What would it take (to make you like wargames)

[Aries]

I am posting this in all three major console forums so that I actually end up being able to get a response from basically our console crowd here on the forums.

We all KNOW wargamers are a peculiar bunch for many reasons But, I am wondering, is there anything that wargaming is just not doing, that is needed to make you predominantly NON wargamers interested?

Is it just that wargames are not made for consoles? I mean let's face it, console more or less means you can trade it in if it stinks, you get to play it from a cartridge which means no install hassle, and heck you can play it on your uber HD tv with its super size screen.

That well may be what it's about.

Or, is it that wargames are just too obsessed with excrutiating details, and not enough "hey I just want to play and have fun"?

Or are there reasons that don't seem to be getting any air time on atypical wargaming dialogue locations, that you know of.

I have been playing Age of Empires Age of Kings, and Steel Horizon for the Nintendo DS. I am hoping to soon be playing Panzer Tactics for the DS as well.
I'm not expecting to be playing a wargame on a PS3 or X-box or Wii any time soon (largely because there are no wargames made for those in the first place).

And so that we understand, by wargame I meant Panzer General for the PS1 to give an example. If it's a shooter, I didn't mean that manner of game.

[Don Maddox]

I am posting this in all three major console forums so that I actually end up being able to get a response from basically our console crowd here on the forums.

Why not just post it in the main console discussion forum? That forum is for general console discussion.

[Aries]

Hmmm, ok just noticed it :)

I plead "too many changes" hehe I did actually look though, didn't see it initially, thought there had to be one though.

[arckon]

Not an answer, more a way of pointing a certain direction to maybe help get an answer.

The most recent game designed along the topic of question was "Shattered Union". For the console crowd it certainly had alright graphics compared to some of the PC bretheran, assuming RTS is not being included here.

So how did this game sell?
If well why? and If poorly why?

It is an interesting question as many surveys are pointing to an older demographic of console players now as compared to 10 - 15 years ago. Yet still younger than the demographic for the kind of games played on PC that Aries is referring to.

I think it still comes down to an age factor at this stage. The console demographic much prefer sporting, and perceived current generational cultural games like GTA, plus your first person shooters (which do hugely well online).

Also the new generation of consoles I think have some clauses built into the production of a game; don't quote me on next points as only going by memory but I think some are along the lines of:
- Must support a min HD display.
- Must have online functionality of some description (360)
factors like these would make producing such games as Aries mentions out of the monetary scope of most developers, and at this stage probably not enough sell through, if were made, to make them worth producing.

However I agree, I still play PZ General on Playstation simply as more comfortable sitting on lounge playing on a far larger TV screen than at the computer, so would like to see more of these style games, am not holding my breath though.