Seventh Sanctum Blog

Thoughts on gaming: Has the time arrived for . . . Datesims?

This was originally posted at Fan To Pro, but as its about games and artistry, I figured it was worth sharing here.

Datesims have a rather creepy reputation in the US.  The ones we see from Japan often contain questionable content.  By questionable of course I mean soul-searing horror that would make Cthulu call for his mommy and curl up in a blanket.  Yes I know there are Datesims that don't have objectionable content, you just don't hear about them that much.

Except I'm thinking Datesims may have more of a future.  I'm not talking that people will begin playing them instead of Modern Warfare 2.  But I'm thinking that the time may be right for more of them in  . . . well places that aren't Japan.  Oh, and datesims that aren't of a prurient nature.

Before you get scared, let me explain my logic.

• Datesims are casual games.  Casual gaming has obviously been on the increase.
• Their relatively simple nature would let them take advantage of the increased use of Downloadable content - reducing the cost, reducing the investment.
• Let's be honest, the standard Datesim is not overly complex as a piece of technology.
• Romance is always a big genre, and companies doing romance novels (Hey, Harlequin, want ANOTHER initiative?) could jump on the bandwagon.
• Their multimedia nature may tie-in well to people's interests.

So the reason I think Datesims have a future could be summed up as, I think they're viable because you can deliver them fast and cheap, they'd have good appeal, and you have audiences that would be interested in them.  If anything, I see the marketing being a bit troublesome - you'd probably have to call them "interactive romance novels" or something.

I don't see them as being big business (though I see the "interactive novel" idea having more of a future), but I think they may be a viable product for some companies, and a valuable addition to publishers of romance novels and products.  After all, if you got a modern anime-style artist to do a Datesim/romance with hunky vampires, and it cost $10 with the purchase of a novel, and maybe had unlockable desktops and themes - yeah, I think it'd sell.

- Steven

An Analysis of inFamous

Between the demo of inFamous (by Sucker Punch) and the Zero Punctuation Theater review of inFamous, I decided to give it a try.  Also, frankly, I haven't been in much of a gaming mood lately.

To summarize quickly, inFamous is a 3rd-person open-world superhero game.  You play Cole McGrath, a bike messenger having the worst day of his life when a package he's delivering blows up, devestates the city he lives in, and gives him electrical powers.  You use your powers for good or ill as you try to figure out what's going on, help (or hurt) people, and battle assorted gangs and other mutants.

Since this is as much an analysis as a review I'll get to the point - this is a pretty good game.  In fact I'd say it's a great game (with a small g).  Its fun, it looks decent, the open world is handled well, there's a lot to do, and a lot of the standard open-world missions are done better than usual.  Some of the fights are quite breathtaking, and the various powers are a blast to use - being able to knock someone in the air with electromagnetisim and THEN blast them as they float to the ground is quite an experience.