By Andreas Gkoumplias,
One of the most important aspects that any proper game developer tries to keep in mind, when creating a new game or when pushing updates to an already existing, title is how to keep the players interested and most of the times satisfied. No matter how big or how small an update may seem, it serves a specific purpose; keeping the game fresh and keeping the aforementioned player base interested. In today’s article we’re going to be going over the aspect of versatility and how it greatly affects both the players and the games themselves.
With more and more games coming out, it really is a challenge to keep the games fresh and up to date, so as to attract new people to play them. There are two major game categories to keep in mind; story based games, which are mostly single player games that come out as a finalized product and rarely get updates to gameplay/characters/story, aside from small tweaks to help keep the game running smoothly and RPGs (Role Play Games), which are mainly online and get updated frequently with new content. A good example of the first category would be the Assassin’s Creed series, where each game comes out as the final product, only to be followed a bit later by a second game with improved graphics, controls, story etc. A good example of the second category would be League of Legends, a multiplayer online RPG, that is out for a good decade and keeps getting updated with new content regularly.
In games like League, versatility always has been and always will be the defining factor to the game’s success. Every playable character gets their turn in the spotlight at different times around the year or around the game’s season. Certain classes/certain play styles fall into the ‘’meta’’ (the situation where some characters are favored more than others) and some other fall out of it giving everyone a chance on the spotlight and keeping all players interested and satisfied. Being able to enjoy your favorite character when he is getting a turn at the spotlight is very fun, and so is learning new characters and adapting to their playstyle. And by keeping the spotlight wheel turning, game developers keep on building on that chain and keep on improving the same game in different ways.
Another important aspect of versatility in video games is different game modes within the same game. All of us want to win, or at least aim to do our very best when playing video games right? Competitiveness is fun and enjoyable but sometimes being able to play your favorite video game without worrying about the rank you’re going to finish at the end of the season can be just as enjoyable. Different maps, modes with different rules, seasonal events (Christmas, Easter, summer) etc can definitely keep players interested and engaged, because creating a relaxing environment is just as important.
At the end of the day, video games are all about having fun, either that’s alone or with your friends. The aspect of versatility, and in general, being able to enjoy different versions/ adapt to different situations inside the game you loved is one of the most important ones and an indispensable cog that keeps the machine running. And it also is the reason why so many games have existed for over a decade while maintaining steady (if not rising) numbers regarding their player base.
References
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The supposed “versatility” of computer role-playing games. lateblt.livejournal.com. Available here
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Versatility, Adaptability and Fallability. gamedeveloper.com. Available here
