The “Paradox” of Strategy computer games in 2016 and beyond

https://medium.com/simone-brunozzi/the-paradox-of-strategy-computer-games-in-2016-and-beyond-e4f96b45d74d#.pvfg7hvm3

by simonebrunozzi • 10 years ago

3 1 10 years ago

psgbg• 10 years ago

I was reading the article and I consider it interesting.As a fan of Paradox myself I might love some of it but some parts seem very unlikely.

First let me address the part of education platform. We all know what are/were educational games and for most part they are bad. The most difficult problem is Game Literacy, basically to achieve the best effect the game should be fun and the mechanics adequate to the problem and yet make the players understand it. Sadly most of the people have a limited level of knowledge of game "languages" (probably the most easy are side scrollers, puzzle games, maybe sports). So you have or a "foul proof mechanics" aka (boring point and click interactive movie) or do you teach them how to play (and that takes time!).

Think that know how to play a game is essentially a skill, and gamers will fly way ahead of non-gamers. To know common mechanics (for example sport rules) can give huge advantages to some people, and will crush the expectations of people that is not interested or slow to learn games. There are gamers that have the equivalent literacy of a pro, and people with the level of kinder garden kids (across all the school years!!) and you have to leverage that. Later the platform, you can't assume a platform unless you provide it!!!.

I recommend This video about game literacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8np2I_gQgcY

In second place, the AI is mod-able enough to make me think unthinkable it will be open sourced. It would be great if the configuration is open sourced. Imagine have a version controlled configuration, it could be flavoured and a fine tuned by the best of the players/modders in a centralized way (openTTD has something like that!!!!) and I'm not talking about Steamworkshop, I mean something better, internally reviewed. As example one thing that the Paradox AI in EU4 does bad is the economy, there are plenty of buildings that are built in a nonsensical way, like markets in provinces with bad trade values, or optimizing the slots available wrong, but that can be MODDED.

Now imagine to have an IN GAME AI configuration "market", all reviewed (and properly signed/checksumed for Ironman-achievements enabled games), and other just to play, with scores and all. Even they could release an AI development kit or something, if the configuration thing it's not enough.

For the last part, I don't buy it. Doesn't appeal to me.

The “Paradox” of Strategy computer games in 2016 and beyond

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