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"Game Titles and their Influence"

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Thu 06/06/02 at 18:34
Regular
Posts: 787
The name of a game is very important, in some cases, pivotal. It can catch the eye of a potential buyer, it can make the game sound interesting, or for some developers, it can be used to make a buyer think its good, when really its not.

I know that some people buy certain games because of the name e.g. Star Wars, or they might buy a game because of a certain developer e.g. EA. I have noticed when reading a magazine or talking to some of my friends that they think a game is automatically good because a developer that is well know has made it, or do you automatically play a game because the name is catchy, or well known?

It you look at a certain developer and see what kind of games that they have made and the quality of them, they will automatically get a good reputation with the buyers and the critics, for example Final Fantasy. I am not disputing that it isn’t an excellent series, but hardcore fans would say it is even if a poor game was release under the Final Fantasy brand. When developers make a game that isn’t up to the standard that precedes them, you still might think it’s good because they have made it. I think a lot of supposed ‘gamers’ do this, as they think that if a developer makes a game, and here well known they will think it’s good.

The FIFA series is a good example of this. They come out every year and to be honest, there practically the same apart from the graphical enhancements and minor tweaks in the controls. The gameplay is the same as always, the controls might change, but certainly not for the best and the way the players look and move is still the same. But, in spite of all this, I know for a fact that it is still one of the most popular games around. I can constantly hear my friends talking about how good the new (but still the same old game) FIFA game is.

I have known people that hear about a games name and automatically think that the game itself is going to be as good as the name. Take State of Emergency, Soldier of Fortune, or Kingpin. I know for a fact that everyone thinks they’re really good games. Now, is it the name of the game that attracts people, or is it because of the violence in it? I have heard people everywhere talking about how good it was, when really they had heard or read nothing about it, because they didn’t know what the actual game was about, all they know about the game is the name sounds good, and from what they had seen of it, it looks okay too. I think that is where people who play computer games, that consider themselves to be ‘gamers’ go in the wrong direction, as they rate a game by its graphics.

It is not only the developers and company’s fault. Oh no. Why do you think they always come up with a new Tomb Raider game or a new FIFA game? Because of the demand for them. When a new Tomb Raider game comes out, loads of people go and buy it, even though they might knew it has the same old dodgy camera angles or the rubbish controls, but people buy it because of they know what they are going to get. They fall for the same marketing hype, influenced by the Christmas rush. And the same goes for the Fifa games. They lack creativity and you can tell because all there is nothing new added to the actual game, just marginally better graphics.

I have noticed that games that have a film license always do well, whether it is a Disney, Star Wars or James Bond film/game. Whatever the actual game is like, if it’s a rubbish game with rubbish graphics and poor gameplay value like Monsters Inc, or it’s a game like Goldeneye, which was a revolutionary shoot ‘em up, it will always sell because it is a well-known film and because most people will recognise the name. And that is the whole point of this post. That people will buy a game, or rent it out, because they are aware of the name, and because it might have been a good film they will automatically think it’s going to be a good game. Oh, of course, this doesn’t count for all games, like I have mentioned before, Goldeneye is definitely not like that.

The box could be a key part of someone buying a game. With so many games having violence and gore in, they can take advantage of the fact that it has that kind of thing in, and try and mislead you into buying it. Boxes can attract a lot of people it they look good, as can marketing hype and media attention (which I mentioned earlier has benefited other games – for example characters like Lara Croft have transcended ‘games’, and games like Carmageddon for its content).

I think also that the way the name is written on the box can attract an audience. If you saw a game that had a lot of typography and it was a good design, and there was a game that just had the name, that was just plain, you would get attracted to the one that looked good, when it might be the game with the plain writing that is the better box. Take Zelda: Ocarina of Time for example. That game doesn’t really have the best looking box, and compared to a game like Resident Evil, you might go and look at Resident Evil’s box first not knowing that Zelda is probably the better game.

So I think overall, that some people are influenced by the name, and don’t always think about buying a game before they actually know anything about it. The name of a game can attract people, because of the brand name itself, or the way it is written. And, as far as the gaming for the name, you have to take you time to find out about the game, and you never know, next time your in a games shop, check out the game with a dull box, you never know what could be in it, but beware, as the old proverb goes, never judge a game by its cover!

Thanks for reading

Liquid
Sun 09/06/02 at 14:17
Regular
"Bobba you"
Posts: 1,767
Good post there Liquid.

I agree with you about the Fifa seris, the new fifa world cup 2002 is know diffence to fifa 2002 the only thing diffrent is the graphics and the name.

A good example of a good game name is MOH allied assult that describes the way a game the games genre.
Sun 09/06/02 at 11:07
Regular
Posts: 10,437
Nice post Liquid, long, interesting and worthy of a GAD. Although I did post something similar AGES ago, I'm sure it won't effect your chances.

Good luck.
Fri 07/06/02 at 15:25
Regular
"gsybe you!"
Posts: 18,825
'Animal Crossing +' could be an update for GTA3! Plenty of new features, like animals and several new hunting rifles!


Anyway, fortuantely its not, and it looks damn good, even if the box art does not!
Thu 06/06/02 at 22:51
Regular
"ProGolfer"
Posts: 2,085
I know we have our diferneces but i must say that is one heck of a good post. I think people nowadays are buying because of the make, just today in fact i was in electronics botique when a little kid looked at the title which was red card and said he wanted it he hadnt even looked at the back all e knew was that it was a footy game because i asked him, his mum then asked if he wanted it, he said yes. Two mintues later the spoilet kid is walking out the store with a footy game he knows nothing about, this left me gob smakked.
Thu 06/06/02 at 18:34
Regular
Posts: 1,309
The name of a game is very important, in some cases, pivotal. It can catch the eye of a potential buyer, it can make the game sound interesting, or for some developers, it can be used to make a buyer think its good, when really its not.

I know that some people buy certain games because of the name e.g. Star Wars, or they might buy a game because of a certain developer e.g. EA. I have noticed when reading a magazine or talking to some of my friends that they think a game is automatically good because a developer that is well know has made it, or do you automatically play a game because the name is catchy, or well known?

It you look at a certain developer and see what kind of games that they have made and the quality of them, they will automatically get a good reputation with the buyers and the critics, for example Final Fantasy. I am not disputing that it isn’t an excellent series, but hardcore fans would say it is even if a poor game was release under the Final Fantasy brand. When developers make a game that isn’t up to the standard that precedes them, you still might think it’s good because they have made it. I think a lot of supposed ‘gamers’ do this, as they think that if a developer makes a game, and here well known they will think it’s good.

The FIFA series is a good example of this. They come out every year and to be honest, there practically the same apart from the graphical enhancements and minor tweaks in the controls. The gameplay is the same as always, the controls might change, but certainly not for the best and the way the players look and move is still the same. But, in spite of all this, I know for a fact that it is still one of the most popular games around. I can constantly hear my friends talking about how good the new (but still the same old game) FIFA game is.

I have known people that hear about a games name and automatically think that the game itself is going to be as good as the name. Take State of Emergency, Soldier of Fortune, or Kingpin. I know for a fact that everyone thinks they’re really good games. Now, is it the name of the game that attracts people, or is it because of the violence in it? I have heard people everywhere talking about how good it was, when really they had heard or read nothing about it, because they didn’t know what the actual game was about, all they know about the game is the name sounds good, and from what they had seen of it, it looks okay too. I think that is where people who play computer games, that consider themselves to be ‘gamers’ go in the wrong direction, as they rate a game by its graphics.

It is not only the developers and company’s fault. Oh no. Why do you think they always come up with a new Tomb Raider game or a new FIFA game? Because of the demand for them. When a new Tomb Raider game comes out, loads of people go and buy it, even though they might knew it has the same old dodgy camera angles or the rubbish controls, but people buy it because of they know what they are going to get. They fall for the same marketing hype, influenced by the Christmas rush. And the same goes for the Fifa games. They lack creativity and you can tell because all there is nothing new added to the actual game, just marginally better graphics.

I have noticed that games that have a film license always do well, whether it is a Disney, Star Wars or James Bond film/game. Whatever the actual game is like, if it’s a rubbish game with rubbish graphics and poor gameplay value like Monsters Inc, or it’s a game like Goldeneye, which was a revolutionary shoot ‘em up, it will always sell because it is a well-known film and because most people will recognise the name. And that is the whole point of this post. That people will buy a game, or rent it out, because they are aware of the name, and because it might have been a good film they will automatically think it’s going to be a good game. Oh, of course, this doesn’t count for all games, like I have mentioned before, Goldeneye is definitely not like that.

The box could be a key part of someone buying a game. With so many games having violence and gore in, they can take advantage of the fact that it has that kind of thing in, and try and mislead you into buying it. Boxes can attract a lot of people it they look good, as can marketing hype and media attention (which I mentioned earlier has benefited other games – for example characters like Lara Croft have transcended ‘games’, and games like Carmageddon for its content).

I think also that the way the name is written on the box can attract an audience. If you saw a game that had a lot of typography and it was a good design, and there was a game that just had the name, that was just plain, you would get attracted to the one that looked good, when it might be the game with the plain writing that is the better box. Take Zelda: Ocarina of Time for example. That game doesn’t really have the best looking box, and compared to a game like Resident Evil, you might go and look at Resident Evil’s box first not knowing that Zelda is probably the better game.

So I think overall, that some people are influenced by the name, and don’t always think about buying a game before they actually know anything about it. The name of a game can attract people, because of the brand name itself, or the way it is written. And, as far as the gaming for the name, you have to take you time to find out about the game, and you never know, next time your in a games shop, check out the game with a dull box, you never know what could be in it, but beware, as the old proverb goes, never judge a game by its cover!

Thanks for reading

Liquid

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