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

[Juan Gril]

Who said casual games can't include more challenging concepts? Why do you
think that creating more challenging concepts means that we have to evolve
into or bring game mechanics common in the core industry? In order for
casual games to evolve in their gameplay we need to follow our own path. We
need to create more Snapshots and more Out of Your Minds. And at the same
time, we need to have the existing genres and game mechanics evolve. These
two things (truly original games, and evolution of existing ones) have equal
weight and are absolutely necessary.

I'm not against Puzzle Quest, or the fact that it can attract core users to
Casual Games. And let's not get out of topic here. My point is that I would
like the same respect for Cradle of Rome and Burger Rush than what Puzzle
Quest is getting. Because one thing is that they don't like it, but another
is to have a double standard.

Cheers,

Juan


On 5/2/07, Robert Headley <Rheadley at op-games.com> wrote:

>

> So casual games can't include any more challenging concepts than match 3?

> Its not good to underestimate the intelligence of the gamer. Besides, if

> Puzzle Quest brings in more hardcore gamers to the casual scene, I see that

> as a good thing.

>

> Whats good for the industry is good for us.

>

> On 5/2/07, Juan Gril <juangril at jojugames.com> wrote:

> >

> > 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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> > >

> > >

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> > >

> > >

> >

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> >

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