I've been hearing the argument that companies care more about graphics than gameplay, and that most new games suck for, let's see....

hmm. Ever since 3D accelerators were introduced. Maybe even earlier. And you know what? It's no more true now than it was then. I can name offhand a dozen quality games released within the last year or so.

If you can't find good games, you're simply not looking. Either that or you have stratospheric expectactions and demands.

The good ole days are a myth. If I had the patience, I could flip through my very old gaming mags and list quite a few trashy games from back in da day. Leather Goddesses of Phobos, anyone?