Hidden Object games, good thing or bad?

[Jadefalcon]

Now I remember having a slight verbal spat with someone on this forum about these games. Looking back I might have come across as a bit 'elitist' but didn't mean any offence.

I've seen tons of these games in the last couple of years, it maybe seems worse because in the UK there are a lot of Adventure games that never seem to reach distribution. I know because I've looked on Amazon.com and there's quite a few games I would like that Amazons rules for some reason, wont allow the exporting of video games. Therefore there doesn't seem to be as many adventure games in the UK anyway. Add to that that stores like Game, HMV and Gamestation are drastically reducing their PC presence or in some cases doing away with it altogether.

Morrisons however seems to have a moderate sized gaming selection. For the uninformed here, Morrisons is a major UK supermarket, not the usual sort of place to get games, and even then its often more the latest console titles. In this I see a lot of hidden object games, Ravenheart, Mystery Case Files, the locations games "The White House/Buckingham Palace", and so on. I've played a few of these games, like Mystery in London, Death in Scarlet one of the Womens Murder club games which was very well produced and quite enjoyable, and lately a game called Blood Ties based off what seems to be a Canadian TV show I've never even heard of. These games IMHO are more 'casual' than games like The Longest Journey and last time I said that I didn't regard them as 'true' adventure games, since all you really did was find objects and sometimes solve an arbitary puzzle. That doesn't make them bad games, but again, in my opinion not true adventures. However, I may have came across a bit harsh before seeming as if I'm decrying them.

Do people here think they might serve as a good intro to the adventure genre, especially for younger gamers, those experimenting or families? Some of these games do look pretty cheaply done, but some like the Womens Murder Club game are very nicely done. Graphically quite nice, good use of sound and decent voice actors and presentation. I remember a similiar argument years back with tabletop RPGs vs Gamebooks (Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, Choose Your Own Adventure etc) that gamebooks were going to be the end of the tabletop RPG market, but the tabletop games are still going.

Whats everyones opinions of these games though. I think personally Morrisons must be getting a good distributor deal as there are tons of them.

[LexSleuther]

I think its a good thing, i really enjoy them. Easier to pop in and out of than a full on adventure game and if you find good ones they are fun, good story's. I have always loved eye spy books since i was young.

[Zanthia]

Pixel hunting now is a separate genre. I personally don't like pure HO. But if a game includes inventory puzzles, not inventory puzzles and some HO its OK. The last game I liked in the genre was Princess Isabella.

[Lucien21]

Bad thing.

Pixel hunts in real adventures are never fun so why make a whole game out of it.

I played one a while ago and while it was mildly diverting I wouldn't go out of my way to play another.

[Fien]

Bad thing. Very bad thing. :devil:

Compared to adventures casual games are watered-down versions diluted to the point that all flavor has disappeared. I've read a lot about how the people who play casual games will eventually feel attracted to adventures... HA! (I'm looking at you, Jane Jensen!). In fact, the opposite is true: so many people who used to play adventures are now turning to casual puzzle games.

I want quality games.

[kadji-kun]

Bad thing.

Pixel hunts in real adventures are never fun so why make a whole game out of it.

I played one a while ago and while it was mildly diverting I wouldn't go out of my way to play another.

Even though they aren't pixel hunts. The objects are in plain sight. lol


Oh and hello jadefalcon! Yeah, thats why I started reviewing some of the better HOG.
http://www.adventuregamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=526121

[terhardp]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of hidden objects games but I think they can sometimes be good enough for "patching up the hole" - when there is no good full adventures or other games around. I have tried only two such games so far: Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Cameras, Curses and Resorting to Danger. I never liked ND series and haven't played a single game from it without quitting after some 20 minutes of gameplay, but this two minigames were actually pretty fun and I liked their overall looks.

[Little Writer]

I don't see the attraction. They always look like those online flash games.

[Jadefalcon]

I certainly won't be getting a lot of these, but the Womens Murder Club game I played, Death in Scarlet I think it was called was nicely produced and is one that was worth the £5.99 I paid. Blood Ties......I'm not sure.

[tastebud]

i bought several not too long ago because they can be a nice diversion every now and then:

-ravenhearst 1&2
-drawn
-department 42: mystery of the nine

[AndreaDraco83]

Drawn isn't an hidden object game. It is a lite adventure, or casual adventure if you prefer. There's an abyss (OK, maybe not an abyss :P) between the two of them.

[Jadefalcon]

I've heard of Ravenheart, but not the others. The Death in Scarlet Game is nice, its off a book series which I've never read, but its a nice little game, though the other Womens Murder Club game seems to be unavailable so far.

[LadyLinda]

I agree that they are not "true" adventure games and cannot be even compared with them.

I have a few, all free, and I admit they are a good distraction though I like to play match-3 games more.

[Ariel Type]

They are time wasters and have no relation to adventure games, although they are called "adventures" on the casual language. That's what confuses people. But they don't really influence the genre. There's little left from it anyway, so there are other matters to worry about.

[colpet]

I started playing casual games this year, because I found that adventures are getting easier and focusing more on story/characters and dialogue. I don't mind HOGs to pass some time, just like I do Jigsaws. However, most of the puzzle mini games in HOGs and IHOGS don't present much of a challenge either. Now I find that the newer casual games are trying to emulate adventures by having more narrative, characters and dialogue. Just the thing I was trying to avoid in the first place. Thank goodness for my foray into DS. I need more games like Professor Layton.

[KasiaD]

On the whole i don't mind HO games, as I don't mind RPG games or bowling.

What I do mind, is they are becoming associated with Adventures because they use traditional adventure themes, like Agatha Christie or even lately, CSI.

Now that is outrageus, and I protest. They are intelectually nothing more than Minesweeper, and that's where their place is, among Windows games or similar. I was surely hoping for a new CSI game, and to find out that CSI:NY was a HOG :shifty: was a low blow.

Thanks for this thread, where I can finally complain about HOGs, at last :D

[gray pierce]

I totally agree ! If Poirot needs to solve a murder he uses "the little grey cells"
He doesn't go around looking for useless objects

[booB]

I agree with the people who are saying the two genres have nothing in common with each other, besides using a point-and-click interface.

The only reaction I can estimate from HOG fans checking out adventure games is, "OMG! You have to figure stuff out???"

[kadji-kun]

Actually you all are wrong. HOG are Adventure games. By game development definition, Adventure games require the use of puzzles and complicated object oriented manipulation to solve a situation. By your guys definition, they aren't adventure games, yet you need to realize that adventure games aren't solely first person slideshows or third person point and clicks.

Also, you are all falling for the "I played a generic HOG game. All of them must be like this" disease. I played a point and click adventure game that was horrible, so all adventure games are horrible.

Sure casual games maybe the lite versions of commercial adventure games, but not all of them are generic object finding romps.

[Mohlin]

Ok, with the risk of sound stupid, what is a HOG? To open a drawer to find a screwdriver that you need to undo something to find the clue to....

If that's it, I would say that it is the pure essence for me in a game. Puzzles. The reason I play!

[dekaneas297]

As somebody else noted, they are just plain games to pass some time. Some of the bigfish games are interesting but eventually they cannot be compared with adventure games as they are not such.

[gray pierce]

Actually you all are wrong. HOG are Adventure games. By game development definition, Adventure games require the use of puzzles and complicated object oriented manipulation to solve a situation. By your guys definition, they aren't adventure games, yet you need to realize that adventure games aren't solely first person slideshows or third person point and clicks.

Also, you are all falling for the "I played a generic HOG game. All of them must be like this" disease. I played a point and click adventure game that was horrible, so all adventure games are horrible.

Sure casual games maybe the lite versions of commercial adventure games, but not all of them are generic object finding romps.

kadji-kun you're very right !

However of all the HOG's I've played only three were worth my while and two of them are called Samantha Swift, the other one's Autumn's Treaures.

It's games like Dr Lynch or Margrave Manor (1 and 2) that have genuinely good story and characters but puzzles that are just so stupid and tiresome you stop caring for them. I mean what is a snake doing in an English garden ?

I'm sure there are decent HOG games (I can name three) but the majority is just dumb and lame without proper puzzles that actually make sense. And that is (in my opinion) definetely not the case with the "real" adventure market.

Of course it could be just me being snobbish and all that. :7

[ozzie]

Ok, with the risk of sound stupid, what is a HOG? To open a drawer to find a screwdriver that you need to undo something to find the clue to....

If that's it, I would say that it is the pure essence for me in a game. Puzzles. The reason I play!

The main gameplay mode of hidden object games is basically pixelhunting where you know what you have to hunt for.
But many them have evolved and incorporated more gameplay styles and even some story, so many of them got very close to adventure games.

[kadji-kun]

kadji-kun you're very right !

However of all the HOG's I've played only three were worth my while and two of them are called Samantha Swift, the other one's Autumn's Treaures.

It's games like Dr Lynch or Margrave Manor (1 and 2) that have genuinely good story and characters but puzzles that are just so stupid and tiresome you stop caring for them. I mean what is a snake doing in an English garden ?

I'm sure there are decent HOG games (I can name three) but the majority is just dumb and lame without proper puzzles that actually make sense. And that is (in my opinion) definetely not the case with the "real" adventure market.

Of course it could be just me being snobbish and all that. :7

Agreed. I know oh so well how many POS HOG are out there. Its just that when you actually find a good one, you truely enjoy it.

They are indeed nothing compared to General Adventure games, but they definitely have the essence of story and mystery.

Stupid Butcher knife laying in a babies crib at daycare. haha

[booB]

By game development definition, Adventure games require the use of puzzles and complicated object oriented manipulation to solve a situation.

No, those are puzzle games.

[kadji-kun]

No, those are puzzle games.

Uh, no. They are adventure games. You seem to have ignored the part "and complicated object oriented manipulation to solve a situation.". Need help to understand? Look at every adventure game. You have to collect random objects in a situation that requires a solution. Did you notice that this is joked about in comedic adventure games? You know, the person that points out "Why are we picking up random objects?" and someone replies "Because I bet it will be used to solve some unusually complicated puzzle to accomplish a seemingly simple action". Yeah, that is what adventure games are. The collection of objects to solve a puzzle.

What else defines an adventure game? Story? No, that defines pretty much every game besides sports or puzzles. Dialog? Again, every game.

[dekaneas297]

Again (and again) the ridiculous argument "they have stories (they have what???), so they are adventure games". Please stop.

[kadji-kun]

Again (and again) the ridiculous argument "they have stories (they have what???), so they are adventure games". Please stop.

Exactly. Stories do not define the Adventure game genre.

[dekaneas297]

Actually I was refering to you who wrote

They are indeed nothing compared to General Adventure games, but they definitely have the essence of story

But all of a sudden

What else defines an adventure game? Story? No

Make up your mind please.

[kadji-kun]

Actually I was refering to you who wrote.

You don't understand. That was refering to Grey Pierce who was discussing character and story elements of the HOG games. A dilemma which so many adventure gamers have with HOG games. Sure, story isn't what defines adventure gaming, but it does help adventure gamers tell the difference between general adventure game and HOGs. Yet, it was my point that the defined line is starting to blur.

Please look into our discussion before playing ignorant. Realize that comparing Adventure games to HOGs and Adventure Games as a genre in general are two COMPLETELY different subjects.

[Mohlin]

Let's turn it around. What defines an adventure game?

To me is is.
1. Non action
2. You can't die
3. You have to solve puzzles and figure out clues to finish the game
4. Sometimes you have to collect items, hidden or not, to help you solve the puzzles. (In Myst you don't)
5. Non linear, or maybe non-linear within that chapter or area.

[dekaneas297]

Please look into our discussion

I think I am, but what kind of discussion can be done with someone who arrogantly declares "you are all wrong"?

[Fien]

What, nobody mentioned exploration? In an adventure game you can explore the environment, in a casual game it's one static puzzle screen after another. Someone will come up with Return to Ravenhearst, and yes, there are a few exceptions. Very few.

[gray pierce]

I think that in terms of story HOGs are about the same level as adventure games (maybe a little below) And good HOGs have all the basis elements of an adventure game but like I said there are so very few good HOGs. It's hard to look at a genre and declare they're like this or that just because the good ones are.

It's like looking at the adventure game genre and saying they have excellent story and dialogue because the good ones do.

[kadji-kun]

What, nobody mentioned exploration? In an adventure game you can explore the environment, in a casual game it's one static puzzle screen after another. Someone will come up with Return to Ravenhearst, and yes, there are a few exceptions. Very few.

But under genre classification, that can easily be confused with Role Playing Game. It can even classify a Simulation.

Again, we are all fighting over semantics. I'm not talking about the meaning of Adventure or what you feel is an adventure game. I am talking about the TRUE classification of the genre. Genre's aren't made just to satisfy how you feel. It is made to separate between various types of gameplay. We don't call such games Adventure for the sake of hilarity or fun.

@Mohlin: You pretty much described a various other genre's. That is personal feelings and not factual information of what the genre is.

In regards to Myst. You collect information instead of objects to solve puzzles. Still classified as gathering objects to solve a puzzle.

I think I am, but what kind of discussion can be done with someone who arrogantly declares "you are all wrong"?

Not really. You are calling me arrogant? Arrogance only applies when I am calling myself a know it all. Its like calling someone arrogant for saying "You are all wrong. The answer to 1+1 is 2." I supplied an answer.

[Fien]

But under genre classification, that can easily be confused with Role Playing Game. It can even classify a Simulation.

Nope. In RPGs you play roles. In simulation games you simulate.
This isn't about just ONE defining characteristic for each genre or subgenre.

Again, we are all fighting over semantics.

No, we're not. This has absolutely nothing to do with semantics.

I'm not talking about the meaning of Adventure or what you feel is an adventure game. I am talking about the TRUE classification of the genre. Genre's aren't made just to satisfy how you feel. It is made to separate between various types of gameplay. We don't call such games Adventure for the sake of hilarity or fun.

So you're the only one here who knows the TRUE classification of adventures and HOGs? An interesting point of view. But I'm afraid what you're saying is not making much sense to me.

[Mohlin]

So you're the only one here who knows the TRUE classification of adventures and HOGs? An interesting point of view. But I'm afraid what you're saying is not making much sense to me.

Totally agree.
And why is is so important to classify?

[ukpetd]

Some info on casual games.

There are different HOGs, just as there are different adventure games.

HOG = hidden object game. The original was, I believe, developed from the UK I-spy newspaper series. You have a series of static screens with a list of objects to click on to progress the game.

Later there was a development of IHOG = interactive hidden object game. Same series of static sceens, but some of the objects are retained in an inventory and used later in the game (i.e. find crowbar in one scene and use it to open a crate in another).

Both types may also have "spot the difference" puzzles and ocassionally put the objects back into the scene (kind of reverse spot the difference).

Both types may have a puzzle consisting of re-assembling a jigsawed picture.

Both types may have end of chapter puzzles.

Lately another development. Instead of a list of objects to find, only a single word linking several objects is given (i.e. given paper, find paperknife, paper plane, etc...........)

Another type of game is the adventure lite. This is an IHOG with all the found objects used within the game.

Some example BOB games (BOB = best of breed) :
Madame Fate - HOG (good end of chapter puzzles)
Return to Ravenhurst - best IHOG
Resorting to danger - IHOG
Three cards to midnight - IHOG with word clues
Drawn : the painted Tower - adventure lite

As to the value of the games, that's up to the individual. I ignore genres that don't interest me.

[gray pierce]

Thanks ! That was...enlightening

I can clearly see now why I dislike most HOGs

Thanks again:D

[kadji-kun]

So you're the only one here who knows the TRUE classification of adventures and HOGs? An interesting point of view. But I'm afraid what you're saying is not making much sense to me.

Well then, answer me this. Why do genre's exist if they don't have a specific design that defines itself?

How do I know the true classification? Education and Books. Also, you point out I know the true classification of HOG's. I don't know that. I never said I knew that. I just pointed out the definition of the adventure game genre, and how it is used accompany some HOG games.

Also, exploration is apart of the RPG genre. Why? D&D created/expanded the genre by involving Character Creation/Interaction, Environmental Exploration, and Non-linear gameplay. Tell me an RPG that didn't involve exploration of some dungeon or cavern. It goes back before digital game development.

Accusing me of fictional answers, maybe you should pick up a book on game development.


Also, one thing I noticed from all of you. You seemed to point out various features apart of Adventure games such as RPG elements, yet you can't expect the fact HOG's can't call itself an adventure game.

What HOG's do is mix genre's. You can't confirm what that an HOG can't be an adventure, which rereading this thread, is the case.

[booB]

Just because SOME HOGs have SOME elements of adventure games, doesn't mean they ARE adventure games. If the main point of the game is finding objects hidden in a collage of other objects, then it is not an adventure game. And YES, I've played Samantha Swift and Cate West, and they have some story and some dialogue and some inventory puzzles (if you can really even call them that), but they still do not qualify.

Is Dreamfall considered a fighting game because it has a few fight scenes? Is Sam & Max considered a driving game because sometimes you drive around in the car?

[kadji-kun]

Edit: Okay guys. Would it make you all happy if we just split the HOG meaning into categories?

Lets just call HOG's that use adventure elements "Adventure Hidden Object Games". Happy now?


Just because SOME HOGs have SOME elements of adventure games, doesn't mean they ARE adventure games. If the main point of the game is finding objects hidden in a collage of other objects, then it is not an adventure game. And YES, I've played Samantha Swift and Cate West, and they have some story and some dialogue and some inventory puzzles (if you can really even call them that), but they still do not qualify.

Is Dreamfall considered a fighting game because it has a few fight scenes? Is Sam & Max considered a driving game because sometimes you drive around in the car?

But there are at least 65% that involve you collecting a tool/item that must be used on an object to progress. 55% of them revolve around a lot of tool use, making them more prominent than your example of "Dreamfall".

Is portal an adventure just because it has story? Is Scribblenauts and adventure? Its a puzzle based sidescroller. Is Tomb Raider and adventure?

Really, you are going to pick a fight with me, yet you guys let even games with much less adventure features go without talk. Get off your high horse.

Oh and yes we are fighting over semantics. We all have a different meaning for adventure games, yet I'm not even fighting over what adventure means. Just what the adventure genre is.

[dekaneas297]

Apart from holding the absolute truth and the real definitions, now you are giving stats based in ...? Oh let me guess, your uniquely true personal experience :D :frusty:

[kadji-kun]

Apart from holding the absolute truth and the real definitions, now you are giving stats based in ...? Oh let me guess, your uniquely true personal experience :D :frusty:

Based on all the HOG's I've played. Practically all the games from Big Fish. If you haven't noticed i'm an avid HOG gamer. Unlike a lot of you, mainly because I don't discriminate when I have a bad apple.

[Lee in Limbo]

Object manipulation? Like an Action game with different weapons and tools in your inventory?

Puzzles? Like Bejewelled and Tetris?

Even if you discard story and dialogue because they are present in many different genres these days, all you're doing is distilling games to their most basic gameplay element, something most modern commercial games don't really have.

I say that the defining characteristic of Adventure Games is problem solving. You see some of this in Action games too, but those tend to be hybrid Action Adventures like Beyond Good and Evil and the like.

Problem solving requires a dilemma and a resolution. This suggests a narrative thread. I strongly believe that this narrative thread is at the core of Adventure Games, and always was.

Hidden Object games (an increasingly inaccurate label for Casual Adventures) are at their core pixel hunt games. Pixel hunting has been one of the more familiar gameplay elements of many adventure games of the last twenty-odd years. However, this is merely a form of gameplay, and can be just as easily atrributed to Tomb Raider as it can to Myst.

This isn't to say that HOG aren't adventures. Just that they're truncated, no frills, overly simplified adventures with limited gameplay possibilities. That's changing. They may not be much challenge to veteran puzzle gamers, but there is a large potential audience for adventure games that can't cope with many of the conventions of puzzle-heavy adventure games. Some people want to use problem solving to experience an environment and a narrative, but don't particualrly want to be stumped by some Rube Goldberg device or Sudoku challenge to do so. Different strokes.

It's fairly understandable that a game developer might fall into the trap of defining games by their gameplay. As a writer, I'm tempted to side more with the narrative argument. It's a logical meeting place for us to argue. However, if you want to reduce a game genre to its essence, you have to look past the gameplay and look at what the gameplay is about. RPGs are about character development. FPS are about combat. RTS/TBS are about resource management. Action Games are about survival, which can mean stealth, acrobatics and information gathering as well as combat. And Adventure Games are about problem solving. Get it?

/rant

[kadji-kun]

Object manipulation? Like an Action game with different weapons and tools in your inventory?

Puzzles? Like Bejewelled and Tetris?

Even if you discard story and dialogue because they are present in many different genres these days, all you're doing is distilling games to their most basic gameplay element, something most modern commercial games don't really have.

I say that the defining characteristic of Adventure Games is problem solving. You see some of this in Action games too, but those tend to be hybrid Action Adventures like Beyond Good and Evil and the like.

Problem solving requires a dilemma and a resolution. This suggests a narrative thread. I strongly believe that this narrative thread is at the core of Adventure Games, and always was.

Hidden Object games (an increasingly inaccurate label for Casual Adventures) are at their core pixel hunt games. Pixel hunting has been one of the more familiar gameplay elements of many adventure games of the last twenty-odd years. However, this is merely a form of gameplay, and can be just as easily atrributed to Tomb Raider as it can to Myst.

This isn't to say that HOG aren't adventures. Just that they're truncated, no frills, overly simplified adventures with limited gameplay possibilities. That's changing. They may not be much challenge to veteran puzzle gamers, but there is a large potential audience for adventure games that can't cope with many of the conventions of puzzle-heavy adventure games. Some people want to use problem solving to experience an environment and a narrative, but don't particualrly want to be stumped by some Rube Goldberg device or Sudoku challenge to do so. Different strokes.

It's fairly understandable that a game developer might fall into the trap of defining games by their gameplay. As a writer, I'm tempted to side more with the narrative argument. It's a logical meeting place for us to argue. However, if you want to reduce a game genre to its essence, you have to look past the gameplay and look at what the gameplay is about. RPGs are about character development. FPS are about combat. RTS/TBS are about resource management. Action Games are about survival, which can mean stealth, acrobatics and information gathering as well as combat. And Adventure Games are about problem solving. Get it?

/rant

I said Complex Object Manipulation to solve a complicated puzzle. That is one thing, not two separate things. Else, it can easily be confused with a puzzle game or as you stated, an action game.

Of course games today are hybrids. Remember, how are hybrids made? They have to consist of a couple of items. Adventure is one of them. That was the whole point of my original post. Yet people can understand that all I'm talking about the adventure genre. There is no multiple answer. A genre is a type of media with one defining element that differentiates itself from other genre's. Its not suppose to be a personal opinion. Oh wait, I guess its a personal opinion that 1+1=11? Really? We are running around in circles and we are arguing on the fact that people can't except that the answer is absolutely simple. how else do we make games? how else do we choose an audience? Its a linear answer.

[cwapitm]

I haven't really played any. Well, I tried a couple online that were free. I don't think they are worth the money. However, I'm curious about the ones that may have more of a story. I might try one someday. Otherwise, what's the point? Other than it being a time waster?

[Lee in Limbo]

O_o

[booB]

Really, you are going to pick a fight with me, yet you guys let even games with much less adventure features go without talk. Get off your high horse.

Stop crying. You're the one who made this debate personal, just because people disagree with you.

[Fien]

There is no multiple answer. A genre is a type of media with one defining element that differentiates itself from other genre's. Its not suppose to be a personal opinion. Oh wait, I guess its a personal opinion that 1+1=11? Really? We are running around in circles and we are arguing on the fact that people can't except that the answer is absolutely simple. how else do we make games? how else do we choose an audience? Its a linear answer.

Gee, if I didn't know better I'd say that's one of those bloody personal opinions.

BTW, it's perfectly possible to make a game not knowing to which genre it should belong. It's been done countless times, or there wouldn't be so many wonderful games that defy all classification. What books on game development have you been reading?

[Jadefalcon]

Some example BOB games (BOB = best of breed) :
Madame Fate - HOG (good end of chapter puzzles)
Return to Ravenhurst - best IHOG
Resorting to danger - IHOG
Three cards to midnight - IHOG with word clues
Drawn : the painted Tower - adventure lite

As to the value of the games, that's up to the individual. I ignore genres that don't interest me.

While I can't say I'm a marvellous fan of the game type, I'd add this one

Womens Murder Club-Death in Scarlet (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Womens-Murder-Club-Death-Scarlet/dp/B0027FFT3E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1256934689&sr=8-3).

[Melanie68]

Things are getting a little heated in here. There have been many, many discussions/arguments in these forums and articles published on this site talking about what adventure games are. Those arguments are being resurrected in this thread, which is okay. But let's cool it.

[Zanthia]

Let's turn it around. What defines an adventure game?

To me is is.
1. .....
2. You can't die
3. .......

Wheach puts all Sierra out of the list. And Kyrandia too. And many others.

[Jadefalcon]

That's true, it was still possible to die in Broken Sword 4, though its not as common a thing as it used to be in adventures.

[kadji-kun]

Anyways. Its been a while since I got a new HOG. Any new games worth checking out?

[potan]

Anyways. Its been a while since I got a new HOG. Any new games worth checking out?

This one maybe ??

Campfire Legends: The Hookman

http://jayisgames.com/archives/2009/10/campfire_legends_the_hookman.php

http://jayisgames.com/images/campfirelegends.jpg

looks like it's not a pure hidden object game.
i haven't tried it yet though, sound interesting based on the article :P

[kadji-kun]

Looks interesting. The last HOG game I played was the Mystery of the Mary Celeste. :/

I definitely will check it out. :)

[crabapple]

Do people here think they might serve as a good intro to the adventure genre, especially for younger gamers, those experimenting or families?
For some, yes. From a pure HOG to an IHOG (Interactive Hidden Object Game) such as Mortimer Beckett to an "Adventure Lite" (Drawn) to an easy Adventure game like The Legend of the Crystal Valley to more difficult adventure games -- I can see that happening. I'm sure there will be a few new adventure gamers who started out as HOG players.

I don't see an overwhelming percentage of HOG-lovers becoming hardened adventure game fans. But the casual game audience is huge compared to the adventure game audience, so even if only 5% of HOG players start to play adventure games, that's a lot more adventure gamers than before. Big Fish offers several adventure games on their Large File Games (http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/genres/20/large-file-adventure.html) page for $6.99 each -- no more than the cost of one of their casual games. That's got to be a temptation to try them out.

Other than Big Fish, are there any other casual game portals that offer adventure games?

[kadji-kun]

Reflexive offers such games. You might want to check them out.

[Fien]

Other than Big Fish, are there any other casual game portals that offer adventure games?

Unlike Reflexive, iWin has a category called Adventures. Only half of them (about 35)are real adventures though, the rest is casual.

[Jadefalcon]

See, part of the problem is that there are not that many, what I (note emphasis :) would call true adventures being released. In the UK they are even rarer due to two main factors, namely some games not making it over here, and the reduction of the PC games market in many stores.

I think the last adventure game that I bought retail in a store was either Rhodan or a cheap copy of Sherlock Holmes and the Silver Earring. Even the HOG genre is pretty rare in stores outsides Morrisons. Somewhere like Game will carry the Agatha Christie trilogy or the Frogwares Sherlock Holmes games, but practically nothing else, not even Nancy Drew or Ravenheart.

[Fien]

I think that's true for just about every country. I can hardly remember the last time I bought an adventure in a brick-and-mortar store. I order them online, no problem, there are lots of reliable shops.