The Unknown Genre in Videogames [video]
youtube.com11 points by msephton 4 days ago
11 points by msephton 4 days ago
I haven't played any of these games, not a one; however, i'm wondering if anyone else that watched this has examples from, uh, the last 15-20 years.
I think most of the qualifications are met by Escape Velocity(all 3), for instance; but it doesn't look like any of the games they mention! 2d/2.5d top down, open world and free roaming exploration, in game persistence, future setting, gun combat but you don't have to even have guns on your loadout, emergent situations (i assume based on gameplay), slow pace (you spend a lot of time travelling and finding resources) - and therefore "not constant action" - large inventory (depending on ship), there's dialog, resource management, and survival. It ticks most of the boxes, but was made a decade after most of the games they mention, is a "space game", etc.
If there's anyone more in tune with genre delineation, i'm interested in other games that meet most, if not all, of their criteria. I have no nostalgia for the style/look/engines used in the old games, and as such, i probably won't play any of them to understand the "qualia".
How about Riven/Myst (2.5D), Virtual Virtual Reality (3D) or Portal 1/2 (2.5D)?
Recently I found myself seeking some escapist experience. For many people computer/console games serve that purpose. I myself never owned even a GameBoy or any console despite having grown up right when those were ubiquitous. I sort of just don't care much about computer games, except if I do and then it provides for a really enjoyable time sink. But I just can't replicate the discovery based on features of games I enjoy (like the guy from the video). I'm trying games here and there but nothing clicks. It's always either too stressful (getting attacked all the time), or it's more about memorized finger acrobatics (like most games from the 90s - NES, SNES etc), or the learning curve is too flat (colloquially "too steep" if x is time) etc. I strongly feel drawn towards Cyberpunk as a genre (Beneath a Steel Sky is fun but also a little too static). A game needs a good balance of interesting story that captures the imagination as well as a high level of interactivity.