Gaming literacy is a real thing. Most people who didn’t grow up with 3D games don’t intuitively understand it. I’ve seen many boomers either stare at their feet or the ceiling & they have no clue how to solve their situation because they are disoriented. Same with young kids learning.
I’ve always wondered what’s specifically going on their minds when that happens. I remember getting into shooters and pretty much immediately understanding the two separate axes in Duke Nukem 3D at like age 7-8 (yeah I played violent games when I was young my parents only restricted movies). Maybe that’s why? My brain was just better able to learn at that age? Or is it that I am autistic? Is neurology a factor?
EDIT: Just realized, even younger, I played and beat Star Fox SNES, which only had 1 axis, where aiming and moving were bound together. Maybe it was the baby step of playing a simpler 3D shooter game.
I’ve seen many boomers either stare at their feet or the ceiling & they have no clue how to solve their situation because they are disoriented. Same with young kids learning.
Yeah, it’s just wild to me, that we went full-force ahead with the whole 3D thing, when you lock out so many potential players with it.
With 2D games, you can chuck someone a controller and even if they’re just haphazardly pressing buttons, they can still participate in the game. With 3D, no chance.
And even those who do have practice still struggle with it. Think of a difficult 3D game and I bet it’s a valid joke that the true end boss is the camera.
May I present Vampire Survivors.
Fantastic game. Entirely oldskool 2d.
You can navigate and play one-handed, no mouse.
And best of all, this is the exact game you just described, where a n00b can haphazardly press buttons and get somewhere.
Yeah, indies are thankfully still covering 2D games, and there has been somewhat of a rebound in general, where e.g. Nintendo will also publish 2.5D versions of some of their games.
It just always felt weird that AAA studios treated 3D as mandatory, in the name of profit in particular, despite it locking out customers.
Well, kind of the obvious thing happened: Mobile games. Often fiercely 2D. Often controllable with one finger. And of course, obscenely profitable.
Gaming literacy is a real thing. Most people who didn’t grow up with 3D games don’t intuitively understand it. I’ve seen many boomers either stare at their feet or the ceiling & they have no clue how to solve their situation because they are disoriented. Same with young kids learning.
I’ve always wondered what’s specifically going on their minds when that happens. I remember getting into shooters and pretty much immediately understanding the two separate axes in Duke Nukem 3D at like age 7-8 (yeah I played violent games when I was young my parents only restricted movies). Maybe that’s why? My brain was just better able to learn at that age? Or is it that I am autistic? Is neurology a factor?
EDIT: Just realized, even younger, I played and beat Star Fox SNES, which only had 1 axis, where aiming and moving were bound together. Maybe it was the baby step of playing a simpler 3D shooter game.
Any last words, Jim?
* turns around *
Huh?
Yeah, it’s just wild to me, that we went full-force ahead with the whole 3D thing, when you lock out so many potential players with it.
With 2D games, you can chuck someone a controller and even if they’re just haphazardly pressing buttons, they can still participate in the game. With 3D, no chance.
And even those who do have practice still struggle with it. Think of a difficult 3D game and I bet it’s a valid joke that the true end boss is the camera.
May I present Vampire Survivors.
Fantastic game. Entirely oldskool 2d.
You can navigate and play one-handed, no mouse.
And best of all, this is the exact game you just described, where a n00b can haphazardly press buttons and get somewhere.
Yeah, indies are thankfully still covering 2D games, and there has been somewhat of a rebound in general, where e.g. Nintendo will also publish 2.5D versions of some of their games.
It just always felt weird that AAA studios treated 3D as mandatory, in the name of profit in particular, despite it locking out customers.
Well, kind of the obvious thing happened: Mobile games. Often fiercely 2D. Often controllable with one finger. And of course, obscenely profitable.
It’s even a thing in our generation - my now ex was pretty stumped playing skyrim. 2d games were no issue.