Promote Adventure Gaming

[Swift]

I was reading the AGDI update when I came across an interesting article about AGD1's visit to E3. One particular paragraph stood out.

"Overall, a major lesson was re-iterated throughout the course of the day. I was informed by each company that adventure games could make a comeback if one important thing was done - we must educate the public! They insisted self-distribution was the way to go, but before and during that time, we must continue to publish articles and spread the word of adventure games. So come on guys, it's your turn to do some work as well - start educating people about this wonderful genre! Tell your friends, your family, your coworkers. Write articles, write to journalists and editorial sections of newspapers and magazines. Write on forums. Please do anything that you can to aid our cause in bringing back this beloved genre! Making games is challenging - talking about them should be the easy part! " - AGD1 (http://www.agdinteractive.com/).


I know I've been telling my friends and cousins about adventure games, and giving them copies to try out. I'm even considering writing to Computer Times and The New Paper newspapers to do an article on fan-made adventure games. What would you do to try and promote the adventure genre if it could help bring them back? Share your ideas please!

[Yonkey]

Pretty much every press release and interview someone does with the team helps out both us and the adventure gaming genre as a whole.  

On a more individual level, I've added KQ9 to my resume and applied to tons of well-known places.  I even talked about it at a job interview I had, because the interviewer knew what King's Quest was.  Of course, this was more promoting my work at KQ9, rather than the adventure game genre, but you never know who will visit and what opportunities will arise.  

[Jeysie]

Well, I have a feeling that Harrison has several people who will want to download KQ9 when it comes out... and I bet I can talk a few of my cousins into doing so as well... perhaps that will help a tad.

I've pawned off copies of SQ4, KQ5, and Grim Fandango to one of Harrison's pals, although that was more trying to get a casual adventurer further into the genre.

Most of the people I talk to nowadays are already adventurers, so I'm not much help. (sheepish look)

Peace & Luv, Liz

[etgadsby]

As somebody who recently added a PS2 to the household (it was cute and needed a home) I've been noticing what console companies are calling "Adventure" and "Action/Adventure"... platform and "Prince of Persia" styled games.  I think if we saw some adventures on consoles that might liven things up a little in the market. In watching the E3 coverage on TechTV I noticed a lot of action games for consoles are bringing to introduce adventure game like elements to spice things up...  

[Louisiana Night]

I think Adventure games will come back in style, on there own. I doubt it will be what it was, it will have probably evolved by then.

I do point out adventure games to people though(to those that care to listen).

[Jeysie]

FWIW, Eric... "Prince of Persia" and "Legend of Zelda" et al games have *always* been called adventure or action-adventure games on the console. In fact, that's part of why it took me so long to get into "real" adventures. I can't play anything with action, so I thought playing a PC adventure would be as futile for me as playing a console adventure. Fortunately I got a clue!

There's a point in there somewhere, I think.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[etgadsby]

Jeysie I think your right, I simply wanted to point out that adventure means something different in the console world and that’s not a good thing because consoles seem to be where a lot of really great games are appearing first these days…    

[Yonkey]

IMO consoles will always dominate PC's in games.  They're build specifically for that.  But they just keep turning more and more into PC's. For example: Xbox is pretty much a low-end PC with a really good graphic card:

CPU: Intel Pentium III 733-MHz
Graphics processor: 233-MHz, custom-designed X-Chip, developed by Microsoft and Nvidia
Total memory: 64MB of RAM
Storage medium: 2X to 5X DVD, 8GB hard disk
I/O: Four game controller ports, Ethernet (10/100)
Audio channels: 256, AC3 encoded game audio
3D audio support: Yes
Midi/DLS2 support: Yes
Broadband enabled: Yes
DVD movie playback: Yes
Gamepad included: Yes
Maximum resolution: 1920x1080
HDTV support: Yes

[FataliOmega]

This is definitely an important thing for all of us to consider. Without demand, even if we make the best adventure games the world will ever have, no one will notice or care. I dont know what, exactly, is the solution, but talking to local peer groups is only the beginning of it. We've got to figure out more effective forms of PR... Any Ideas?  

[Louisiana Night]

They're making a FREE 3D video game. It will be noticed, by any gamer, with a broadband connection and a brain(in other words, people that don't mind thinking to play/finish a game).

[FataliOmega]

(in other words, people that don't mind thinking to play/finish a game)

I think thats, in essence, why our genre is dying. There are just too many idiots in the world. We must seek them out, and destroy them!  

[Louisiana Night]

Why are you planning to destroy me? I might be an idiot, but I'm harmless(somewhat).

[FataliOmega]

If your a KQ9 Forumer your automatically removed from my 'idiot list.' We forumers may be crazy, but definitely not idiots.

(Moral of the story, join, or die! Got that GUESTS!!)  

[racx_00]

i got my friend hooked on Monkey Island , and then his brother played the first one and got addicted by the gameplay and humour

Actually i think his brother liked it more than him , we were talking about Adventure games all the time

[Swift]

That's cool. We do need to work harder in spreading the word of adventure gaming to the rest of the world!

[Louisiana Night]

I played the first one, and the 4th one.

I only finished the first one though.

[Rune_of_Westhaven]

<pondering> You know reading this post...maybe a name change is in order.  What I mean is, that if other companies/articles/whatnot are terming games like Prince of Persia action/adventure or just adventure...maybe if the whole current "adventure" genre as we know it got a new name it would work better.  You know Europe went through a Renaissance or rebirth...maybe this genre needs one as well.  People might be interested in a new name and more attracted to it.

I'm also wondering if some people pick up adventure games thinking that they are going to be Prince of Persia (the newer version I haven't played but I understand its pretty action oriented) games, and are ultimately disappointed because they aren't what they expected.

Nancy Drew games are being called Mysteries...people know what they are (not only cause its Nancy Drew) but they know what to expect.  You don't expect a lot of slashing, shooting, pulverizing or killing (though murder is a possibility) in a mystery game.

And no, I don't have an idea for a name at this time. lol  It is just a thought.  Interactive Fiction is already taken

Rune

[Louisiana Night]

I think Adventure, is the best name for it.

I think certain types of Adventure games should have their own name though.

example=Nancy Drew=Mysteries



At this point, the only semi-new adventure games I'd care to try(that are completed), are on video game consoles.

In other words, even if the name changed, people like me(that don't care about the genre), wouldn't be more likely to buy the game.

[FataliOmega]

I suppose we could start calling it the "Pacifist" genre...


...Yeah, I dont like the name either...  

[Louisiana Night]

I suppose we could start calling it the "Pacifist" genre...


...Yeah, I dont like the name either...  

Then they'll think they're playing a pacifist FPS.

P.S. Yes, they do make them.