Comments on: The Reason Why Social Games Will Never Replace Anything

By: Libe Goad

Libe Goad — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:57:38 +0000

Social games are simply broadening the scope of games, much like the Wii and iPhone have also done successfully over the past few years. Fact is, to keep growing, the game industry MUST look beyond satisfying the small group of core gamers and reach new audiences — this is just another way to do that.

The only rumblings about social games ‘replacing’ another type of game is from game developers, and/or hardcore game bloggers, who want to protect their territory. While that’s an understandable gut reaction, this attitude is short-sighted and, frankly, disappointing. Game industry types should embrace FarmVille and Mafia Wars, and see them as a gateway, a way to get new people to explore the myriad of other games out there.

By: Fili

Fili — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 20:13:54 +0000

I’ve answered “yes” at your poll. I’m playing social games because lately I can’t find 2 hours to play Team Fortress 2, but I can squeeze 5 minutes during lunch break to harvest some crops or dig for some treasures.
To be honest, this was the situation last month, now I can barely find time to eat, because the deadline for our game is very close.

By: Juuso

Juuso — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:08:39 +0000

I changed it just a bit. But not much :)

At least not too much… ;)

By: Jake Birkett

Jake Birkett — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:07:04 +0000

@Juuso: I thought I read it but looking again it seems to have transmogrified.

By: hermitC

hermitC — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:17:11 +0000

Oh yeah, PAINBALL! A new game idea appears in front of my inner eye…

By: Juuso

Juuso — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:13:02 +0000

jtrencsenyi: you win, I lose :)

By: jtrencsenyi

jtrencsenyi — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:32:35 +0000

Paintball

By: jtrencsenyi

jtrencsenyi — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:22:39 +0000

You can find real-time 3D hardcore games on Facebook with social features. Like Paradise Painball:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/ParadisePaintball?v=info

By: lonestarr

lonestarr — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 09:24:21 +0000

Direct result: if your reach 100+ total voters, your poll will show the % of *indie game developers* that play social games.

Indirect result: if “indie game developers generally make games they like to play” is true, then we could see in the % how much of them are working on social games…

By: Juuso

Juuso — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:25:53 +0000

Updated my blog post a bit to better make this statement about “replace” and “expand”.