Video games suffer with what I call the wet dog dilemma.
1. You launch your game (the dog becomes wet.)
2. After launch your game sheds a number of users (the dog begins to shake off the dirt.)
3. A few months pass and all you are left with is the hardcore fans who will continue to play until your next game. (the dog is now fairly dry and sits on your favorite chair, staring at you like why don’t you play with me like you used to? Do I smell? Is that what it is? Cause I can change.)
Overview:
The additional, post-launch content you release doesn’t truly combat the inevitable curve of player migration. (No one likes the smell of wet dog.)
The questions:
Ask yourself-
Is the value of the content you are presenting the end user with truly worth their unending attention?
How do we combat the issue of longevity?
February 21st, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Those are interesting questions. I suppose it all depends on the game developers’ intentions and the genre of the game. If the game is meant to be played for a certain length of time, then the success of that goal depends on how long the players are kept interested enough to finish. Or, if the game is meant to give you food for thought, success depends on the players’ reactions.
The best thing about games is that even though you may outgrow them, they’re always there (yes, like a pet dog) for when you’re ready to play with them again.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Right on.
The experience is something which comes from the artists intention. Of course each gamer will take her or his own interpretation from the experience and that’s just one of the great things about games.
Haha, I love that image.
For me it’s gotta be faithful old donkey kong country.
That sense of character is what appeals to me about certain games the environments, characterization and gameplay all tie together to make N awesome whole.