Ring' as an example of a well-received game with a significant drop in concurrent players.
• 🚫 It concludes by stating that obsessing over player numbers is misguided and that single-player games should be enjoyed without the pressure of live service expectations.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker has with the recent trend in evaluating single-player games?

The speaker is concerned about the trend of judging a game's quality based on the number of active players, rather than the traditional aspects like gameplay mechanics, story, and graphics.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate enjoying a game's mechanics?

The speaker mentions enjoying the web-swinging mechanics in the remastered version of Spider-Man for PS4, describing it as addicting and enjoyable.

According to the speaker, why is it misleading to judge single-player games by their player count?

The speaker argues that single-player games are not designed to retain players indefinitely like live-service games, and focusing on player count ignores the quality of the game's story and mechanics.

What is the speaker's opinion on the story of the Spider-Man game for PS4?

The speaker considers the story of the Spider-Man game to be one of the best of 2018, on par with Red Dead 2 and God of War.

Why does the speaker mention Helix sleep in the script?

Helix sleep is mentioned because the video is sponsored by them, and the speaker includes a brief advertisement for their mattress products.

What is the speaker's view on the player count drop for Starfield?

The speaker believes that the drop in player count for Starfield is being overemphasized and that it's normal for players to move on after completing a single-player game.

What other games does the speaker mention as having a significant number of releases around the time of Starfield?

The speaker mentions games like Baldur's Gate 3, Lies of Pedom, Cyberpunk, Counter-Strike 2, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and others as part of the reason why player retention might be lower for Starfield.

What is the speaker's stance on live-service games and their impact on the gaming industry?

The speaker criticizes the industry's focus on live-service games, suggesting it has led to an oversaturation of player retention strategies and a neglect of single-player experiences.

How does the speaker feel about Pokemon Sword and Shield?

The speaker expresses a dislike for Pokemon Sword and Shield, using it as an example of a game that doesn't appeal to them despite its popularity.

What does the speaker suggest as a better indicator of a game's quality?

The speaker suggests that reviews are a better indicator of a game's quality rather than player counts, and criticizes the focus on player numbers as misleading.