We have to admit we were still harboring a sliver of hope that this whole Angry Birds dollar-game craze would blow over and the market could at one point get down to making some serious, thoughtful, and fleshed-out mobile gaming experiences. And while these are slowly trickling out, they are still very much the exception instead of the norm. THQ boss Brian Farrell filled us in on the reason and lets us in on his vision of gaming’s next gen.
The Shift in Consumer Preferences
“What the market is telling us, is consumers want a very quickly consumable mobile experience; it doesn’t necessarily have to be deep,” he said at the San Francisco GamesBeat conference. This statement reflects a significant shift in consumer preferences. Mobile gamers today are looking for quick, engaging experiences that they can enjoy in short bursts, rather than long, immersive sessions. This trend is evident in the popularity of games like Angry Birds, Candy Crush, and Clash of Clans, which offer simple yet addictive gameplay that can be enjoyed on the go.
Farrell’s insights highlight a broader trend in the gaming industry, where convenience and accessibility are becoming more important than depth and complexity. This shift is driven by the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, which have made gaming more accessible to a wider audience. As a result, developers are focusing on creating games that are easy to pick up and play, rather than those that require a significant time investment.
The Future of Gaming: Service Orientation
Which is why “we believe Apple is going to be there, Google is going to be there,” he went on. “Our view is that the next generation of consoles, if there are consoles, are going to be less about technology and more about service orientation of the gamer.” This statement suggests that the future of gaming will be less about hardware advancements and more about the services and experiences that companies can offer to gamers.
The concept of service orientation in gaming is already being explored by companies like Microsoft and Sony, with their Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now services, respectively. These subscription-based services offer gamers access to a vast library of games for a monthly fee, allowing them to play a wide variety of titles without having to purchase each one individually. This model not only provides value to consumers but also creates a steady revenue stream for companies.
Furthermore, the rise of cloud gaming services like Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce Now is another example of this shift towards service-oriented gaming. These platforms allow gamers to stream games directly to their devices, eliminating the need for expensive hardware and making high-quality gaming experiences more accessible to a broader audience.
All of it par for the course, but no less depressing nonetheless. While the shift towards quick, consumable mobile experiences and service-oriented gaming may be beneficial for some, it also raises concerns about the future of more traditional, in-depth gaming experiences. There is a fear that the focus on accessibility and convenience could lead to a decline in the development of complex, story-driven games that require a significant time investment.
However, it’s important to note that there is still a market for these types of games. Titles like The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Last of Us Part II have proven that there is still a demand for deep, immersive gaming experiences. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how developers balance the demand for quick, accessible games with the desire for more traditional, in-depth experiences.
Source GamesIndustry.biz
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