Gaming Forums => General Gaming => Topic started by: NWR_insanolord on February 04, 2013, 08:44:09 AM
Title: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 04, 2013, 08:44:09 AM
I saw this on NeoGAF and thought it'd be fun to do here. The idea is, if you could only play one genre of games the rest of your life, which one would it be and why?
For me it comes down to either 2D platformers or turn based strategy. They both have a great variety within them (platformers run from Super Meat Boy to Kirby's Dream Land and TBS goes from the relative simplicity of Advance Wars to the depth of Civilization and beyond), and both have a lot of replay value, at least for me.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on February 04, 2013, 09:18:09 AM
Mine would be Metroid-inspired exploration action games. Also known as Metroidvania. I just can't get enough of those games. Puzzle games might be a close second.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: ejamer on February 04, 2013, 09:23:55 AM
RPGs, no question. Missing out on games like Xenoblade and Crimson Shroud and Tales of Symphonia and Final Fantasy VI would be inexcusable.
Although maybe in a gaming world where genre-bending is so common, we aren't really being specific enough? Do we need to specify between Western RPGs and JRPGs? Should games in the Rogue-like RPG sub-genre (one of my favorites, and one that has influenced many popular games recently) be viewed separately? What about MMORPGs?
(If we need to be more specific then I'm throwing down for JRPGs.)
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: oohhboy on February 04, 2013, 09:53:12 AM
It really depends on how high level the descriptor is. Higher it is, more broad it is, the more easily you can twist game generes into them. Considering how much of a genere salad games are these days, at the end of the day it's really an impossible question.
"Shooters" can be vertical, horizontal, first person, third person, isometric, simulation. You can qualify a whole lot of stuff under it including a lot western RPGs and some JRPGs with a bit of stretching.
I love strategy games, but push comes to shove, I like turn based more. It lets you think and it's not based on mouse micro management exploitation like it's realtime counterparts. I can move fast, but I am not that kind of fast mouse skills wise. I am a more headshot you from the otherside of the map with a pistol kind.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Louieturkey on February 04, 2013, 12:56:32 PM
I would say general would be RPG just because I like the stories and I like being able to care about your character.
But since a game like Borderlands can be classified as an RPG, I'm guessing we need more specifics. If I had to cut it down more, it'd be between 3 sub genres. I'd choose between action rpgs, strategy rpgs and traditional turn-based Japanese rpgs. I'd probably ultimately pick srpgs because one of my favorite games of all time (Shining Force 2) is in that genre and since I'd have less choice of games, those NIS games can easily last 200-400 hours depending on how high you want to level the characters. :)
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Oblivion on February 04, 2013, 01:42:58 PM
RPGs, Western and Japanese.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Ian Sane on February 04, 2013, 02:51:32 PM
Adventure games like Zelda and Metroid, if we're so inclined to consider that the same genre. If we don't count them, then just Zelda-style games. I could probably make do with exclusively playing Zelda games for the rest of my life. There would be some boring downtime but that's really the one series, and thus genre, that I would really miss.
RPGs seem like a good choice because of their sheer length. As an adult, one RPG could probably suit me for a whole year. But I never finish those games and always grow bored of them. Perhaps with nothing else available to distract me that wouldn't be a problem. Pokemon alone could last you for a while.
Of course some tricky definitions have lumped Zelda in as an RPG. If we cheat like that, then RPGs is the genre for me. I could live on Zeldas and classic Final Fantasy games.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: broodwars on February 04, 2013, 03:13:37 PM
For me, the RPG genre is an easy choice. You get the most content for the least cost, and these days both Western & Eastern RPGs have picked up elements of other genres, so you satiate those needs as well. Hell, depending on how loosely you accept the term "RPG", you can even include the "Adventure" genre (aka RPGs people don't want to consider RPGs, like Zelda).
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Ian Sane on February 04, 2013, 03:27:48 PM
Zelda's status as an RPG is widely debated BUT I notice Secret of Mana is pretty much always referred to as an RPG. But don't both games play pretty similarly? If you liked LttP, you probably would also like Secret of Mana. Is the difference because one is made by Square or that SoM has experience points and levels? Zelda's heart pieces are a similar concept but not specifically defined as levels and experience points. It seems that that one detail is what really keeps Zelda from being regarded as an RPG.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on February 04, 2013, 03:55:31 PM
Zelda's status as an RPG is widely debated BUT I notice Secret of Mana is pretty much always referred to as an RPG. But don't both games play pretty similarly? If you liked LttP, you probably would also like Secret of Mana. Is the difference because one is made by Square or that SoM has experience points and levels? Zelda's heart pieces are a similar concept but not specifically defined as levels and experience points. It seems that that one detail is what really keeps Zelda from being regarded as an RPG.
For me the reasons I've never considered Zelda an RPG are two-fold. Zelda has puzzles and Zelda does not have experience points and levels (not counting Zelda II). It's the series' focus on puzzles in combination with the lack of a leveling system (hearts etc I consider to be upgrades, although the distinction may seem arbitrary) that sets Zelda apart from something like Secret of Mana for me.
In a sense, Neither Zelda nor Metroid fit easily within any one genre. Particularly since Ocarina and Prime, those series have become genres unto themselves.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: azeke on February 04, 2013, 05:04:41 PM
I'd rather not make that choice period.
I like my rhythm, platformer, shmup, roguelike, beat'em up games alike.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: alegoicoe on February 04, 2013, 05:04:57 PM
Adventure/RPG exploration games in the vain of zelda, metroid and deus ex.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Mop it up on February 04, 2013, 05:21:29 PM
Platformers, they're the game that always bring me the most joy. This is assuming that all games made would become platformers, and not that there would still be as few as there are being made now.
Zelda's heart pieces are a similar concept but not specifically defined as levels and experience points.
I don't think they are similar at all. You gain heart pieces at predetermined points, and they raise the life bar by a predetermined amount, you don't gain them simply from defeating enemies. And all heart pieces do is increase life, Link doesn't have stats that go up from it.
Not only that, but there isn't anything in Zelda that's determined by a simulated dice roll. As long as Link's sword connects with an enemy, it hits, and it deals a predetermined amount of damage. Same goes for attacks against Link.
The problem with the term "RPG" is that it's a broad term, and has gotten more so over the years. I'm not even sure I fully understand the extent of the current definition.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Khushrenada on February 04, 2013, 05:32:25 PM
Ooo. Tough question. I'm the same way as Insanolord. Platformers or Turn Based Strategy games. I'd have to give TBS the edge specifically just because of Civilization. Would TBS include a game like Fortune Street? But platformers are my other love. Mario, Wario, Kirby, Donkey Kong and even Yoshi. That's an awesome set of series to be able to live off. Sure, it might suck to miss out on other things but the only type that would hurt the most is adventure which I think both Metroid and Zelda fall under.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Stogi on February 04, 2013, 07:18:09 PM
Chess.
But really Adventure games, if the range was Zelda, Metroid God of War and Uncharted.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Spak-Spang on February 04, 2013, 11:03:48 PM
I think I would go with platformers or Zelda style adventure games.
A close 2nd or is that 3rd is Retro games.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on February 05, 2013, 01:56:18 AM
I think I would go with platformers or Zelda style adventure games.
A close 2nd or is that 3rd is Retro games.
Retro isn't a genre. It's a stylistic choice. Good try, though, good try. ;)
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 05, 2013, 02:52:35 AM
He capitalized it, so he may be referring to Retro Studios, which still isn't a genre, but raises another interesting question of if you could only play games from one developer, who would it be?
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Oblivion on February 05, 2013, 03:18:26 AM
Square Enix or Atlus.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Dasmos on February 05, 2013, 03:20:46 AM
He capitalized it, so he may be referring to Retro Studios, which still isn't a genre, but raises another interesting question of if you could only play games from one developer, who would it be?
Platinum Games, CiNG or EAD Tokyo.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 05, 2013, 03:40:04 AM
I'd have to say either EAD Tokyo or Firaxis Games.
EDIT: After looking into it some more, I have to go with Firaxis. Civilization, Alpha Centauri, XCOM, Sid Meier's Railroads, Sid Meier's Pirates, and one of my personal favorites that I'd forgotten about, Sid Meier's SimGolf.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on February 05, 2013, 07:44:20 AM
He capitalized it, so he may be referring to Retro Studios, which still isn't a genre, but raises another interesting question of if you could only play games from one developer, who would it be?
Oddly, mine would in fact be Retro studios.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: azeke on February 05, 2013, 07:54:58 AM
That's four and a half games against a breadths of entire genres and vast libraries of other developers?
As to me, decision about one studio is easier than genre. I'll take SPD (former R&D1) -- ridiculously diverse library across all genres, great quality and just the right amount of crazy that i like.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Sarail on February 05, 2013, 08:30:42 AM
Old Rare, for sure. NES through the N64 years were some of the most magical times in gaming from Rare.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Ian Sane on February 05, 2013, 12:13:37 PM
For one developer, historically I would have to go with EAD. Nowadays that wouldn't quite float my boat as much as it did, but for their overall output there are just too many classic games covered. You get Zelda and most Mario games. Unfortunately it would be the NSMB games and not the more creative 3D ones by Tokyo EAD, unless we cheat and consider both the Kyoto and Tokyo EAD groups as a single entity. They do share the same Wikipedia entry.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Stogi on February 05, 2013, 02:10:52 PM
This may sound hypocritical considering what I picked as my genre, but EA. I love my Fifa too much.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TJ Spyke on February 05, 2013, 02:18:57 PM
This may sound hypocritical considering what I picked as my genre, but EA. I love my Fifa too much.
Which branch of EA? EA has many developers. EA Canada makes the FIFA games, so I assume you mean them.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Morari on February 05, 2013, 02:24:54 PM
Minecraft is all the "genre" I need.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Fatty The Hutt on February 05, 2013, 06:02:02 PM
Probably 3D action adventure games like 3D Zelda, Metroid Prime, Uncharted, God of War, Red Dead Redemption. though 2D platformers run a very close second.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Louieturkey on February 05, 2013, 07:14:59 PM
He capitalized it, so he may be referring to Retro Studios, which still isn't a genre, but raises another interesting question of if you could only play games from one developer, who would it be?
NIS America or Square Enix.
Actually, since NISA just publishes the games for multiple developers, would that work? Would I just have to choose Nippon Ichi or GUST or would I get to lump them all together? Because SE also includes Eidos and other development studios. I might even say Activision since they include Blizzard.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TJ Spyke on February 05, 2013, 07:19:43 PM
If you picked Activision, you would only get games they directly developed, not games developed by studios they own like Vicarious Visions or Blizzard Entertainment. It's like if you picked Nintendo, you would only get what their main studio develops, not Retro or Intelligent Systems. So if you picked Nippon Ichi Software, you don't get games that Gust developed.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Morari on February 06, 2013, 01:47:03 PM
I could probably go for quite a while on just Valve titles, actually.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Ceric on February 06, 2013, 02:45:57 PM
Really... Valve doesn't have that many actual titles last I checked.
And majority of them are FPS. And last five of them don't have significant singleplayer or are completely online-only.
I don't mind online FPSs once in a while (playing TF2 cost me a job four years ago, that's how addicted to it i was), but i can't imagine myself playing basically the same thing.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TJ Spyke on February 06, 2013, 02:56:10 PM
I could probably go for quite a while on just Valve titles, actually.
Really... Valve doesn't have that many actual titles last I checked.
According to Wikipedia, they have developed:
Half-Life (PlayStation 2, Windows, Linux) with 4 expansions (Opposing Force, Blue Shift, Deathmatch Source, Decay) Half-Life 2 (Windows, OS X, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) Half-Life 2: Episode One (Windows, OS X, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) Half-Life 2: Episode Two (Windows, OS X, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) Counter-Strike (Xbox, Windows, Linux) Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (Xbox, Windows) Counter-Strike: Source (Windows, OS X) Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Windows, OS X) Team Fortress Classic (Windows) Team Fortress 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, OS X, Linux) Day of Defeat (Windows) Day of Defeat: Source (Windows, OS X) Portal (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, OS X) Portal 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, OS X) Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360, Windows, OS X) Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, Windows, OS X) Alien Swarm (Windows)
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 06, 2013, 03:10:32 PM
Because it's you, I'll make the overly pedantic correction and say that the original Half Life is on Mac as well; it came the same day as the Linux version.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Louieturkey on February 06, 2013, 03:16:33 PM
What about mods that are created by the community for games that were developed by your company? Can you use those? If so, I'd say Valve is a really good one because the mods that are created make for some entirely new games almost. Or Bethesda could be good as well with mods.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Ceric on February 06, 2013, 03:18:50 PM
Except for Left 4 Dead and Sorta with Portal. Every single one of those were Half Life mods or Half Life 2 at one point.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: azeke on February 06, 2013, 03:25:53 PM
Alien Swarm started as Unreal (3?) mod.
Dota2 is it's own thing.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TJ Spyke on February 06, 2013, 03:27:23 PM
What about mods that are created by the community for games that were developed by your company? Can you use those? If so, I'd say Valve is a really good one because the mods that are created make for some entirely new games almost. Or Bethesda could be good as well with mods.
If the idea is that you can only make games made by the developer, then I would imagine fan-mods would not be included since Valve did not develop them.
insano, you are right. I just did a quick glance on Wikipedia. Since I have no desire to own a Mac (over-priced, I can get a equivalent in specs PC for half the price and have a much wider selection of games), I don't pay attention to Mac news.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Morari on February 06, 2013, 10:30:34 PM
Aliena Swarm was an Unreal Tournamnet 2004 mod originally. It was completely reworked for the Source engine and released by Valve a few years back. For that matter, DotA started out as a Warcraft III mod. Team Fortress was a Quake mode, Counter-Strike was a Half-Life mod, etc. Valve has a good eye when it comes to cherry-picking the community. They seem to partner up with Tripwire Interactive as lot as well, who have made a career of pushing older Unreal Tournament 2004 mods into the retail space, such as Red Orchestra, Killing Floor, and The Ball. In an industry that is doing everything it can to kill its own fanfare in favor of DLC and micro-transactions, it's nice to see Valve take the stance it so often does.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TJ Spyke on February 06, 2013, 10:37:26 PM
Or you could view it as a company relying on its fan to do the creative work for them instead of coming up with their own ideas.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TrueNerd on February 06, 2013, 10:52:44 PM
2D Metroidvania games. All day, every day.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 06, 2013, 11:59:48 PM
If we're allowing mods then my Firaxis pick gets even better.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: TJ Spyke on February 07, 2013, 12:03:42 AM
I think the spirit of the question would only allow mods made by the developer, not fan made ones.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 07, 2013, 12:13:04 AM
There are arguments to be made either way. At least in games with developer-provided mod tools and SDKs, you could say the game was designed by the developer to allow for those experiences, and therefore they should be included. It raises the question of at what point the game ceases to be made by the developer.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on February 07, 2013, 03:01:57 AM
Visual Novels. I regularly place high in visual novel tournaments
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Morari on February 07, 2013, 02:52:49 PM
Or you could view it as a company relying on its fan to do the creative work for them instead of coming up with their own ideas.
You could, but then you'd be wrong. ;)
Nothing extends the lifespan of a game better than a well supported fan community. Most of the games that I end up playing past the intended 20-40 hours are designed specifically to allow community interaction. I still routinely load up Quake III Arena because of one mod and a slew of custom maps. The tools are already there, so why not clean them up a bit and release them to the public? Short term profits may suffer since you won't be able to milk people for DLC and yearly sequels, but long term sales will be steady, if not exponential. If you're really lucky, someone will make Day Z for your game, allowing it to sell more than it ever did on its own.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Louieturkey on February 07, 2013, 05:40:13 PM
There are arguments to be made either way. At least in games with developer-provided mod tools and SDKs, you could say the game was designed by the developer to allow for those experiences, and therefore they should be included. It raises the question of at what point the game ceases to be made by the developer.
Starcraft 2 is like that. In fact, there is an entire section for fan made maps and games inside SC2 itself. It's technically part of the game even though the final product you play wasn't all created directly by the developers.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Mop it up on February 07, 2013, 06:21:31 PM
This topic was better when it was about genres.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 07, 2013, 06:24:32 PM
It's still about genres if you want it to be. It's kind of about both now. This is the NWR forums, if you want to derail (or, in this case, rerail) a discussion, it's usually not that hard.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on February 07, 2013, 06:27:33 PM
It's still about genres if you want it to be. It's kind of about both now. This is the NWR forums, if you want to derail (or, in this case, rerail) a discussion, it's usually not that hard.
Don't you dare tempt me like that.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 07, 2013, 08:32:26 PM
Like you need tempting.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Stogi on February 07, 2013, 08:34:39 PM
Touche
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Morari on February 07, 2013, 10:06:18 PM
There are arguments to be made either way. At least in games with developer-provided mod tools and SDKs, you could say the game was designed by the developer to allow for those experiences, and therefore they should be included. It raises the question of at what point the game ceases to be made by the developer.
Starcraft 2 is like that. In fact, there is an entire section for fan made maps and games inside SC2 itself. It's technically part of the game even though the final product you play wasn't all created directly by the developers.
More and more games are going that route. The Steam Workshop, for example, has opened up a lot of mods to more casual players as well. I'm not entirely in favor of the move, but it does have its merits.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 07, 2013, 10:50:29 PM
I'm just waiting for someone to use the Steam Workshop functionality in Civ V to do a total conversion to an Alpha Centauri "homage," since EA doesn't seem to want to let them do an official one.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: Do_What on February 09, 2013, 01:33:51 PM
For me it's platformers. That's the genre I like the most. As for developer, Quest circa 1998? As for living developers it'd either be EAD Tokyo or Monolith.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: smallsharkbigbite on February 20, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
At first it was platformers for me. That's what really starting me in gaming and I still love them a bunch. Then it was adventure games, Zelda/Metroid and I still love the a bunch. But, now I'll have to be the oddball and say racing. I love getting into racing games. If I had to look at my PS3 collection, I'd guess the majority are racing games(obviously having a wheel that works with PS3 and PC is key). And I always thought Mario Kart was the best game on the Wii.
Title: Re: If you could only play one genre
Post by: pokepal148 on February 21, 2013, 07:38:31 AM
action-adventure because i can push those boundarys into rpgs, beat-em-ups, find a way to get ssb and its perfect
