Veteran designer and teacher Ernest Adams has been discussing the return of the adventure game in
his latest Gamasutra column, suggesting that those who say it's "on the point of extinction" are wrong.
As Adams notes, thanks to the diversification of the game market into all kinds of subcategories: "Adventure games will never again be the dominant genre they once were, but they have a well-established market niche."
In addition: "The overall number of people who play them is rising, thanks to the recent arrival of large numbers of female and casual players."
Pointing back to
his 1999 column on Gamasutra called 'It's Time to Bring Back Adventure Games', Adams interestingly commented at that time: "There's still a market for the slower-paced game whose challenge is primarily mental. Filled with clever brainteasers and visual delights, adventure games were always popular with women."
As the former EA designer points out: "And although more women are using computers and playing games than ever before, in terms of providing entertainment that many women like, I think the industry has actually slipped backwards a bit."
Adams signals in his conclusion: "Adventure games have found their niche... As long as there are people who want to play adventure games, there will be people who want to make them. And we'll still find ways to improve them."
You can now read the
full Gamasutra feature on the subject, including lots more discussion about how adventure games have -- and haven't -- improved over the last few years.
