There are a lot of genres out there. So many that most of us are content with what we have. Lately a thought has been growing in my mind. There is something I miss from gaming. I want there to be a new genre, named "Exploration" (doh, who would have thought after reading the title).
Exploration in games today is very common. You go from one location to another seeing places you haven't seen before. The difference here is that you almost always have a story, a goal, a purpose for being where you are in a game. By the genre "Exploration" I mean a game where you do not know anything when you start, no intro, no cut-scenes, not anything (Not even an introduction to the controls. You get an explanation of something when you need it for the first time and then an option to keep getting it if you want). You start out at some mysterious, breathtaking, scary or what not place and you know nothing of what lies ahead.
As an example I will take an imaginary game I call "The Forest". You start out at a random location in a huge forest. There are no goals, no instructions of where to go, you get to choose where to go, right from the beginning. Depending on what path you choose, you will encounter different environments, npcs, creatures and what not. Depending on where you go you will engage in different kinds of gameplay, you will be given different incentives to do different things, but the main focus will always be to inspire you to choose your own path. I do not want to know what lies beyond that hill or in the deepest, darkest corner of that cave. I want to hear different sounds from a distance that makes me curious about what they mean.
The forest would feature a content creation kit where you can share your additions to the vast forest with your friends, without being a multi-player game. I want to explore the creations of others, encounter unexpected scenarios and be surprised.
In the majority of todays games, by looking at the genre you can almost always know what kind of game-play and what kind of scenarios there can be in that game. I guess what I try to say is that the games of today are to similar. They are all doing the same things, just with different settings. This could be seen as an wish for the developers to think outside the box. Dare to try being different and combine never before seen environments, game-play, genres and what not.
Today, Team Coreupt officially announced its next title in development, an action and hack-and-slash game called Kirk Mephisto.
"Gray Zone Warfare is a tactical FPS in early access by MADFINGER Games. Take on missions solo or with a squad of your own as you explore a persistent, remote Southeast Asian island in both PvE and PvPvE combat." Jordan @ Thumb Culture
"Lovecraftian horror, who is insane enough not to love the mythos. That is why I am checking out Big Bad Wolves’ new narrative, cosmic horror game, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss. I watched the trailer a while back, and that caught my attention, but now I will finally get the chance to try it out!" Kyle @ Thumb Culture
I like the idea of it but I suppose the closest thing we get to that sort of genre is RPG's, the likes of Fallout and Demon's Souls where you pretty much have a world to explore yourself what you want, although of course there is always a main plot-line behind those and a main road you always have to track, or at least stay near to. Maybe something like White Knight Chronicles too although I haven't played that.
Nice idea though, and it's not too far off (or at least I'd like to think so) the games I mentioned above and a certain few games that we do still get every now and again. But devs know what the majority of people want and of course knowing that, most devs will be reluctant to step too far out of one genre into another similar but eventually different genre because they know that they can easily make one type of game that is always going to sell.
Unfortunately, with the economy being like it is, developers and publishers often go for the known success rather than risk money on titles that push things creatively.
I'd really enjoy an "exploration" title. When "Zelda: A Link to The Past" came out on the SNES, it was great to jump into the game and have no set path to follow. I spent hours just exploring the gameworld, searching out bomb locations, and so on.
That'd be a really good idea. Although I'd worry that it wouldn't appeal to everyone and therefore wouldn't really take off. I personally would absolutely love a game like that, but lately games have been all about the bombast and the instant gratification. We'd have to ween people out of that frame of mind in order that they appreciate a game like the one you describe. Also, consequentially, given the state of the game market, for the developers and publishers it just wouldn't be economically feasible. It's be admirable to see a company make the game but they'd quite possibly fade off the radar and go defunct. Until perhaps years later when their game resurfaces as a "cult classic."
Still, a good idea it certainly is.
Oh I'd also say this: Is this really a new genre so to speak? It seems like more of a development upon the idea of free-roaming in games. It's not exactly a clean cut, totally different genre the way an fps doesn't resemble in any way an rpg or a puzzle game.
Well I am fed up with todays games, at least with the majority of them. Especially MMO:s. I have yet to discover an MMO that DOES NOT feature levels. All levels do in MMO is just forcing the developers to focus on end content and that saddens me. I hate the focus on end-level content in MMO:s. I don't want to be "forced" to reach a certain level so I can visit new areas and experience new environments. I love looking around the next corner to see what the artists of the games have in store for me, but todays MMO:s is sooo repetetive with its focus on levels and questing. It is really awful from my point of view. I am working on a design document for a different type of game. I might post it here when it is done if you like.
:)
This does sound cool, but sales would be hurt by impatient gamers. Also, it would be difficult to review it without giving alot of things away.