Current Adventure Gaming

[FataliOmega]

It's kind of silly, but I'd like them to enjoy an adventure game again.

You subjective little thing, you.

Of course, the traditional, last generation of adventure gamers are all around that age bracket, so my subjectivity is defensible. 

the Nancy Drew Adventure game series' success is a good example of what I mean by female gamers).

This brings up a point, however. Thanks to Nancy Drew, adventure gaming has had a continued, sustainable success in the 21st century. Why hasn't this alone been enough to make a number of the more noted companies take notice? Do we need an adventure game to "go gold" for anyone of note to care?

I mean, it doesn't make much sense. If light-weight, on the cheap, adventure games have been proven, and there currently is close to zero competition, why havnt starter companies attacked this niche? Or have / will they?

Also, what would ya'll consider success for this genre? Do you want adventure gaming to again become a major industry contender with FPS/strategy/RPG/sports, or would ya'll be satisfied with it merely developing into several smaller, niche, but sustained, light-weight games?

I believe the latter to be possible, at this point.

As for on-topicness... there's still a Sierra?

Nah. Only the name. Also, I think I lament Westwood, and LucasArts, more than Sierra. (Not that LucasArts is dead, of course... only dead to this genre.)

erm... I think it's too late for that. 75% of this thread is, at most, only VERY loosely connected to the title of this thread.

Off-Topic is a rule of life here.  , admins,  !

[koko_99_2001]

Really? That's cool. Are they following any of the books?

Some of them are based on books, but they don't follow them exactly. I think the closest was "The Secret of Shadow Ranch" (That was either the title of the book...or the game ) but it had been years since I had read the book.

erm... I think it's too late for that. 75% of this thread is, at most, only VERY loosely connected to the title of this thread.

Off-Topic is a rule of life here.  , admins,  !

However...the thread has been about Sierra and adventure games...and we're talking about adventure games

Fine...fine...I'll split it

[Shades2585]

It's kind of silly, but I'd like them to enjoy an adventure I mean, it doesn't make much sense. If light-weight, on the cheap, adventure games have been proven, and there currently is close to zero competition, why havnt starter companies attacked this niche? Or have / will they?

Well some have Runaway and Runaway II . (Thank you for bring it to my attention My Queene) They are both great games.
http://www.runaway-thegame.com/en/

and Al Emmo
http://www.himalayastudios.com/

I haven't played this one but sine it it by the people who make teh ADGI games I think it will be good.
http://www.agdinteractive.com/links.php

So there are some new companies out there just not many. So buy them and show your support. 

[FataliOmega]

Well some have Runaway and Runaway II .

I've not heard of this one. I'll look into it.   

and Al Emmo

*sigh* For various reasons, I'm not a leisure suit larry person. And whilst Emmo isn't quite that bad, I've heard enough to know I wouldn't enjoy the style.

With that said. The AGDs are one of adventure-gamings brighter lights. I look forward to QfG2+, and whatever their next game is. 

[Shades2585]

Well some have Runaway and Runaway II .

I've not heard of this one. I'll look into it.   

and Al Emmo

*sigh* For various reasons, I'm not a leisure suit larry person. And whilst Emmo isn't quite that bad, I've heard enough to know I wouldn't enjoy the style.

With that said. The AGDs are one of adventure-gamings brighter lights. I look forward to QfG2+, and whatever their next game is. 

Runaway is very good. I think they did an excellent job with both of them. They are definately not a LSL type game. You'll like it.

Didn't know that atout Al Emmo thought. 

[FataliOmega]

Didn't know that atout Al Emmo thought. 

The character is LSL inspired. Not the story. I just know that it would still be too much for me, though.

Don't let this turn you away from trying it. The AGDs are great game developers.

[Shades2585]

What are anybody else's take on Runaway 1-2 and Al Emmo?

There is also
http://www.infamous-adventures.com/index.php

and

http://crystalshard.net/atotk.php
I haven't played this one yet but I plan too.

[tessspoon]

I started Runaway, haven't finished it yet but what I did do seemed good. I wonder if I put that on my computer before or after I reinstalled windows... hmm...

[awesomeasapossum]

I think adventure gamers are actually DRAWN to innovation. In adventure games (especially point-and-click) you have to find innovative ways of using "junk" and other things you find around the house. Sometimes the simplest solution is the correct answer, and sometimes there are multiple steps involved, like combining different items. When you pick up an object, you might think, "Oh! I bet I use this for this puzzle, and in the process of journeying to that area, you find the REAL solution. I think that innovation is part of the reason that people are drawn to adventure games, it's not your typical, straight-forward, this gun is meant for killing.
I think that the Wii, an innovative system, is a perfect platform for adventure games. Take Sadness, for example. The sad thing is, that adventure games aren't being made by "big developers" because the only "fun video games" are shooters. Some shooters are fun, but others (HALO!) are overrated. All shooters are the same gamplay, and it's the innovative ones that really succeed. Why? Because they stray from the pattern of all others. They keep the same formula, but add zest and pizazz. Adventure games are ALWAYS innovative. The plots might be mildly generic (earlier KQs) but the locales (another WWII FPS? Coun't me in!  ) are always new, the puzzles are
always new. There's ALWAYS something new.

It's the novelty and innovation that make adventure games such a unique genre, and it's sad that, for some reason, mindless action and less-than-challenging game play (for the most part) have taken the center stage for such mind-boggling, interesting, epic, involving, games.


On a side note:

lol, you HAD to bring up the Nancy Drew games...

*is an addict and has every single one *

My dad (and mom) are both old fans of adventure games (and the reason I play KQ)  and my sister and my dad play Nancy Drew together.

[racx_00]

There would take a bit of convincing for the older generation though, I am sure.

Yeah, older generations are iffy about anime. My mum's favourite TV series as an anime spinoff and even after explaining, she won't touch it...

[FataliOmega]

Yeah, older generations are iffy about anime. My mum's favourite TV series as an anime spinoff and even after explaining, she won't touch it...

My mom watched the entire Sailor Moon. (And watched Inuyasha and .Hack/sign(sp?) with us more recently.)

Funny that.

Basic rule of all modern businesses, as I see it: change or die
If a business cannot change to fit the changes in the market, it will cease to be. It is that simple.

Agreed.

Of course, innovation in gameplay / story / graphics / etc is not necessary for a games success. If I recall, Westwood's Kyrandia series were not excellent games because there was anything particularly innovative of them, but rather because they were so finely-polished. This speaks true of most of the other older Westwood games too.

I :heart: Nox

Great example. Nox was not innoventive (well, the hand-signs to cast spells was pretty interesting... but besides that;) however, it was a we'll put together RPG.

And those darn warriors were overpowered!

*thinks blackly about the 'charge' ability*

[racx_00]

My mom watched the entire Sailor Moon. (And watched Inuyasha and .Hack/sign(sp?) with us more recently.)

Funny that.

Sailor Moon and Inuyasha. Of all the animes out there...

[FataliOmega]

Sailor Moon and Inuyasha. Of all the animes out there...

Inuyasha's nice, in it's mindless, rambling, way.

I'm more a Bleach man, myself... Arrancar FTW! 

[racx_00]

I place Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Inuyasha, One Piece and Bleach into that mainstream over hyped category.

Even though I say that, I do watch a few of them...

[FataliOmega]

I place Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Inuyasha, One Piece and Bleach into that mainstream over hyped category.

/agree

...Of course, I've never "gotten" the whole One Piece thing. Forgive me, but it really is very stupid.

[Oldbushie]

Excel Saga ftw!

[MusicallyInspired]

I CAN'T STAND Anime. I despise it. I hate it. And I'm only 23!

[racx_00]

/agree

...Of course, I've never "gotten" the whole One Piece thing. Forgive me, but it really is very stupid.

I've never really watched it. It's dubbed by 4Kids and they've hacked it, so I avoid it.

Excel Saga ftw!

Good anime.