Comments on: End of the Adventure? http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/ EZ-Mode Unlocked Podcast and Blog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:22:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: StripMahjong http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-182 StripMahjong Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:40:58 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-182 For me, I guess I've never sat down and really thought about what specific characteristics would define an adventure game. It is difficult to pinpoint. I think the number one thing for me is that an adventure game focuses more on telling a story than gameplay. I agree with Annie that there is a lot of cross-over... I'm playing Luminous Arc on the DS right now, which is a strategy RPG, but you could make a pretty convincing argument that it's actually more of an adventure game with a SRPG combat system attached to it. Part of the problem may be that the name of the genre is just too vague. A "first person shooter" is a game involving lots of shooting from a first person perspective. A "real-time strategy" game is one in which you command troops in real-time. An "adventure" game is...one where you go on an adventure? On a side note: I also agree with you on JRPGs, Annie. That's a genre I am concerned about, especially since even Japan doesn't seem all that interested in them anymore and they've never been very (mainstream) popular in the west. Atlas seems to be the only company with any serious interest in the genre anymore. For me, I guess I’ve never sat down and really thought about what specific characteristics would define an adventure game. It is difficult to pinpoint. I think the number one thing for me is that an adventure game focuses more on telling a story than gameplay. I agree with Annie that there is a lot of cross-over… I’m playing Luminous Arc on the DS right now, which is a strategy RPG, but you could make a pretty convincing argument that it’s actually more of an adventure game with a SRPG combat system attached to it.

Part of the problem may be that the name of the genre is just too vague. A “first person shooter” is a game involving lots of shooting from a first person perspective. A “real-time strategy” game is one in which you command troops in real-time. An “adventure” game is…one where you go on an adventure?

On a side note: I also agree with you on JRPGs, Annie. That’s a genre I am concerned about, especially since even Japan doesn’t seem all that interested in them anymore and they’ve never been very (mainstream) popular in the west. Atlas seems to be the only company with any serious interest in the genre anymore.

]]> By: Annie http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Annie Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:42:45 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-180 Thanks for doing a feature on adventure games! It is a difficult genre to define, because there is so much cross-over these days, in part due to the pressure to constantly re-invent. I just hope that shooting won't take over the world; we are already seeing it invade RPGs like Mass Effect and Fallout, and the slower paced gameplay seems to be fading. The real genre in danger in my opinion is JRPGs. Sure, there is Final Fantasy to look forward to, but what else? Quick question: I kind of consider the new Prince of Persia to be an adventure game now. What do you think? Thanks for doing a feature on adventure games! It is a difficult genre to define, because there is so much cross-over these days, in part due to the pressure to constantly re-invent. I just hope that shooting won’t take over the world; we are already seeing it invade RPGs like Mass Effect and Fallout, and the slower paced gameplay seems to be fading. The real genre in danger in my opinion is JRPGs. Sure, there is Final Fantasy to look forward to, but what else?

Quick question: I kind of consider the new Prince of Persia to be an adventure game now. What do you think?

]]> By: Frank Lloyd Wrong http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Frank Lloyd Wrong Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:21:30 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-177 Well an adventure game to me has two basic qualifiers: A real-life (or in some cases fantastical) mystery to be solved, and the ability to travel from location to location to solve that mystery through investigation of those locations and talking with people who may or may not be involved. I typically don't count games like Condemned or Silent Hill, because these games are crafted more to scare the crap out of you than anything else. I consider games like the Myst and Lighthouse series to be puzzle games, as there aren't any people or any real-life mystery to unravel. (Especially in the case of Myst, where the story really already took place, and your job consists of undoing the damage.) Well an adventure game to me has two basic qualifiers: A real-life (or in some cases fantastical) mystery to be solved, and the ability to travel from location to location to solve that mystery through investigation of those locations and talking with people who may or may not be involved. I typically don’t count games like Condemned or Silent Hill, because these games are crafted more to scare the crap out of you than anything else. I consider games like the Myst and Lighthouse series to be puzzle games, as there aren’t any people or any real-life mystery to unravel. (Especially in the case of Myst, where the story really already took place, and your job consists of undoing the damage.)

]]> By: Oatmeal25 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Oatmeal25 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:28:50 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-174 The origins of my Adventure gaming days: >Turn Left You're facing a stained glass window. There's a midget petting a talking shitzu while an Ogre plays "Ode to the Golden Temple" on his mouth harp. There's a flask on a chair. >Get Flask You're holding a Flask >Smack Midget with Flask Actually I'm a little confused by what the term "Adventure game" means. Would Myst fit into that genre? Because in the 90s and onward Myst was a pretty dry experience when compared to the "newly" blossoming world of FPSs. Hopefully these two titles have incredible (and somewhat original) story telling. It's something that is sadly lacking in 99% of the games being released. I would gladly give up graphic fidelity for an interesting story. The origins of my Adventure gaming days:
>Turn Left
You’re facing a stained glass window. There’s a midget petting
a talking shitzu while an Ogre plays “Ode to the Golden Temple”
on his mouth harp. There’s a flask on a chair.
>Get Flask
You’re holding a Flask
>Smack Midget with Flask

Actually I’m a little confused by what the term “Adventure game” means. Would Myst fit into that genre? Because in the 90s and onward Myst was a pretty dry experience when compared to the “newly” blossoming world of FPSs.

Hopefully these two titles have incredible (and somewhat original) story telling. It’s something that is sadly lacking in 99% of the games being released. I would gladly give up graphic fidelity for an interesting story.

]]> By: StripMahjong http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-173 StripMahjong Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:17:38 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-173 Well, I never actually said the genre is healthier than it's ever been, I said it's healthier than it has been in over a decade (the 90s, as you mentioned). And though you are absolutely right that there have been amazingly few (if any) adventure games released on the 360 or PS3, I don't think that necessarily means the genre isn't getting better than it was doing at the end of the 90s. Adventure games still aren't popular enough (right now) to put them on the major consoles without major risk, in no small part due to the fact that the majority of gamers on those platforms are more interested in the next multiplayer FPS rather than the next Monkey Island game. Games like the two you posted about may change that, as you said, but until then it's smarter from a business perspective to release those games where there are interested consumers (PC & DS), and a lot more of them than I think most people realize have indeed been getting released on those platforms in the last few years, some of them even receiving a little bit of gaming media attention (Strong Bad & Sam & Max, both by the same company, I think). Again, I'm not saying the best days are yet to come for the genre, I just think things are only going to get better in the coming years for it than it has been since the turn of the millennium. I don't see the current/coming gaming era as one where adventure gaming may finally die, I see it as one where the genre could finally be taken off of the life support it's been on since the 90s came to an end. Heavy Rain and Alan Wake succeeding or failing would help or hinder that process immensely, no doubt, but I don't think they are the last chance for the genre. Well, I never actually said the genre is healthier than it’s ever been, I said it’s healthier than it has been in over a decade (the 90s, as you mentioned). And though you are absolutely right that there have been amazingly few (if any) adventure games released on the 360 or PS3, I don’t think that necessarily means the genre isn’t getting better than it was doing at the end of the 90s. Adventure games still aren’t popular enough (right now) to put them on the major consoles without major risk, in no small part due to the fact that the majority of gamers on those platforms are more interested in the next multiplayer FPS rather than the next Monkey Island game. Games like the two you posted about may change that, as you said, but until then it’s smarter from a business perspective to release those games where there are interested consumers (PC & DS), and a lot more of them than I think most people realize have indeed been getting released on those platforms in the last few years, some of them even receiving a little bit of gaming media attention (Strong Bad & Sam & Max, both by the same company, I think). Again, I’m not saying the best days are yet to come for the genre, I just think things are only going to get better in the coming years for it than it has been since the turn of the millennium. I don’t see the current/coming gaming era as one where adventure gaming may finally die, I see it as one where the genre could finally be taken off of the life support it’s been on since the 90s came to an end. Heavy Rain and Alan Wake succeeding or failing would help or hinder that process immensely, no doubt, but I don’t think they are the last chance for the genre.

]]> By: Frank Lloyd Wrong http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Frank Lloyd Wrong Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:33:40 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-172 Since Indigo Prophecy, how many adventure games have their been for the 360 and PS3? And how successful have they been? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE adventure games, and I want to see a revival of the genre, but I can't agree that the genre is healthier now than its ever been. During the 90's when PC gaming was a bestselling video game platform, adventure games were stunning, plentiful, and moneymaking. (Mostly because of the point-and-click interface, I surmise) But there hasn't been anything. Clearly developers are favoring fast-moving, action based franchises. (sports and platformers aside.) But In my opinion the golry days of Sierra and Interplay PC adventure games are currently behind us. With Heavy Rain and Alan Wake, I think we're seeing developers realize the potential of these games with the new computing power they have behind consoles, as well as the maturing video-gamer base. (As mentioned in the Heavy Rain interview) The fact that developers are taking a chance on these two games in fantastic! I believe that these games have to sell for other developers to start putting money behind the genre again. Since Indigo Prophecy, how many adventure games have their been for the 360 and PS3? And how successful have they been? Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE adventure games, and I want to see a revival of the genre, but I can’t agree that the genre is healthier now than its ever been. During the 90’s when PC gaming was a bestselling video game platform, adventure games were stunning, plentiful, and moneymaking. (Mostly because of the point-and-click interface, I surmise) But there hasn’t been anything. Clearly developers are favoring fast-moving, action based franchises. (sports and platformers aside.) But In my opinion the golry days of Sierra and Interplay PC adventure games are currently behind us. With Heavy Rain and Alan Wake, I think we’re seeing developers realize the potential of these games with the new computing power they have behind consoles, as well as the maturing video-gamer base. (As mentioned in the Heavy Rain interview) The fact that developers are taking a chance on these two games in fantastic! I believe that these games have to sell for other developers to start putting money behind the genre again.

]]> By: StripMahjong http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/2009/03/25/end-of-the-adventure/comment-page-1/#comment-171 StripMahjong Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:16:05 +0000 http://www.ezmodeunlocked.com/?p=637#comment-171 To be honest, I have to disagree. I think the adventure genre is healthier now than it has been in well over a decade and only getting stronger. The fact that there are two (though you could argue we haven't seen enough of Alan Wake yet to really categorize it) big name adventure titles coming out in the relatively-near future is proof of its strength in my opinion, not its imminent demise. Browse around AdventureGamers.com's games list and I think you'll be surprised at just how many adventure games have come out in the past few years. Are they all triple-a titles? No, of course not. Is the genre as big as it once was? Nope, and it possibly never will be again. But is adventure gaming experiencing its last death throes? I think it's very much the opposite. Things will likely only get better for the genre in the coming years as it continues to slowly but surely regain popularity. To be honest, I have to disagree. I think the adventure genre is healthier now than it has been in well over a decade and only getting stronger. The fact that there are two (though you could argue we haven’t seen enough of Alan Wake yet to really categorize it) big name adventure titles coming out in the relatively-near future is proof of its strength in my opinion, not its imminent demise. Browse around AdventureGamers.com’s games list and I think you’ll be surprised at just how many adventure games have come out in the past few years. Are they all triple-a titles? No, of course not. Is the genre as big as it once was? Nope, and it possibly never will be again. But is adventure gaming experiencing its last death throes? I think it’s very much the opposite. Things will likely only get better for the genre in the coming years as it continues to slowly but surely regain popularity.

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