N4 vs NASCAR Heat: Casual vs Core

Okay, there's nothing here about N4 or NASCAR Heat directly, but this is a good article that defines some of the problems the industry is having in the marketplace, and how it is trying to come to grips with the issue of core gamers versus casual gamers. The casual gamer is critical to a game's success, and that is where GPL lost out, I believe, OTOH, GP3 should excel in this area. Read on -- it's entertaining: http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20000801/adams_01.htm -- JB Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Jeff Vincent) writes:

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> Another interesting conclusion to be drawn is that only a small >minority of people are interested in serious competition. In my >hobby, model rocketry, only about 10% of the national organization's >membership participates in organized competition. I always thought >that something was wrong there (being one of the 10%, its hard to >realize that the other 90% just lack that "competition gene"), but I'm >begining to think that that is just human nature.

You're in the 'competition' class? Cool. I'd seen your post in that group before, but most of the discussions went over my head - or wallet...<g> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +52.52 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

On Wed, 02 Aug 2000 05:26:02 GMT, [email hidden] wrote:

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>Okay, there's nothing here about N4 or NASCAR Heat directly, but this >is a good article that defines some of the problems the industry is >having in the marketplace, and how it is trying to come to grips with >the issue of core gamers versus casual gamers. The casual gamer is >critical to a game's success, and that is where GPL lost out, I >believe, OTOH, GP3 should excel in this area. > >Read on -- it's entertaining: > >http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20000801/adams_01.htm

Good stuff, John. And the commerical lesson to be learned from GPL is that you have to cater to casual gamers in *some* way. Papyrus NASCAR sims have seemed to be able to do this (arcade mode) without compromising the realistic aspects of the simulation. Let's hope Papyrus considers that for future releases. OTOH, while the difficulty of GPL may make it a niche product, that "filtering" also tends to improve the quality of online racing (ie: the racers themselves). Another interesting conclusion to be drawn is that only a small minority of people are interested in serious competition. In my hobby, model rocketry, only about 10% of the national organization's membership participates in organized competition. I always thought that something was wrong there (being one of the 10%, its hard to realize that the other 90% just lack that "competition gene"), but I'm begining to think that that is just human nature. I guess online racing with GPL is the place for me, even if I'm not one of the fastest guys around (particularly in our league), but I want to be part of that dedicated, competitive crowd. "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark