Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Game Design for a Younger Audience

Posted by Zonk on from the less-gibbing dept.

Gamasutra.com is running an article entitled Shaping Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2 for the Younger Market. Beyond the interesting dilmmas associated with designing for a younger audience, the article is a good examiniation of following up on a successful franchise without alienating your fanbase. From the article: "Aiming towards a young market with family friendly content doesn't mean you have to make a game without all the exciting features adult gamers come to expect in a premium title. This time around, we were determined to include some of the ideas that didn't make it into the first game (like more giant robots and vehicle based missions), and concentrate more on the "action" elements of platformer games. "

14 comments

  1. Actually by KinkifyTheNation · · Score: 1
    GTA: San Andreas, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, Resident Evil 4?
    Aiming towards a young market with family friendly content doesn't mean you have to make a game without all the exciting features adult gamers come to expect in a premium title.
    Yes, I think you do.
    1. Re:Actually by Moby+Cock · · Score: 1

      Aiming towards a young market with family friendly content doesn't mean you have to make a game without all the exciting features adult gamers come to expect in a premium title.

      Yes, I think you do.

      No, you don't, but you can have no reasonable expectation for it to sell.

    2. Re:Actually by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Care to back up your argument? Are profanity, sex and violence the only features adults expect from their games? (or do most adults actually prefer Myst or Tetris over GTA San Andreas?)

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    3. Re:Actually by jangobongo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      GTA: San Andreas, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, Resident Evil 4?

      You're comparing apples to oranges. Those games are obviously not aimed at a young market nor are they considered family-friendly. Personally, those games do not appeal to me in the slightest.

      Instead, think of the first Jak and Daxter, all the Zelda games, Mario Kart / Double Dash, and Donkey Kong 64, for instance. Those games are probably what they are referring to, ones that appeal to both me and my kids.

      --

      Sig cancelled due to lack of interest
    4. Re:Actually by bersl2 · · Score: 1

      Well, Tetris is a completely different type of game from Myst or GTA. Tetris has no internal context; Myst and GTA do.

      Basically, if a game is going to emphasize a story, I don't want one that is coarsly tacked on and has less depth than a porn plot. I want something that would stand on its own if it were reduced to a movie. I want something with at least some literary merit.

      I know that blending interactivity and story isn't the easiest thing to do. I do know that it's not impossible.

  2. Stuff that matters? News for nerds? by AltaMannen · · Score: 1

    Although Slashdot users do procreate (anecdotal evidence only I'm afraid) and enjoy games, a story about the design goals and focus testing of a young kids videogame doesn't quite seem to fit in with most stuff on this site.

    However, there were some valid points in the article:
    1. Kids don't like dumb games (dumb as in low quality)
    2. Game reviewers working for game review publications don't care for kids games as much as kids do (I doubt Family Fun Magazine would rate half-life 2 very high).
    3. Lower priced games sell more than if they were more expensive.

  3. Giant Robots by Remillard · · Score: 1

    I!! dig giant robots...
    You!! dig giant robots...
    We!! dig giant robots...
    Just!! dig giant robots...

    Nice.....

  4. Don't underestimate kids by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That should be the #1 rule. Don't dumb anything down. Just refrain from using adult content (ie: boobs, gore, immoral behaviour, etc).

    As for game play, keep it sophisticated without being overly complicated. (Heck, even adults like things "complex but simple").

    Great examples of game design for kids is the Banjo Kazooie series.

  5. Game design for a target audience by javaxman · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Really, the first part of the article is about development from the multi-platform game perspective, with the wrinkle that it's being done for a sequel ( thus existing codebase ).

    The second part of the article talks about using focus groups to test and refine game design... in this case, the focus group ( and some of the lessons learned ) are specific to the age range, but really, it's just standard focus testing stuff.

    As to some of the other comments, like reviews and game ranking, well... when you've developed a product that you know doesn't target the strongest demographic of your market, you *know* it's not going to be the top seller. Same deal with character tie-in games: the SpongeBob SquarePants games may be great, but nobody working on them need be under the illusion that they're working on a game that will end up top-selling; it's just not going to happen.

    As far as the reviews go, when there is a kid-centric game review publication, there will be 'fair' ratings for kid-centric games. Until then, reviews will be targeted to the reviewing publication's target audience... and will be skewed if that audience is not the same as the one you've developed a game for.

  6. Old News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Anyone notice this article is dated "January 19, 2004"? That's 2004, not 2005.

    Just saying.

  7. attention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Insert obligatory comment about Nintendo being "kiddy" here:

    1. Re:attention by urbaer · · Score: 1

      Insert obligatory comment about Nintendo being "kiddy" here:
      Insert obligatory Nintendo fanboy retort here:

  8. Nice by computertheque · · Score: 1

    The article was a nice read. It isn't that often that a developer tells you about their experience. While it wasn't that indepth, it covers enough topics to make it worth reading.

    Their point about reviews was valid though. It seems that nothing is reviewed for what it is, but rather on everything that it isn't.