[jplusequalt]

>all this hand wringing on performance, graphics, quality quality quality, has just resulted in basically same stuff as what I was doing with my computer in 2000 but with enormous resource use in compariso

Mordern GPUs are streaming multiprocessors. Complaining that GPUs use a ton of resources is like complaining that a firehose uses a ton of water. Maximum data throughput is the point!

>But that isn't what any of that is. Same old. And the effort spent, the resources, the energy. All for more polygons on Lara Croft

There are MANY novel games being released every year. It's up to you to find them.

[asdff]

I'm willing to bet all those novel games would have still been great games if they took their underlying mechanics and were making them in early 2000s with that era graphics. Ray tracing isn't a game mechanic. Neither is hair physics.

[jplusequalt]

I'm not sure where people get the idea that graphics quality is the root issue with modern AAA games. When a great game is released and it looks amazing (Baldurs Gate 3), nobody is taking issue with the graphics.