Hey everyone!

I'm a game developer and I've worked on commercial casual game titles before.

I'm interested in creating a new casual game. It might be an Adventure or Hidden Object, or something completely different! I'd really love your input into what kind of game you'd like to play.

Is there any specific story line you'd like to see? Any particular graphic style/location/setting/theme? Any game you've got in your mind that you'd like to see made?

And feel free to ask me any other questions you have about game development in general!

Hi Andrew and good to see you posting.

I like casual adventure games with limited hidden object scenes. I love puzzles of almost any kind and I hate mazes.

Ana

Hi Andrew
I agree with Ana in that I like casual adventure games too with some HOG but lots of inventory stuff and puzzles too. I like stories that are lighter in nature vs dark and foreboding. I'm not as interested in really dark scenes with all kinds of "gross" looking stuff in the HOG parts. I really enjoy having voice acting too.
Thanks for asking and have a great holiday season.
Kathy

Oh, and let's not forget, no timed puzzles to solve. If you want a clock, put it somewhere on the wall.

Besides the hidden objects I enjoy solving those puzzles where you're required to rotate the disks/pieces/etc. to complete the design/picture.

Gross does not cut it, it is a big turn off. Light hearted, stunning scenery, solve this to open that, someone needing to get home or stop a terrible event, or help someone else get home.

If there are hidden object scenes, make sure they are completely integrated into the story-line instead of just there to fill up space and time.

Keep the puzzles challenging enough for the veteran gamers, but with an option for help for the less well-seasoned gamer.

I love dark and foreboding and even gross is OK!

Voice acting is always a plus.

I, for one, loved the Rube Goldberg-type puzzles in Return to Ravenhurst.

This is fun! Thanks for asking!

I like fantasy type games with lots of puzzles.

I also like looking for pieces of objects as opposed to a straight Hidden Object scene.

I agree if there are to be Hiden Object scenes they should relate to the story and the atmosphere.

Voice acting is always cool but I think it depends on the actual game. Great music befitting the atmosphere is always nice too.

The graphics aren't so important to me, but it's alway nice to see well done graphics.

I think many people would like to see a casual Myst type game.

If considering a Collector's edition, as most good games are now adays, leave out to sound track, wallpaper, and art as extras, and simply include a good bonus level.

Thanks for your interest, and

I like adventure games that take me to worlds that I don't usually see. Like in the Outback, or ancient times or a totally made up world with detailed graphics. I like having to collect info, decode meanings and figure out how to solve problems. Not a lot of hidden objects, but collecting things along the way to solve problems.
I don't like math problems or mazes. I like visual, spacial puzzles. I like mysteries without a lot of going back and forth to the same places or repetition, as sometimes happens in Nancy Drew type games.
Hope that helps. Thanx for asking, and good luck!

I'm a fan of the fantasy/spooky-type HOPA casual games (hidden object puzzle adventure), with less emphasis on the hidden object screens and more emphasis on solving puzzles and figuring out how to use items in my inventory. I don't care for conventional slider puzzles or anything that is timed or arcade in nature. I try not to use a "skip" option, but nevertheless it needs to be there.

I'm with Marian on the fantasy/spooky-type games and no slider puzzles, timed or arcade. I hate them. I usually have to skip these puzzles. Mazes and such I like. I guess I have to agree with most of the above posters. Thanks for asking and good luck with your games.

And I love a good slider or arcade puzzle. So, it's obviously impossible to please everyone! Guess that's another reason to incorporate a "skip" feature.

And it is apt to happen where you are totally stumped, so a built in WT would be nice. Machinarium has a real neat one that makes you play an arcade style shoot the spiders before the book would open.

A hint device is a real good feature, but when you're pulling your hair out a WT is necessary.

I think Andrews is being very shrewd by asking us what WE want in a game.

See, we are all different - I just dread sliders!

I prefer hidden object games above all others.Please include a skip button and refillable/unlimited hints.Or extra hints found in hidden object scenes as in "Chronicles of Albian; The Magic Convention".

I loved that feature in Machinarium too, Homer. Many times I went for a hint just to be able to play the arcade game. And I can't tell you how many games of "Marbles" I played just because it was loads of fun.

An ideal game for me would be a Graphic Who-dunit Virtual Novel.
I enjoy peeling away the layers of the 'onion' to get to the
inner workings of a plot.
example: "The Longest Journey" Rocked!
"Dreamfall" Stank! {left it disappointed & unfinished}

I've enjoyed Darker Series such as "Darkfall",
but "Ceville" & "So Blonde" are also favs.

Provide a skip feature for the harder puzzles,
asking us to earn the privilege is fine,
but then show us the outcome if we do choose to skip.
Have been forced to leave some games unfinished
because I could not get past One puzzle.

Just as in a movie...gratuitous gore, language, sex, violence, etc is not only unnecessary
but also unwelcome.

Allow me to use my own 'Thinking Cap',
don't provide all the 'large blinking arrows' For me.

Pure HOG's tend to be cookie-cutters...
I prefer an IHOG{?} where I'm able to gather/piece/use inventory items.
Good old fashioned Pure Adventure Games are more to my liking.

If there is text we need to read to gather info,
make it legible and allow us the ability to scroll/turn the page at our own pace.

And I thoroughly agree with Flo:


Thank you for allowing us 'Gamers' to add our input.

Have a blessed Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

I notice no one has mentioned "FROGS" (fragmented hidden object games). These are a real favourite with me and they're thin on the ground. These are games like Magic Encyclopedia and Dream Chronicles.

Is this what you are referring to, Bristol?

I get confused as to what to label them as.

I like FROGs too, particularly ones like Magic Encyclopedia that are done very well.

Count me among those who love the creepy/spooky stories. I feel that Hidden Object screens are what I have to get through to get on with the rest of the game.

A good gripping story is what keeps me intrigued along with great puzzles...untimed of course.
Best of luck to you!
Jeanne

I wonder if Andrew is pulling his hair out now and sorry he asked.

Something else just came to mind.

Don't release anything until it's crystal. Nothing spoils a good looking game more than one that was rushed into production and has more bugs roaming in it than during winter. And yes, I realize bugs will happen.

With the myriad of computer systems in existence, and the myriad of configurations possible, one of those systems isn't going to like something about any game.

I also understand schedules are necessary; some things have to be completed by a certain time. But sometimes schedules must be flexible, for no other reason than to present a polished product to your customers.

Because if you steam a customer, you'll never see them again. And nothing steams a gamer more than the need to get out the RAID. Or being put on hold.

I'm just more impressed by all the responses! Thanks guys. It's really great to see how active you all are on this forum and I'm glad that I asked what you like. I'm definitely going to try my hardest to listen to all of your ideas and take them on board when creating my next game.

It's hard in a way because, as many of you can see, you all have different tastes in games. There are those of you who like straight-HOGs and those of you who only want HOGs to be part of a bigger adventure game. Both are great, it's all a matter of personal opinion.

What I've gathered so far though from all your replies is this:
* No gross stuff > instead: light hearted & stunning scenery
* No timed puzzles (totally agree)
* Rotate disks/pieces (I find these frustrating to play! But I'll keep my mind open)
* Skip buttons/unlimited hints (definitely agree here)
* Collector's edition > just a bonus level, no wallpapers etc. (BFG might insist that I include other things to make the Collector's edition better, but I'll see what happens when the time comes.)

I do have one game in mind for what I would like to create. What do you guys think of the Drawn series? I am interested in creating a Drawn-like game where it will almost be a casual Myst game with a strong storyline similar to what Flo NS mentioned.

And do you guys still like the 'creepy/spooky' themes that many games have? I haven't played a whole lot recently, but it seems like the portals are saturated with murder mysteries and spooky ghosts.

Thanks again for all your replies! I really appreciate them all.

Drawn is a masterpiece Andrew. I would love to see more games like it. I also enjoy the feature that lets you replay the puzzles when you are done so you can enjoy doing them over.

I also like the feature of being able to save multiple times and not the autosave that writes over itself.

Ana

Yes, Andrews, I love spooky/creepy themes - I have especially liked the two Salem Witch Trial games recently.

And I love FROGs the best.

I dont think anyone in the world didnt like Drawn.

Oh, and one more thing - Please do NOT create a short game. A game that was released recently has caused a lot of criticim just because it was very very short, and many people have simply not puchased the game because of this. Thanks for listening to us.

And if the game has numerous locations, an interactive map is a wonderful tool.

I've not played Drawn, but I like the idea of a Myst style casual game. Creepy/spooky/mystery also sounds fine with me.

Now, to go see about Drawn.