Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

How Do Games Grow Up?

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-with-wheaties dept.

Gamasutra is running a piece by game designer Brice Morrison questioning the lack of games for grown-ups — or, more accurately, the lack of an intellectual progression in games like that which exists for books, movies, and other creative works. "While my interests in other media grew substantially more adult — from Nickelodeon to CNN, from Dr. Seuss to George Orwell — games did not seem to have a more intelligent counterpart for me to move on to. As I entered college, I became less interested in mindless entertainment and more interested in encountering new ideas. I didn't want to kill time; I wanted to take advantage of it. I wanted to challenge myself with profound concepts, to learn of new paradigms, processes, and possibilities. ... So what exactly are the barriers of entry for great thinkers (or groups of thinkers) to leave their mark on games? What must happen for games — or interactive entertainment, if you will, to mature as a medium?"

11 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. Or, as Joshua put it... by ciderVisor · · Score: 2, Funny

    The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?

    --
    Squirrel!
  2. Re:Must be windy. by ciderVisor · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I wanted to pursue more 'intellectual pursuits', I would socialize

    This is /. I anticipate a problem with this approach.

    --
    Squirrel!
  3. Re:My advice - don't look for satisfaction in game by sakdoctor · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah but real life has a completely messed up difficultly curve.

    The boss level of 'getting up in the morning' comes first, and then it's much easier after that.

  4. Re:Adult Games by ciderVisor · · Score: 4, Funny

    You work for Mary Poppins ???

    A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go doooooown.....

    --
    Squirrel!
  5. Re:My advice - don't look for satisfaction in game by wisty · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Don't look for 'grown up' games"? Um, what about guitar hero? You mentioned learning piano; surely learning guitar would also be an intellectual pursuit.

  6. Re:Online flash games by wisty · · Score: 2, Funny

    mod -1: inconvenient truth.

  7. Re: Banking by TaoPhoenix · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... Reloading the Saved Level of Banking3D by the Bush administration!

    --
    My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
  8. Re: Banking by TBoon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Load Failure. Possible corrupt record.
    (R)etry, (P)anic, (E)migrate?

  9. Re:My advice - don't look for satisfaction in game by discord5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you married? There's your BOSS level. Then the kids... little mini bosses, all the damn time! :)

    You can prevent those from spawning, but it takes a lot of fun out of the game.

    Leaving for work... those are the easy levels.

    Yeah, but the traffic jam level is a drag. I wish they'd replace it with some sort of mini-game.

  10. Re:My advice - don't look for satisfaction in game by alta · · Score: 2, Funny

    You know, to get out of the traffic jam level, there's a telecommute mod. That makes the 'wife' boss appear in every level! Now, if your playing a quake style game, that's bad. If it's more like leisuresuit larry... That's good.

    --
    Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
  11. Re:My advice - don't look for satisfaction in game by Arthur+Dent · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's also the public transportation mod. But it's not available in all locations and is buggy to boot.