Commentary: Spectrum of Play, from Toys to Interactive Fiction

The use of story and what is or is not a game, has been debated on various forums on the Internet. In order to address this debate, I figured I would look at what I see as a spectrum of play and forms of entertainment.


I see the spectrum going as follows (open-endedness vs narrative driven or structureness):
1. Toys and simulators (vehicle and world simulators). These are things you play with with no point in mind. You have a degree of control over them, and make them do what you want. These aren't too frequent in videogames although something like Noby Noby Boy would likely fit here. If a game comes with a development language also, to create content in a very open way, it could be considered part of this also, like something like Kodu. I would put Sony Home here (excluding the in world games), as is Second Life. Will Wright specializes in these with his Sim series. On the other side of this would be a program like Microsoft's Flight Simulator.

2. 4X and strategic world simulations (and god games): These games are like Civilization (4x: Explore, expand, exploit, exterminate), or a business simulation like Railroad Tycoon. In these, a player controls a world, like in the Sim series, but use strategic to achieve goals set by the game.

3. Sports and boardgames. These are competitive ventures, where the object is to use the play area to defeat an opponent. The approach is fairly wide open, but the goals are set. Not as open as sandbox games, but still more open than other formats of play. Chess would fit here, as would RTS (and turn-based RPGs), or sports games, or games like Settlers of Catan. Fighting games definitely belong here to, as do driving games, and also multiplayer FPS. The focus here is player vs player, and players can continue to evolve new strategies.

4. Sandbox games. These are open play areas, aka a sandbox, but will have puzzles or other challenges in them. Sandbox can fit Grand Theft Auto or Crackdown or inFamous. The former ends up likely having more story put on top, while the later gravitates towards the toys/puzzle category. Western RPGs can fit here also, depending on the open-endedness (and how dynamic the world is). I would say LittleBigPlanet may fit here actually, or anything with a level editor for it. World of Warcraft likely fits here also, or other online RPGs with a world that dynamically changes. In short, the game world is open, and there are structured missions in them, including free roaming openness.

5. Puzzles/classic arcade games. These are like toys, but are goal driven, in that you need to get the toy to a certain state. Tetris can be seen as fitting into this. Classic arcade games like Asteroids and Space Invaders would fit into this here also, as do games on the puzzle side like Tetris or Bejeweled. Rather than solve problems, you continue to play at them. These games lack the open-world structure to them seen in sandbox games.

6. JRPGs and single-player part of FPS titles. These are fairly linear in nature, but some can be less linear for players on a whole, and can involve some alternate paths.

7. Post-arcade console action-adventure games, with endings and levels. Sonic, Mario, Zelda, and others that we know, fit here. The games have endings, and don't go on indefinitely. This is the classic videogame as we know it.

8. Adventure games and interactive fiction. These are very strict in how they are laid out and linear in nature. Text adventures fit into this, as does a game like Myst, and the graphic adventures of Lucas Arts. And on the more strict end, a game like Heavy Rain would fit into this also. For individuals heavily gravitating toward story and character, this is a place they would consider this the best form of play. I would also count Uncharted in here also (single player).

Review: Alan Wake

Genre: Drama, Horror
System: XBox 360
Reviewer: Rich Hutnik

Summary: Help Alan Wake uncover his memories as he battles the darkness.


Pros:
* Great graphics
* Nice lighting effects (based on trailer)
* High level of fanboy hype needed to have this title be ammo in the console war.
* Years of development time, so you know it has to be good.

Final Score:
10/10

Humor: If only this was a real videogame!

This anti-piracy ad uses Mario from Super Mario Bros. However, my take is this is so awesome, it makes me wish they had a game like this. Jump on a Gooba and out comes an actor that attacks your leg.

Anyhow, watch this spot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plrcDeDa7LQ

Sorry about not showing video, but I can't fit the video in this blog space.

Predictions: On the Nintendo 3DS (and next Nintendo home console)

With the announcement regarding the Nintendo 3DS coming, I felt it would be a good time to step in here regarding it, and Nintendo's next home console. Trying to guess what Nintendo will be doing is tricky, but here we go:
* Graphics comparible to 360 and PS3, but smaller. Look at 480P at least, and run the games made for the 360 and PS3 (size of unit screens will be on par with what you have with the DSi XL). Memory will be comparible also, 256MB RAM minimum, or looking at 512MB. Will feature at least 16GB of storage internally and also use SD cards for games, that will be a minimum of 8Gigs storage in carts, if not larger (comparible with the 360 DVD disks).
* Use the case seen with the DSi XL. Will have two analog sticks at the bottom (one on each side of the screen, in addition to the D-Pad). It will also add two trigger buttons on the unit (under the normal buttons), and have a layout similar to what is seen with the 360 and PS3. Will have the similar layout for the screens with the top screen being 3D and the bottom one still being touch screen. It will be clam shell as has been the norm.
* Next Nintendo home console will run 3DS software, along with Wii software. It will have full integration with the 3DS system, and allow players to use their 3DS systems as controllers with the next Nintendo home console. Look for the possibility of 16 player simultaneous LAN party action using the next Nintendo home console.
* The 3DS will feature improved connection to the Internet and Nintendo will expand its online service to be closer to the 360 and PS3. Downloadable movies will also be a possibility.
* Will be priced at $200 at launch, $250 max.
* Will contain numerous titles not yet released on the Wii, like F-Zero, and possibly a 3D Punch Out.


EDIT:
Follow up post on how these predictions turned out can be found here:
http://goes-to-11.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-did-my-prediction-on-how-3ds-would.html

News: Game Room for Live releases delayed due to Space Gar.

Breaking news here on this April 1st.

I had been waiting on writing a review for Game Room, due to them ironing out issues, and a delay in the game releases until the end of the month. However, I can report this bit of news regard the delay in the new game releases to the end of the month. The latest word is a factor in the delay is that Microsoft has delayed the new releases, because they are negotiating to get Space Gar in the Game Room.

For those who don't know what Space Gar is, you can see a review of it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKPJIXEV-uE

The game was released for the Atareks 5201.

Due to issues of the video taking up too much space, I am adding a URL link here, instead of embedded.