Regarding this thread, I'm halfway through my re-watch if boardwalk's first season as I get ready for the third season premiere, and I disagree.
The Wire's first season took a while to get up to that "great" level....that's the only thing Boardwalk has over it. Overall The Wire had a better season and is a better series.
I get the video game analogy to a degree, cuz boardwalk being set in the 20s results in a slower pace to the show. I've heard niccas call boardwalk 'boring' and I think that's just because of the pacing.