No I don't believe the overall quality of games have changed. It is us, as gamers, who have changed I believe. Listen to someone new to RPGs and they often talk about their first amazing RPG, Final Fantasy X, and how emotional and powerful the story was. Many veteran gamers will disagree, that while it is a very well done game, it just wasn't as memorable. However, the way that new gamer talks about FFX is very similar to how the veteran gamer may talk about Final Fantasy VI or Xenogears. Lot of new games are great but they're just not as amazing to veteran gamers as we've experienced similar quality stories and such before. The suprise or passion felt for the first game that you really get lost in its emotional or epic story will always have a special place. So while some veteran gamers will argue that FF VI is better than FF X, I'll simply argue that I care more for VI in part simply because it was one of the first few memorable RPG stories I can remember. When a game grows that nostalgic, it's hard for a game with similar quality but simply a new setting to compete.

Also the internet has effected single-player gaming in my eyes. Back in the day it was just about the single player experience. You got a game, played it on yer TV, and that was the end of the experience. Maybe you hung out at the local arcade with other gamers face to face too, chatted with real life friends about rumors and secrets, etc.

Now there is so much more. Biggest of all is hype. Ten or even eight years ago, most of us bought our monthly game issues hoping for new info. We based our opinions on just what we saw. Now we generate mass hype on message boards, hype games up far too much. For a lot of people here, they seem to enjoy hyping, buying, and talking about the games more than simply playing them. Seven years ago that was rare, now it's common.

Doesn't end there either. Back in the day where we'd grit out hard games and people would garnish respect for taking out a game like Ghouls & Ghosts. Now we live in an age if easy games and instant access cheat codes. World of spoilers and story discussions. Lot of the simplicity of gaming is gone now. Far more to the hobby that just playing the game for most enthusiasts.

What it comes down to in my eyes is just we as gamers, those who ponder such a question, have matured with our experience. A truely new experience is getting rare. And the flow of information has added entire new tiers to the gaming hobby, far greater hype, anonymous social interaction, and instant access to all knowledge removing the mystery and challenge of the few games that still risk 'hindering' the progress of todays casual gamer. The logic behind this has been applies to thousands of discussions, it's not in the least restricted to gaming. From old women talking about A&W drive-thrus, to fathers of hockey kids recollecting the "good ol days" of the sport. There are so many variables that effect the quality of an experience, and with every new year of the gaming industry, new dynamics are added.