I thought I'd experiment with describing various gaming styles that I've observed over the years, based around four aspects of adventure games: story, puzzles, exploration and atmosphere.

Each description is written from the standpoint of the gamer. Part of what I'm hoping to show is that each reaction to story, puzzles, exploration and atmosphere is equally valid.

Hoping to start a friendly discussion!

What Type of Adventure Gamer Are YOU?

Very interesting, Becky. Time for the thinking cap.
I'm a Heinz 57.

Gamer: D <Story>

Gamer: C <Puzzles>

Gamer: C <Environments and Exploration>

Gamer C <Atmosphere>

Thank, Becky

All of the above is me when it comes to gaming.. :StPats:

MaG ..I love Heinz 57

Hi, I am probably 60 percent puzzle, 30 percent story and the other two equals the 10 percent , although I think some of these category overlap for me
as puzzles involve exploration, thinking cap
and there is great atmosphere, in a great story
love the puzzle part first, but the great story is growing on me, I am playing lost souls now, darkfall game and really into the atmosphere of the story

Marcia

Story: Gamer A
Puzzles: Gamer A
Environments/Exploration: Gamer A
Atmosphere: Gamer A

I guess that means I'm a lot like Gamer A, then.

The funny thing is, the series of games I'm most passionate about - the Sherlock Holmes ones - fall under Gamer B section. There's always an exception to the rule!

Thanks, Becky, what a fun quiz! I'd kind of all over the map with this one.

It seems I fit mostly into the "C" category, but I also have a good bit of "A" in me as well as a little "B." I enjoy mostly epic, well told stories, if there's a group for that. The Longest Journey, Culpa Innata (which will be very epic once part 2 comes out, I feel ), the Gabriel Knights, Grim Fandango - all of these games are my favorites and evoke that feeling for me.

EDIT: Rushes, that is funny. Just goes to show you never know.

Reminds me of my experience with Dreamfall. It had many things I don't look for in a game, that would turn me off to any other game. And yet I loved it. Go figure.

No big surprise here, I'm pretty much in the 'D' category, with the exception of the Story Category. There I am a 'B'. One thing that I think may be missing in your analysis is prioritizing. So, with that in mind, this is the order of importance of your catagories:
1 - Environments and Explorations
2 - Puzzles
3 - Story
4 - Atmosphere
Thanks for doing this. It'll will help knowing who has similar tastes (and also disparate ones).

I know games (as well as gamers) may fit more than one category. I'm open to arguments that certain games should actually belong in different categories!

I'm also curious to see what other games people feel would fit various categories (I used some of the best known series for the article, but there are a lot more good games out there)!

i have to think more on this .

i will say that i agree with the part in atmosphere about dark screens do not always equal mood - sometimes they are just annoying.

i think what looks good to me,depends on my mood.
for example - it's been a week where people have talked me to death- then i don't want lengthy dialogue,just a quiet place to explore and work on a puzzle or two.

i'll have to check my games and see what category they're in...

Yes-i am all over map on this..but one thing i sure agree with Niteowl07 on '' it's been a week where people have talked me to death- then i don't want lengthy dialogue,just a quiet place to explore and work on a puzzle or two.'' I am a retired telephone operator so i can relate to that! I think that is what drew me to games like Myst, and Rhem-lots of exploration & puzzles (although Rhem puzzles mostly so hard for me..thank goodness for walkthroughs!)..and no talk! Also agree with other poster..dark areas do Not equal atmosphere..takes real skill to create good atmosphere and not many games have had a lot of sucess. However, the Dark Fall and Lost Crown series have and also The Last Half of Darkness, The Darkness Within, and Scratches. The Myst games -to me-have an atmosphere of solitude and freedom, and adventure. The first Shivers had that as well. Takes a good combination of things to get great atmosphere in games..writing,sound, as well as what you see. There are a couple of 'casual' games that have it-Return to Ravenhurst and Dire Grove(made me feel so cold i actually went and got a sweater and i am generally NOT cold at all!). I enjoy old radio programs and lots of them could create atmosphere..good writing and sound! Also Poe..in his writing could really create an atmosphere..and Woodhouse generally had an atmophere he created of comedy in a difficult time. Sorry ..if i got off topic a bit..

Hi Becky and Boomers. I do not care so much for games with extensive dialogue and conversation trees.I give equal billing to story, puzzles, exploration and atmosphere. Games that fit those four have a seamless quality that invite many replay sessions. There are games that excel in one selection over the others but still hold my interest if the remaining three are at least average. In other words games that integrate these selections seem to attract a following. For me the Myst series among others, fulfills all those parameters.That was an excellent question Becky. Hope the Game producers are reading all the Boomer comments. :niceday: PS: You said it all Gamenut.

Thanks, Becky,
For closing the other thread. Obviously, I can't be *typed* because I have "my own take" on games, 'nuff said.

Wow! I'm a B all the way down. Although I do enjoy the games listed under "B", the game I loved the most was Myst, and still like the same type. Interesting.

Interesting quiz/gaming styles resaerch.

In the story category I don't have any strong preferences - I like all kinds of storytelling if they are well executed.

In "Puzzles", I guess I'm the most similar to Gamer B, although I don't have a particularly great opinion of "puzzles that require pattern analysis, especially the kind that involve color or sound". They usually aren't very clever and tend to be similar to one another. Also, color and sound recognition is problematic for many people.

In terms of exploration, I think that I'm the most akin to Gamer A, but I do enjoy games like Gamer D as well. The only thing that I dislike in exploration is slow, repetitive traveling sequences and walking back and forth a huge world when the game could be easily designed to avoid that (why not give the player a map that can automatically teleport her to far away places?).

Atmospherically, I'm definitely Gamer B.

Overall, I'm very open to every kind of adventure game, only wish the amount of pointless walking and clicking would be limited in some of them.

I appear to be a hybrid

Most of my "individual" slections are a combination of the B and C categories but the games I enjoy playing the most come from A, B and C !!

So I can't truthfully pinpoint myself as being a particular type of adventure gamer who would reside solely within the boundaries suggested

An interesting experiment though, thanks, Becky !!