An analysis on how mobile/casual games have exploded into the market in recent years and why it is that people who play these kinds of games on a daily basis are, by definition, gamers themselves.
Also includes a short section on why a lot of people decide to ignore such a definition and instead criticize those who play casual games like Tiny Tower and Bejeweled.
Funny title! I would also include Angry birds if the writer decides to talk about multiple games, because Angry bird's popularity led to animated shorts and a film that will come out in 2016. – YsabelGo9 years ago
I find mobile games fascinating- whoever writes this should definitely watch the game theory episode about Candy Crush, and the psychology it uses to keep players intrigued. – akasharose9 years ago
Interesting idea. My mother would never consider herself a gamer, but she plays solitaire on her phone on the train home from work every day. – MichelleAjodah9 years ago
There is a great deal of psychology behind why these games can be so addicting. It's actually really interesting, and it will be interesting to see how whoever takes this explores the topic. – Vexliss8 years ago
This makes me want to interview my parents on the subject. My dad considers himself a gamer though he doesn't have time to play much other than Marvel's Contest of Champions. But my mother detests the idea even though she plays more mobile games than him. – TGoutos8 years ago
Many childhoods involve classic Nintendo games that are still ongoing series, like Mario, Zelda, and Sonic. People still play their games when they are older but have different experiences, some of these games, like super smash and pokemon, are even used in game tournaments. Analyze how some of these games still hold entertainment for all ages, some fail in a certain age group, and maybe what these games should be doing to provide for both audiences. The evolution of certain game series should be taken into account for as well.
Maybe discuss the distinct need and benefits (and potential harms) of having games with these extremes, those which equally appeal to all ages, but also those which exclude either adults or children from finding enjoyment. Perhaps ask whether there should be a widening or narrowing of appeal, and I would suggest not just focusing on Nintendo. I don't think this needs to just be focused on old games which have been accepted by an adult audience. – Matthew Sims9 years ago
The lifespans of demographics are fascinating. – Ian Boucher9 years ago
It seems that thought-provoking and emotionally-stirring stories are finally starting to matter in the vicissitudinous video game industry. Games such as The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite have been lauded for taking new directions in their approach to narration and storytelling. Even more notable examples include Telltale's Walking Dead, the Stanley Parable, Gone Home and (most famously) Journey, all of which have received critical acclaim from critics and players alike for their strong focus on story and narration. As technology advances and budgets are expanded to include professional storytellers from art, literature, television and cinema, it seems that some in the video game industry is willing to undertake more ambitious and creative projects in regards to how games can tell a heartfelt story. With all this mind, will the video game industry eventually be primarily focused on storytelling and narration?
This has been going on since the beginning of the Final Fantasy series, which have evolved into one of the largest and greatest video game series of all time. The story lines and cinematics in these games have become more complex and longer in duration than many films. It would be interesting to look at the adaption of Hollywood filmic techniques to the video game film, especially with regards to animation. – 50caliburlexicon9 years ago
I feel like whoever picks this up can definitely explore RPGs in general. I know for me, as a gamer, I definitely have a stronger preference for games that have a story. In fact, if you look at Film Theory and Game theory there are a couple of videos that explore video games as the future of film. – Jemarc Axinto9 years ago
As much as it pains me to say, Story mode in video games has slowly become more and more obsolete. While I and many other gamers appreciate and enjoy the classic story mode or single player campaign, we are in the minority. Modern gaming markets itself towards those in favor of more online experiences. Modern gamers prefer to purchase the yearly triple A titles containing little or minimal effort regarding their stories, or a a game with no story at all. Unless more triple A games focus on creating decent single player modes with an emphasis on story, stories in games will slowly dissipate. – Soarin139 years ago
While many gamers who have been playing said games with deep and compelling stories I don't believe that all video games will ever need to have a story to it. Remember that just as there many genres of music and television and films, the same goes for video games. Not every genre of games need a story within it nor a full background detailing the characters or players within the games themselves. You don't need to have stories for puzzle, racing, sports, etc genres of video games. Do some video game makers add stories into those categories? Yes, and there have been quite a handful of them that have become quite popular to the masses. Take for example Minecraft. For so many years it has just been a sandbox game of survival or free creativity. Yet now we have a Minecraft Storymode and it has hit off well with many people including some well known YouTubers who specialize in playing the original Minecraft game. Are games with stories behind them compelling? Yes. Are stories needed in every single game created or to be created? No, absolutely not. But I'm sure that there are some genres that can mix well with a well written story to them. – CorbynCostello9 years ago
The major mediums of entertainment are starting to overlap more and more. This is the nature of visual entertainment. And I don't think that's a bad thing at all. Hollywood films are looking to gain the immersion of gaming and video games are looking to gain the cinematic storytelling artistry of film. They are learning from each other and that's fantastic. Filmmaking has been around for over a hundred years so that industry has a large wealth of experience to draw from.
– jamstew9 years ago
It would be interesting to discuss how a badly executed story/ending can affect the game's reception (E.g. Mass Effect 3). Also, another interesting point to discuss is the player's interaction with the story and his or her influence on the plot (via an in game choice system). How has this interaction evolved? How big are those choices and how significantly can they affect the story and game play? Do they add real value, or are they just marketing gimmicks? Another point would be the addition of morality systems and controversial choices. It would also be interesting to discuss the above in light of the emerging virtual reality technologies such as the Oculus Rift. How would this technology affect the player's perception and level of emotional immersion to the story and characters? – kkshoury9 years ago
Soarin13 has a point. But I think the reason many triple A, blockbuster games are avoiding complex and engaging stories is because they're focusing on multifaceted online play. Whether that is a good trade-off, I don't know (I think it isn't), but it would be interesting to explore whether or not gripping and sophisticated stories can be fused with online multiplayer. Mass Effect tried and, in my opinion, did a great job of it in ME3. GoW4 tried and failed miserably. – Bo449 years ago
I agree that story telling and narration are one of the strongest aspects of any good video game. But let's not forget that a good story isn't the only thing that makes for a great game. They must also have great gameplay. For example, although I really enjoy Telltale's stories (although they are beginning to become devalued by their abundance), they have some of the worst gameplay mechanics I have ever experienced. Plus, their engines are broken. On the other hand, I think something like Spec Ops: The Line is a great game because the gameplay is just as tight as any other shooter and the story is absolutely phenomenal. – torourke9 years ago
Nintendo's place in the history of the video games industry is undeniable. However, this gaming generation they have stumbled. The Wii U has failed to successfully succeed it's predecessor the Wii. The quality of it's games have never wavered. This remains Nintendo's saving grace. They have always maintain that they are a game company and hardware is secondary. Nintendo has received much criticism for their business strategies, many suggesting they abandoned their hardware altogether.
Many have defended Nintendo's strategy, as being paramount to maintaining the quality of their games. Is the coupling of their games with hardware essential? Would Nintendo be better served by becoming a software maker only? Some have argued that the handheld gaming market has been taken over by mobile games. At first Nintendo felt no need to go mobile. However, they have changed course and have already begun releasing mobile games. Nintendo will not be porting their most popular games, but will utilize their vast roster of characters. Is it too late? How will this change affect their dominance in the handheld market?
Recently Nintendo has released software development kits for the NX, their next console. Rumors have been circulating that it's a hybrid of a home console and handheld. Would this solve the issue? Another rumor out on the internet is that Nintendo has finally embraced focusing on power. Can this change in strategy finally get the elusive third parties on board? Overall, Nintendo has failed to recapture the success of the Wii. Their games have continued to sell and receive critical acclaim. However, this alone cannot help them return to the top of the gaming industry they help save in the 80's. Will their next console pick up where the Wii left off? Is the gaming industry overreacting to the underwhelming reaction to the Wii U?
Even if Nintendo is struggling after the failure of the Wii-U they still will always be in the top 3 consoles. The console war between Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft I believe will always hold the top sections unless Steam or another company can get a large enough audience to begin putting their foot into the arena. Nintendo has had its ups and downs but I believe with their next line up of titles (Zelda Wii-U especially) will help drive sales. If the rumors and a few other topics I have seen are true about the NX and its power and place in the next generation of consoles I expect great things from Nintendo and the new foothold they will have and what they will be able to work with if they have a powerhouse of a system. – GiovanniZeko9 years ago
Great topic! I think it will always be in the big 3. I think what is most notable about them is that they pioneer new ways to play. Systems tend to follow suit. Nintendo has a consistent recipe that they don't let go of, which may make it feel like a stagnant console, with party games and well known repeated characters and titles. However, GameBoy and Wii changed the game and systems followed in that direction. I believe Pokemon Go will be a huge victory for them based on the buzz on the internet about it. It's basically a re-imagination of Pokemon Snap, so I believe Nintendo learns from it's mistakes and then does infinitely better. To only wait 3-4 years to announce the next console, it sounds as though something good is coming to replace a weaker investment. As whole Nintendo may be safe. – Aurianna Mansell9 years ago
Although it is still making its way in the market, I would say that Nintendo is failing at capturing audiences like it used to. It seems like most games are for parties and kids, which is fun and all but it falls short when it comes to older gamers that are looking for addicting story-lines and-game play. I know many people who sold their Wii because they got board with it. That saying Nintendo can't hold its place if it can't sustain its legendary image. – LaRose9 years ago
Until Dawn and Life is Strange are both video games this year that have tackled the idea of the butterfly effect. Both are cinematic adventure games with a heavy focus on narrative, and both are built around the consequences of choices the player makes. Does one game do things better than the other in this regard? Does Until Dawn lack a unique mechanic when compared to Life is Strange's time-travel powers, or does the latter overcomplicate things? Which game creates a better network of cause and effect, and which does a better job of maintaining that web?
I enjoyed both of these games and the only similarity between them is the idea of the butterfly effect. I think Until Dawn utilizes the idea of player choice better, simply because there is multiple endings one could acquire. In Life is Strange, no matter your previous decisions in the game, your ending is either A or B. – Lexzie9 years ago
As game developers cut costs on flashy graphics and powerful game engines, story, creativity, and unique aesthetics are becoming vital. Consider "The Wolf Among Us" from Tell Tale Games. There is action in the game, of course, but only in a minimalist sense. The game's strength is in story telling, a signature "look", player choice, and voice acting. Still, at its core, the game is a new take on the old school point-and-click detective games (think Carmen San Diego). Is this a sustainable model? Can these sorts of games and developers continue to compete with blockbuster games like Mass Effect, Halo, etc?
I would argue that story and creativity are taking a back seat to flashy graphics, at least for the most part. Consider the Final Fantasy series: the 6th game, originally released for SNES, is widely considered the greatest in the series (right next to its successor, FFVII). Most of the series has incredible depth; each thought-provoking story is an exciting adventure of philosophical inquiry. However, you will notice that this characteristic begins to decline as the series reaches its later games. The number one thing we must consider in answering your question is the depth of the game in SOME defining aspect of the game. For example, games that virtually do not end, e.g. Skyrim, have a very sustainable model even though I've found much better storylines in older 2D games. My issue with the industry is this focus on the architects: building beautiful and realistic settings but leaving those settings devoid storyline depth--the "epic" nature of the adventure seems to be eroding quickly. This critique is obviously rooted in the adventure/RPG genre, since FPS is arguably the most sustainable model, yet not the most satisfying for those of us who grew up considering an array of thought-provoking stories. I can't remember the last time I played a point-and-click game, but I did watch the game play for the game in your example and it seemed like something I would indeed enjoy--an interactive comic. This type of game is considerably cheaper to produce and therefore they would be able to focus on the depth of the story, and with an array of choices that change how the game unfolds, like a text-based adventure, I think it can sustain itself against the mass appeal of the major genres. – Xeades9 years ago
Xeades, you have to remember that providing helpful notes is to provide inspiration or ideas for writers who may take this and write it out themselves. I was guilty of that myself, but we have to keep in mind that if we try to "answer" or discuss the subject, it might satiate any kind of curiosity for another writer to go out and write out the topic. Try to give suggestions as to help someone who might like to write the topic! – N.D. Storlid9 years ago
Persona 4 and it's spinoffs have tended to be everyone's go-to game when it comes to the Shin Megami Tensai series. Especially with the new Persona 5 and SMTxFE coming out, what are some other great games to start out with and prepare for some of these new games.
Talk about some other Shin Megami Tensai games that make the series the fantasic blockbuster it is such as Devil Survivor, the original Shin Megami Tensai games, Soul Hackers, etc.
This would be interesting. I think factors like mood, difficulty, genre, and contents warning(i.e. strong religious content for SMT 2) should be considered to make the list since SMT was used to be more of hardcore gamers' series; some gamers might be put off by older series' first person RPG perspective, or might not be interested in emotionally stressful scenes etc. Of course, people might be even more intrigued when there is a warning sign. – idleric9 years ago
I can understand that. Of course the term "to each his own" is a commonality in the SMT games as each series displays different gameplay and depth into each story. So it would definitely be best if when talking about a game, the writer of the article mentions mechanics that differ from other games of the series and how they may appeal to certain gamers. For example, Devil Survivor carries a style of game mechanics similar to Fire Emblem square movement mechanics mixed in with Pokemon-style battle style. Basically if you like this play style then you might like this game kinda thing. – Kevin Mohammed9 years ago
The use of various different animals in the episodic video game "Life is Strange" span from spirit animals to breeds of dogs assigned to people who buy drugs from Frank to even scientific theories (ie the Butterfly effect). There is a wide selection of animals to choose from, but the five with the most subject matter on would probably be: the deer, butterflies, dogs, whales and birds (specifically, the blue jay).
Discuss the meanings and connotations certain animals have in "Life is Strange" and perhaps which human they can be assigned with.
Does Frank's buyers list accurately reflect who he has assigned to a certain breed? Is there any significant meaning to the list at all?
What do the various appearances of the butterfly represent? Does it always show up when the Butterfly Effect in practice?
Max points out that the deer is specifically a doe and it seems to be connected directly to her. What is their relation? – LaRose9 years ago
