What makes a game mainstream?
- Thread starter Layzor
- Start date
The game is basically based on a interesting background story, good graphics, and feels good and all, but the gameplay itself is pretty simple and straightforward. Most of the gamers nowadays don't seem to be able to cope with anything even a bit complicated thing so the games are made overly simple and bland and this might annoy the hardcore gamers at times.
A good example is Fallout 3 which has gained a lot of popularity for being 3D game and having the fascinating Fallout atmosphere in it. But having played a lot of the earlier Fallouts, Fallout 3 feels way too simplified and restricted.
A good example is Fallout 3 which has gained a lot of popularity for being 3D game and having the fascinating Fallout atmosphere in it. But having played a lot of the earlier Fallouts, Fallout 3 feels way too simplified and restricted.
See... I didn't feel restricted by Fallout 3. I guess it was that whole 3rd dimension thing.
I know I'll probably come off as bitter, but when I hear a game being called "mainstream" I can't help but think of it as a negative term. It's this whole "popular is bad" nonsense... It doesn't make sense. It should mean that the game has become so popular that nearly everyone plays or has played it. I suppose this would make a few people upset since the game is appealing to a larger crowd, they can no longer pretend that they are special.
Yeah... shit ... came off as bitter.
I know I'll probably come off as bitter, but when I hear a game being called "mainstream" I can't help but think of it as a negative term. It's this whole "popular is bad" nonsense... It doesn't make sense. It should mean that the game has become so popular that nearly everyone plays or has played it. I suppose this would make a few people upset since the game is appealing to a larger crowd, they can no longer pretend that they are special.
Yeah... shit ... came off as bitter.
Mainstream just means the stuff that appeals to people in general instead of just appealing to a small group. Gamers used to think they knew what this meant. Then Popcap and Nintendo blew this notion out of the water when they showed that gamers were actually a small group with eccentric tastes. The old mainstream was Halo and Grand Theft Auto. The new mainstream is Wii Sports and Bejeweled.
And Arach is right that mainstream games are more straightforward. They have to be because the larger group they appeal to doesn't understand the complexities of a lot of modern video games, but would probably be at home with some of the games that gamers call "classics" like Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda.
But by and large people don't try to define mainstream and just assume that everybody else already knows what it is.
And Arach is right that mainstream games are more straightforward. They have to be because the larger group they appeal to doesn't understand the complexities of a lot of modern video games, but would probably be at home with some of the games that gamers call "classics" like Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda.
But by and large people don't try to define mainstream and just assume that everybody else already knows what it is.
A game is mainstream when it makes it's way into advertisements and mediums that have little or nothing to do with the game itself, other than to suck money from consumers, such as Halo 3 Game Fuel, Gears of War Lancer replicas, keychains, t-shirts, etc etc etc etc.
Power Armoured space marines, predictable plot, made by a big name company.
And don't forget... Garunteed fanboy magnetisem.
And don't forget... Garunteed fanboy magnetisem.
I get your point but an alternative reason for why people dislike mainstream is the feeling that people are like sheep and just get something because it's popular or "cool" as opposed to actually wanting it.Adfest said:
A good example is the band 'System Of A Down'. At one point (back when I was in high school) everyone I knew seemed to love the band, but when you asked what their favourite song was they all cry out "Chop Suey", why? because that's the song played over and over on the music channels at the time. They didn't know any of the bands stuff apart from that which is fed to them by the media.
So those who actually buy the bands' albums and appreciate the music would feel annoyed when a bunch of people who clearly don't and just want to be "cool" claim to be the number 1 fan.
That's a sign that it's mainstream. But if Pepsi made a Space Giraffe themed soft drink the game still wouldn't be any more mainstream than it is right now. But they wouldn't because the idea is to use the game's popularity to make their product sell better.CaptainEgypt said:
I don't think fanboys have anything to do with mainstream. Earthbound has a dedicated and passionate fanbase in America where one of the three games has been released and it is generally not known about by anyone outside of this little circle of a few million people we call hardcore gamers. On the other hand the bejeweled fan club [http://www.fanpop.com/spots/bejeweled] has 3 members. Yet it's a game that has been played by seemingly everybody.
To me, a mainstream game is one that most people are aware of whether they are gamers or not. It doesn't have to be a good game to qualify as mainstream. Halo is mainstream. Most gamers have played it or know of it, and many with no interest in gaming have at least heard of it.
IMO, 'mainstream' means it applies to the largest group of people possible.
For example: songs are mainstream when they start to sound more 'generalized'. This is because they have to tailor to their mass audience, as opposed to a small, specialized group. This is only really detestable really if the band -used- to be alternative. This would be considered 'selling-out'.
For games, it's a similar idea, except without the sell-out bit. A mainstream game simply applies to more individuals. Thus, probably the most mainstream game I can think of is Wii-sports or Wii-fit. There's no doubt about it: Nintendo is making a -killing- because there are so many mainstream ones (throw in the DS while you're at it). Shean-White Snowboarding is another example. Despite having negative reviews, it made -huge amounts- of money b/c it tailored to mainstream-gamers' interests (smart business move).
Other examples (but to a -much- lesser degree than previously mentioned ones), are Prince of Persia 4, Fable 2, and to an even lesser extent, Persona 4 (in comparison to older SMT games)
For example: songs are mainstream when they start to sound more 'generalized'. This is because they have to tailor to their mass audience, as opposed to a small, specialized group. This is only really detestable really if the band -used- to be alternative. This would be considered 'selling-out'.
For games, it's a similar idea, except without the sell-out bit. A mainstream game simply applies to more individuals. Thus, probably the most mainstream game I can think of is Wii-sports or Wii-fit. There's no doubt about it: Nintendo is making a -killing- because there are so many mainstream ones (throw in the DS while you're at it). Shean-White Snowboarding is another example. Despite having negative reviews, it made -huge amounts- of money b/c it tailored to mainstream-gamers' interests (smart business move).
Other examples (but to a -much- lesser degree than previously mentioned ones), are Prince of Persia 4, Fable 2, and to an even lesser extent, Persona 4 (in comparison to older SMT games)
Chop Suey was one of that albums best songs! I would have said Aerials or Deer Dance though.Machines Are Us said:
But yeah. I know what you mean, but it's never bothered me when people do that. I figure maybe they will actually try listening to some of the other good songs... just maybe.
As for mainstream video games, what do we have? GTA? Halo? Mario? What's not to love?
>_>
Okay, a lot, but the positive usually outweigh the negative.
It becomes popular. Any game thats popular is mainstream.
If Psychonauts had been popular, it would have been mainstream. We would have just ended up with Psychonaut clones instead of Halo clones.
If Psychonauts had been popular, it would have been mainstream. We would have just ended up with Psychonaut clones instead of Halo clones.
Indeed. Also, being mainstream certainly doesn't mean a game is bad. Just think of The Legend of Zelda.SomeBritishDude said:
