next article delayed – instead i’ll pick your minds
The next article is actually taking longer for me to write than I intended. I find myself brooding over designs and idea’s as I write this and get caught on those. But while I work on it, I want to ask you, the readers a few questions:
What is the most important feature of a web game?
Whats the most overlooked feature?
What can be (in a general sense) be done to increase the quality of web games?
What do you hate/dislike/disagree with most about web games?
Do you think that utilizing new technology is as important as gameplay?
I would love to hear what you guys think about those. I ask that everyone that reads this post answer, even if someone has already said what you were going to.
Questionaires are fun. « Kenneth Godwin’s Weblog said,
September 14, 2007 at 8:52 pm
[...] Questionaires are fun. My two cents on BardicKnowledge’s little questionaire: [...]
Matt said,
September 15, 2007 at 5:21 pm
1) Multiplayer communication and interactivity. It’s what keeps the experience from getting stale.
2) Aesthetics. Too many PBBGs look like s@!# and it can be a barrier towards attracting new players. Why should I invest my time in something if it looks the creator isn’t even investing his?
3) Have all developers read OpenBracket. Haha, seriously though I have no idea.
4) I agree with Kenneth on this one. Lack of originality. Come on… do we really need another gangster/a game?
5)No. New technology is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. Most players care what technology your using, as long as the game is fun.
Matt said,
September 15, 2007 at 5:23 pm
*that should be “most players DON’T care what technology your using” for number 5.
fernando said,
September 15, 2007 at 8:54 pm
What is the most important feature of a web game?
The FUN FACTOR! A boring well done game is not a good game. Doesn’t matter the system, freedom, choices, graphics etc. The game must be fun to play.
A FUN game is the one that fulfils players expectations.
Whats the most overlooked feature?
I agree with Matt: the “amateurish” look many web games have.
What can be (in a general sense) be done to increase the quality of web games?
Going with Matt here too hehehe
What do you hate/dislike/disagree with most about web games?
The time/energy actions limitation. I hate when I’m playing a web game and my energy ends and I have to wait some hours for it to recover so that I can continue to play the game. Sometimes it’s acceptable to wait for some event to happen, like waiting for your building to be constructed etc. But many web games have silly energy limitations. I can’t understand why they do this. I very often stop playing a game because of this imposition.
Do you think that utilizing new technology is as important as gameplay?
I think that new technology should be used as a way to accomplish some gameplay goal.
The main focus of a game should be given to gameplay. Good example are Pen and Paper RPGs: the technology required for playing them are just the plain old imagination and some folks together. This is the true essence (in my opinion)
Xalthorn said,
September 16, 2007 at 5:10 am
The most important feature of a web game is playability, followed closely by interface transparency. In other words, the web interface should not frustrate or hinder the player from playing and enjoying the game. Everything they need should be easily accessible.
The most overlooked part of web games is spelling and grammar. I agree that presentation and appearance play a large part in it being accepted by a player, but nothing puts me off more than bad spelling. Why people don’t throw all of their text through a spelling and grammar checker constantly amazes me.
Although it is being said tongue in cheek, having developers listen to the community and be willing (and brave enough) to discuss their development with others is vital. So yes, participating in OpenBracket or something similar should increase the overall quality of web games.
I also agree that game cloning is a major turn off, especially if the core game is the same. However if a game is written well, with a good background, interesting and vibrant content, and good interaction between players and developers, an amazing ‘clone’ can be made.
Think back to pen and paper games, especially D&D (and AD&D for the picky). The game didn’t change as the same player and dungeon master guides were being used. However, you had countless amazingly interesting settings and stories (modules) that made you forget that you were playing the same core game.
Of course, to almost contradict myself, originality is a good thing but is rare. I think there are two simple reasons for this. On the one hand, making a clone is simple. The game has been done already and the ruleset and gameplay is established and known. On the other hand, who is going to play your original game?
The vast majority of players are looking for a game they feel comfortable with and can simply hack and slash their way through. Creating a game (even an alpha/beta process) takes time and if you’re not sure if people will like it or even come and play, you might not have the courage to even start the project.
Not to mention that as soon as your original idea is created and gathers popularity, the cloners will start to create their own versions.
I’m struggling with an alpha stage of my current project due to originality. I’m trying something new and it’s hard to get some of the few alpha testers to think outside the ‘normal’ game rules, with complaints about when is ’standard concept #n’ going to be implemented.
Anyway I digress, as usual.
David said,
September 16, 2007 at 11:55 pm
What is the most important feature of a web game?
That it is available to all kinds of users, no matter what browser they use. We can’t expect all games to work in every condition, but working with web standards and accessibility in mind will us very far.
Whats the most overlooked feature?
Playing using a mobile device. Logging in from a cell phone or any handheld device (PSP for example) is something very few consider. Since more and more of these devices can connect to internet for free, using wireless LAN there will be a demand from players to be able and connect comfortably using these.
What can be (in a general sense) be done to increase the quality of web games?
What is quality? The common idea is that “quality is what people expect compared to what they get”. So, to increase quality we need to decrease all expectations on our game. (Just kidding, but actually there is something to learn and it is to not promise anything we can’t deliver.) I think in general to use correct markup and code is the place to add quality, and from there develop a friendly user interface. That is before even looking at certain game features.
What do you hate/dislike/disagree with most about web games?
I don’t really like commercial web games, you often need time to learn and it’s real hard to find it enjoyable with advertising or constantly being asked to pay or donate. I think if you do a good job with your web game, people will notice and appreciate it, eventually if you let them they will want to contribute back. Most often with ideas and helping out with your community, but some might also donate to support advertising or help paying your server costs (if there are such). Once you start asking for money, your players will expect something in return, including those who don’t donate.
Do you think that utilizing new technology is as important as gameplay?
No. But it all depends on what you consider as game play. In the case of strategy games, game play is often balancing, and there is no technology in the word that can make up for poor balancing. Most often with web games, just sticking with basic xhtml will help your players, since they are using a wide variety of web browsers and plugins. Web games are all about reaching out to a greater audience, don’t let gizmos get in the way of them and your game.
Alexwebmaster said,
March 3, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hello webmaster
I would like to share with you a link to your site
write me here preonrelt@mail.ru