Can Video Game Accessibility Go Too Far? 164
A piece at GameSetWatch questions whether modern game companies are taking accessibility a step too far in their rush to attract people who don't typically play video games. This worry was inspired, in part, by the news that Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. Wii would have the capability to play itself in order to let a human player get past a tricky part. Quoting:
"Bigger audiences finishing more games is certainly a worthy goal, and Nintendo has shown that accessibility is the servant of engagement. History has rarely — if ever — dared to disprove the wisdom of Miyamoto's foresight. History has also never disproven, however, the principle that any medium and any message degrades the wider an audience it must reach. Art was never served by generalization, nor language by addressing all denominators. Entertainment for the masses ultimately becomes empty. There must exist an absolute point beyond which greater accessibility means less engagement. Making a game so easy it can play itself for you at the push of a button just might be that point."
It's to prove you didn't rent the game (Score:3, Funny)
There's nothing more frustrating (in the gaming world) than playing a game for hours just to unlock a part of the game I already paid for!
It's to prove you paid for it, either full price new or half price used, not 1/10 of the price rental.
Re:Why? (Score:0, Funny)
My gaydar detects that your a macfag with full-blown AIDS. Have you been having sex with Steve Jobs lately?
Re:Well done for missing the point (Score:3, Funny)
Crud, for some reason I used a mish-mash of BB code bold and HTML. Please excuse my stupidity.
Just about the most pretentious quote ever (Score:4, Funny)
A statement that somehow the message of art 'degrades' as it reaches more people is something I assumed to hear from some art snob complaining about reproductions of the Mona Lisa, not about a video game starring Mario. The whole notion is insanely elitist, and I'm frankly flabbergasted that someone saw fit to print it.
Especially considering that they got the whole idea wrong - it's only a demo mode that shows you how to beat a section. In order to progress through the game, you still have to play it yourself!