Game "gimmicks" - Fez, Braid, Max Payne even. - by SubJeff
june gloom on 1/8/2013 at 20:26
Huh. Could've sworn it came out in 2005... oh well.
Matthew on 1/8/2013 at 20:47
Quote Posted by Brethren
(
http://www.andyetitmoves.net/) And Yet It Moves is another game that has a sort of gimmicky perspective change.
As long as we're talking about gimmicks, you can also include hardware like the Wii and Oculus Rift.
VFX-1 shurely? :P
ZylonBane on 1/8/2013 at 20:52
The foolish use of the wrong word, "gimmick", in place of the correct word, "mechanic", has ensured that this thread will rapidly devolve into a discussion of actual gimmicks.
Renault on 1/8/2013 at 21:10
Disagree. If you look at the dictionary definition of "gimmick" it specifically talks about an "ingenious device designed to attract attention or increase appeal." Clearly that's what some of this stuff is. It can be a "mechanic" and a "gimmick" at the same time.
Fez's perspective switch is the perfect example - Fish was obviously trying to "wow" people and attract attention by saying "look, I added a dimension to this normally standard 2D side scrolling platformer."
Angel Dust on 1/8/2013 at 21:43
Quote Posted by henke
Seems like the word covers a lot of ground, but "gimmick" defenitely has a negative connotation, at least in my ears. I'd say there's a difference between "innovative gameplay mechanic" and "gimmick".
Innovative gameplay mechanic: Portal. Because the majority of the game is based around the use of portals, the game wouldn't work without them.
Sticking with the
Portal example, I reckon a better way to illustrate the difference is:
Gimmick: Portals in
Prey. Yeah, they look cool but they really have no affect on the way the game plays.
Mechanic: Portals in, uh,
Portal for the reason you listed.
Yakoob on 1/8/2013 at 23:34
I think ZB's point is that half the stuff posted in the thread isn't a "gimmick" but a "mechanic", such as portals in portal or jetpacks in tribes. As Angel Dust points out, they are a core aspect of the design, not just an extra after-thought because "oh cool!"
Since we already had some thread of favorite mechanics before, I vote we keep this strictly to gimmicky stuff. As for my favorites umm... thinking :p
Angel Dust on 2/8/2013 at 01:55
I used Prey's portals as an example of a gimmick but the quite a few others too. You've got anti-gravity walkways, gravity switching, organic weapons, mini-planetoids, the spirit world stuff, and none of it really changes how the game plays*. However, these gimmicks do give Prey a kinda funky sci-fi flavour all of its own and, as such, I quite like them.
* with the possible exception of the no-death thing but that's hardly a change for the better.
ZylonBane on 2/8/2013 at 02:08
Quote Posted by Brethren
Disagree. If you look at the dictionary definition of "gimmick" it specifically talks about an "ingenious device designed to attract attention or increase appeal." Clearly that's what some of this stuff is. It can be a "mechanic" and a "gimmick" at the same time.
At the same time, the word "gimmicky" is NEVER used as a compliment.
SubJeff on 2/8/2013 at 02:26
No, but that's the not the same as gimmick.
I think this may be an Atlantic Ocean issue.
Muzman on 2/8/2013 at 06:45
We're big kids now. We can do sets.
