"Game X was dumbed down for consoles"

[SageRuffin]

Hang on, hang on, hang on... I'm just trying to better myself by seeking understanding. Nothing wrong with that, right?

Anyway, I'll keep this relatively short. I'm not a PC gamer, or rather not enough of one to really qualify myself as such. I hear the term "[insert game here] was dumbed down" used quite a bit by PC gamers. Given that the stereotypical - please note the term right there: stereotypical - PC gamer is a high-and-mighty "I'm smarter than you because I can multitask better" type of person (and I greatly apologize for that image), this led me to believe that the term meant [insert aforementioned game here] was essentially a "Complete Idiots" version... "for Dummies". As a console gamer, I'm sure most can understand why I'd be upset. However, many people like to "kindly" inform me that my assertions are unfounded, downright incorrect even.

So, here's my question: WHAT THE FUCK DO PEOPLE MEAN WHEN THEY SAY SOMETHING WAS "DUMBED DOWN"?!

 

[Innegativeion]

People don't like different, and therefor it is bad.

Granted, it is a case by case basis, and sometimes the quality of games WILL suffer from transitioning between platforms. This is true of console ---> PC transitions too, however.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

Dumbing something down just means that the developers know that most people don't want to use their brains as much when they're trying to have fun, so they've streamlined all the controls and gameplay elements to require as little thought as possible. The good news is that you can still do tactical stuff, just not with a bunch of fancy buttons.

 

[The Grim Ace]

In the technical sense it's designing a game around a much smaller set of buttons than what one can get on a PC. In the more realistic sense it's developers being careless and calling a lack of polish being dumbed down since the stereotype is every single PC is a perfect example of what gaming really is.

[small]then again, I gave up on consoles a while ago since the PC has been so nice and convenient, maybe it is perfect? :/[/small]

 

[StriderShinryu]

I hate the term even if I get the concept. It really just seems such a lazy way to interpret things, and it's far too often a shifting of blame. It's not the fault of my Xbox, your Xbox or anyone else's Xbox if a developer decides to "dumb things down" in relation to a game for the Xbox or a port/multi version. That's the fault of a lazy developer.

It's come up again in relation to the new Duke game. Sorry, but more than 2 weapon systems, complex controls, etc. have been done on the Xbox before. If a developer decides to go with a 2 weapon limit and somewhat simplified controls that's the fault of the developer.

 

[Continuity]

Hang on, hang on, hang on... I'm just trying to better myself by seeking understanding. Nothing wrong with that, right?

Anyway, I'll keep this relatively short. I'm not a PC gamer, or rather not enough of one to really qualify myself as such. I hear the term "[insert game here] was dumbed down" used quite a bit by PC gamers. Given that the stereotypical - please note the term right there: stereotypical - PC gamer is a high-and-mighty "I'm smarter than you because I can multitask better" type of person (and I greatly apologize for that image), this led me to believe that the term meant [insert aforementioned game here] was essentially a "Complete Idiots" version... "for Dummies". As a console gamer, I'm sure most can understand why I'd be upset. However, many people like to "kindly" inform me that my assertions are unfounded, downright incorrect even.

So, here's my question: WHAT THE FUCK DO PEOPLE MEAN WHEN THEY SAY SOMETHING WAS "DUMBED DOWN"?!

They mean the interface or control have been simplified. Thats it. In some cases it might also mean that certain content was removed or that the more detailed/complex elements were de-emphasized in favour of action.

To dumb down means to simplify.

 

[SageRuffin]

Wow... I'm already getting 3 different answers for this:

- Innegativeion [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.289638.11483095] says that the phrase means that "different = bad"
- SirBryghtside [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.289638.11483104] says that it's simply "less numbers".
- Daaaah Whoosh [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.289638.11483147] basically reaffirms my suspicions that the term refers to a "complete idiots" version of whatever came before it.

This is making me even more confused than I already was.

Addendum: This post was made when there was only 3 responses.

 

[Inkidu]

Dumbing something down just means that the developers know that most people don't want to use their brains as much when they're trying to have fun, so they've streamlined all the controls and gameplay elements to require as little thought as possible. The good news is that you can still do tactical stuff, just not with a bunch of fancy buttons.

This isn't against you or anything, but that's blatantly unfair and biased of developers. Just because we play a console doesn't mean we suddenly become captain idiot. Hell, Dragon Age: Origins would have created an entirely different game if they hadn't done over the shoulder for consoles. What? We can't handle isometric gameplay? No, If you use radial menus good stuff happens. Dragon Age: Origins would have been just as possible on console as PC. It was some dumb preconceived stereotypical notion.

 

[Ian Nelson]

Even though an Xbox is a powerful machine, compared to a state of the art gaming computer it's a piece of shit. Games are "dumbed down" or reduced in quality for this reason.

And yes, it is a very common stereotype that PC gamers hold themselves higher because they often don't want to expect they paid up to 8 times as much for their gaming machine, get less games, less support by designers, and are (in some opinions) on a dieing platform. I think they find convenience as a pitiable attribute.

 

[Zhukov]

Well, to be fair, some games do actually get simplified in order to accommodate the console control scheme and perceived (I said perceived, don't kill me) tastes of console owners.

A prime example would be Deus Ex: Invisible War.

However, for the most part it's just a case of people bitching. Any time something, anything, changes, someone somewhere will be pissed off about it. And some of those someones will post about it on the internet.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

I don't think blame should necessarily be put on consoles but more-so a shift in the gaming demographic. I believe a much larger portion of the gamer demographic prefers games to have less depth than say a hardcore gamer. I'm pretty much a pure console gamer and I hate the dumbing down of games as well; I hate shooters with health regen, 1 button nading and knifing (you should have to switch from your gun to your nade or knife), there's no leaning in FPSs anymore, etc. If the gaming demographic was the same as 10 years ago, then a game like Vanquish would be selling millions of copies during the 1st week instead of COD.

 

[nexekho]

TDU2 is a great example of a game being dumbed down not entirely for consoles but for the average console gamer. The physics were rewritten to be basically a Need for Speed clone, all of the realism disappeared and then many of the PC-specific features like head tracking, adjustable ride position, analogue clutch and so on were thrown out for no real reason other than they wouldn't be used on consoles.

 

[Luthir Fontaine]

PC gamers who say they want to use more of their brain can come over here

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/

I recommend victoria 2-its awsome, EU3-is less complex but still fun, sword of stars- has a changing tech tree which makes every game different, and if you can get a hold of it Crusader Kings makes you really care about your ruler.

 

[Mallefunction]

It's ultimately when developers have move from having a whole keyboard and mouse to just a single controller with 16 buttons. It's considered 'dumbed-down' because 16 buttons means that fewer combinations and hot-keys can be made, making the game more 'simple'.

Personally, I hate the phrase because it implies that people who use consoles are somehow the cavemen of gamers. I like have a controller and not a mouse and keyboard. Doesn't mean I can't use them, I just don't like to :3

 

[TheIronRuler]

Hang on, hang on, hang on... I'm just trying to better myself by seeking understanding. Nothing wrong with that, right?

Anyway, I'll keep this relatively short. I'm not a PC gamer, or rather not enough of one to really qualify myself as such. I hear the term "[insert game here] was dumbed down" used quite a bit by PC gamers. Given that the stereotypical - please note the term right there: stereotypical - PC gamer is a high-and-mighty "I'm smarter than you because I can multitask better" type of person (and I greatly apologize for that image), this led me to believe that the term meant [insert aforementioned game here] was essentially a "Complete Idiots" version... "for Dummies". As a console gamer, I'm sure most can understand why I'd be upset. However, many people like to "kindly" inform me that my assertions are unfounded, downright incorrect even.

So, here's my question: WHAT THE FUCK DO PEOPLE MEAN WHEN THEY SAY SOMETHING WAS "DUMBED DOWN"?!

Key binding is key here.
You know that you have a heavy attack, light attack, jump and grab for GoW, but for Crysis 1 you have at least 19 different key bindings of walking, suit powers and weapons.
Damn, 'The Witcher 2' made a wheel instead of key binding because there was a RIDICULOUS amount of items to bind (Signs, Items, swords, meditation - amounts to about 14), so they used a 'wheel' instead that you choose while you slow down time, eh - pause the game.
The aspect of graphics is also crucial. Take the example of Crysis 2, PC gamers thought that it would be the second coming of Christ, and it would be depicted in the game more realistically than real life. But the game was for consoles(Xbox?), therefore the minimum requirements were considerably lower than expected.
I worse cases they might even REMOVE content because there aren't enough damn keys on the Xbox, (While on the PC you have a KEYboard) or simplify it.\

It's ultimately when developers have move from having a whole keyboard and mouse to just a single controller with 16 buttons. It's considered 'dumbed-down' because 16 buttons means that fewer combinations and hot-keys can be made, making the game more 'simple'.

Personally, I hate the phrase because it implies that people who use consoles are somehow the cavemen of gamers. I like have a controller and not a mouse and keyboard. Doesn't mean I can't use them, I just don't like to :3

Don't laugh!
I play these games!
I have all of EU3 expansions, and Victoria 2! I love hardcore strategy and making the dutch supreme rulers of the world...
So don't be an ass, there are people that play these games.

 

[Waaghpowa]

Wow... I'm already getting 3 different answers for this:

- Innegativeion [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.289638.11483095] says that the phrase means that "different = bad"
- SirBryghtside [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.289638.11483104] says that it's simply "less numbers".
- Daaaah Whoosh [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.289638.11483147] basically reaffirms my suspicions that the term refers to a "complete idiots" version of whatever came before it.

This is making me even more confused than I already was.

Addendum: This post was made when there was only 3 responses.

Dumbing down, though the term is a rather poor way of describing it, isn't about intelligence. In most cases it's simplifying a control scheme or mechanic that was otherwise difficult or unpolished. Though in some situations, I like to use DA2 as an example, removing elements to simplifying it qualifies as "Dumbing down". It isn't necessarily a good thing, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing either. It's up to developers to do things right, which in my experience, doesn't happen often.

 

[andreas3K]

"Dumbed down" basically means it's simplified. This has nothing to do with the consoles themselves, it's more to do with trying to make the game more accessible and get as many people as possible to buy it to make more money.

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

If you would like a concrete example of this phenomenon, look at the original Deus Ex. Now look at Deus Ex: Invisible War, aka, the shit one. It wasn't a horrible game by any stretch of the imagination mind you, but even the most jaded observer had a hard time explaining away design decisions like "everything uses universal 'bullshit science we whipped up to explain this stupid stupid concept' ammo", which makes a certain sort of sense when one understands that "ammo" doesn't actually mean ammunition (like in Mass Effect 2), but in this case literally meant that your rocket launcher, pistol, and hand crossbow all drew from the exact same pool, which was frankly bullshit.

The list goes on - the X-Box had shitty texture memory limitations so the PC version looked like crap too because they didn't bother upscaling them, the interface was horribly clunky and obviously "consolified" and had no place being in a PC release, especially in a sequel to Deus Ex where the menus were actually part of your character, and everything was less complex, smaller, simplified, often to the point of being insulting (especially that ammo business). The end result barely resembled the complex masterpiece that was the original game, and their quest for greater "accessibility" only insulted the intelligence of people on consoles while simultaneously ruining the experience for fans of the original.

So when we say something was "dumbed down", we're not necessarily implying that we think you are dumb, but that developers ofttimes seem to believe that judging by their design decisions with sequels/ports primarily developed for a console market, or we're (quite rightly) blaming the hardware limitations of consoles and the obvious apathy towards the PC for why our version ends up sucking.


It's a little hard not to resent consoles somewhat when the sequel to an excellent PC exclusive ends up being a shitty and extremely obvious port with most of what we liked about it stripped out in the name of "accessibility", but it isn't the machine's fault, it's lazy developers chasing after a bigger potential payday at the expense of their dedicated fans (who generally stop being their fans once that happens).

 

[Kotep]

Consoles have a different control scheme that doesn't lend itself to as many different settings as a PC control scheme, and their hardware capabilities are fairly limited.

Normally the implication is that they're being dumbed down for the console audience, which is percieved to be mainly younger, more inexperienced gamers who haven't played older games considered classics by the PC gaming community.

 

[Wolfram23]

I think it's really a game by game situation. One could argue that Crysis 2 was dumbed down for consoles, because they had to make levels smaller/less open since consoles don't have enough power and RAM to load up great big open and sprawling levels.

One could then argue Dragon Age 2 was "dumbed down" because they removed some things to streamline the game. I think that while they did do that, I don't think it had anything to do with consoles exclusively.

In FPS games, the most common complaint is auto aim getting added to console versions.

The problem sort of exists in reverse when you get a console game ported to PCs. Mass Effect 1, for instance, looks like shit on my PC. There's no real graphic options. Same goes for Transformers: WfC although it looks better, but has a sever corridor syndrom going on. I just played Dead Space 2 on PC because there was a sale ($20!) and while it looked nice, it had some wierd interface issues and obviously was made to work with the console hardware limitations, because it could run well over 100fps - but then Vsync limited it to 30fps! 30! Consoles run at 30 to keep resources open and reduce graphic power and stuttering, but for PCs there's no reason to not vsync at 60.

So... yeah it's a variety of things. Some things are small and not very important, but sometimes it makes PC versions of games pretty bad.