Are big production games that bad??

The rise of games into popular culture has increased focus on the gaming industry and in particularly big production games. This has lead to questions on what makes them successful and if they have any particular weaknesses or disadvantages. A recent blog finding which discusses disadvantageous of big production games have shown wide ranging feedback such as games being too long, end game difficulty and also repetitive game play resulting in gradual decrease in gamer interest.

Big production games can be defined into many genres such as Real Time Strategy and First Person Shooting. Some big time production games from these genres are:
• Starcraft
• Warcraft
• Age of empires
• Counterstrike
• Call of Duty
• Crysis
Small production games are usually the games that are relatively unknown to the public with many appearing online as freeware. People who search beyond the box can discover millions of small games which are generally created by I.T students or small setup game companies.
The definition of what makes a good game can vary between game genres. In a first person shooting scenario, the most important aspect of the game is the visual quality, this includes the environment, how the AI reacts and how the animation is expressed. The number of weapons that are engaged, as well as how many stages there are, is also important. In an online simulation for first person shooting, it depends on the number of players involved. The more players there are, the more presence and interaction are being involved, and hence this builds realistic features. (Slater, M., & Steed, A. (2000). A virtual presence counter. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 9(5), 413-434. [Slater2000]) Overall the main importance of shooting games is the believability and the level of realism that is experienced.
In Real Time Strategy games the balance between simplicity and complexity is an important issue in gaming satisfaction and success. The creation of strategy in these games is usually generated using the paper/scissors/ rock model. With the more gaming units and ideas involved in this modeling more strategies can be incorporated into the game and thus increases interest in the game. If the game becomes too complicated in nature with too many features this might bog down game play and decrease the joy factor of gamers. Balance is therefore critical as a too simple minded game might not be able to hold gaming interest as one that is more challenging.
The increase in gaming challenge to the gamer may result in more failures but can also serve to motivate and create a more successful approach. Gamers may repeatedly practice certain skill factors which boost success until they manage to accomplish the game, resulting in a more satisfying personal accomplishment. Another scenario where this can be applied is online game play. Every new player starts off with the same basics as any other players. While challenging other players online repeatedly, a proficiency in playing the game is developed as the opposing talent forces players to development their own to overcome it.

Box9Missingo quotes “Gaming needs to open up more and look for other, more creative ways to make good storylines” http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=pslounge&thread.id=450141
A very common disappointment felt by gamers in big production games is the lack in storyline depth. Game players refer heavily to the narration where the further they play the less storyline is developed. Gamers lose interest when there is no goal or determination. Smaller production games although being less interactive or visually appealing, scores big for their creativeness and storyline plot. Shorter games allow the user to finish the game quicker and therefore reach the conclusion of the story faster. The game is less challenging therefore unraveling the storyline plot is also much simpler.

In the end big production games are fun and fascinating, but keep in mind smaller games are also amusing and simple. Multiple users want to play a short game because they want to find the ending and move on. Different people has different taste, while some players enjoy improving on one end of the game, others explore the world of games so they play different games which are shorter and easier to complete.

Personally I feel big production games do lack storyline, but this depends on what feature other people desire. I enjoy challenges just as long as they are possible. Because I’m a heavy gamer as well, I have a mind that stays strong and willing to play again and again to challenge other people. I enjoy practicing and creating new strategies to overcome any player that challenges me. However I also enjoy playing small games, being simple is one of them but smaller games sometimes are more enjoyable and less stressful. Some of the smaller games I have played have managed to create an interesting story, and sometimes I imagine, “what if this was like a big game? How sick would that be?” Even so big games should frequently play small games to improve their personal storyline.
http://www.2flashgames.com/f/f-281.htm -- an example of a short game.
Another personal issue with big game productions is the minimum requirements to run the game. Most latest game require a high end computer, to run the game at its full potential. If the PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirement, it ruins the quality of the game hence making the game non enjoyable. The budget on building a high end PC is relatively expensive, whereas with smaller production games any computer is playable. Smaller games have no restrictions to minimum requirements. It is mostly likely to be playable at most PC specifications and therefore another reason for their popularity on the World Wide Web.

References:
• Box9MissingoAccessed on: May 6th, 2008 http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=pslounge&thread.id=450141
• Slater, M., & Steed, A. (2000). A virtual presence counter. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 9(5), 413-434. [Slater2000]
• Anderson, J., Ashraf, N., Douther, C., & Jack, M. A.. (2001). Presence and usability in shared space virtual conferencing: A participatory design study. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 4(2), 287-305. [Anderson2001]

more about ... WOW!!!

Last week i started reading on Kathys blog. What she discussed was absolutely true. Yes WOW is an interesting game. People may see online games is just another particular game for nerds to play games however involving with the internet. However what they dont see is how much Social interaction is being involved.

Gamers may socialize much frequently compared to average users that dont play games. And because the game WOW is globally hooked up, you meet new people around the world to share common interest. Its much easier to make friends and alot to talk about. WOW is a game consistantly involving with different social subjects. One of the most popular discussions are quests, this involving different categories such as leveling and becoming stronger. Save money for an item purchase, save money to purchase an animal and travel faster or save money to purchase potions / food because your next location is dangerous and far etc...

However the other interesting topic in WOW is people start sharing their creation of characters. They share facts and knowledge on what they believe is best suitable for different races as well as how to build a certain hero type. As you may learn from basics, their are heroes stronger at fighting and others better at range or magic. Players with high experience then share their knowledge thus experiences to different users which are helpful in battle grounds. And because WOW is a big virtual game world, it incoporates different monsters. While some monsters maybe stronger against melee and weaker in magic, it is also possible where monsters maybe stronger towards magic and weaker towards melee. Different strategies then occur.

There are many more subjects in WOW this including:
how to become a mage
how to become a fighter
Which is best suitable race for mage fighter.
What skills should i first learn.
What skills are useful for PvP battles (player vs Player)
Im trying to hunt this! where does he spawn
What monster drops this valuable item
How to become a chef
How to become a dress maker
how to become a healer

and many more...

Overall WOW generates different knowledges within many different backgrounds of subjects.
It is interesting to see what players are more suitable. Sometimes you may ask yourself, am i more aggressive or passive. Do i prefer hunting alone or team based. These slowly determine which character and race is most suitable. And by focusing on one path, you discover and expand more towards the main character. Like any other games, you can always recreate another and expand even more.

How is the Web 2.0 different to Web 1.0?

Web 2.0 is a trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies. The term became notable after the first O'Reilly Media Web 2.0 conference in 2004. Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use webs.

Web 1.0 can be defined as more static whereas Web 2.0 has now become more flexible.
users across the world are now capable of sharing information around.

For instance a related topic you wrote today will change in time. Therefore Web 1.0 becomes history rather then the truth. Whereas Web 2.0, they read the old news then update what is? and what now it is today! Everyday multiple users expand the information to update it daily. To correct every information which could possibly change every second.

Web 2.0 also helps society change. While time flies people grow differently because of the society. As well as technology. People define web 2.0 as a shift in technology however it is only a tool to update how people grow. Because people change so does the internet need to fit their interest. While WWW connects multiple users into sharing information. It dominates Web 1.0 because of its static information.

"Think of it this way" Everyone has different ways of viewing. They can be right or can be wrong however they can then be judged by other people. Other people can learn or experience what MAY be correct and this also broadens their perspective in viewing the way of life.

(SunTzu "art of war")

Here are some definitions from other users:

Web 1.0 was about reading, Web 2.0 is about writing
Web 1.0 was about companies, Web 2.0 is about communities
Web 1.0 was about client-server, Web 2.0 is about peer to peer
Web 1.0 was about HTML, Web 2.0 is about XML
Web 1.0 was about home pages, Web 2.0 is about blogs

Here are some more. Some are more true than others:
Web 1.0 was top-down. Web 2.0 is bottom-up.
Web 1.0 was edited and produced. Web 2.0 is raw.
Web 1.0 was banner ads. Web 2.0 is Adsense.
Web 1.0 was text. Web 2.0 is video.
Web 1.0 was professional. Web 2.0 is amature.

Web 1.0 was dial up. Web 2.0 is broadband.
Web 1.0 was IE. Web 2.0 is FireFox.
Web 1.0 was information. Web 2.0 is opinion.
Wait a minute, enough fun and games. Let’s get real and take off the rosy-colored glasses.
Web 1.0 was information. Web 2.0 is propaganda.
Web 1.0 was Microsoft. Web 2.0 is Google. Web 3.0 is ATT and NSA, working to protect us.
Web 1.0 was American. Web 2.0 is international. Web 3.0 is Chinese.
Web 1.0 was a tool. Web 2.0 is a lifestyle. Web 3.0 is an addiction.
Web 1.0 was a tool for the few. Web 2.0 is entertainment for the many. Web 3.0 is an opiate for the many.
Web 1.0 was the newspaper. Web 2.0 is the TV. Web 3.0 is the MatrixWeb 2.0 is social networkingWeb 1.0 was social exploration

this here as well demonstrates a new trend to Web 2.0

What does it require?

Why do online communities organise themselves?

Online Communities organise themselves because they slowly discover who, what, they really are. It also answer why you are here or why your specific topic is useful or essential. How does it become essential and When would it essential.

By having an online community, you share info across the world which holds certain interest of what you enjoy. People can (other users) can comment and give guidance upon what your general questions are.

Having Online Communities also minimise the area of confusion. This is simply by discussing and sharing knowledge amongst others. They can compliment and add on different perspectives, on your topic and by doing so it helps generate others strategies and ideas to overcome.

Online communities generally improve personal knowledge. It specifys a brief answer and can expand and grow into a term that could be use scholarly. And of course scholary term is educational as well as making big budget with the knowledge applied.

Overall you share, you learn, you improve, you discover and understand yourself more, along with other people interested in your specific topic.

How do online communities organise themselves?

First every user needs to question themselves where? they hold interest upon!
Since every community has their own strengths, weaknesses, good and bad etc...
you need to specify one subject or category in order to keep focus on.

Of course everyone wants to know or learn more, however while you focus on one simple matter, it slowly expands and connect with different people or organisations.

Therefore the first and most important step is to select a topic that you hold interest upon
Then you would find a multiple of organisation that may discuss and answer what your questions and needs are. however you need to be aware every topic is broaden, so pinpoint your exact key questions then by doing so, the multiple organisation will be limited into 1 or 2 existing possibilites.

Once you have a certain choice (refering to the ogranisation) you then can slowly pick up, learn, share, experience what others can offer you. While you pick up you can always comment and refer back how you feel towards. Nothings ever static so the key of learning can be argued by sharing and improving together.

This is my First Time E BLOGGING!!!

Yaoza~~
Im welcoming myself to BLOGGING today...
w00t w00t!!