By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
c0rd on 17 January 2010
Edit Thread
yushire said:
c0rd said:

Most people aren't buying Call of Duty for the epic singleplayer campaigns, though. They're buying it for the multiplayer.

The online multiplayer in Call of Duty isn't unlike an arcade experience. There's constant action, competition with other people, it's addictive, and relatively pick up and play (it's at least the easiest shooter out there). The core gameplay is simple enough - point and shoot.

Nearly all the best selling games this gen have some sort of arcade gameplay. There are exceptions, of course, but most of them are games that generally fill a very broad job. Nintendogs is a pet simulator, Brain Age "keeps your brain active," Wii Fit motivates you to excercise, etc. The gameplay for these games isn't so important, so much as the job they're fulfilling.

As for the blog you linked, he gives some terrible examples. His blaming KQ6's failure on arcade-action is unfounded, then he goes as far as to use VGC's data on Zelda (aLttP) against Layton, when we only have Japan data for Zelda. Against 2D Zelda, Layton was outsold in Japan and is absolutely killed in America, Others is the only region in question (which Nintendo hadn't gotten hold of until recently). He points to games like Phoenix Wright as proof of satisfied customers, when it sells like peanuts, then somehow concludes "puzzles and stories" being more universal than "weapons and enemies", which he has no proof of. Sales say otherwise.


Note that there are really two different kinds of "puzzle" games, one being far more popular than the other. There's the "action" type, which is based on quick thinking, as it basically gives you a task to figure out in given a time limit. See Tetris, Bejeweled, Brain Age, etc. Basically the best selling puzzle games, all of which actually do have arcade-like gameplay.

Then there's the slower, type, where you can take all day to figure out. These are not as popular, and seem to be the stuff the blogger is promoting, as they're loaded in the story games (Layton, Phoenix Wright, etc).

 

I've played COD WAW and MW reflex online multiplayer awhile ago and thinking if this is what the casual gamer wants in FPS and... NO. The multiplayer aspect isnt what the casual wants. Most casuals aka ordinary people arent competitive in nature especially on things that they think is not important or shouldnt excel about like playing video games, which ironically arcade games falls into. Most gamers before competes with the highest score with change in gaming it shifts to leagues and online gaming especially in FPS. The reason why some casuals like FPS games arent the multiplayer aspect and the arcade gameplay to it more than that its the co op and botst. Thats why Malstrom dont like online. He knew all along even online gaming in FPS was pure arcade gaming in  his standards he just dont like it. Because thats not what ordinary people wants in a FPS. Anyway I explain this later when someone replied because its too long to explain it fully.  BTW I make opinions on my own experience and I analyzed gamer's behavior on our area and its always the same thing. Casuals just dont like online.

I'm not sure who you're referring to when you talk about these "casual" gamers. However, I do know that the vast majority of people that buy CoD or Halo play it for the online multiplayer. The online stats say so. Over 8 million first week is even higher than we have PS360's first week on VGC (PC gamers help out here).

Arcade games are not all about competition, either. They're simply about pick up and play fun. When I used to go to the arcades to play games like TMNT, X-men, or Time Crisis, getting the high score was the furthest thing from my mind. You just play the game to have a good time. When Pac-Man exploded in the US, it wasn't because all the women were trying to beat each other's high scores. At least I don't think...

Anyway, I'd agree if you said many people don't like online. However, that doesn't apply to the Call of Duty / Halo crowd, because the online stats tell us that most of them do.


I'm not sure what your last response meant. Are you saying arcade style games are dying out? They're the type of games that have been dominating this gen.