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

[Juan Gril]

I think it's great that members of the core game industry and the core game
press are so excited about Puzzle Quest. I do feel that it's a little
disappointing that when Casual Game developers innovate over the match-3
mechanic (ie: Jewel Quest, Big Kahuna Reef, Burger Rush, Cradle of Rome),
they call us "cloners". And then comes a traditional video game studio and
puts RPG elements in a match-3 game and oh no, that's complete innovation.

And please don't get me wrong, I love Puzzle Quest. But I'm an ex-core
gamer, and I've played core games for almost 20 years. So in reference of
what Andy was saying, the RPG elements are not appealing to casual gamers.
And it's because casual gamers don't have a reference of what an RPG is.

What the members of the core game industry and the core game press should
realize is that they need to take out their tights and put some normal
people clothes, so they can start looking at the entire world instead of
considering what's good and what's not based on what their geek friends
like.

Cheers,

Juan


On 5/2/07, James Terry <JTerry at yatecgames.com> wrote:

>

>  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

>

>

>   ------------------------------

>

> *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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