Comment by lioeters
3 years ago
> hate almost all games for this need to advance, earn levels, die and start over, compete and score
One of the only games I've truly enjoyed for a long time is SimCity. I learned this genre is sometimes called "idle games".
> What differentiates idle games from other types of game systems is that they can progress without player input. When players do engage, they tinker with a system, rather than encountering a confrontation that they can win or lose.
> Idle games invites players to participate in the game world, but does not revolve around them. You are, essentially, not a center of the world but a spectator.
On the Design of Idle Games, Katta Spiel et al. https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3311350.3347180 (PDF)
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Neverhood looks fun! Love the claymation art.
The Neverhood Trailer (1996) - https://youtu.be/OOcWNOxoG6E
> I learned this genre is sometimes called "idle games".
That is very interesting. With "idle games" idea of playing games may be stretched to all different spaces of interacting with the computer/program, touching on learning, relaxation, ideation. Well... food for thought.
> Neverhood looks fun! Love the claymation art.
Neverhood is unique with its aesthetics as it was created with real, huge set made of real clay and cameras recording character walking.
Behind the Scenes - Neverhood and Skullmonkeys [Making of] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrR3jbgocI4
Cool! I enjoyed watching the making of Neverhood. Fascinating how they created a world from literally a ton and a half of clay, then turned it into interactive entertainment. And how Steven Spielberg was involved, bringing together a team of artists, musicians, programmers, crafts people.
Love the physicality/materiality of clay, like one person said, how it has finger prints. Creatures and their environment all made by hand. I have a feeling, as society becomes more digitized and virtualized, people are missing the tactile sensation of touching real things. It might lead to a revival of interest in hand-made crafts, and material objects made of wood, ceramics, wool..
> With "idle games" idea of playing games may be stretched to all different spaces of interacting with the computer/program, touching on learning, relaxation, ideation.
The paper I linked above has made me curious about the concept of "idle games", and related topics like "gamification" of education, work, and life routines.
I realized, Stardew Valley is a famous example of an idle game without competition, winning or losing. I haven't played it, but I imagine it's a pleasant experience.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/Stardew_Valley/
Found another one, World of Goo. https://store.steampowered.com/app/22000/World_of_Goo/
> I enjoyed watching the making of Neverhood.
Glad you liked it. I feel it also shows amazing atmosphere and spirit of people involved and this is what attracts us. You know, like backstage of Fraggle Rock or The Muppet Show.
I will definitely read the paper / explore the idea of 'idle games'. Thx again.