Cubase wrote:The Tex Murphy series was released and probably the most in-opportune time ever for PC... when, to quote CJ himself "Computers are finally starting to live up to the hype that you've heard".
In 1994-95 when UAKM was released, PC were making their way into many homes across the world, and people were starting to look at PC's as a new form of entertainment... and thus the target market was broad (ranging from the young to the old). So when UAKM came out, kids and parents alike found that such great adventures were really great fun.
Then as we moved past the Overseer days, the market skewed off as shooters began attracting more and more adolescents, and adult age range interest dropped.
So, what I am saying is... not only was it a great story, great atmosphere, and all round amazing adventure... it was released at the perfect time where people were looking to see what they could get out of their computers, and for many who had Tex fill this expectation, it has been a lasting impression. I mean... that's why most of us are here right?
-Cub. =o)
Its that feeling you get when you play the game for the first time. You feel like you are part of the story and you really do feel like you are in control of a movie. It was certainly a new feeling and a great one.
Cub is right about the shooters, its too bad publishers dont see the PC platform for what it really is. (and really was) An adult gaming platform
I think if the titles for PC were more like they were in the early 90's then perhaps adults would be more interested and PC sales would be better. Think about how many people have pc's in their home and play solitare or hearts on it. If someone could capture those folks with a fun and engrossing game the PC could make the stations look like crap. But allas the PC is being treated like a 4th rate teen gaming platform instead.
Well, I happen to disagree with both of you (Cub and McD).
It's all about market value. Now, like it or not, games have always appealed more to younger audiences, whether it's PC games or Console ones, the target audience was always primarily young and will probably always be as such.
Nowadays, games are very much like blockbuster films, it's all about big earnings and big money. You can't blame game developers and especially publishers for creating mainstream and accessible games. Developing games is like any other business. The more money you bring in and the more financially successful your business is - the better.
Just check out some statistics, it's not wise to create "family" games or games that are suited for adults (whether it's on the PC or Consoles). The vast majority of gamers (PC or otherwise) are young people with free time on their hands, something adults are not plentiful in.
You say that old adventure games appealed more to adults, while this is true, times have changed drastically. Even 10-15 years ago, adults did not play games as much as you believe. Sure, there were and there are adult gamers, but they are far and few between, especially nowadays. It doesn't matter if you start focusing on more serious, adult-oriented games, younger audiences will always be the far greater majority. Most adults who are gamers and come home from work prefer a light, easy-to-get-into, accessible game. Adults do not have the time to sit down on games for hours, they have to worry about their job, their wives, their kids, their homes, their cars, their bills and many other assorted worries that younger audiences do not have to dwell in, hence having plenty of free time to play games.
Now, you could argue the fact that PC game developers should focus more on "niche" games or create more adult-oriented and more professional and complex games. An arguement of that sort is irrelevant for the simple fact that it would not be financially wise and like any good business is run - always follow the money.
Bottom line - You wanna bring big money in and have a successful game and company at your disposal, your target audience should always be youngsters and your games need to be as mainstream and as accessible as it gets. Sad fact, but true.
It's all about market value. Now, like it or not, games have always appealed more to younger audiences, whether it's PC games or Console ones, the target audience was always primarily young and will probably always be as such.
Nowadays, games are very much like blockbuster films, it's all about big earnings and big money. You can't blame game developers and especially publishers for creating mainstream and accessible games. Developing games is like any other business. The more money you bring in and the more financially successful your business is - the better.
Just check out some statistics, it's not wise to create "family" games or games that are suited for adults (whether it's on the PC or Consoles). The vast majority of gamers (PC or otherwise) are young people with free time on their hands, something adults are not plentiful in.
You say that old adventure games appealed more to adults, while this is true, times have changed drastically. Even 10-15 years ago, adults did not play games as much as you believe. Sure, there were and there are adult gamers, but they are far and few between, especially nowadays. It doesn't matter if you start focusing on more serious, adult-oriented games, younger audiences will always be the far greater majority. Most adults who are gamers and come home from work prefer a light, easy-to-get-into, accessible game. Adults do not have the time to sit down on games for hours, they have to worry about their job, their wives, their kids, their homes, their cars, their bills and many other assorted worries that younger audiences do not have to dwell in, hence having plenty of free time to play games.
Now, you could argue the fact that PC game developers should focus more on "niche" games or create more adult-oriented and more professional and complex games. An arguement of that sort is irrelevant for the simple fact that it would not be financially wise and like any good business is run - always follow the money.
Bottom line - You wanna bring big money in and have a successful game and company at your disposal, your target audience should always be youngsters and your games need to be as mainstream and as accessible as it gets. Sad fact, but true.
kress wrote:Well, I happen to disagree with both of you (Cub and McD).
It's all about market value. Now, like it or not, games have always appealed more to younger audiences, whether it's PC games or Console ones, the target audience was always primarily young and will probably always be as such.
Nowadays, games are very much like blockbuster films, it's all about big earnings and big money. You can't blame game developers and especially publishers for creating mainstream and accessible games. Developing games is like any other business. The more money you bring in and the more financially successful your business is - the better.
Just check out some statistics, it's not wise to create "family" games or games that are suited for adults (whether it's on the PC or Consoles). The vast majority of gamers (PC or otherwise) are young people with free time on their hands, something adults are not plentiful in.
You say that old adventure games appealed more to adults, while this is true, times have changed drastically. Even 10-15 years ago, adults did not play games as much as you believe. Sure, there were and there are adult gamers, but they are far and few between, especially nowadays. It doesn't matter if you start focusing on more serious, adult-oriented games, younger audiences will always be the far greater majority. Most adults who are gamers and come home from work prefer a light, easy-to-get-into, accessible game. Adults do not have the time to sit down on games for hours, they have to worry about their job, their wives, their kids, their homes, their cars, their bills and many other assorted worries that younger audiences do not have to dwell in, hence having plenty of free time to play games.
Now, you could argue the fact that PC game developers should focus more on "niche" games or create more adult-oriented and more professional and complex games. An arguement of that sort is irrelevant for the simple fact that it would not be financially wise and like any good business is run - always follow the money.
Bottom line - You wanna bring big money in and have a successful game and company at your disposal, your target audience should always be youngsters and your games need to be as mainstream and as accessible as it gets. Sad fact, but true.
Actually the average age of the gamer is betwen 29-35 for the console. For PC games its between 35-45 (Taken from PC gamer) Most dollars spent are not from the youth but from adults. Again this is another one of those preception problems again. Everyone and their brother thinks only kids play games. Yet the people actually buying these games tells a different story. The problem I think is more of content and preception rather that trends. In society its not fashionable for adults to play video games, they belong to children. Yet every single older adult I know that are younger than 50 has at least one console and owns at least one pc game. Heck even my father in law who is in his 60's and is a welder by trade plays pc games. But he wouldnt admit that if asked.
I know where you are coming from Kress... but I too have to disagree...
I never said Adults dominated the markets in the 90s... but their had a far more significant share of it.
Just for a few little statistics...
The game MYST sold over 6 million copies worldwide... the majority were to people over 21 years of age.
The Sims sells more copies to stay at home mothers and single bachelorettes (over the age of adolescence) than any other market... only recently was it overtaken by adolescent females... the males are off shooting things.
No shooter has ever been as popular online as counter strike, and since the decline of it, more people are moving into online fantasy/adventure (like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars)... signifying a decline is shooter popularity.
Statistically, you are correct about 'family' games being extinct from a larger market share... but those which can be classified as family games share in a stronger profit (like the Sims, which overtook MYST as the biggest selling game ever).
Also, family games are not as badly dented by piracy, primarily due to the fact that they don't appeal to the generation that is responsible for most of the small time piracy and wares (not Hong Kong style piracy rings, but Bit-torrent style methods). For more adult markets, there is more responsibility in this department. Thats not saying they are invulnerable to piracy.
All the in consideration, I still stick by my argument that it is very possible to regain a stronger adult market share without having to compromise profit... unfortunately, it requires careful planning and a developer that is willing to stray from it's little safe margins (ob big bucks with trusted titles for trusted markets)... unfortunately, that is the hardest things to do.
-Cub. =o)
I never said Adults dominated the markets in the 90s... but their had a far more significant share of it.
Just for a few little statistics...
The game MYST sold over 6 million copies worldwide... the majority were to people over 21 years of age.
The Sims sells more copies to stay at home mothers and single bachelorettes (over the age of adolescence) than any other market... only recently was it overtaken by adolescent females... the males are off shooting things.
No shooter has ever been as popular online as counter strike, and since the decline of it, more people are moving into online fantasy/adventure (like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars)... signifying a decline is shooter popularity.
Statistically, you are correct about 'family' games being extinct from a larger market share... but those which can be classified as family games share in a stronger profit (like the Sims, which overtook MYST as the biggest selling game ever).
Also, family games are not as badly dented by piracy, primarily due to the fact that they don't appeal to the generation that is responsible for most of the small time piracy and wares (not Hong Kong style piracy rings, but Bit-torrent style methods). For more adult markets, there is more responsibility in this department. Thats not saying they are invulnerable to piracy.
All the in consideration, I still stick by my argument that it is very possible to regain a stronger adult market share without having to compromise profit... unfortunately, it requires careful planning and a developer that is willing to stray from it's little safe margins (ob big bucks with trusted titles for trusted markets)... unfortunately, that is the hardest things to do.
-Cub. =o)
I have to agree with Kress here. Well, at least it describes my wife pretty well. She likes to come home from work and play FreeCell or Mah Jong Solitare or Bejeweled. and she will play for hours. She likes those games because they are mindless and it relaxes her. My wife is no dummy, but she doesn't have the energy for an adventure game when she comes home.kress wrote:
Most adults who are gamers and come home from work prefer a light, easy-to-get-into, accessible game. Adults do not have the time to sit down on games for hours, they have to worry about their job, their wives, their kids, their homes, their cars, their bills and many other assorted worries that younger audiences do not have to dwell in, hence having plenty of free time to play games.
I nagged at her for months to play the Zork game that I recently wrote. (Me! Her own husbund spent two years writing this game and I couldn't get her to play it.) She just didn't want to play a game in which you have to think. She want a soma. Ok. Finally she played it. But it was like pulling teeth. And I think, like many adults, she just wants to relax.
I picked Comedy as my favorite. I would have picked writing, but I figured Comedy includes Writing, and is more specific.
As for who plays, my wife and I play together. We're in our 50's. I run the mouse (she has a terrible sense of direction; she'll say "Let's go back to this place" and I'll go there and she says, "How do you remember all that"). She takes notes, makes drawings, etc, which is extremely important — we'd never solve the games without them. We both make decisions about where to go, who to talk to, what to say, how to solve a puzzle, and so on.
I'm looking up at the shelf in our computer room and I see Schizm, Gabriel Knight, AmerZone, Dark Fall, Siberia, Siberia II, Forever Worlds, Missing, Aura, Myst, Reah, Riven, Buried in Time, Starship Titanic, Myst IV Revelation, and all the TM's we played together. It's a great way to spend time together. Often, we stay up way past when we should go to bed (like on a work night) and it's her, not me, that's insisting we keep going. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. It's just another way to connect with your spouse/significant other. That's why we're waiting for The Return of Tex — we want to spend more time together laughing and puzzling over puzzles
. We don't need TM to do those things, but it sure is fun.
As for who plays, my wife and I play together. We're in our 50's. I run the mouse (she has a terrible sense of direction; she'll say "Let's go back to this place" and I'll go there and she says, "How do you remember all that"). She takes notes, makes drawings, etc, which is extremely important — we'd never solve the games without them. We both make decisions about where to go, who to talk to, what to say, how to solve a puzzle, and so on.
I'm looking up at the shelf in our computer room and I see Schizm, Gabriel Knight, AmerZone, Dark Fall, Siberia, Siberia II, Forever Worlds, Missing, Aura, Myst, Reah, Riven, Buried in Time, Starship Titanic, Myst IV Revelation, and all the TM's we played together. It's a great way to spend time together. Often, we stay up way past when we should go to bed (like on a work night) and it's her, not me, that's insisting we keep going. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. It's just another way to connect with your spouse/significant other. That's why we're waiting for The Return of Tex — we want to spend more time together laughing and puzzling over puzzles
. We don't need TM to do those things, but it sure is fun.