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-   -   Interesting poll: Do you like "Action" in your adventure games (https://adventuregamers.com/archive/forums/adventure/4720-interesting-poll-do-you-like-action-your-adventure-games.html)

SoccerDude28 09-13-2004 08:47 AM

Interesting poll: Do you like "Action" in your adventure games
 
Ok now here's an interesting poll. Too many debates about how adventure games have not evolved vs adventure games should remain "pure". What do you like?

Bobske 09-13-2004 09:09 AM

I voted that I would like to see a mix but that isn't exactly true. I really don't like action in adventure games but when it's functional I tend to like it... So I don't prefer action sequences but as long as they are funtional I don't mind.

I'm really looking forward to see what they've done or are going to do with Dreamfall... I do think that the future of adventure games lies in an optimal combination of action and adventure. I think Deus Ex was a good attempt! What scares me is the fact that people consider Vice City and the upcoming San Andreas an adventure game. I love Vice City but an adventure game? Hell no!

maladroid 09-13-2004 09:26 AM

I don't like action sequences in an otherwise "pure" adventure.

Howver I like games like Beyond Good and Evil where the gameplay is spiced-up with some action/arcade and minigames which are really easy to beat.
If this poll had taken place about 2 months ago I would probably say A. After playing this excellent game, though I have to say B all the way and hope for Psychonauts to be similar to BG&E in terms of enjoyment and story development.
If Broken Sword 3 is the future of adventure games then I'd rather we'd stay in the past.
If BG&E-clones start popping-up to replace adventures (appealing though unlikely thought) I'd say I will surely miss the traditional puzzle-oriented games that I love but I am ready to make that sacrifice in order to avoid any more Cryo-genetic games that have to do with astronauts being abandoned or warped in a new world/dimension.
If new ideas and stories can only shell by being delivered as action-oriented games then let it be. I am sick and tired by soulless games which try to convince us that throwing in some lever-pulling and use-fishing-rod-on-old man's pocket puzzles is enough to sate our hunger for a good storyline.

I am not saying that I don't like puzzles in my games. I am saying that simply replacing action with puzzle-solving does not make an adventure game.
There are many other things an adventure needs to become interesting and keep the player from leaving the game in the middle of his quest.

Sirus 09-13-2004 09:45 AM

I voted for B. But actually I like hardcore Adventures. But I like Action-Adventure games too.

AFGNCAAP 09-13-2004 10:28 AM

I think the question is too ambiguous and, therefore, the poll result won't be very informative. I mean, some of the most outstanding achievements in game design, like Deus Ex or Beyond Good & Evil*, are so great because their creators didn't worry about genres or target audience and included a variety of gameplay styles. Such examples would almost make me vote for second option. But they're just it: innovative, unclassifiable titles. My definition of adventure title accepts little to no action sequences. Similarly, when I read mystery novel, I don't want the alien invaders to appear on the last page - and it does'nt mean I hate sci-fi as such. So it's number one for me.

* Well, I actually haven't played BG&E, but from all the comments everywhere I gather it is great.

crabapple 09-13-2004 10:45 AM

If I want action, I'll play an action/adventure or RPG.
When I don't, what else is there to play but an adventure?
And unfortunately adding action elements to an adventure game usually takes the form of adding timed sequences, which I don't like in any game.
So leave the action out of the adventures please.


Here's another question -

Which usually works out better - adding adventure elements to an action game or adding action elements to an adventure game?

And which is more apt to mean a dead end for someone - adding "easy" action elements to an adventure game or adding "easy" puzzles to an action game?

100ja a.k.a. mr_mitja 09-13-2004 11:02 AM

I wanna see a mix. If the action part was well done, why not. Of course, I would still like to see only-mouse-advs, so I can just sit and relax, not just mutilate my keyboard :D

Beyond Delphine 09-13-2004 11:05 AM

Looks close between a and b. That suprises me. Expected the majority of the population here to be more Lucas/sierra, less BG+E/Zelda.
Still, we live and learn.
I voted A. Natch.
Bit set in my ways...

ragnar 09-13-2004 11:09 AM

It really, really depends on what type of Action and how that is handled within the game. Most action-sequences in adventure games are bad because they use a completely unsuitable interface for that kind of thing, i.e. the normal point and click interface that is optimised for slowpaced looking around for objects to add to your inventory.

ADVENTURE-RAIDER 09-13-2004 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragnar
It really, really depends on what type of Action and how that is handled within the game. Most action-sequences in adventure games are bad because they use a completely unsuitable interface for that kind of thing, i.e. the normal point and click interface that is optimised for slowpaced looking around for objects to add to your inventory.

I aggree on that. It always depends on how the action sequence was incorporated and blened in the game and the story. Al;so a very important thing is the lenght of the action sequence in an adventure game. The smaller it is the better it blends in the game.
I've played some good adventure games with very good action sequences, the most memorable are the two classics from DYNAMIX: "RISE OF THE DRAGON" and "HEART OF CHINA".

Jackal 09-13-2004 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerDude28
Too many debates about how adventure games have not evolved vs adventure games should remain "pure".

The debate is almost never whether adding action is an "evolution" of adventure games. That's actually the argument that purists FEAR, even though it's rarely suggested.

I think most "pure" adventures are hurt more than they're helped by adding random action elements, so if that's the standard, better to avoid them.

On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy action-adventures. I also absolutely think there's room in the genre for more "action-based" gameplay if its storyline dictates it.

It's all about diversity in design, baby. 8-)

fov 09-13-2004 11:47 AM

I don't mind some action in some games. That doesn't mean I want action in all games.

-emily

nordic_guy 09-13-2004 12:06 PM

I think all games should be treated differently, meaning that I wouldn't mind some action if it suits the game overall.

Kolzig 09-13-2004 12:46 PM

I won't vote on this poll, but I'll say that a little action in *some* adventure games would be good.

It just depends what kind of action are we talking about and how it fits in the game.

crabapple 09-13-2004 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beyond Delphine
Looks close between a and b. That suprises me. Expected the majority of the population here to be more Lucas/sierra, less BG+E/Zelda.
Still, we live and learn.
I voted A. Natch.
Bit set in my ways...

If you read the posts in this thread, it doesn't look like anyone is advocating action in ALL adventure games. And there are definitely preferences on the type of action and whether it fits the game as opposed to whether its "imposed" on it. So the overall result of the poll is misleading and not as informative as the posts.

log p 09-13-2004 12:57 PM

there is a place for action in any good adventure game...some games do not need it and this doesnt make them any worse for what they are - straight forward point-and-click adventures...but my favorite adventure games (shenmue, BG&E, zelda, etc.) are not REALLY classified as adventure games, so what do i know?

Sanjuro2 09-13-2004 12:59 PM

This is a good poll because I'm in the planning stages for a new adventure game project, and my buddy and I are very concerned about this. A few action segments would really fit well into the story and theme of our game so...we are currently trying to decide.

remixor 09-13-2004 02:11 PM

I said "No action for me please" but that's actually wrong. I would have preferred an option that says "I don't mind action if it's well-implemented but I'm not looking for it" or something like that, because I'm not actually saying "Yes, please add action to my adventures, I want a mix." The choices are too extreme.

JHousequake 09-13-2004 07:10 PM

Where's the "I don't care" option?? Sheesh.

Mieze 09-14-2004 12:25 AM

I voted for the "mix"... though I think it would be important for me that the "adventure" elements outweigh the "action" elements by a large, large margin.

Besides I think it is important that the action parts fit well into the story (not just action for action's sake) and are not so difficult as to be frustrating to the action-unexperienced gamer.

E.g. that is one of the very few bones I have to pick with "Silver Earring": the Superdog with his unearthly sensory powers almost drove me to distraction... :D

Erwin_Br 09-14-2004 01:52 AM

I don't mind a little action, as seen in Indiana Jones FOA and Full Throttle.

--Erwin

Ninja Dodo 09-14-2004 02:52 AM

My vote is for the mix, but I think there should be a mix both within individual games and within the genre. As much as I enjoy action-adventure games I would hate to see purely cerebral games disappear. They're both great, just in different ways.

Ninth 09-14-2004 03:41 AM

I usually don't like action in my games but I don't rule out the idea that I could love an AG with some real action bits. Nomad Soul was going almost perfectly in that direction for the first 1/3, before gradually becoming too action-y for my tastes.
Oh, and that's considering action in the gaming sense, when there are some racing, beat 'em all, or FPS parts, not in the common sense. Else Indiana Jones FoA had plenty of action.

colpet 09-14-2004 08:39 AM

I don't like anything that smacks of action in my adventure games. I'll tolerate a small amount if the rest of the game is worth playing, just like annoying arcade sequences (the latest Nancy Drew Games for example). To be truthful, I'm just bad at it. Any game sequence relying on fingertip reflexes frustrates the heck out of me, and more often or not I need another person to accomplish it for me (or a saved game).

Jake 09-14-2004 09:19 AM

This might be construed as a bit rude, but where's the "http://forums.idlethumbs.net/images/smilies/5badair.gif" choice in the poll?

Intrepid Homoludens 09-14-2004 09:20 AM

LOL! I think some of the Idle-moticons are taking over.

remixor 09-14-2004 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake
This might be construed as a bit rude, but where's the "http://forums.idlethumbs.net/images/smilies/5badair.gif" choice in the poll?

You forgot to put a smiley at the end of your post, dumbass. :)

(http://forums.idlethumbs.net/images/smilies/5badair.gif)



(http://forums.idlethumbs.net/images/smilies/nurse.gif)

Antoinetta 09-14-2004 12:57 PM

I voted "No Action" because as a rule, I find that action elements become game enders, or at least major obstacles in most cases. The one game that had a few brief action elements that didn't require pounding on the keyboard and were well meshed into the game were in Dracula II The Last Sanctuary.

RemiO 09-14-2004 01:02 PM

The choices in the poll are indeed a bit suspect. :shifty:

I went with B though, as I do enjoy games like BG&E and the SH series, ie. games that have a bit of action and a bit of adventure. That's not to say that I want some shoddy action sequence in an adventure game like DOTT or whatever.

So yeah, some better options in the poll would be good. ;

SoccerDude28 09-14-2004 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RemiO
The choices in the poll are indeed a bit suspect. :shifty:

I went with B though, as I do enjoy games like BG&E and the SH series, ie. games that have a bit of action and a bit of adventure. That's not to say that I want some shoddy action sequence in an adventure game like DOTT or whatever.

So yeah, some better options in the poll would be good. ;

suggestions on better poll options? Coz I do think that a lot of us old adventure gamers are "Not willing" to adapt to the new trend of gaming and that is "action". I'm just curious as to how many are actually flexible. And when I say action I don't mean indiana jones one punch kinda thing. I mean something more like ICO or BG&E which could be tagged as adventures in their own right.

Sky Warrior Bob 09-15-2004 02:41 AM

Personally, I loved the Quest For Glory games, and they were a really good mix of Action & Adventure. Frankly, I wish there were more games like this, which gave equal time to adventure & action.

Most games are either nearly 90% action, maybe with adventure elements. Or in the case of Indiana Jones & FOA, 90% adventure, and 10% action (if you've got it on action mode).

Nothing really has ever come close to QFG, but its well past time somebody made the attempt, IMO. Maybe the people at Tierra (or whatever they're calling themselves these days), could be coaxed into working on a non-Sierra remake, after they finsih up QFG-2, but base it on said game.

I'd buy that for a dollar!

SWB

Zanthia 09-17-2004 09:41 AM

I don't like action in AGS. It stucks me for a LONG time. And its very frustrating.

Captain Blondebeard 09-17-2004 11:23 PM

It depends. I like action in games like Fate of Atlantis but I dont like the System Shock, Tomb raider types as much.

Kolorabi 09-18-2004 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky Warrior Bob
Personally, I loved the Quest For Glory games, and they were a really good mix of Action & Adventure. Frankly, I wish there were more games like this, which gave equal time to adventure & action.

Me too. And as these games show, action in adventures isn't a new thing at all. I don't understand why people think so. Look at the other Sierra games - quite a lot of those included action sequences. Not always great action sequences, but still. LucasArts also made several adventures with action sequences, and some of these are considered to be classics by many people. The Tex Murphy games had action...

Action isn't a new & dangerous thing, it's been with the graphics adventure genre for as long as it's been around (KQ can be seen as having some degree of action, Below the Root definitely has action, Police Quest has it,....).

Anyway, I don't mind it as long as it's done well. I think there's room for both adventures without action and adventures with action, just like there's been for the last 20 years.

log p 09-18-2004 07:45 AM

looks like no action is winning out...(scratching head incredulously) :pan:

Bastich 09-18-2004 10:00 AM

I like action in games, but almost universally despise it in adventures. The reason being, that the sequences almost always suck. They are amateurish, cheesy mini-games that very little effort has been put into and it shows. I also find it very disruptive to the gameplay and storytelling.

Intrepid Homoludens 09-18-2004 11:53 AM

http://media.ign.com/thumb/720/72066...2_25_thumb.jpg http://media.ign.com/thumb/718/71864...2_10_thumb.jpg
Neverwinter Nights, Command & Conquer: Generals.

For the most part, adventure game developers suck at doing action. This has a lot to do with the conventional format of adventure games. Really, it would be easy to do, but it's always been [mostly] badly executed because of the conventions. If you think that action is impossible in a point-&-clicker, you're wrong. RPGs and real time strategies have been doing it for years! Look at Neverwinter Nights, or Dune, or Command & Conquer: Generals. It also has to do with them not studying games from other genres, quite obvious. :D

SoccerDude28 09-18-2004 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens
http://media.ign.com/thumb/720/72066...2_25_thumb.jpg http://media.ign.com/thumb/718/71864...2_10_thumb.jpg
Neverwinter Nights, Command & Conquer: Generals.

For the most part, adventure game developers suck at doing action. This has a lot to do with the conventional format of adventure games. Really, it would be easy to do, but it's always been [mostly] badly executed because of the conventions. If you think that action is impossible in a point-&-clicker, you're wrong. RPGs and real time strategies have been doing it for years! Look at Neverwinter Nights, or Dune, or Command & Conquer: Generals. It also has to do with them not studying games from other genres, quite obvious. :D

See the problem is that too much more "interesting" action turns off adventure purists, coz the game will deviate from our utopian definition of an adventure game. I think that is one of the causes why action sequences in adventure games really suck. They are there just to say to any normal gamer, look this game has action, but to tell us loyalists, don't worry these action sequences are "mini" games that don't affect the adventuring aspect of the game. Marketting 101 :)

Intrepid Homoludens 09-18-2004 12:06 PM

See, that would have more to do with adventure 'purists' not wanting any action at all, no matter how easy! You'll never convince them because they're so bullheaded that way. Even if you have action sequences you can do with your eyes closed, they'll still complain.

Fickfack 09-18-2004 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens
See, that would have more to do with adventure 'purists' not wanting any action at all, no matter how easy! You'll never convince them because they're so bullheaded that way. Even if you have action sequences you can do with your eyes closed, they'll still complain.

What's the point of including easy action sequences? Wouldn't it just bore the players?


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