[quote=@Kidd]
[@Ace of Hearts] I agree completely! In the end it's all opinion. 

However, I stand by the [s]fact [/s]opinion that games aren't being held to the same standards of quality as they used to. Not by developers necessarily, but by gamers. And this is what I mean by it's easier to make "bad" games but this isn't necessarily a bad thing: it's easier for people to play games than it's ever been before, creating a bigger audience. And I think this is cool!! [b]However, you can't please everyone with every game so I feel like some games are often watered down / simplified to appeal to more people (and yes, I would still include Skyrim and Oblivion on that list, but I still love the games nonetheless).[/b]

And if you're okay with that, that's fine. But I encourage people to figure out what they [I]really[/I] like in a game and seek out games and/or developers that cater to that. 

But on a side note: "...acting like his opinions on how games should be made are objective facts." If you lack conviction, your opinion probably isn't worth stating tbh. I just assume everything everyone says is nothing more than an opinion unless it's academic and backed by "objective" sources, haha. Even if they present it "objectively."
[/quote]

Well, exactly. You can't please everyone. 

I really don't feel that the ES series is being watered down. I think that they've removed some elements that really only ever boiled down to busywork or redundant mechanics. 

Mechanical complexity doesn't really translate to depth, a lot of the time.

Example: Morrowind and Oblivion both feature attributes. To increase your Magicka, you increase your intelligence at level up. In this case, Intelligence is a middleman. Increase up your intelligence to increase your mana pool. Whereas in Skyrim, you increase your mana to increase your mana. 

That's just one example, but in all honesty, the removal of attributes isn't really a big deal, as the only ones that are really 'lost' are Agility and Speed.

Everything else is subjective though. I'm fine with Quest Markers, fine with an easier journal system, fine with a game that's attempting to be accessible to wider audiences. 

Because that leads into a slippery slope of gamer elitism. The idea that the 'casuals' are ruining vidya.