[casual_games] Just when you thought match-3 had been done inevery way...

[James Terry]

I think it really comes down to what qualifies as a clone or not. Is
Bookworm Adventures a clone of Bookworm? Puzzle Quest and Bookworm
Adventures are very good examples of taking a solid game mechanic and
branching out into new territory with it instead of taking the base idea
and doing an IP theme change.

 

It may not appeal to all of the fans of the games the mechanics were
created from, but so long as it is bringing more fans into the mix, it
is probably a good thing.

 

I'll try waiting for the PC release of Puzzle Quest.

 

James R. Terry
Yatec, LLC
11606 Southfork, Suite 300
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
(225) 274-1550 Ext. 136
www.yatecgames.com <http://www.yatecgames.com/> 

  

________________________________

From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Headley
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 2:23 PM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [casual_games] Just when you thought match-3 had been done
inevery way...

 

The game is also coming out for Xbox Live Arcade, and I plan to buy it,
when it comes out for that

Just as Puzzle quest might not appeal to some fans of Bejeweled, it will
appeal to other players, and perhaps, for a longer time then bejeweled
allowed. I almost think its unfair to call this level of remixing, a
clone. 



On 5/2/07, Andy Makely <rendermouse at gmail.com> wrote:

We often complain about how game mechanics can get cloned to death, and
it's refreshing to see someone take an old favorite and completely turn
it on its head and make an amazing game.

I'm talking about Puzzle Quest for DS and PSP.  I just got it for DS,
and I can't stop playing it.  Take your standard role-playing game, and
make the battle mode a gem-swapping match-3 where each character takes a
turn.  New quests, improved character abilities, acquiring magic items,
capturing enemy spells, etc. all depend upon you succeeding on the
match-3 battle grid.  This game has even hardcore console gamers raving
about it. 

Of course, the trouble is that Puzzle Quest may have crossed the "casual
game" line.  One person I know, who is a big Bejeweled fan, wasn't
interested in PQ because of all the extra role-playing elements of the
game.  It was a layer of complexity they felt like they didn't need.
Maybe it's not "casual" enough for some. 

What do you folks think?  How do you expand on basic, established game
mechanics without adding so much that it drives players away?

If you're curious, there's a PC demo available from their site...even
though there is no PC version for sale. 
http://www.infinite-interactive.com/puzzlequest/


-- 
andy makely 
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