My OperaInter-gamer relations and habits
Monday, September 17, 2007 12:33:32 AM
The game industry is constantly looking for ways to get newer demographics (people) to play video games as well as keep older generations of gamers coming back for more. Nintendo's strategy was to pursue the golden trophy, the demographic of folks who may not play games at all or those who used to play but are too scared to touch buttons on an otherwise overly complicated controller. They developed the Wii for those who just want to pick up something simple, have it feel cognitively easy and fun, and to put it down again after about 10 to 15 minutes. This seems to be working, but Iwata isn't convinced they are quite there yet, and I'm not either. Judging by the few titles that have any staying/lasting power, I'd say there is still much work to be done. For the record, the games on Wii that are lasting experiences in my opinion, are these...
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Elebits
Super Paper Mario
Super Mario Galaxy
Resident Evil 4
However, shifting gears over to the hardcore fan base, those of us gamers who will continue to be gamers are somewhat of a problem too because we get bored easily. Keeping us coming back for more is a challenge in a world filled with mediocre software. However, Microsoft (dare I say it) actually had half a brain when they developed the Xbox 360 and included a small mandate to all game makers out there. This method that I speak of has me eating out of microsofts big, plushy, money filled hand. I can honestly say I am a total sucker for it, and it has me coming back to play games that I never thought I would play (Kind Kong, Kameo, Tomb Raider, etc). I give you Microsoft's answer to the hardcore audience and their method of keeping us addicted to their platform, the Gamercard. See my example below (yes thats my gamercard).
This concept is nothing new, it's just a bit more devious than I first thought. You see that big score up there, called "GamerScore"? Yeah, thats the number of points that I got for completing things called "Achievements" that come with each game for the Xbox 360. Each Xbox 360 game must have enough "achievements" in the game to total up to 1000 points. Those achievements can be just about anything from completing a mission to collecting X number of doo-dads to kissing your dog on the lips (well maybe not that). So what that means is, in most cases, 1000 points = a completed retail game. Devious, isn't it? Not only do I get to buy and play games, but I get to BRAG about it to my friends with facts to back it up!
Now this format varies a bit, and sometimes you can have simple games that are less than 1000 points, and then sometimes you can have a few games that expand on that so that there are more than 1000 points, but the gist of it is there. You get bragging rights...and thats something that most gamers like to do anyway, is brag! Kidding of course, but this fuels our desire for more points, and thus more software.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Elebits
Super Paper Mario
Super Mario Galaxy
Resident Evil 4
However, shifting gears over to the hardcore fan base, those of us gamers who will continue to be gamers are somewhat of a problem too because we get bored easily. Keeping us coming back for more is a challenge in a world filled with mediocre software. However, Microsoft (dare I say it) actually had half a brain when they developed the Xbox 360 and included a small mandate to all game makers out there. This method that I speak of has me eating out of microsofts big, plushy, money filled hand. I can honestly say I am a total sucker for it, and it has me coming back to play games that I never thought I would play (Kind Kong, Kameo, Tomb Raider, etc). I give you Microsoft's answer to the hardcore audience and their method of keeping us addicted to their platform, the Gamercard. See my example below (yes thats my gamercard).
This concept is nothing new, it's just a bit more devious than I first thought. You see that big score up there, called "GamerScore"? Yeah, thats the number of points that I got for completing things called "Achievements" that come with each game for the Xbox 360. Each Xbox 360 game must have enough "achievements" in the game to total up to 1000 points. Those achievements can be just about anything from completing a mission to collecting X number of doo-dads to kissing your dog on the lips (well maybe not that). So what that means is, in most cases, 1000 points = a completed retail game. Devious, isn't it? Not only do I get to buy and play games, but I get to BRAG about it to my friends with facts to back it up!
Now this format varies a bit, and sometimes you can have simple games that are less than 1000 points, and then sometimes you can have a few games that expand on that so that there are more than 1000 points, but the gist of it is there. You get bragging rights...and thats something that most gamers like to do anyway, is brag! Kidding of course, but this fuels our desire for more points, and thus more software.
