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August ‘07 Round Table – Updated 8/30
By Corvus | August 30, 2007
We had some great entries last month, thanks to everyone who contributed. It was nice to have entries from people who have studied and worked with Ai! I hope that this month’s topic has the potential to catch fire and start some very interesting conversations, inspiring our regular participants and bringing in even more new ones.
August ‘07 Round Table
Two Different Colors On the Map There’s a tension running through the gaming world right now. On the one side tempers are running high, feelings have been hurt and in some camps it almost feels like they’re planning for a war. The other side is mostly oblivious to the rising tension as they enjoy their games–waggling their Wiimotes in a satisfying manner as they play on their first console ever or logging onto a game portal for 20 minutes of a Zuma clone or Jigsaw Detective on their lunch break. Running between these two camps is an ever increasing number of players who once considered themselves hardcore, but now find the pressures of life eating into their gaming time. No longer do these transitional players have the time or energy for sprawling 60+ hour RPGs and all night MMO sessions and weekend engulfing epic frag-fests.
While some studios and publishers are splitting their focus between “casual” and “hardcore” games, this month’s Round Table asks us to consider another solution–convergence. What can be done from a design standpoint, or what has been done from a design standpoint, to appeal to both audiences with a single title? Pick the game genre you’re most familiar with and pick it apart, looking for opportunities (new or already implemented in an existing game) to appeal to the widest possible audience, suggest a whole new genre of game, or discuss an existing genre that is already taking a convergence approach. Alternately, reasoned arguments against a convergence approach are also welcome.
As always, check the Round Table FAQs (link) for more information on submitting a post. The deadline for entries is September 8th and everyone is welcome to participate!
I’ve opened the table with a quick post that suggests game design could take a lesson from a particular portable gaming platform (link).
Marcus follows up on Verse Studio’s blog asking why we’re even having this conversation and suggesting another approach (link).
Jason Preston joins in with some thoughts on means by which a game can have causal appeal(link).
Although Chris’s entries on Only a Game are typically the best of the lot, I think this entry deserves some sort of extra reward–a gooseberry pie or keg of stout or something. Honestly, I don’t even want to try and pick a salient point to summarize it with, you simply have to go and read it for yourself (link).
[UPDATE 8/30]
Chico builds on Chris’s post about the issue being one of literacy and puts a nice spin on the discussion by referencing other media which appeals to a broad literacy spectrum. He concludes with mention of a game that fits the theme and asks for more suggestions. Be sure to stop by and offer your opinion in his comments (link
Have something to say on the matter? Act now! You’ve got nine days left in which to get your post included in the current Round Table.
August 23rd: be sure to check out a massive Game Carnival over at Yehuda (link).
Tagged:Blogs of the Round Table. | 5 Comments »
August 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I guess I should clarify that this is not really meant to be a discussion about the terms “casual” and “hardcore”. I meant it to be a design challenge. One in which we explore games and gameplay which appeal to a broad spectrum of player, from the occasional player who may not have the attention span to follow a lengthy plot to the regular player who craves the long term challenge of a 40+ hour campaign.
For example: LEGO Star Wars: The Original Trilogy and LotRO’s Monster Play would be excellent games to deconstruct from this perspective. From what I’ve played of Rune Factory so far, it might qualify as well. Plus, I’m sure we can come up with a lot of fun gameplay ideas of our own to explore.
August 20th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Not that you can’t write about whatever you want, of course. Much like most of our entrants usually do! As long as it’s current, strongly tangential and thought provoking, I’m up for including your post.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:35 am
You praise me too greatly, sir. The round table is not a competition, and if it were I sincerely doubt I would win it.
Best wishes!
August 24th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I was having a conversation with another RT participant yesterday and expressing how pleased I am with the consistently high quality of the submissions. Amusingly, I think nearly everyone who has participated on a regular basis has expressed a feeling of unworthiness at one point or another, myself included.
As far as praising you too greatly, I bet if we put that to a vote my perspective would win out. *kniw*
August 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Group hug everyone!
*cackles insanely*