On Game Design & Player Expectations
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Who’s Influencing Who?
I’ve recently had a thought about the relationship of Game Design & Player Expectations. There have been complaints all over the internet that games are too easy, with “Burn the Rope” type objectives, too much focus on achievements or graphics, or any of several other common concerns among players attentive to the game industry.
I believe this has generated the idea among gamer-critics that designers are creating a whole new set of expectations among players, giving rise to a generation of fast-paced, short games that do not necessarily appeal to the tastes of hardcore gamers, or long-time casual gamers, or those with nostalgia for the good ole’ days. But I’ve had some thoughts recently, which lead me to believe that players themselves (even the hard core ones) are shaping the game designs we see coming out, perhaps more than we think. The subject of my pondering is centered around the Final Fastasy series, as it has been all over the news recently, with much controversy.
