DA's input #4: The curious case of "broadening" audiences.

This gaming generation is by far the most convoluted of this era. With many people connected now more than ever, we have witnessed bantering and bickering over many degrees of discussions: ranging from timed-exclusives, portability issues, graphics, online features, etc. Like a bonfire surrounded by wild primitives burning anyone and anything to appease whatever idol-in-question just to keep the flame burning. Such is the nature of anonymity and the willingness to rant out whatever and whenever without consequences.

But it does reveal one thing, is that these kinds of discussions "broaden" the audiences. Enticing people to chip-in from their best to the worst of responses by giving them soapboxes, allowing themselves to be garnered with much attention, good or bad. Heralding more and more converts willing to participate in the discussion only heat up to such a degree that it burns onto other related topics.

Yet one thing is very clear, the "target" audiences are the prey, with the discussions designed "specifically" for them. The rest were simply bystanders who feels the need to be part of the said audience by relaying non-sequitur or parroting comments that caused such a heated discussion in the first place.

So what this got to do with the topic? "Broadening" is key word we have been hearing in the gaming news lately and the term itself is being revolted associated to whatever franchise it is attached upon. The problem is that the term "broadening" is a very loose word and by no means a bad thing when it comes to gaming. After all, there is nothing wrong trying to broaden your audience - it's the stigma that is being reinforced by gaming companies that have the misguided notion they can appeal to whatever and whomever they please as if their fans are just a bunch of mindless sheep.

Let us take the recent example: Dead Space 3, co-op and cover-based shooter based mechanics. Very popular franchises that was stemmed out of those genres, which could easily cause much concern to the faithful fanbase, who played and love the game for being what it truly was. However game developers responded with such apathy that they believe that these "fans" could easily adjust to the more mainstream appeal while vying to cater to new audiences. To top it all off, they even insist that the original games were too scary backpedaling to the notion why game had to go through such drastic changes.....

unnecessary changes.

Understandably, the games do get bigger and more expensive, but the fact that these companies get the sure-fire confidence this would not backfire is quite concerning. Even the most ardent of trolls understands that if they want to get the most out of their attempts, it would be easier to attack "specific" groups' interests. Gaming journalism are not privy to such tactics either, from trolling consoles to exclusives, they know that trying to get ALL the attention from every possible audience is wouldn't exactly bear that much fruit unless they have a controversial topic which everyone could relate to .

But will they achieve this goal by "broadening" their audiences. Disgruntled fans would most likely boycott such actions, but the possibility of the alternative fans out-purchasing the old would immediately cause the franchise to move in that direction. Fact remains - having almost no faith broadening their current audiences to expand to an even stronger fanbase is cast aside to the more unstable casual audiences who may buy it - if only for the hype.

Before we can make any kind of conclusion, we must look at this at a different angle. Possibilities may be contributed to the rising cost of development, especially when AAA titles need to have a higher budget that over-eclipses what is beyond the norm. Sadly, we may not know, but to find out that these companies do not put enough faith to their fanbase that brought them to their state in the first place is a more concerning issue - one this already plaguing this entire game industry forcing them to look for alternative means for their entertainment. It may come to pass that the result would fall wayside to indie titles that lack the polish of the AAA garnish and quality that made the franchises that exists today.