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Balancing hard-core and soft-core games for the next gen

Posted Sep 25, 2006 at 4:27PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, MMORPG Tags: Finland, Sony

from www.virtualpilots.fi, taken July 1, 1999 in Lieksa, Finland. Thanks to Olli Korhonen. :)

Are you a hard-core gamer? Can you afford to spend 100+ hours unlocking the secrets of Final Legendary Dragon Masters of the Enchanted Mystical Mana XXVII? If you've got that kind of patience, we salute you! Not everyone, however, has your special powers, and that is a rather important question that game developers will have to answer in the future.

Both hard-core and soft-core gamers want to have that experience of being inside another world and playing a rich narrative adventure. Hard-core gamers have the time to finish a role-playing game in the mythical 40-hour time limit, but soft-core gamers don't have that luxury. Also, while hard-core gamers (who are usually in their teens and often have less real-world distractions) can easily remove distractions from their mind and focus on the game in front of them, soft-core gamers (who are often older and have to juggle work, family, and gaming) are besieged with other things, such as the problems of taking care of kids or paying the rent.

The trouble now, as this Wired News feature states, is finding a way of supporting the fancies of both sets of gamers without cheapening the experience for either side. Clive Thompson writes, "If they develop a game aimed at the hard-core crowd, a wuss like me will almost certainly never finish it. If they do the opposite, the power cartel will blow through the game in (an) afternoon and feel justifiably ripped off."

Game designers are starting to hit the midpoint, with episodic installments to the Half Life series and the pick-up-and-play nature of Halo. These are only FPS games though, and with newer games for the next-gen being somewhat higher-priced than what we're used to (especially for Sony's console), both hard-core and soft-core gamers alike will have to hope that the newest set of games will really have something for everyone.

(Photo from www.virtualpilots.fi, taken July 1, 1999 in Lieksa, Finland. Thanks to Olli Korhonen. )

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Thats such BS.... the answer is simple... Do what Elder scrolls., and Dead rising did.... make most of the harcore stuff OPTIONAL in the game... give gamers teh choice. Unlike a game like Fable, where you do EVERYTHING there is to do in 20 hrs... but rather a game liek FF7, where the reason you racked up 60 hrs was because you did major side quests. And who says you have to beat the game in one sitting? Softcore players, can just stop playing, take a break, and come back to it. Atleast if the game is long, most everyone is happy. Like i said, you could have a 100 hr rpg, and satify everyone, simply make it optional for the softcore player to beat it in 30 hrs...... by making side quests optional. I think major episodic content kinda stinks. Most companies will try and charge full price for said content. And i dont feel like having 5 different boxes laying around, for 1 game..

# Respect copyrights — Guest 2006-09-26 03:31

My picture, from www.virtualpilots.fi site. Please at least credit the photo correctly.

Taken 1.july.1999 23:07 in Lieksa, Finland

Olli Korhonen

# screw the weak — Guest 2006-09-26 04:08

I want 20 buttons! I want tilt censors! i want a friggin gyro chair with 7.1 surround sound and a steering wheel attachment! In other words: I want games going the way they are. Let wii take another approach, you know? the build on your hand held success! Even Nintendo admitted it won't be as simple as we all think.

What's the problem with harder games? Whats the problem with slick graphics and crazy button control? what, they don't mesh well this wussies and pussies? well then go play your 250 dollar "new gen" wii with fairy wand pal cause i don't need you parading on my hobby, *****ing things up.

# 40 hours is not enough — senjutsu 2006-09-26 04:44

Dragon quest 8 took me 73 hours!! I WANT MORE of those games!!! and final fantasy X took me 123 hours to unlock the medallion about being the most powerfull characters in the universe lol, that's long, and cool!!! if I pay 60$ for a game I want it to last LOOOOOONG!!! not just 10-15 hours, that's gay! it's 3$ per hour!!! when final fantasy X was 0.48$ per hour for me!! way better for my wallet lol! ( and I really like to finished the game with overpowered characters and having all the stuff you can unlock =D )

# respect hangovers — Guest 2006-09-26 05:15

I was at that con at lieksa .. IIRC it was the one I was hung over after.. or then it was the one cosmo was hung over after.. yes.. the drinking atleast was hardcore ;)

and the poster _definitely_ doesnt own the copyright nor has permission, so it would be totally cool if he either contacted Olli or atleast gave credit like Olli asks.

# To Olli — Guest 2006-09-26 12:57

My apologies. I'm amending the picture credits in the article now.

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