Competing at 640 x 400

[SSH]

I'd also like to point out that anyone playing games on their TV with an Xbox, PS2, Cube etc. is only getting 720x480 pixels (in the US anyway)

So 640x400 ain't so bad!

[Hollister Man]

You know, I don't think Adventure Games can compete in 3d, its just too hard to be constrained to a tiny 'viewport' into a world where you're supposed to be able to do anything.  When virtual reality or holography becomes more 'real' I think adventures will be back in the mix, rather than endless shooters.  When you can turn your head without pressing buttons, or reach out and pull a lever or pick up a rock, I think it will be easier.  Its hard to know where to look in 3d games, that's why so many shooters are in tunnels, its only 'forward' or 'backward.'

[Snarky]

The later Tex Murphy games (Under a Killing Moon, The Pandora Directive, Overseer) did well enough in 3D.

I seem to remember that searching around for objects was a lot more fun than traditional pixel-hunting.

[BMF-Inc]

Here is my take on the situation...If a game can create the atmosphere and emotions that they wish to create, they have achieved their goal. With better graphics we can create a better form of atmosphere and realism that can help invoke our emotions. Does it matter if it's resoloution is better? does it matter if it does not have as great of graphics as the state of the art games? no...it needs to do what it needs to, in order to succeed. It needs to create a unique experience...create a unique atmosphere, and touch the gamer as best as possible with laughter, joy, sorrow and the like. frankly, I no longer care about if it can compete with other genres...that is apples to oranges....I don't care if the mainstream succeed anymore...for there are talented people out there who do not care either and just produce their works because they want to and enjoy doing it.....of course I could be so clearly talking off topic here but who knows.

[Snarky]

Personally, I'd much rather play a cool adventure game in 320x200 than a derivative shooter in 1280x1024, giga-polygon 3D. But I am not your average gamer, and neither are most of you, I'd bet.

The question isn't whether 800x600 (or more) resolution graphics would significantly improve an adventure game. The question is whether lower resolutions is a serious handicap in the marketplace.

My considered opinion is no, it is not. It would be if everything else was set for adventure games to hit the top-ten bestseller lists. However, adventure games do not compete on that level any more. A traditional 2D point-and-click adventure is not going to be a blockbuster title, whether the resolution is 640x400 or 800x600.

The people who are going to buy this game aren't going to come across the box in Electronics Boutique, check out the specs and then buy it only if the resolution exceeds 640x480. They're going to find out about it on the internet or through word of mouth, and buy it because the game sounds fun and looks polished enough to pay for. Would it look more polished in 800x600, and enough so that more people would buy it? Not necessarily. The graphics would be more detailed, but that also means it would take more work to get them up to the same level.

[Redwall]

Actually, a lot of casual gamers* play adventures and buy them by just browsing... though they wouldn't care about the resolution, so your argument is still valid.

*i.e. Girls

[Gilbert]

The later Mean Street games were really good games, but can do MUCH better in graphics and control if they're not of that crap 3D engine and adopt some traditional point & click adventure interface.

[Snarky]

Actually, a lot of casual gamers* play adventures and buy them by just browsing

In other words, "find out about it on the internet ".

[Redwall]

No, I meant just browsing in stores... all the crap The Adventure Company puts out, for instance.

[Snarky]

Sorry, cultural blindness. It didn't occur to me that "browsing" had a non-Internet meaning. Though I doubt Al Emmo will be for sale in actual stores, so it doesn't really apply.

[MillsJROSS]

If the game isn't going to appear in stores, then for the most part the resolution doesn't matter too much. They're not trying to attract people who don't usually buy into the genre. A great majority of their sales will be from the "unusual" gamers, anyway.

Though Al Emmo is the reason this topic started, we can't just discount browsing in stores. The question is merely whether 640x400 is a sellable game, whether it's associated with Al Emmo or not, is of no consequence. There are many gamers who do browse, and while admittedly, The Adventure Company doesn't put out the best games, they're usually lower priced, and have good enough graphics to appeal to those who do browse.

Would 640x400 sell in an atmosphere like EB (or wherever you go for your games)? It's really all dependant on price. If you're charging what all the big game corporations are charging for their new games (about 40-50+ dollars US)...then your profit, if it can be called that, won't amount to much...it probably will have an outcome of debt. If you charge a reasonsble price like maybe 10-20 dollars, than you might be able to make a profit.

A lot of the big corporations will spend a lot of money on advertising...a lot! One good thing about adventure games, is that news spreads quickly when a game is comming out (This is true for FPS and other genres, too, but since they have many more games comming out, it's more an advertising competition than the adventure game market). So a game already doesn't have to spend as much money on advertising. Using 640x400 graphics, they probably won't have to pay out their asses for the graphics...the fee will still be modest, but not nearly as much. So they've minimized their costs.

If they are smart with how much money goes into the game, and selling the game, then I do believe that 640x400 resolution will make a profit. Of course, this is all under the assumption that the game is actually good, and the graphics aren't too shabby.

-MillsJROSS

[SSH]

One solution would be to have a higher res video cutscene intro (done outside of AGS) that would let you put a bigger number on the box 

[Pelican]

Personally I don't really read the specs of a game. I mean I skim over them to make sure the game will run on my computer, but it doesn't really influence my choice of games. Most of my adventure game purchases are influenced by adventuregamers reviews etc. I also read user reviews at gamefaqs. One with a low score, and one with a high score, so I can get a good overview of the game. Despite this, I still buy an average of a game a week - and I wonder where my student loan goes?