Cartoony?

I've read this term being thrown around a lot lately which leads me to wonder.
Since all games that are not FMV are pretty much hand drawn, I'm kind of wondering what is considered "cartoony" and what is not. Is it because animals are talking or the protagonists? Or is it because some games have monster type characters? Some games like The Book of Unwritten tales have both realistic human characters and cartoonish characters so are these games too "Cartoony"?

It seems to me that there is a thin line between what is considered cartoon sytle games and what is not. I for one like a game based on the story line and the ease of playing. I can enjoy a game, no matter who or what is the protagonist, as long as it has a good story line and is easy and fun to play. If a game that is considered not Cartoony has too many mazes, timed events, and illogical and difficult puzzles, I would pick a cartoony one that is not so difficult.

I understand the difference between Spider Man and Winnie the Poo however they really are both cartoons to a degree.

"Cartoony" is a synonym for "cartoonish." It can refer to graphics, but it can also refer to the the characters. Are they believable to any extent, or are they just an excuse for yet another tiresome joke? I think most people who object to "cartoony" games are objecting to the humor and unrealistic characters. Not that a character is a talking dog, but that a character that is supposedly a human acts like an exaggerated, annoying stereotype.


Compare Syberia with Randal's Monday or Ceville. Syberia is made to look fairly realistic, the other two are all exaggeration.

Sometimes it's difficult to tell from graphics alone if a game is "cartoony" if it uses pixel art. But there's no doubt that, for example, The Last Door is a horror game and not "cartoony." And I don't consider the Wadjet Eye games to be "cartoony" though they use pixel art.

Then there are games like this
http://www.mobygames.com/game/dead-synchronicity-tomorrow-comes-today/screenshots
The graphics look like they might have been from a graphic novel. They aren't realistic at all. They are obviously exaggerated. But I would not call them "cartoony" either, since to me "cartoony" implies some form of humor.


Who says you have to choose either one?
Also, illogical puzzles are more apt to be found in "cartoony" games than in those with more realistic characters and graphics.

If I use the term in a dismissive fashion I usually mean they are a bit childish looking, like in Broken Age. Generally though I don't think of the term 'cartoony' as a pejorative.

The first thing that comes to my mind in respect of "Cartoony", when speaking of a PC game, is the graphics style.
And I would say the new Agatha Christie ABC Murders graphics I definitely class as "Cartoony"

That's exactly my thoughts as well. There are certain games where more, I would say, "realistic" graphics are designed, and then there are games which have this cartoon-like graphics style like ABC murders.

I personally don't like the cartoon style of graphics, puts me off buying a game. Is it because the more realistic graphics take longer to produce?. Does time, artistic skill and finance feature greatly in a game budget?. However, not sure if I will buy the new Agatha Christie, will check out the screenshots.

Looks like "cartoony" has a different meaning for all of us. I'm with Mad and it's the graphic style. It doesn't deter me from buying a game. The only game graphics I can't stand are the new retro style uber-pixelated. They make me nauseous.

Ana

Why did they make this one cartoony? I was so ready to buy it but then saw the cartoony screen shots.

That's a shame, TLC, if it stops you from buying a good game. But each to his own, eh ??

For me, the story is more important than the graphics style

Mad, Is it a good game? I wonder why they changed the graphic style?

"They" never changed anything.
This is the first Agatha Christie game from this developer (Artefacts).
Artefacts has nothing to do with the Agatha Christie games that were made by AWE games back in 2005-2007.

Ooooooh ok, thanks Jenny. Didn't know that.

AWE Games doesn't seem to have produced any PC adventure games for years. Their latest games (from 2010) seem to be for Nintendo DS.
http://www.awegames.com/Games.html

Sorry, TLC. I should have said what I meant .... which was .... "IF" it's a good game !!

I also consider "cartoony" more of a graphical style, although tone can be a factor as well. Not always, however. The Abbey and Dead Synchronicity both have cartoon graphics, but they are more serious games. In general, I favor a more realistic look, such as the graphics in Dreamfall Chapters. However, there are some strikingly beautiful cartoon games such as The Whispered World and The Night of the Rabbit. Then there are more stylized, painting like games like Memoria and Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, which I consider Daedalic's most beautiful games. Some may consider those cartoony as well, perhaps?

Ultimately, I agree with Mad, the story is more important than the graphic style. Also, even though I favor the realistic look, I'm glad there are some very nice looking cartoon like, painting like and comic like games as well. Otherwise, as attractive as one style might be, it would become very dull to have games only come out in that particular style.

I wasn't implying a choice between one or the other I just meant that my preference would be the easier of the two but I would probably be playing both styles.

The most perfect example would be in Sinking Island. All the characters are rather realistic and believable, except the murdered victim who looks like a funny caricature straight out of a cartoon on TV.

I think they thought it would make the murder less gruesome, more acceptable to younger players, since the murdered man looks funny instead of dramatic. It is harder to have any feelings for him, or to be sad for him, since we have no doubt that the man ever existed.

I have a feeling Microïds thought the same thing for ABC Murders. They made it less serious and dramatic, for what amounts to a series of murders. You don't feel they are real people, so it is more acceptable in a way.