Why are games so easy these days?

[Yggdrasil]

Extra Credits: Easy Games

This week, we talk about why games have been getting less challenging lately.

I've watched the videos of these guys since they started on YouTube, that was like 2 years ago if I remember correctly. I wholeheartedly recommend to watch their other videos if you haven't already.

[Hidoshi]

Extra Credits is easily the best thing on the Escapist. I'm so glad they got a proper venue for their show. Daniel Floyd is the man. Gonna have him at ConBravo! one day.

[Annubis]

I thought I was going to listen to some elitist complaints... but then I listened and totally agree.
Sadly, I think the development phase of most games is too short and the staff too big to implement this in most titles.

[Danku]

I prefer difficulty when I do anything, games are no exception. On the other hand, I'm not an elitist. Even if a game is stupid easy, if it's enjoyable I won't complain at all. Some people forget that video games are entertainment too and not just something to enlarge that e-peen.

[ShadowLaguna]

That didn't talk about today's games being easier at all.

[Kup]

I generally have a rule when it comes to my games...

If it's an RPG I will play on the "normal" setting to experience the game as the developers intended.  They will tend to last roughly 30-50 hours anyway.

If it isn't an RPG (recent examples being Vanquish, Deadly Premonition, God of War III) I will bump up the difficulty.  Those types of games last me longer if it's harder.  I can't stand looking forward to game for so long only to have it beaten in 8-10 hours!  I enjoy them much more that way.

[GrimReality]

I generally have a rule when it comes to my games...

If it's an RPG I will play on the "normal" setting to experience the game as the developers intended.  They will tend to last roughly 30-50 hours anyway.

If it isn't an RPG (recent examples being Vanquish, Deadly Premonition, God of War III) I will bump up the difficulty.  Those types of games last me longer if it's harder.  I can't stand looking forward to game for so long only to have it beaten in 8-10 hours!  I enjoy them much more that way.

I do the same with rpgs, but the opposite with non-rpgs. Those go to the easy setting pretty much without exception. Otherwise, I am unable to get very far into the games. For me difficulty does not equal fun.
To contrast that, I recently played through Metroid: Other M, which did not have a difficulty setting. I found the game challenging(especially some of the later bosses), but totally doable.
I'm playing Lords of Shadow now and am finding the "Squire" setting to be plenty challenging for me. I can't imagine attempting any of the higher settings.

[hell_snake]

Well written, Kup. That's exactly how I do it.

When it comes to The Escapist, Zero Punctuation and Extra Credits are all I watch. One is hilarious and the other is educational. Zelda would've been an excellent example of how to implement a tutorial that gradually and smoothly expands over time.

[Danku]

That didn't talk about today's games being easier at all.