Non-Violent, Cooperative Games? 329
jandersen writes "While I generally don't play computer games, I do occasionally play games like Crossfire or The Mana World, because they have more of a story line and allow you to go at your own pace. What I don't care much about, though, is that they are still focused on killing monsters and amassing wealth, and it gets very tedious after a while. Are there really no games where the goal isn't so much about increasing your own power and defeating others, but where you instead grow by doing things that benefit others, where enemies shouldn't be killed out of hand, but befriended; where learning, teaching, research and social skills are more important than killing and conquering? Would people be interested in a game of that nature?"
SimCity (Score:5, Insightful)
Get a PS3... (Score:4, Insightful)
... then get Little Big Planet [littlebigplanet.com]
Have fun.
Non fighting, non loot games... (Score:5, Insightful)
"I don't care much about, though, is that they are still focused on killing monsters and amassing wealth, and it gets very tedious after a while. Are there really no games where the goal isn't so much about increasing your own power and defeating others, but where you instead grow by doing things that benefit others, where enemies shouldn't be killed out of hand, but befriended; where learning, teaching, research and social skills are more important than killing and conquering?"
The truth is not enough is known to make such a game, not only that it is subject to aesthetic prejudices and what not. I would imagine text adventures would fall into the realm you're looking for... any GUI based game needs all the bells and whistles to be compelling to an audience.
If the market wanted such games it would demand them and pay for them, you are in an extreme minority IMHO.
The technology is not there yet to do "social" games, the AI and interfaces are pretty primitive and no computer NPC's would be believable, hell games have a hard enough time portraying well voice acted computer animated characters with gusto... the truth is what the OP wants in the story is not technically within our means, and most "help each other games" are subject to the same kind of politics and BS and those who have free time vs those who don't (disproportionately kids, teens or idiots).
Finally.. go do good deeds in the real world, that is what the real world is for. Games are an escape from real life, that is what they are supposed to be - fantasy and wish fulfillment.
The point of games is to do what is entertaining. Almost all videogames have elements of competition in them, or competition against the computer.
Re:You can do that in regular games (Score:5, Insightful)
much like the real world, it won't get you very far.
Part of the allure of MMORPGs is the accumulation of wealth and the feeling of dominance and superiority. Most of the older gamers that feel the need to create a sense of community, or contribute to a common goal are usually doing so within a guild/group, and competing with other groups. This appeals to another part of the human psyche, the need to establish an out-group, and to be better than the opposition!
There are games for younger children which don't incorporate violence, and encourage good skills - but they're marketed to parents, not to children, and usually aren't that much fun.
So, whether or not there is a market for such games, I don't know. But I do get the sense that the target audience doesn't have the buying power, and the people who would purchase these games are already purchasing other educational and boring games.
So, if you're not a child, why would you want to immerse yourself in a world where you help people? If you are that sort of person, you probably realize that your time would be better spent actually helping people in real life. And if helping is really that important to you... well, you're probably not playing videogames in your spare time, anyways.
Re:You haven't looked too hard at both FPS genres. (Score:4, Insightful)
Games such as Dark Messiah and Deus Ex ( and sequels ) is a help-people type of game (if you want to)
I think the OP's point is that even games like Deus Ex cannot be played in a completely peaceful way. While DX did give you ways to end many situations peacefully, you would be quite hard-pressed to not commit any acts of violence through the entire game. I've gone through without a single kill (except those required by the story), but I don't think it's possible not to *attack* at all.
Re:Get a PS3... (Score:4, Insightful)
With the much-lauded processing power of the PS3 they could have at least spread the "install" across the games' opening cut-scenes. One main purpose of consoles is to eliminate the sluggishness of the PC world.
Having a PS3 is kind of like having a Mac: all the inconvenience of PC sluggishness with the made-purposely-difficult restrictions of unofficial hardware use(e.g. installing an alternate operating system).
Re:LEGO games! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Get a PS3... (Score:1, Insightful)
Right, because a different evil absolves the original evil. To quote from another comment [slashdot.org]:
Sorry, american politics have two parties. The right wing party, and the other right wing party (which is slightly different, but still right wing).
Which means that the dumb ideas of one party are OK, because the other party has basically the same dumb ideas?
Sony is evil, Apple is evil, Google is evil. But they're all evil in different ways and the fact that they're all evil doesn't absolve the others from being evil.
Although, really, I'd love to know in what universe Apple is as bad as Sony. Sure, both are restrictive with "their" hardware platforms, but if you compare getting a game published on a Sony platform with getting an app published on the Apple App Store, it's no comparison. Apple even offers DRM-free music through their store - there's NO DRM-free content on a Sony console. Hell, they even DRM your SAVE GAMES on their consoles!
Re:Get a PS3... (Score:5, Insightful)
Having spent quite a few hours playing LBP with 4 players I can straight off say that your post is completely off base. The one point you did get is the control scheme, it is certainly flaky, and could use a bit of work.
There is very little competitive content, the only actual competition going on is a race to see who can get the most points. The reward is a little trophy over your head in the last 5 seconds of the match. That said, it is without argument to your advantage to help the other players out. Not only does letting them die waste lives from the general pool, but also there are more than a few points where the camera will decide to focus on the lagging player, killing anyone who gets too far by off screen timer.
Then there is the killing monsters thing. There are maybe 20 or 30 killable monsters in the game, usually used to give you a moving obstacle that you can use as a platform to jump higher. These "monsters" look like something you'd put together from the spare parts in a kid's toy-box, which is quite obviously the theme they were going for in this game.
So yes, while the game does not quite meet the qualifications the article stated, it is certainly a lot more cooperative than what you described. As for obligatory "I'm with the in group" quip. I am a Slashdotter, I care about freedom, and I own a PS3. Just because a company is willing to take steps to protect their investments, does not mean I should deprive myself of enjoyment on the argument that it might, in some roundabout way, reduce the freedoms that everyone enjoys. If you do not want Sony to own your levels, don't post any, or play offline. Magically, the problem goes away. And before you go off on the tried and true, "You're a fanboy, you wouldn't understand." I own every single current gen console, with plenty of games for each, and I do most of my gaming on my PC. I also work for a company with some stake in the 360, so if anything I would be rooting for it.
Re:Get a PS3... (Score:3, Insightful)
Out of curiosity, what's the big deal with DRM on consoles? Is it just that you can't backup your own games? That is an annoyance, but you know what people do when they can copy games. I'm with sony on that one, unless there's a bigger problem with DRM that I'm unaware of (entirely possible.)
Re:Settlers of Catan (Score:1, Insightful)
http://games.asobrain.com/ has a very very very similar game called 'Xplorers' which is (AFAIK) not sanctioned by the Settlers of Catan people.
Re:OpenTTD (Score:3, Insightful)
Can you play this game yet without needing the long-out-of-production and therefore no longer legally obtainable Transport Tycoon Deluxe?