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Alchemy - it's what every gamer and game developer dream of day and night.
Those of you not familiar with the word - it means to turn metals into gold, in gaming, it's means the same thing; turning a simple or old idea into a great game.
Gaming alchemy is like a hole in one to a golfer, a hat trick to a striker and a GAD to a Special Reserve member; they may not happen everyday, but when they do, it's not just good, it's brilliant.
Here are some examples of when this has worked:
Super Monkey Ball -
Since the GameCube's release, Super Monkey Ball has been dubbed a hero to all Nintendo gamers around the world. It had virtually no hype but when it appeared everyone was amazed. Our jaws dropped by playing such an amazing game.
But that's what was so great about this game, on paper, the idea is far too simple to work; you only usually use 2 buttons in the different games, but in execution, the games works like a dream. Because you don't have to concentrate on learning what all the buttons do, anyone can play it and be good at it.
That's just the mini-games an' all. The main game is even better. Simply move around platforms. One word comes to mind when I describe this game - boring. But, again, brilliant execution makes the game ten times better. At first, very easy, but later on you'll be screaming at yourself. The learning curve is great
This game is certainly the best example of alchemy I can think of. Such a boring, simple idea can be turned into, maybe, the best multiplayer games ever created; this is the definition of 'Pick Up 'n' Play'.
Snowball in Hell -
Yes, all puzzle games are fairly simple; it's usually just a case of fitting blocks in certain places of destroying whatever, but until you play this, you have no idea what 'addictive' means.
The idea is this; you play a tank in a very 'Pong' layout, you can go up and down as a rogue snowball bounces around the arena. There are many blocks in a certain shape (Depending on the level) and you must destroy the blocks with the snowball, but without letting it get past you.
But what made it hard was the countless amount of power-ups and enemies that were streaming towards you. The power-ups were both good and bad, so that's adds another dimension to the game.
Like Monkey Ball, this is simple on paper and the controls are easy, but because of all the power-ups and enemies coming at you, it makes the game a lot harder and the execution is perfect.
This is basically Pong, but with so many different dimensions added, it makes the game a lot better. Like I mentioned before, Alchemy can come in the form of simple or old ideas being re-made with great success, this game is one of them. An old game like Pong converted into something much better and even more addictive.
They were two examples of different types of Alchemy that actually worked. But Alchemy doesn't always work; simple is always good, and remaking isn't always good. I have one game in mind when I say this - Tetris.
I have never understood why this was ever a global phenomenon. It's a hugely simple idea that isn't executed very well. Instead of being fun and challenging it's based on luck and you just end up getting annoyed and frustrated, where's the fun in that?
Furthermore it's been remade over and over and nothing has been changed; it's still as boring and frustrating as ever. Tetris just seems to be cash-in after cash-in.
Let's hope more and more golden games come about. Long live Alchemy!
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
Those of you not familiar with the word - it means to turn metals into gold, in gaming, it's means the same thing; turning a simple or old idea into a great game.
Gaming alchemy is like a hole in one to a golfer, a hat trick to a striker and a GAD to a Special Reserve member; they may not happen everyday, but when they do, it's not just good, it's brilliant.
Here are some examples of when this has worked:
Super Monkey Ball -
Since the GameCube's release, Super Monkey Ball has been dubbed a hero to all Nintendo gamers around the world. It had virtually no hype but when it appeared everyone was amazed. Our jaws dropped by playing such an amazing game.
But that's what was so great about this game, on paper, the idea is far too simple to work; you only usually use 2 buttons in the different games, but in execution, the games works like a dream. Because you don't have to concentrate on learning what all the buttons do, anyone can play it and be good at it.
That's just the mini-games an' all. The main game is even better. Simply move around platforms. One word comes to mind when I describe this game - boring. But, again, brilliant execution makes the game ten times better. At first, very easy, but later on you'll be screaming at yourself. The learning curve is great
This game is certainly the best example of alchemy I can think of. Such a boring, simple idea can be turned into, maybe, the best multiplayer games ever created; this is the definition of 'Pick Up 'n' Play'.
Snowball in Hell -
Yes, all puzzle games are fairly simple; it's usually just a case of fitting blocks in certain places of destroying whatever, but until you play this, you have no idea what 'addictive' means.
The idea is this; you play a tank in a very 'Pong' layout, you can go up and down as a rogue snowball bounces around the arena. There are many blocks in a certain shape (Depending on the level) and you must destroy the blocks with the snowball, but without letting it get past you.
But what made it hard was the countless amount of power-ups and enemies that were streaming towards you. The power-ups were both good and bad, so that's adds another dimension to the game.
Like Monkey Ball, this is simple on paper and the controls are easy, but because of all the power-ups and enemies coming at you, it makes the game a lot harder and the execution is perfect.
This is basically Pong, but with so many different dimensions added, it makes the game a lot better. Like I mentioned before, Alchemy can come in the form of simple or old ideas being re-made with great success, this game is one of them. An old game like Pong converted into something much better and even more addictive.
They were two examples of different types of Alchemy that actually worked. But Alchemy doesn't always work; simple is always good, and remaking isn't always good. I have one game in mind when I say this - Tetris.
I have never understood why this was ever a global phenomenon. It's a hugely simple idea that isn't executed very well. Instead of being fun and challenging it's based on luck and you just end up getting annoyed and frustrated, where's the fun in that?
Furthermore it's been remade over and over and nothing has been changed; it's still as boring and frustrating as ever. Tetris just seems to be cash-in after cash-in.
Let's hope more and more golden games come about. Long live Alchemy!
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
Ahh intriguing... but not all good ideas work first time... Blinx is a prime example.
Nice post Rick, let's hope we see a fine example of Alchemy and pray this post turns to gold...
*hint Hint*
:D
*hint Hint*
:D
Alchemy - it's what every gamer and game developer dream of day and night.
Those of you not familiar with the word - it means to turn metals into gold, in gaming, it's means the same thing; turning a simple or old idea into a great game.
Gaming alchemy is like a hole in one to a golfer, a hat trick to a striker and a GAD to a Special Reserve member; they may not happen everyday, but when they do, it's not just good, it's brilliant.
Here are some examples of when this has worked:
Super Monkey Ball -
Since the GameCube's release, Super Monkey Ball has been dubbed a hero to all Nintendo gamers around the world. It had virtually no hype but when it appeared everyone was amazed. Our jaws dropped by playing such an amazing game.
But that's what was so great about this game, on paper, the idea is far too simple to work; you only usually use 2 buttons in the different games, but in execution, the games works like a dream. Because you don't have to concentrate on learning what all the buttons do, anyone can play it and be good at it.
That's just the mini-games an' all. The main game is even better. Simply move around platforms. One word comes to mind when I describe this game - boring. But, again, brilliant execution makes the game ten times better. At first, very easy, but later on you'll be screaming at yourself. The learning curve is great
This game is certainly the best example of alchemy I can think of. Such a boring, simple idea can be turned into, maybe, the best multiplayer games ever created; this is the definition of 'Pick Up 'n' Play'.
Snowball in Hell -
Yes, all puzzle games are fairly simple; it's usually just a case of fitting blocks in certain places of destroying whatever, but until you play this, you have no idea what 'addictive' means.
The idea is this; you play a tank in a very 'Pong' layout, you can go up and down as a rogue snowball bounces around the arena. There are many blocks in a certain shape (Depending on the level) and you must destroy the blocks with the snowball, but without letting it get past you.
But what made it hard was the countless amount of power-ups and enemies that were streaming towards you. The power-ups were both good and bad, so that's adds another dimension to the game.
Like Monkey Ball, this is simple on paper and the controls are easy, but because of all the power-ups and enemies coming at you, it makes the game a lot harder and the execution is perfect.
This is basically Pong, but with so many different dimensions added, it makes the game a lot better. Like I mentioned before, Alchemy can come in the form of simple or old ideas being re-made with great success, this game is one of them. An old game like Pong converted into something much better and even more addictive.
They were two examples of different types of Alchemy that actually worked. But Alchemy doesn't always work; simple is always good, and remaking isn't always good. I have one game in mind when I say this - Tetris.
I have never understood why this was ever a global phenomenon. It's a hugely simple idea that isn't executed very well. Instead of being fun and challenging it's based on luck and you just end up getting annoyed and frustrated, where's the fun in that?
Furthermore it's been remade over and over and nothing has been changed; it's still as boring and frustrating as ever. Tetris just seems to be cash-in after cash-in.
Let's hope more and more golden games come about. Long live Alchemy!
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS
Those of you not familiar with the word - it means to turn metals into gold, in gaming, it's means the same thing; turning a simple or old idea into a great game.
Gaming alchemy is like a hole in one to a golfer, a hat trick to a striker and a GAD to a Special Reserve member; they may not happen everyday, but when they do, it's not just good, it's brilliant.
Here are some examples of when this has worked:
Super Monkey Ball -
Since the GameCube's release, Super Monkey Ball has been dubbed a hero to all Nintendo gamers around the world. It had virtually no hype but when it appeared everyone was amazed. Our jaws dropped by playing such an amazing game.
But that's what was so great about this game, on paper, the idea is far too simple to work; you only usually use 2 buttons in the different games, but in execution, the games works like a dream. Because you don't have to concentrate on learning what all the buttons do, anyone can play it and be good at it.
That's just the mini-games an' all. The main game is even better. Simply move around platforms. One word comes to mind when I describe this game - boring. But, again, brilliant execution makes the game ten times better. At first, very easy, but later on you'll be screaming at yourself. The learning curve is great
This game is certainly the best example of alchemy I can think of. Such a boring, simple idea can be turned into, maybe, the best multiplayer games ever created; this is the definition of 'Pick Up 'n' Play'.
Snowball in Hell -
Yes, all puzzle games are fairly simple; it's usually just a case of fitting blocks in certain places of destroying whatever, but until you play this, you have no idea what 'addictive' means.
The idea is this; you play a tank in a very 'Pong' layout, you can go up and down as a rogue snowball bounces around the arena. There are many blocks in a certain shape (Depending on the level) and you must destroy the blocks with the snowball, but without letting it get past you.
But what made it hard was the countless amount of power-ups and enemies that were streaming towards you. The power-ups were both good and bad, so that's adds another dimension to the game.
Like Monkey Ball, this is simple on paper and the controls are easy, but because of all the power-ups and enemies coming at you, it makes the game a lot harder and the execution is perfect.
This is basically Pong, but with so many different dimensions added, it makes the game a lot better. Like I mentioned before, Alchemy can come in the form of simple or old ideas being re-made with great success, this game is one of them. An old game like Pong converted into something much better and even more addictive.
They were two examples of different types of Alchemy that actually worked. But Alchemy doesn't always work; simple is always good, and remaking isn't always good. I have one game in mind when I say this - Tetris.
I have never understood why this was ever a global phenomenon. It's a hugely simple idea that isn't executed very well. Instead of being fun and challenging it's based on luck and you just end up getting annoyed and frustrated, where's the fun in that?
Furthermore it's been remade over and over and nothing has been changed; it's still as boring and frustrating as ever. Tetris just seems to be cash-in after cash-in.
Let's hope more and more golden games come about. Long live Alchemy!
Thanks for reading
RiCkOsS