tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post5076547358025552019..comments2023-05-27T11:14:02.426-04:00Comments on Some Space to Think: What Games Do What Well?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-73584279307948349832011-03-10T21:12:49.018-05:002011-03-10T21:12:49.018-05:00Fun thoughts, I'm really enjoying this series....Fun thoughts, I'm really enjoying this series. I've come back to this earlier post to quibble on your thoughts on D&D. If you compare D&D 4E to your list of things Computer Games do well, they have not applied any of them. <br /><br />What they've done is monkey around with fiddly bits like roles in combat and powers. That, to my mind, does not constitute anything like trying to do what MMO's do well. Of course, their original plans to have online virtual game tables and support remote gaming might have done that, but nothing substantial has materialized.<br /><br />So I would say that the 800 pound gorilla is eying that buffet, but they're doing a darn poor job of sidling over to it. It's my estimation that the future of our hobby is at that buffet. If a traditional gaming company doesn't create an online way to provide a true role playing experience, then a video game company will beat them to it.Gokenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16731425203543925430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-85122211154378581672011-02-08T21:13:52.018-05:002011-02-08T21:13:52.018-05:00As a person who has studied both the techniques an...As a person who has studied both the techniques and strategies of <a href="http://gameshastra.com/GameDev_Overview.html" rel="nofollow">game design</a>, this is a topic that I often ponder. My conclusion is that it's not graphics or gimmicks that matter - just playability and consistent challenge.luz reyesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-29131554320604212412011-02-08T21:02:26.037-05:002011-02-08T21:02:26.037-05:00Sounds logical. Might try and check out that book...Sounds logical. Might try and check out that book myself.LoneIslanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03162172122869453950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-55540074796900204512011-02-08T17:32:35.483-05:002011-02-08T17:32:35.483-05:00WotC? If there is an 800 lb gorilla around, I woul...WotC? If there is an 800 lb gorilla around, I would think that it would be the video game manufacturers. Try to be more like a video game and you are competing against one of the most powerful and wealthy sectors of consumer entertainment. Your game will inevitably beg the question: Why aren't you just playing a video game?<br /><br />Honestly, my vote is to pursue the blue ocean strategy. RPGs are capable of SO MUCH that is simply impossible to accomplish with current technology. Why use the seemingly limitless power of the human brain to emulate the limited capabilities of a bank of servers? Why make people crunch numbers when they could be crunching LANGUAGE?<br /><br />I seem to remember that some of the old marketing research WotC did around the turn of the century demonstrated that gamers tend to enjoy all kinds of games. Why try to sell them a PnP game that is, by definition, HARDER to use than a piece of software they probably already have?<br /><br />And even if the blue ocean targets a niche... targeting niches (and doing it well) is a perfectly legit way to maintain a profitable business.buzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06243298798049780695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-55963354240088871002011-02-08T14:03:44.088-05:002011-02-08T14:03:44.088-05:00@A.L. Good links, and a good plug! Thanks!
@Jonat...@A.L. Good links, and a good plug! Thanks!<br /><br />@Jonathan I actually agree completely for the need for research and development, but those represent large enough challenges in their own right that I steered clear of the topic.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-27288363892370221762011-02-08T13:45:11.600-05:002011-02-08T13:45:11.600-05:00there’s no real measure of how much of a market ex...<i>there’s no real measure of how much of a market exists for such games</i><br />Market research perhaps? <br /><br /><i>no clear course of action for design.</i><br />Again, see above.<br /><br />Sorry -- not trying to be snarky. I just don't think you need to try to produce, publish, and market a game blindly and hope it sells as the only means to find a new/better market for ttRPGs. With careful market research, and by building a tribe of dedicated fans whose opinions you trust, you can find your market. The building the fans part doesn't mean producing, selling, marketing games either. usually it means giving people something they already value: content, on a regular basis. OK, I'll stop now since this is about to turn into a Seth Godin infomercial...<br /><br />You hint at something key here: what do table top games do WELL that video games try to do well but struggle with. That's easy: they are social. Dispite all the headsets, FB integration, VoIP tech, etc etc seen in all the new online games - they still and may never don't beat board games or table top RPGs in terms of the social interaction. There's just no replacement for face-to-face gaming.<br /><br />Of course, the BIGGEST draw for videogames is the pick-up-and-play aspect of the games. You don't need to plan a game night, just fire up your PC or XBOX and your golden. And games like WoW or COD offer enough social interaction (for some) to be satisfying enough to scratch that "I had fun with other people today" itch.<br /><br />I think the latter point here is where table top games, esp. RPGs, could see some innovation. A game that can span multiple sessions (like RPG "campaigns"), while simultaneously capturing that pick up and play dynamic would be a win win. I have some ideas that integrate technology into this, but inexperience and time constraints make it impossible to do alone. <br /><br />Google : "Social Media Roleplaying Game" - Mike's article should be the first hit. It's something Mike Brewer and I wrote about over on The Core Mechanic and Mad Brew Labs about a year ago.<br /><br />Food for thought maybe?Jonathan Jacobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06133232985480734844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-62559888330433414462011-02-08T11:24:16.734-05:002011-02-08T11:24:16.734-05:00This is an interesting topic, and thanks for the b...This is an interesting topic, and thanks for the book link I'll have to look into it.<br /><br />I discussed the topic of video games vs. table top RPGs briefly with a couple of posts on <a href="http://www.realityrefracted.com" rel="nofollow">Reality Refracted</a> back in the summer. There was also a couple of interesting comments on them if you're looking for some other perspectives.<br /><br />I'm shamelessly plugging my stuff here now, sorry :D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.realityrefracted.com/2010/08/videogames-just-cant-compare.html" rel="nofollow"> Video Games < Table Top </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.realityrefracted.com/2010/08/where-videogames-beat-table-top.html" rel="nofollow"> Video Games > Table Top</a>A.L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05306497273874881493noreply@blogger.com