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How Can Game Developers Improve Gamer Involvement?

Posted by Cliff on from the developers-and-gamers-working-together dept.

TimCrider asks: "TeamXBOX is running an editorial about how console game developers can get the gaming communities more involved in the games themselves. Does anyone have any suggestions on how console developers can help build a gaming community?"

2 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. In a word: Don't. by Rahga · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Did Jerry Garcia say "I want to build a musician fan community that will follow me wherever I go." ...?

    Did Bungie set out to create a community of people that are so dedicated to their games that they are willing to subject themselves to bizzare alternative reality role playing games about a game?

    Did Kos say "I want to rally the teeming masses of ignorant college kids and soccer moms against the unjust white male bourgeois pigs!" ...? (Okay, maybe he did.)

    My point is really this: Community forms where they will, and trying to get gamers to build a community around your product is a stupid and condescending idea. How about this: If you build it, they will come. That'll work a whole lot better than corporate-sponsored video game fan club #232131.

  2. They can't by kinglink · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The very idea of the Console, makes it near impossible. We don't need mods or huge online sections of the game, we just need enjoyable games. You make great games you get fans. Some examples of minor interaction are MGS (MGS2 has all tags from real people's names, might be only in substance) and We Love Katamari (basically the entire game is a thank you for the fans.) But some of the best games is the ones that people feel like they get a large choice system in different ways.

    Look at Ratchet and Clank, you choose your weapon in each situation, no weapon is always great so it's fun, You choose which mission, what problem and so on to tackle. Same with Sly Cooper and to an extent Jak.

    The whole idea now is that you need to make the consumer feel like they have a choice in the game, Morrowind really got a lot of leverage because the game developes around the character even before mods are put in, then you factor in mods and each game feels tailor made.

    The whole point I'm making is that you need a game where the user feels like he has a say. Notice, NOT A choice such as buying a different version, those piss off people because your forcing a decision. A "say" is "whether I go to Azeroth now or in a couple hours after I check out this other new dungeon."

    At least that's what I think will allow you to have a community, making each game a unique experience should go a long way with creating a community.