tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801344413612447717.post7291863821611186974..comments2024-01-18T16:20:09.743+01:00Comments on Nils' Blog: Fun is not a NumberNilshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06468755466492675831noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801344413612447717.post-47471622360783570542011-08-25T16:38:12.442+02:002011-08-25T16:38:12.442+02:00I think there's a slight problem with the anal...I think there's a slight problem with the analogy.<br /><br />Chess is a single game. By contrast, an MMO is a collection of games all wrapped together in an overall meta-game.<br /><br />I agree with you that many MMOs at the moment are suffering from luring players in with glossy demos and rendered video instead of talking about mechanics and experience. Maybe it's because it's easier to talk about emotive concepts rather than the specifics about what they're building.<br /><br />I think that dissecting MMOs into their constituent games and how they comprise a while could be worthwhile, as it'd allow more analysis. Fun might not be a number, but it is a bit of a jigsaw.Gazimoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17260019919090396465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801344413612447717.post-8328250245875519072011-08-25T14:45:33.912+02:002011-08-25T14:45:33.912+02:00@ Hagu
In keeping with your metaphor of comparing...@ Hagu<br /><br />In keeping with your metaphor of comparing the gaming industry to the movie industry, I would argue that making a mad dash for profit doesn't always pay off. <br /><br />This year hasn't been so great for many "blockbuster" films. Studios are being less subtle about the fact that they're pouring so much money into creating this mindless entertainment that they just assume everyone is going to soak up because they put so much money into it. Look how people are rebelling against the concept of every movie coming out in 3D. Audiences seem to be craving something more or something less obviously flashy.<br /><br />You can still put out a movie of quality and have quality be your priority, while still making a tidy sum at the box office. The two are not mutually exclusive. I think if the quality is there, the rest will come along in time. Hence all the "sleeper hit" type movies. <br /><br />I think if gaming companies stopped trying to be the biggest, the baddest, the shiniest, and focused on the content instead, the rest would all fall into place.Oestrushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306127130817558976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801344413612447717.post-12634194704594102952011-08-25T11:13:09.056+02:002011-08-25T11:13:09.056+02:00Good points, Hagu.
A great game can absolutely do...Good points, Hagu.<br /><br />A great game can absolutely do everything you hate at the start, as long as it can credibly convince you that it is done on purpose and that the designers know what they are doing. You remain curious. (Limbo, Minecraft).<br /><br />A clunky UI is very difficult to sell as 'done on purpose' nowadays; even though there have been times in the far past when the interface was a legitimate part of the challenge.<br /><br />If you can't sell it, give in. If you think your game cannot be fun unless it is 100% balanced, you <b>must</b> balance it!<br /><br />But if you are convinced that this game has so much going for it, and so many reasons to be played and that balancing it would have more negative side effects than is worth it. Then you can come away with a completely unbalanced game. And it will even be better due to this 'weakness'.<br /><br />This is a fine line to walk. Especially as gamers are spoiled by other games. It's like this girl that has five men around her all the time who do her every wish. It is hard to get through to her. But if you can credibly prove your 'worth'* to her, denying her wishes is not a weakness, but a strength.<br /><br />* (I am not talking about moral 'worth'. All humans are equal. I am talking about the subjective respect a human has towards you).<br /><br />It's also the reason why some of the most arrogant and despiteous humans can become great Leaders. Take Churchill.<br /><br />It is the reason why the politicians that win elections usually are not the ones who promised the biggest boons. Voter would feel 'cheap' if they voted for these guys.<br /><br />It is one reason for why Mr. Obama's popularity is coming crashing down on him right now. Jokes, like <a href="http://themoderatevoice.com/120009/obama-give-me-my-little-10-percent/" rel="nofollow">succumbing to his wife 90% of the time</a>, suddenly become a weakness; silly.<br />Had he been able to push through strong tax increases (somehow), people would have laughed about this strong guy succumbing to his wife according to his own words. It would have increased his popularity. Now, it doesn't.<br /><br />There are so many examples .. like the boss who wants to be liked by his team too much. Or the parents that fulfills their children' every wish.<br /><br />Giving in only makes you stronger if you can maintain respect. If there's no respect, every try to 'be liked' worsens your situation.Nilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06468755466492675831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801344413612447717.post-81321909353555781842011-08-25T03:24:37.330+02:002011-08-25T03:24:37.330+02:00Good read and I basically agree.
But I can usua...Good read and I basically agree. <br /><br />But I can usually provide an advocatus diaboli to tweak gamers with a bit of muggle economics.<br /><br />Are the game companies trying to provide a <i>great</i> game? Should they? At least for games that cost over 25 to 50 million US$ and up, isn't maximizing profits of a very good game a better strategy for the company? At some level of investment, it is no longer art but commerce. You can try to make a movie that will get great reviews and wins a Palme D'Or and Sundance. Or you can try to make a movie that grosses as much as Transformers. Having as your goal to do both is unlikely to succeed and not a great strategy.<br /><br />Game companies, all software companies, already make these tradeoff for scope all the time - spending an extra $10mm would indisputably make a better game but would only generate an extra $5mm sales. So why is it not appropriate to say this change would make it more enjoyable for a small group but make it less for this larger group.<br /><br />Considering how very important the opening is (the small % of WoW players that get to level 10; how few hours game reviewers play a game) if I see a game with a clunky opening, I think it is reasonable to say "this game may have a great finish; but that's not the way to bet. If the company did not polish something this important, then it is unlikely the rest is better. Unless I read a lot that says differently, the odds are I am better off moving on." For the exact same reason if you download trial software and the install is obtuse and clunky, that is a very strong suggestion to look elsewhere.<br /><br />There is considerable truth in my joke that for AAA and even AA games, find out what the great gamers want in a game and do the opposite. It is easy to do since these people are happy to identify themselves as a great gamer and offer you their opinion.Haguhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726885305104254286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801344413612447717.post-3527296699638955862011-08-25T01:58:12.608+02:002011-08-25T01:58:12.608+02:00I just want to say that I love this post.
Osterus...I just want to say that I love this post.<br /><br />Osterus has something up on this topic as well:<br /><br />http://www.thestoriesofo.net/2011/08/23/fun/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com