subject: Simpler Games Becoming More Popular [print this page] Generally in the gaming world, each and every year, one expects to have bigger and better releases. The sound, the graphics, the story line, and the game-play are expected to be better. For the most part since technology improves fairly quickly, this happens. The second version of a game is always exponentially more advanced that the previous one. But with console sales and video games down but gaming sales up, could this be an indication that the biggest and the best is no longer sought out by gamers?
Some of the most played games and most sold games are very simple. Farmville has more users on a daily basis than any games that are for sale on the PC or consoles. It's extremely simple and many enjoy playing it. Look at the Wii console and many of the most popular games are the simplest. There are also millions of sales for simple games that are on mobile phones.
It is clear to see that most gamers these days are not hardcore gamers. The new generation of gamers is actually not just a generation. They consist of players ranging from pre-school age through to their 60's. Games were previously not taken seriously as a form of entertainment by most, but this is changing rapidly. These new gamers focus on playing the simpler games.
Many aren't computer savvy so it's necessary that the games are easy to install, easy to use, and easy to get the hang of. Concepts like better graphics or a story line that lasts a couple hundred hours doesn't matter to this group. It is more a case of being able to play a game right now with no hassles.
If you are a gaming company, you could spend millions of dollars on something complex that will be something hardcore gamers approve of or you can make something simple for the masses. It's a no brainer which one is being done in today's market.
