A lot of people seem to think that games should just be fun. However, I'm wondering whether there's a market for games that are not about blowing stuff up, or funny cutesy things jumping around. Games that address serious issues, ask deep questions. Games that may not be fun, or even entertaining, but are touching, and deep, that make you think or simply show you a completely different perspective on things. Sortof like arthouse movies compared to Hollywood movies. Would you buy it? Do you think there's a market for it?
Serious games - seriously?
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Because a super-serious point making deep game would be really really hard to make. First of all, it would have to be a game, not an interactive book. Adventure games don't count. Secondly, it wouldn't make any money. I mean, no adolescents would buy it, few college kids would buy it... There go half your sales. Even if you didn't care about sales, there would still be the problem of the game not being... a game.
So basically if you want deep questions/issues, go read a book or watch a movie. Deep, emotional things that override any other aspects of the game (to a scale you are describing) just don't belong in the game industry.
So basically if you want deep questions/issues, go read a book or watch a movie. Deep, emotional things that override any other aspects of the game (to a scale you are describing) just don't belong in the game industry.
Bioshock (if you've ever read anything by Ayn Rand, then you'll understand).Like Tears In Rain post=9.68654.635820 said:
Metal Gear Solid series (a huge, thick, often confusing and obscure manifesto on Transhumanism and nuclear weapons).
Ico/Shadow of the Collossus (Perfect example of art-house gaming).
Killer7/No More Heroes (Pulp Fiction/Kill Bill of video games).
And they are fun.
There are a few websites that have games with serious themes, such as Darfur is Dying that raise awareness of the situation. The thing is, most people just want to play a game that is fun, not nessesarily deep.
Why would i want to pay $120 for a serious game, i'll only play once, serious is good but waste of money game wise.
The best you can do is interject serious in a game with other, stronger elements.
The best you can do is interject serious in a game with other, stronger elements.
any game that gives up fun for a point has a developer whose head in in his own ass. Games should always be fun, but adding a serious moral statement is still a good idea, just balance the two.
I just like playing RPG type games that are serious about their plot and stuff(Xenogears, of course). Stuff that is mindless action(Halo!, GoW) doesn't appeal to me at all. Of course my friends like that stuff, but their fucking idiots.
Different people are entertained by different things. A deep, engaging story in a game about a serious issue can and is entertainment for a lot of people.
When someone is entertained, they're having fun. When they're having fun while playing a game that someone else didn't have fun playing, does that mean the game is fun/not fun?
When someone is entertained, they're having fun. When they're having fun while playing a game that someone else didn't have fun playing, does that mean the game is fun/not fun?
A game that is all work and no play (makes Johnny a dull boy...sorry, couldn't resist) defeats the point of what a game is, i.e: an amusement. Only those weird Indie college students (I try to avoid them every day...but they follow me) would probably think of purchasing it (and even that would probably be motivated by the desire to look open minded, hip and edgey rather than genuine interest).