Playstation blamed for adventure game decline

NowGamer: Charles Cecil, creator of the renowned Broken Sword series, has pinned the decline of the adventure game genre on the rise of Sony's Playstation

"It's fairly clear why the adventure [genre] declined during the Nineties..."

[MURKERR]

arcade quality gaming in your front room, the tekkens,gran turismo,gta,resident evil, crash bandicoot, one of the biggest selling ADVENTURE games tomb raider..playstation changed gaming from a geeky hobby to a adult pasttime.

charles cecil it aint sonys fault your games never evolved with the gamer

[el_bandito]

Yep exactly. Sony just went with the flow. Just happened that during your so-called "Playstation Generation" gamers really wanted your so-called "more visceral and harder to control" games. Gamers' tastes evolve, gaming trends evolve. It's not like everyone wanted to play point and click adventure games all day. So the trend? Action-adventure games. So, I, apparently, who happened to play Tomb Raider,Jax and Daxter,Crash Bandicoot years ago....then R&C,and Uncharted this year....is/was "alienated" from adventure games. And I don't even have a Wii.

[Bnet343]

Let's blame Playstation because there are no more adventure games. What a loser. There are adventure games, but other genres have boomed and have come on top these past generations like Guitar Hero and FPS's.

[thats_just_prime]

Actually the saturn came out 1st so Sega ushered in arcade quality gaming in your front room. Not only that but the saturn was far more powerful then playstation.

Sony has done nothing but hurt gaming. The are the one cause the downfall of 2d gaming (capcom still hates sony for this) They ran tons of small gaming dev out of business. They held gaming back last gen with their defective hardware and with old tech.

[Parapraxis]

Wow thats_just_prime that was hilarious.
You were being sarcastic right?
Because if you weren't I feel sorry for you.

Charles Cecil is off his rocker. Games have changed/evolved and other genres have gotten more popular, there is still plenty of adventure games in the market today.
I'm GLAD there is variety, industries need to broaden and innovate to remain relevant, if we had been stuck with a limited number of popular genres gaming would not be the industry powerhouse it is today.

[The Lazy One]

it made it main stream. There's a difference. Atari, nintendo, calico, and sega (to name a few) "ushered in" arcade gaming to the living room.

that said, 1. Action adventure =/= adventure 2. a lot of really crappy adventure games ruined adventure games, not playstation.

[Sarcasm]

The original playstation pushed the industry and laid the foundations of "hardcore" gaming for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3.

Otherwise we'd all be playing Wii "Insert house hold product here" instead.

[mc]

mmmmmm i love sony alot. i generally don't have a love for faceless corporations but sony are just fantastic

[Epic]

"Otherwise we'd all be playing Wii "Insert house hold product here" instead."

Wii BED

I stopped playing that game a long while ago, too much of a kiddy game for me... guess I grew out of it, among other things...

[Doppy]

You can't blame PlayStation you have to blames developers they all need to make more action, adventure, fighting, platforming, and just about every other genre of game besides shooters and racing games.

[FarEastOrient]

Atleast the Myst series tried to evolve but it wasn't very successful by the fifth iteration. But I still play the music!

[morganfell]

One word: UNCHARTED. Best adventure game ever. I have been gaming long before the PS1 and nothing says adventure like Nathan Drake.

[Gothdom]

I agree, Uncharted feels refreshing, but it would be nice if there were a bit more on that front.

But I'm a gamer, there's never enough.

[Rip-Ridah]

Heavy Rain says hello. But to be fair guys, Uncharted (while a masterpiece) isn't a true adventure game; it's an "Action-Adventure" game. Adventure games are Indigo Prophecy/Heavy Rain. The Playstation franchise is about to REDEFINE the adventure genre Mr. Cecil.

-Rip-Ridah

[morganfell]

I disagree. Having played Prophecy - it's great, no doubt there - but it doesn't come off like an adventure.

When you think of an adventure movie, what name comes to mind? Now what game is most like that movie? What game has elements that remind you of that film?

[Sprudling]

I believe Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in US) and Heavy Rain are more interactive film than adventure.

The last game I played which felt like a real adventure game was Dreamfall (2006).

[Rip-Ridah]

It's not an opinion of Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain being in the adventure genre, its a fact. Now whether the two of you "felt" like you were on adventures during Indigo Prophecy is entirely up for debate because it is your opinions. My point of mentioning these two titles is because they both fall under the "Adventure" GENRE. Not trying to sound demeaning or anything felluhs, just backing up my original point. I am going to disagree with the both of you regarding these two points; but + bubbles for the thoughtful insight. Thanks for listening.

-Rip-Ridah

[morganfell]

It doesn't matter what genre they are classified under they are not adventure games. Maybe there needs to be a new genre but they are not 'adventure' games.

Adventure games can be thrilling and tense but there should also be some degree of humor or fun. That doesn't exist in Indigo Prophecy - it's quite a dark story and fantastic for what it is.

Heavy Rain? Well we really do not know but I do not picture a roller coaster rollicking ride. Tension? Yes. Nail biting? Yes? Humor? Fun? I don't see that in a story that has something more in common with Silence of the Lambs than an adventure game.

And back to my question you didn't answer, what movie or movie series is most identified with the word adventure? And what game most mimics that?

[Rip-Ridah]

I submit cuzz we are on just two totally different pages. You say that you don't care what genre the games fall under, but that is what the story is talking about: the adventure genre. If you can't understand that, I don't know what else to say. To answer your questions about what movies I think of as an adventure I immediately think of any Pixar or animated movie or something like that (eg. Toy Story, Shrek, Open Season, Over the Hedge, etc.)

[TheBand1t]

LOL?

[threepy]

Uncharted is action adventure, not adventure. Adventure games are point and click games and you can't blame the Playstation for their decline.

.1) the move to 3D games (not just PlayStation, but PC etc.) made people graphics whores and Adventure games are only marginally better in £d than Sonic...They're just not suited to 3D.
.2) Most Adventure games sucked. My favourite series ever is Monkey Island I must add. I loved the games (even the 4th). I liked Grim Fandango too. Wasn't a big Broken Sword fan but it was alright. Sam and Max bugged me because of it's obvious humour and Day of the Tentacle was good but I gave up with the character swapping. The thing is, though obviously a lot of people will have enjoyed the ones I wasn't the biggest fan of, they require brains to make and many adventure games had illogical puzzles etc. There were classics, but so many were crap.

I like the Bone series though and will forever hope for Monkey Island 5. The Wii would be great for it, so would the PC (obviously). But I just couldn't blame the Playstation for it.

[GiantEnemyFlop]

no, the FPS is the one must be blamed (i like it though)

[Rip-Ridah]

;-)

EDIT: A disagree? But I tell you, a voice just whispered to me and it said very softly in my left ear "Hello." I was just as shocked as anyone would be. But I was relieved when that same voice said that I should expect more pertinent information on Heavy Rain at GDC and/or E3.
*Runs away sniffing

[twoface]

Leisure suit larry says Hi too

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

So thats like what? Two?

[Rip-Ridah]

The only adventure game that I have ever played is Indigo Prophecy so I am not very knowledgeable in the adventure genre. I do know that Heavy Rain is set to be a great game imo. I am also looking forward to Alan Wake and what it has to offer (for what its worth to you). You should concentrate on supporting good games. U may prefer the 360, but you are missing out on so much by ignoring/despising the PS3. I've read plenty of your posts to know your opinion regarding Sony platforms. What does that have to do with any of the great games made by great developers though? I despise Microsoft for many reasons; but I am sane enough to know a good game on the platform when I see one. Not trying to flame you man, it just gets old after awhile...you know? When it's all said and done the "Droids" and "Bots" are on the same team cuzz we all are gamers by choice. Food for thought homie...

-Rip-Ridah

[FreestyleBarnacle]

The difference is also due to an increased reliance on graphics in adventure games at the expense of puzzles and writing. There's also the writing element in itself. Anyone written something as funny as Monkey Island recently? I'm asking because I want to play a game with funny writing and can't think of anything bar the few laughs in Ratchet & Clank Future.
"That's the second largest monkey head I've ever seen" it aint.

[Tony240ZT]

Conker's Bad Fur Day is pretty damn funny, for N64 and original xbox.

[FreestyleBarnacle]

Aww man! Now I have to go out and buy a new console...

[swinesucker]

broken sword was always niche

if anything the 360 changed things more to the port pc shooter crowd

the ps3 had to adapt LOL

[Fishy Fingers]

There was no xbox at the time. Let alone 360.

[bviperz]

Try and keep up swine!

[Fatal Blow]

I don't get this guy there are tons of adventure game's on ps3 coming out this year and there are great adventure game's like Uncharted r&c and many more where does this guy get his info from lol

[threepy]

Read the previous comments. An Adventure game is not the same as "Action-Adventure".

[Cajun Chicken]

Adventure games (Point and Click) died the same time the Amiga did, Revolution were the last of the adventure game developers to slowly die out.

Best point and click game on PC for ages was Toonstruck and then point and click adventures died, only to be resurrected by indie devs in recent years.
Fact is, PC gaming was the great last hope of the Adventure Game once the Amiga died and FPS such as Doom, Quake and Half-Life basically killed them because the PC sbandoned the adventure game. Not saying FPS are bad, in fact, I really like them, but the point and click adventure died as the FPS flourished.

[Rip-Ridah]

While the majority, all adventure games are not point and click. Many people think this is true of the upcoming adventure games.

[The Lazy One]

the old indiana jones game Indiana Jones and the fate of atlantis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

that felt a lot more natural as an indiana jones game than any of the action adventures. Even though I'd tend to think of the films as action/adventure, I think the concept translates better to adventure than action adventure.

[Cajun Chicken]

Ironically for the developer, the strongest 'adventure games' series is actually on PS3, Uncharted.

[threepy]

Adventure games are slowly coming back. There's a fair few developers (Telltale, Double Fine and a couple more, including a Ron Gilbert game) working on Adventure games. Some of course are working on Adventure games with some action (Tim Schaffer and Brutal Legend).

I'd like to see them return-and they generally have low development costs.

[Why o why]

mouse n key support plus hdd's as standard allow it to do so its just up to the devs. RIP lucusarts and delphine

[Raoh]

are we going to blame the economy and any new diseases on the playstation as well?

[HorrorStyle]

I would the first one to buy if they released Broken Sword or other classic adventure games on PSN. However, I don't believe in their commercial success among "next-gen gamers"- they want COD and everything that is similar to COD.

[table]

eh?

[kewlkat007]

Sony has been a dominating factor the last 10 years or so but I wouldn't blame them. More so an Industry thing.

As we went from 2D to 3D transformation everything becasue about the visual experience. Basically we all know hardcore gamers are more about graphics, then actualy gameplay. Oh let me tell you, that hardcore market grew with the PC in the mid to late 90's.

If you look at the games Nintendo/Genesis era put out, was there even the term Hardcore Gamer? If there was, the term did not match what was being shown. Games were simple.(anyone coule pick up and play)

Shooters became most popular with western devs pushing the visuals/hardware and 3D worlds, which Adventure development following that same path, that market began to shrunk. Same thing happened with old-school Beatem ups and brawlers. The push for the best looking games have alienated plenty of genres and samll devs that could not keep up, as well as some casual gamers.

This is where Nintendo comes in. Just as with the NDS(suped up SNES), you still see part of that market thirve and you wonder why Nintendo does very well. There is still, that casual gamer that is not about the KZ2's of gaming and rather games that push, more so other things, than maxed out visuals. We often use the term old-school gamer because some rather play the simpler games of yesterday but there are plenty of new gamers out there that do as well.

I see jrpg's going the same rout. The markets have shrunk, as more companies merge, development cost rise(everyone wants to make a 40 million dollar game,) small talented devs fall hard or get eaten up by the giant of EA. I've played every Castlevania's on the NDS since no other HD console offers (Symphony of The Night type game) well Konami thinks, 3D is now the way to go.

I think we need to get back to what made games enjoyable. We need more genres ro rise up from the graves(Brawlers, Great platformers, shmups..etc) and less small studios taking big risk and going belly up. The pressure to make the biggest baddest bestest looking game, is getting lots of devs in the red and falling hard.

[jams_shop]

Ok, now lets blame the PlayStation brand for Global Warming and AIDS. Adventure games are not as popular as they used to be, if they ever were. Each new game console generation brings a different genders to the top. For example Shooters specially TPS games are the dominant gender this times mainly because of the hardware. Last generation at least on the PS2(which was the most popular console) RPGs ware the number one gender. If Adventure games are not what they once were, it's because they fail to adapt to each next gen cycle and NOT because the PlayStation.

[nycredude]

Does anyone remember that pc game where you start of as a biker in a bar that gets stuck in a dumpster in the back? You then proceed to go after some other bikers and kick their ass.

What was the name again? I would like to see an hd remake on psn.

[Guy169]

Full Throttle maybe?

[Why o why]

ftw

[dalibor]

Speaking of adventure games has anyone ever played Deja Vu? Man I remember playing this old game for the Nes. We need more adventure games imo, Deja Vu was kickass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[callahan09]

I wouldn't blame the Playstation. In the mid-90's you had all these Heretics, Hexens, Bloods, Dooms, etc... You had Sin and Half-Life and Tribes and god knows what else. Shooters were running amok in the PC world. Next thing you got to blame is the internet and rampant piracy for the drop in marketshare for PC games. It's not the Playstation's fault that FPS's ran over everything else in the PC industry, and that the PC industry itself was dying a slow death due to an internet-fuelled cancer called piracy.

Now, Broken Sword is one of my all-time favorite games, mostly for the brilliant story that Cecil put together... but this is just a cop-out excuse for the cash-in that the rest of the industry took by going the route of making easy-money shooting games.

[Jdoki]

If PC developers are to be believed the PC as a gaming platform is in rude and vibrant health - so why are there so few adventure (and specifically point-and-click) games on PC?

It seems to me that gamers, both PC and console, have evolved and left Adventure games behind.

It's a bit of a shame, but I also think it's an excuse to blame the Playstation.

I consider myself a console and PC gamer, and like a broad range of genres. I would be happy to buy a new Full Throttle or Simon the Sorcerer game IF it was good.

Unfortunately the adventure game genre has been falling off with lackluster writing, poor puzzles and uninteresting graphics. Sam and Max Hit the Road is one of my all time fave games - but the new versions are just insipid and boring. There have been some solid stabs, but the genre just hasn't moved with the times and is in desperate need of something fresh.

The only company that seems to have embraced what a modern adventure game could be is Quantic Dream. Fahrenheit was great adventure (except the end) and Heavy Rain looks like it will push adventure games forward.

[mariusmal]

i'll agree with you in most parts. but there are some good adventure games made in the last years with very good writing and puzzles. the bad part ? they are mixed in the middle of hundreds of half-assed adventure games

[stuntman_mike]

to blame sony for the decline is very sad and pathetic, all sony done was supplied the tools it was up to developers to create the games. most developers at the time wanted to make 3d gaming as they saw it as the future of video games and they was right (mario 64 was the pioneer)if this cecil guy wanted more adventure games he should of made more (by the way i love the broken sword games, but now i think this guys a right wankstain)

[Flare149]

Yeah aren't Tomb Raider and Uncharted Adventure games? That said, aren't they way better and more popular than anything he's ever made?

He's not really talking about Adventure games, he's talking about Casual games

[mariusmal]

what ? he is talking about point n click games or adventure gaming like it was called. they aren't casual games.

[cliffbo]

yeah, of course it's the PS3... it's nothing to do with the FPS centric 360 is it now. it's to do with the consoles that made Tombraider popular and had the broken sword games on them... oh yeah and Uncharted is a puzzle game

[mariusmal]

it's not consoles fault. times change and like adventure gaming was dope, now fps's and other genres are the dope. i still play adventure games but the genre turned into a niche genre. like nowadays genres could become niche's in the future.
all in all mr cecil... times change.

and please mr cecil... doing a great game like broken sword doesnt give you a carte blanche to be a d$ck