What video game genre do you feel struggles to make a impact in modern market?

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I dunno if the title makes sense to you but basically I want to know what type of video games that you wish people was more aware about and more open to trying. Sorry if I'm not being clear on the matter, I know what I want to say but making it sound proper is the problem I'm having. If it helps, just list a type of game you wish sold a lot better than it does or as much as other well known popular games. I'll be sure to add mentioned genre to a poll for a vote.

 

[Taleweaver]

Hard to say... With each game at least finding its niche, it sometimes feels like everyone is playing everything. This also goes for video games themselves: there are so much that are being released, who dares say that a game is actually unique?

So... With the risk of completely missing the ball, here are my picks:
-virtual board games. Yes, just about every popular board game has an app nowadays, but even so: it's as if I'm the only one playing them
-educational games. This isn't so much a genre in itself, but still: these games are either educational first and entertaining as an afterthought, or vice versa (where historical importance is lost on the audience, as they don't know historical background are real or fictional)
-vr games: they exist, but vr still need their true killer app that will get everyone to spend the money on it
-point n clicks. I'm not a fan myself (with a few exceptions), but the gene is still underrepresented.
-extreme sports: okay, ubisoft made steep... As about the only one in its gene in about a decade

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

-virtual board games. Yes, just about every popular board game has an app nowadays, but even so: it's as if I'm the only one playing them

I think one of the biggest issues with this particular genre gaining widespread popularity is that, for the PC market anyways, nearly every board game ever is already ported onto Tabletop Simulator, for free (not counting the $20 for the game). Even brand new physical board games are being plopped on there within weeks/months that they release IRL, ready to go and fully playable, so it becomes hard for big companies to make a virtual board game worth playing that's better than the $20 alternative. Ubisoft has been trying with things like UNO and Monopoly, but it doesn't really go too far for the most part (though I suppose it doesn't help that they're kinda shit games lol).

Other than that really, I think Taleweaver pretty much hit the nail on the head. It's hard to truly find a game genre that doesn't already have a widespread niche these days, even things like visual novels and simulator games and such are hitting modern markets no problem, whereas 20 years ago people probably wouldn't even look in their direction.

 

[Jack Daniels]

solve the mystery puzzle games like monkey island, board games but that's not really news since those games have thier limits long reached in being new and adding anything...

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

I think most genres either fall into a niche they can survive in or hit the mainstream. If not either of the two, then no one's likely making 'em. I'd say VR games are one of the few genres that are actively being developed without making much of a splash in the market. A lot of VR developers struggle to recuperate development costs, yet interest in VR still lingers and there are plenty of VR games currently in the works. I'd say that's a textbook example of a genre that's struggling to make an impact in the modern market. Partially has to do with poor VR hardware sales, too.

 

[Viri]

RTS

 

[FAST6191]

I said most of what I would in answer to this question in https://gbatemp.net/threads/a-favou...-consider-why-it-might-have-gone-away.501597/ the other week.

For the most part though single player games, and local co-op games.

 

[Sakitoshi]

racing games... no, not those, there are plenty of those.
I mean arcade racing games without anything weird or fantastic or nitro/turbo, just racing but without realistic physics, like the old need for speed 2 and 3. but I guess there are no games like that anymore so people don't try them because aren't new and shiny.

 

[Taleweaver]

I think one of the biggest issues with this particular genre gaining widespread popularity is that, for the PC market anyways, nearly every board game ever is already ported onto Tabletop Simulator, for free (not counting the $20 for the game). Even brand new physical board games are being plopped on there within weeks/months that they release IRL, ready to go and fully playable, so it becomes hard for big companies to make a virtual board game worth playing that's better than the $20 alternative. Ubisoft has been trying with things like UNO and Monopoly, but it doesn't really go too far for the most part (though I suppose it doesn't help that they're kinda shit games lol).

It might be an issue, but I'm not sure. As I've explained under the user submitted review, tabletop simulator has quite some...erm...oversights is perhaps the best way to describe it (I wouldn't say "problems" because it's sort of inherent to the design). TTS is a toolbox. You can play anything with it, but not really anything well. You are hardly (if at all) narrated. Heck...I just tried a couple board games I have, and could barely make out how to play them.
In my opinion, board game's main disadvantage is that they can't sell themselves in the first ten minutes like video games can. Video games fall in relatively defined categories, and can give the mechanics to you slowly while you learn them. For board games, you need at least a basic understanding of the rules to get started (which usually takes over ten minutes to begin with). And that's where TTS falls short: it's undoubtedly doable if you know a game, and have a bunch of friends to play it with. Using the interface is something you'll figure out on your own (through trial and error, I guess). However, the learning of the game is assumed done earlier. I'm not sure, but I think that's also why AAA-developers go with those evergreen games: everyone knows them and they're simple. That means programming an AI is easy and nobody complains (especially because there's so much luck involved).
On hindsight, I bought TTS for the wrong reasons. It won't help you to learn a game. At least not in the way that a few youtube videos and the rulebook can. But on the other hand: most board game apps I've played do facilitate that. Not just because they tend to have some sort of (in some cases: crude) AI that you can practice against, but also because it simply forbids you to make illegal moves and keeps scoring for you.
So as such, I can't really say in what degree TTS weighs down on board game popularity. It's sort of like saying that Mario maker caused players worldwide to abandon platformers (not exactly, but sort of).

RTS

Yeah...I knew someone would say that. It happened in FAST'S thread as well, which was kind of weird because humble bundle was selling a bundle with RTS'es at that very moment. Truth is that stardocks and petroglyph (which consists of former westwood studios employees) churn out RTS'es on a fairly regular basis, and they're not alone (I recently stumbled upon 'rusted warfare', which is thus far the best RTS I've played on a tablet).

 

[KingVamp]

Not really a genre itself, but the built your own robot and battle in an arena hasn't seem really caught on.

-educational games. This isn't so much a genre in itself, but still: these games are either educational first and entertaining as an afterthought, or vice versa (where historical importance is lost on the audience, as they don't know historical background are real or fictional)
-vr games: they exist, but vr still need their true killer app that will get everyone to spend the money on it
-point n clicks. I'm not a fan myself (with a few exceptions), but the gene is still underrepresented.

Educational games might be true for consoles. IDK about PC, tho.

I think VR "killer app" is just to have every game compatibly with it. Rather that be VR for all 3d games or theater mode for games that focus on the 2D plane. Of course hardware becoming stronger and cheaper helps with that.

I might be wrong, but it feels like PnC is stronger in Japan than here.

racing games... no, not those, there are plenty of those.
I mean arcade racing games without anything weird or fantastic or nitro/turbo, just racing but without realistic physics, like the old need for speed 2 and 3. but I guess there are no games like that anymore so people don't try them because aren't new and shiny.

Not sure how true this is, but I remember Wipeout Pulse and Redout which lead me to Formula Fusion.

 

[Sakitoshi]

Not sure how true this is, but I remember Wipeout Pulse and Redout which lead me to Formula Fusion.

maybe you missed the part were I said not "fantastic" and maybe I should have added without turbo mechanics too because no "nitro/turbo", "just racing" and giving nfs 2 and 3 as example wasn't clear enough.

Moto racer is another game that serves as example, it is an arcade racing game that tries to be as realistic as the arcade style allows it. yes, it has a turbo mechanic by doing wheelies, but in this game is like the equivalent of using your handbrake efficiently in the old need for speed games.

 

[KingVamp]

maybe you missed the part were I said not "fantastic" and maybe I should have added without turbo mechanics too because no "nitro/turbo", "just racing" and giving nfs 2 and 3 as example wasn't clear enough.

Moto racer is another game that serves as example, it is an arcade racing game that tries to be as realistic as the arcade style allows it. yes, it has a turbo mechanic by doing wheelies, but in this game is like the equivalent of using your handbrake efficiently in the old need for speed games.

No, I was just thinking of the closest games that fit your statement. Even your example, as you pointed out, doesn't exactly fit what you were saying. Honestly, this sounds really specific and restricting.

Maybe I misunderstood "racing games... no, not those, there are plenty of those.". Maybe you did mean games such as Project Cars and Forza.

 

[Sakitoshi]

No, I was just thinking of the closest games that fit your statement. Even your example, as you pointed out, doesn't exactly fit what you were saying. Honestly, this sounds really specific and restricting.

Maybe I misunderstood "racing games... no, not those, there are plenty of those.". Maybe you did mean games such as Project Cars and Forza.

well, yes. I admit that Formula Fusion, while being a wipeout clone, is as close as the kind of racing game I'm referring, but still pretty far away considering that is futuristic and has weapons.
also yes. with "racing games... no, not those, there are plenty of those." I was talking about simulators like project cars, forza and grand turismo, which is the current standard of what a regular racing game is and what people think when you say "racing game".

to clarify more what kind of racing game I try to describe I can also add san francisco rush to the list of examples.
you drive regular to sports cars in tracks that resemble real highways and there are no weapons of anything to help you have the edge other than your own driving skills, but that's about all the realism of the game. you can make jumps if you go fast enough but you need to be careful because your car can explode if you crash hard enough but you get respawned right away if that happens and continue racing like if nothing happened.

 

[matthi321]

turn based rpgs (not tactical) they are just to boring compared to action combat

 

[FAST6191]

Not really a genre itself, but the built your own robot and battle in an arena hasn't seem really caught on.

Are there any good ones?
The idea of giant robot fighting can safely be said to be a bit of me but every time I go looking I can never find anything as polished as even a mid tier call of duty clone.

 

[MeowMeowMeow]

solve the mystery puzzle games like monkey island, board games but that's not really news since those games have thier limits long reached in being new and adding anything...

Point and click.


Also some novels and sport games

 

[Jack Daniels]

Point and click.


Also some novels and sport games

point 'n click's what pencil kids is, now there should be more to it, that's not what monkey island is

 

[MeowMeowMeow]

point 'n click's what pencil kids is, now there should be more to it, that's not what monkey island is

What are you talking about? Point and click is the name of the genre. Like indiana jones and broken sword are also point-and-click games.

 

[Jack Daniels]

What are you talking about? Point and click is the name of the genre. Like indiana jones and broken sword are also point-and-click games.

it's part of the game yes, and part of these special games are called puzzle as is it called mistery games. if you'd reed the official manual of these games you'd seen all are applyable.
pure Point and click is freddy fish, you click on a spot and there's a melody or something happening.
puzzle means there's more then just click response, there's need for a working thinking brain too.
mystery meanse there's a story to go through in these games.
so calling it plain point and click is not gonno be enough...

 

[KingVamp]

Are there any good ones?
The idea of giant robot fighting can safely be said to be a bit of me but every time I go looking I can never find anything as polished as even a mid tier call of duty clone.

Well, the latest one I can think of is Little Battle Experience. Rather that is good or not, is up to you.
Wish Custom Robo would just make a comeback already.

Speaking of turn-based, another Advance Wars would be nice too.