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Why Robin Makes Batman Better Well, it reads like an essay, but this piece by David Hayward is actually a transcript of a talk given at the “Under The Mask, Perspectives on the Gamer” event a few days ago (slides included!). It’s a brilliant and somewhat lengthy piece on culture-with-a-small-c, as it relates to gaming (as, in Hayward’s appraisal, just about everyone is a gamer these days by some definition or another). Games, despite coming off as a niche subculture at times, are worming their way into all aspects of society:
Over at GoNintendo, they’re running a two-week long feature called “Casual v. Hardcore: Opinions of the Gaming Industry.” The question put forth was: “Is casual gaming a threat to hardcore gaming or will it help it in the long run?” My response:
What does hardcore gaming mean? Do we have a similar term for books? Do people say, “He’s a hardcore reader”? I guess they’d say so-and-so is a bookworm. But “hardcore”? It’s such a severe term. If games are going to be a truly dominate form of entertainment, they need to be approachable. Approachable doesn’t mean a lesser game experience in any way, but rather, a streamlined one. That should actually help gaming!
I think what people are worried about is dumbed down gaming. Like that casual players will need some pandering. If developers are smart, they’ll make things more intuitive, rather than dumber. That way they can appease new and experienced players.
Blah, blah, blah. That’s my nickel and dime opinion. What’s yours? Hit us up in the comments section. That’s what it’s there for, you know.
Casual Vs. Hardcore [Go Nintendo]
Poor Microsoft. They’ve really painted themselves into a corner. All these games featuring big men with big guns, it’s gotten the platform a bit of a reputation as a “hardcore” (or, as the marketing types will have you call it, “core”) system. Which is fine for the kind of people who already own one, but not fine for the more casual types, those who bought a PS2 for SingStar or a Wii for…whatever they bought it for. Those types don’t own a 360, and there’s a lot more of “them” than there are of “us”. Which presents a sales dilemma for Microsoft. One they’ve tried to overcome, repeatedly, and one they’ve failed miserably at. Repeatedly. But bless them, they’re still trying.
Microsoft’s Alan Bowman has been out beating that well-worn drum, saying: A key strategy for us is to give broad choice for people. You need to provide content which broadens your base of users from core gamers to different age groups.
How’s Microsoft planning on doing that? Aside from shameless Buzz clone Scene It? With cartoon-based titles for the kids, and word-puzzle games for the grown-ups, he says.
Well…best of luck with that. On the bright side, things can only get better!
Sure, Super Mario Galaxy is coming. But even so, gamers feel slighted. Casual players make up a big portion of Nintendo’s market, so the company’s interests have shifted. Right? Nintendo UK general manager David Yarnton says:
It’s important to know that we’re not ignoring the hardcore gamer. They’re still very important to us… And Christmas alone we have already catered on the Wii with Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy, and on DS with the Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.
Nintendo hasn’t forgotten you, Joe Q. Gamer. It just wants patience, because good things come to those who wait. Well, eventually. We hope. We’re not ignoring you [Pro-G via Infendo]
