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What makes a game classic?
When you look at this question what do you really think a classic game is? There are many factors you could raise about this, the first point I think about is it’s originality.
The originality is important because if it’s just a copy off another game, as many sequels are, it won’t do very well because gamers have already played it. There’s no new experience, which is what gamers want. If it’s not a completely new idea it will be rejected, a perfect example of originality is Zelda for the GameCube. First of all, it was going to be like all the other Zelda games, which Nintendo made, but then they decided to come up with something a bit more original and they ended up with a cartooned version of Zelda completely different to the other Zelda games that are out for the N64 or Game Boy Colour. Originality comes in many forms such as genre mixing. Take Wario Land 4 for the Gameboy Advance, it is a classic example of genre mixing. RPG and Platformer rolled into one. Even on the easy setting it makes it a lot more interesting have a cross genre.
Playability is a key part to making a game classic. Without this in a game you will pick up the game, play it once and then throw it away. There’s one thing about playability that makes it’s unique, you can’t really copy it unless you have the right formula and if you don’t the right formula it’s hard to get it right. The playability of the game is the part to keeps you playing day and night until and even after you complete the game. A classic example of games that keep you playing after completion is racers like Gran Turismo 2 and Mario Kart 64 because you can try to beat personal records over and over, try to beat a mates in multiplayer games and just basically having a race when you feel like it. Another great example of a great playable game genre is first person shoot ‘em ups such as the amazing Perfect Dark and Goldeneye 007. Level after level you won’t stop and put any of these games down. Multiplayer is pure beauty.
The ease of gaming is a very important part to being a classic, which is overlooked by some games makers and the whole game is ruined. It’s a very precise part of a classic game, because if the game your playing is too difficult to play you’ll just throw it down and quit unless you’re a very patient gamer. Shoot ‘em ups especially have to be easy to control because you need quick reactions and there’s no point in having to look around the pad to reload. Goldeneye 007 was great game and one of the reasons was how easy it was to play. There are some games that have been let down by this with dodgy camera angles and hard to handle controls they just go straight down the sink.
If you want an original game it has to last longer than it is. They are loads of massive games that aren’t classics because they are basically really bad. Nevertheless, a good long game does make all the difference. Games like Goldeneye 007, Gran Turismo 1 and 2 and Super Mario 64 can keep you playing for at least a year. Loads of games are let down by this factor. Take ESPN Final Round Golf for the Gameboy Advance, it’s the best golf game I’ve played in a quite a while and is really let down because it only has about two courses. Last-ability is going to be a big problem with the upcoming Next Generation console, the Nintendo GameCube, as recently Nintendo revealed that their games are going to be a lot easier because of the ‘Younger Audience’ that supposedly are more interested in Nintendo products. This mean Luigi’s Mansion and Zelda: GameCube are going to be very short games.
In magazines a lot of games are let down by the difficulty level of a game, they say “it may be too easy for older gamers.” However, if there’s a game like Mickey Mouse it’s created especially for younger gamers. If all games had a high difficulty level, there wouldn’t be any games for the younger generation of gamers and if all games were too easy there would not be any challenge for older gamers. This is why there is a contrast between games for older and younger gamers. The biggest contrast’s are usually with cartooned games like Kirby and serious games like Perfect Dark, if Kirby had a very high difficulty it would not be the same game, it would be for the older generation but they might reject it because of it’s childish style. You need to get the difficulty level right to get a classic game. It may not seem like much but having an ‘easy’, ‘hard’ and ‘medium’ option which can make all the difference.
A classic game has to be simple to be classic. Simplicity is very important because of, again, how easy it is to play. Complicated games will get you confused and can’t really be called a classic if you don’t understand what the game is trying to achieve. This is the beauty of puzzle games like Tetris and Denki Blocks. Try to get rows of blocks while different shapes fall and all you have to do is move them into place, getting harder as you progress. Again simple.
There are added extra’s you’ll find in games such as good graphics, which are not essential but can improve the gamplay a bit. You might be thinking at this point “What?” but hear me out. A lot of games are let down by dodgy camera angles and backgrounds that make the characters blend in. Such as games like Castlevania for the N64 with it’s annoying camera angles and Jurassic Park 3 for the GBA which is annoying because you can hardly see who you are. However, when you have good graphics these problems can be avoided, which essentially makes the games more playable.
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
When you look at this question what do you really think a classic game is? There are many factors you could raise about this, the first point I think about is it’s originality.
The originality is important because if it’s just a copy off another game, as many sequels are, it won’t do very well because gamers have already played it. There’s no new experience, which is what gamers want. If it’s not a completely new idea it will be rejected, a perfect example of originality is Zelda for the GameCube. First of all, it was going to be like all the other Zelda games, which Nintendo made, but then they decided to come up with something a bit more original and they ended up with a cartooned version of Zelda completely different to the other Zelda games that are out for the N64 or Game Boy Colour. Originality comes in many forms such as genre mixing. Take Wario Land 4 for the Gameboy Advance, it is a classic example of genre mixing. RPG and Platformer rolled into one. Even on the easy setting it makes it a lot more interesting have a cross genre.
Playability is a key part to making a game classic. Without this in a game you will pick up the game, play it once and then throw it away. There’s one thing about playability that makes it’s unique, you can’t really copy it unless you have the right formula and if you don’t the right formula it’s hard to get it right. The playability of the game is the part to keeps you playing day and night until and even after you complete the game. A classic example of games that keep you playing after completion is racers like Gran Turismo 2 and Mario Kart 64 because you can try to beat personal records over and over, try to beat a mates in multiplayer games and just basically having a race when you feel like it. Another great example of a great playable game genre is first person shoot ‘em ups such as the amazing Perfect Dark and Goldeneye 007. Level after level you won’t stop and put any of these games down. Multiplayer is pure beauty.
The ease of gaming is a very important part to being a classic, which is overlooked by some games makers and the whole game is ruined. It’s a very precise part of a classic game, because if the game your playing is too difficult to play you’ll just throw it down and quit unless you’re a very patient gamer. Shoot ‘em ups especially have to be easy to control because you need quick reactions and there’s no point in having to look around the pad to reload. Goldeneye 007 was great game and one of the reasons was how easy it was to play. There are some games that have been let down by this with dodgy camera angles and hard to handle controls they just go straight down the sink.
If you want an original game it has to last longer than it is. They are loads of massive games that aren’t classics because they are basically really bad. Nevertheless, a good long game does make all the difference. Games like Goldeneye 007, Gran Turismo 1 and 2 and Super Mario 64 can keep you playing for at least a year. Loads of games are let down by this factor. Take ESPN Final Round Golf for the Gameboy Advance, it’s the best golf game I’ve played in a quite a while and is really let down because it only has about two courses. Last-ability is going to be a big problem with the upcoming Next Generation console, the Nintendo GameCube, as recently Nintendo revealed that their games are going to be a lot easier because of the ‘Younger Audience’ that supposedly are more interested in Nintendo products. This mean Luigi’s Mansion and Zelda: GameCube are going to be very short games.
In magazines a lot of games are let down by the difficulty level of a game, they say “it may be too easy for older gamers.” However, if there’s a game like Mickey Mouse it’s created especially for younger gamers. If all games had a high difficulty level, there wouldn’t be any games for the younger generation of gamers and if all games were too easy there would not be any challenge for older gamers. This is why there is a contrast between games for older and younger gamers. The biggest contrast’s are usually with cartooned games like Kirby and serious games like Perfect Dark, if Kirby had a very high difficulty it would not be the same game, it would be for the older generation but they might reject it because of it’s childish style. You need to get the difficulty level right to get a classic game. It may not seem like much but having an ‘easy’, ‘hard’ and ‘medium’ option which can make all the difference.
A classic game has to be simple to be classic. Simplicity is very important because of, again, how easy it is to play. Complicated games will get you confused and can’t really be called a classic if you don’t understand what the game is trying to achieve. This is the beauty of puzzle games like Tetris and Denki Blocks. Try to get rows of blocks while different shapes fall and all you have to do is move them into place, getting harder as you progress. Again simple.
There are added extra’s you’ll find in games such as good graphics, which are not essential but can improve the gamplay a bit. You might be thinking at this point “What?” but hear me out. A lot of games are let down by dodgy camera angles and backgrounds that make the characters blend in. Such as games like Castlevania for the N64 with it’s annoying camera angles and Jurassic Park 3 for the GBA which is annoying because you can hardly see who you are. However, when you have good graphics these problems can be avoided, which essentially makes the games more playable.
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
Page:
I think Nintendo are doing this because of the acuations from Sony fans. Sony fans say Ninty is for babies so they make Ninty for babies.
Nintendo may think their younger audience will buy these games older gamers will get driven away and revert to Sony or Microsoft. Nintendo really need to think about all it's consumers, maybe make Mario Sunshine a long running adventure?
Nintendo may think their younger audience will buy these games older gamers will get driven away and revert to Sony or Microsoft. Nintendo really need to think about all it's consumers, maybe make Mario Sunshine a long running adventure?
Shocktrooper wrote:
They plan to make it shorter and easier for the more casual gamer for
> christ sake!
I know what has this world come to! Lets just hope that Nintendo have a surprise release Zelda game. Some thing like Ura Zelda (for more info see my topic in the Nintendo forum called 'The Legend is Zelda')
Oh yeah, good post RiCkOsS
They plan to make it shorter and easier for the more casual gamer for
> christ sake!
I know what has this world come to! Lets just hope that Nintendo have a surprise release Zelda game. Some thing like Ura Zelda (for more info see my topic in the Nintendo forum called 'The Legend is Zelda')
Oh yeah, good post RiCkOsS
I like Nintendo - but they must learn that most 'younger' gamers want blood and more adult themes- My 7 year old brother plays Resi Evil 2 with glee! (psycho)
If Zelda is shorter, bad - if it has ame gameplay good, but could they not just expand on the Ocarina Of Time - Better graphics, extra stuff, new story etc etc. ?
If Zelda is shorter, bad - if it has ame gameplay good, but could they not just expand on the Ocarina Of Time - Better graphics, extra stuff, new story etc etc. ?
The bit about making games harder for the older, more hardcore gamer reminded me instantly of what Shigsy and co. have in mind for GC Zelda games.
Remember it?
They plan to make it shorter and easier for the more casual gamer for christ sake!
Anywho, good post RiCkOsS
SHOCKY
Remember it?
They plan to make it shorter and easier for the more casual gamer for christ sake!
Anywho, good post RiCkOsS
SHOCKY
Nice post Rickoss and good point there too Ace_greg!
Ahh but what is a classic game, who decides weather it’s a classic or just another ordinary game. There is no-one person that decides weather it is a classic, yet how does it come about being called a classic game. How do you define a classic game (same goes for film).
Some would say an original game makes a classic game, but there are some games that are original, but aren’t classics. Personally I would say the thing that makes a classic is if it revolutionises the way we view and play games then it is likely to be a classic, but this may not always be true as there is no formula to making a classic game. If there was nearly every game would be one!
Some would say an original game makes a classic game, but there are some games that are original, but aren’t classics. Personally I would say the thing that makes a classic is if it revolutionises the way we view and play games then it is likely to be a classic, but this may not always be true as there is no formula to making a classic game. If there was nearly every game would be one!
You should play it, it's a really fun game and really simple and it has a reall, really strange title :D
RiCkOsS wrote:
> Did anyone have a Spectrum and Snowball in hell?
That was really playable
> and simple, what a classic.
i got 3 specturms from my grandad which 100's of games earlyer this year.
i thought a saw that game in the pile
> Did anyone have a Spectrum and Snowball in hell?
That was really playable
> and simple, what a classic.
i got 3 specturms from my grandad which 100's of games earlyer this year.
i thought a saw that game in the pile
If you're just getting the same thing over and over again you'll just get sick of it.
This happened with Wario Land 1, 2 and 3. But then when a mixed genre came along, Wario Land 4, it was much better.
This happened with Wario Land 1, 2 and 3. But then when a mixed genre came along, Wario Land 4, it was much better.
Firstly, nice post there Rickoss. Originality is a factor in why people buy a game. If a company just keeps milking the same old formula over and over again, they are going to get themselves nowhere. Rockstar have done the right thing, by adjusting the Grand Theft Auto series to do 2 things:
1. Keep people entertained with a new system.
2. Upgrading the series, to make it look brand, spanking new.
Some games can be played for hours without fret, but others can only be played for 10 minutes before you go blind!
Firebalt.
1. Keep people entertained with a new system.
2. Upgrading the series, to make it look brand, spanking new.
Some games can be played for hours without fret, but others can only be played for 10 minutes before you go blind!
Firebalt.
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