Howcum none of the games available on download have the great visuals and sound that used to be in the best games - like the myst series, siberia and even the old dream catcher games? Is it a matter of bandwidth?

Run that by me again?
I don't follow you.
What are these games that are available for download but don't measure up, in your view, to Myst or Syberia?
You say 'none' but I'll just ask for a few.
And no fair mentioning Cognition or Resonance since they are purposely devoid of great visuals.

Gil.

Maybe you're not looking in the right shops, Orfyn.
Here are some games with beautiful visuals:
http://www.gog.com/game/memoria
http://www.shinyloot.com/the-raven-digital-deluxe-edition?re=Adventure-all-games-95

a little older, though not as old as the Myst series or Syberia
http://www.gog.com/game/the_dark_eye_chains_of_satinav
http://www.gog.com/game/the_book_of_unwritten_tales
http://www.shinyloot.com/black-mirror-2
http://www.shinyloot.com/black-mirror-3

Perhaps not the best visuals, but still very good
http://www.shinyloot.com/gray-matter?re=Adventure-all-games-41

A little cartoony, but still beautiful visuals
http://www.gog.com/game/the_night_of_the_rabbit
http://www.gog.com/game/the_whispered_world

And that doesn't even include games that aren't quite adventures (feature exploration but lacking in puzzles) like Dear Esther
http://store.steampowered.com/app/203810

Perhaps I am misunderstood. I was referring to the newer games that are available only on download. Many seem so cartoon like in the in the art work.
I have looked at many games on the adventure shop, etc. I recently bought a download of Lost Horizons, which I found to be a good game to play, but found the artwork and sound a tad lacking. And it seemed to be one of the better ones from the previews. Jenny, I will look at some of your suggestions.

to GameBoomers, Orfyn. I agree with you that there seem to have been so many (too many?) cartoon-graphic adventures released recently.

That doesn't mean that their visuals aren't great, however. It's just a matter of taste and preference. Personally, they send me running for the hills while foaming at the mouth, but they must be doing something right for so many developers to continue making games in that style. Perhaps the new generation of gamers prefer them.

Okay, I think I understand you now.
Grey Matter?
Cognition?
The new (sloppy, IMO) trend toward an ancient, pixelated look.
Oh, yes, I'm with you and Rushes, assuming I'm really on your wavelength.
But Lost Horizon? (Box available, btw.)
I thought that was outstanding myself.

Gil.

I have to agree, I don't care for the cartoon or the hand drawn graphics games. There are a few exceptions but I prefer something that has great graphics and looks real. I too enjoyed Lost Horizon!

So back to my original question, do you think that the trend towards cartoonish artwork is a matter of bandwidth for quick and easy
downloading, or maybe economics (ie, cheaper to produce?)

When is your basis for comparison?
Since last year?
Since the mid-2000's?
Since the late 1990's?

If you see fewer "realistic"-looking games being made than a few years ago, it's most likely due to fewer first person games being made. First person games tend to use more "realistic" graphics while 3rd person games can be either realistic (Syberia) or cartoony (Deponia). Many of the game companies that made first person games have gone out of business (Cryo, Kheops, Galilea, Arxel, Detalion), and current developers are mostly making 3rd person games, which can be either cartoony or not.

I agree with Orfyn! Alot of the newer games are kind of "cartoony".

I suspect that is partly a trend and partly the current economic situation, many developers don't have the capital to sink into expensive graphics and sound....it can cost millions!

But that is alright with me, I do enjoy a lot of the newer games! The main thing for me is the "story" and the gameplay.

I played Gemini Rue, with its retro pixilated look and thought it was awesome!

Orfyn...I agree with you....Its cheaper for the developer to produce cartoon games....

There has been so many cartoon AG's in the last 5 years....

I also said <GEEZZ> Why all these cartoon type games.....I believe the program engines to make the games are cheaper to produce...

"It's cheaper for the developer to produce cartoon games...."

I don't know about that, Darleen03.
Broken Age, which is definitely not realistic, took in well over three million dollars in crowd funding (and it ain't ready yet).

Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse, which took in a little over $771,000, is "cartoony" in the best sense and we're all a lot of us are looking forward to it.
George and Nico just wouldn't be the same (let alone Lady Piermont) if they were realistic.

Tex Murphy: Tesla Effect, which is not cartoony at all, is coming out on time and took in a sixth of Broken Age's funding.

I don't think you can say flatly that cartoon graphics are cheaper to produce.
I think who makes them has a lot to do with the cost of making the game and the quality of what we get.

Gil.