Text-based games are out of fashion?

[SekoETC]

I was looking at Google trends and it looks like people aren't really searching for text-based games anymore. 10 years ago it may have been a plus that a game was light to load and didn't have heavy graphics and animated content, but nowadays people can load all sorts of stuff, even on smartphones. It's a bit difficult to imagine a more visual Cantr, when mostly the whole point of the game is what people say and rp. The other day I talked about Cantr at work and this one guy said "text based?" like it was a breaking factor not to try it. Like how could something text based be interesting?

[Rugila]

I was looking at Google trends and it looks like people aren't really searching for text-based games anymore. 10 years ago it may have been a plus that a game was light to load and didn't have heavy graphics and animated content, but nowadays people can load all sorts of stuff, even on smartphones. It's a bit difficult to imagine a more visual Cantr, when mostly the whole point of the game is what people say and rp. The other day I talked about Cantr at work and this one guy said "text based?" like it was a breaking factor not to try it. Like how could something text based be interesting?

Cantr is one of those games you don't understand before you have played it.
It has my imagination go haywire sometimes.. And that's the most important part.

[SekoETC]

I wonder what sort of marketing terms would be good to draw in new players.

[Slowness_Incarnate]

I definitely get that sentiment Rugila. I didn't think it was too great at first, and then I really got into it.People have to give it a chance before going..."Ew text based what?"

[thamior757]

It is very similar to trying to get someone to try out ASCII roguelikes. there is such a trend towards these diluted, though pretty, games. Which is completely sad. I bet if Cantr threw 'achievements' out at you every couple of in-game minutes, people would absolutely flock to it -.-

[Mitch79]

I definitely get that sentiment Rugila. I didn't think it was too great at first, and then I really got into it.People have to give it a chance before going..."Ew text based what?"

LOL My sister got me into the game. It took almost a week before I told her I just wasn't getting it. She showed me a few of her characters, what they were doing and how to work the mechanics and I felt better after that about playing them. I was hooked after that.

[Xander]

Does your sister still play Cantr?

[Black Canyon]

I have a somewhat obsessive nature when it comes to games, and although you can definitely overdo it with cantr, it is a much healthier endeavor than other games I've played. For instance, I played cantr for several years and was totally into it. I also became a staff member (which was a mistake) and after a while it felt like a job because I was spending more time on staff issues than playing the game. After I stopped playing cantr, I started playing WoW. That became ridiculous. At one point I was in three different raiding guilds, spending hours raiding every night, and I barely had time to do anything besides work, play wow and sleep. And sometimes barely sleep. Eating was usually while I was raiding. Talk about a game turning into a job!

I finally had enough and I just stopped it cold. I don't even have WoW installed on my computer anymore, and although I still keep in touch with some of the awesome people I met through the game, I don't miss playing it at all. Returning to cantr was like a big sigh of relief, and I appreciate it much more now, I think. However, I don't play it quite as obsessively as I used to and that is probably just fine.

[saztronic]

I wonder what sort of marketing terms would be good to draw in new players.

"Zork".... to the power of infinity.

[hyrle]

For me, part of the charm of Cantr is that it's text-based. It forces people to actually play a role far more than most "role-playing games" do. It's like an interactive book that you write a part of, but others write it with you as well. That's what I love about it.

[saztronic]

For me, part of the charm of Cantr is that it's text-based. It forces people to actually play a role far more than most "role-playing games" do. It's like an interactive book that you write a part of, but others write it with you as well. That's what I love about it.

Well said. I agree completely.

I wasn't really kidding about the whole "Zork" to the power of infinity thing as a marketing concept (not an actual marketing slogan, mind you, but who knows).

The idea is that everything these days is flashy graphics, "pictures under glass" stuff for smartphones, sensory overload. Cantr is writing a story. It's choose your own adventure on steroids. It's like Zork and those early text games but taken to a different extreme.

I could see a tongue in cheek marketing video with footage of players engaged in WoW type games, colors flashing across their faces, people Wii dancing and fitting, all a cacophony of noise, light and motion, contrasted with pics of Cantrians pecking away dutifully at their computers... and giving testimonials on why it lets you create a whole world to a degree other games don't. With the strains of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's "Pure Imagination" running in the background (though the rights to that probably cost a fortune).

It's a retro thing... would only attract a certain type of person, but Cantr only ever will anyway.

[hyrle]

And that's just fine by me. A niche game for people who enjoy good RP and enjoy a game where your pleasure comes in writing a story and building a society , not "Oh - let me go kill 4000 of these rodents so I can get another level and maybe get a drop of that rare piece of EQ everyone wants." I'm so done with that treadmill, as anyone who's ever played too many "RPG"s knows all too well.

[SekoETC]

At least I got someone to read the wiki. Fingers crossed he'll request for an account.

[Black Canyon]

I think cantr is attractive to those who enjoy writing as a creative outlet. The friend that I got successfully addicted to the game had a background in English and is a poet in her own right. Perhaps also those who have a love of languages as well. These might be areas of focus for advertising or outreach.

[bnlphan]

As long as sleepers dont turn into zombies when they die and no one falls in love with a dire were wolf, it's all good.