According to Yoshinori Kitase, we're all manchildren.

[ForceStealer]

Yeah I'm with Quex on this one. I think you guys are reading more into this than there really is. He's simply saying their focus is on a teenage demographic. Its good for a medium to pick a demographic to aim for, when its ambiguous is when problems start.

That said, the FF7 Compilation should aim older since we're the ones that played it.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

I could basically copy and paste everything Raquelborn and Que said and leave my post at that, but I will add, Mog, that I believe the specific manner in which you're reading too much into this stems from assuming "outgrow" and "appeal" are related to maturity in this case rather than any of the more readily accessible possibilities.

Namely, the time needed to complete the damn games. It's not an irregularity as people age -- even when they still adore video games -- to have less time available to play. Even when I was in college, I wouldn't have had time to consider it a valuable use of my time to max out all my characters' strength and speed stats in FFX -- something I'd done just for the hell of it in high school.

That's to say nothing of now, where I'd consider it outright stupid of me. As it is, those of us in our 20s who still find the time to bother with this stuff are fortunate. It's not going to last, though.

Even now I pick and choose what I play with extreme prejudice. After my kid is born, that could only happen more and more.

Long story short: Don't be offended. "Appeal" can apply in a lot of ways. Besides, you're still in the targeted bracket
and the games are still appealing to you -- whatever the reason. It's difficult to argue with his commenrs when you represent them, no?

 

[CK]

That's true also, but don't tell the Australian government that. They like to think that only children play games here, and adult classifications are out of the question.

This. Even New Zealand has an 18+ rating for games. The Australian Government are just a bunch of idiots.

 

[Raquelborn]

I loved FFXII for its politics . Though yes, GitS is basically god, so no argument there.

FFXII's storyline was boring because you see more bonus bosses than cutscenes. I've been playing that game for months -- I got my main party members at level 99, the others at around level 60-something, and have no idea what the fuck is going on in the story. I literally don't know right now where I'm supposed to go unless I specifically look at the map because I cannot for the life of me recall the last cutscene or plot-related moment.

You just summed up my experience of XII.

Never played Ghost in the Shell, but I definitely agree with your last point. It's the difference between doing things poorly and doing them well.

I think I was initially trying to read the text or something because the man was talking weird but then I gave up and stopped caring. The main bit I remember is that the hot pimp prince guy had the country next door.

Also, Ghost in the Shell is primarily an anime and a manga. It's pretty legendary.

 

[Ryushikaze]

It does, however, have a couple of games, one of which is okay, and the other of which is sheer fuchikoma awesomeness in a can.

 

[Raquelborn]

It does, however, have a couple of games, one of which is okay, and the other of which is sheer fuchikoma awesomeness in a can.

I only have the second game for PS2 and a demo of the first. Wasn't the latter meant to be the better one?

 

[Arianna]

Eh - it's good to keep things fresh, and as in style as one might be.

Still, there's really nothing to grow into or grow out of, in my opinion, due to the fact that video games in general seem to continue old themes: busty women (not saying all are, but a good deal of them), very muscular men, military/warrior types - again referring mostly to men, flamboyant if not just odd costumes, ... Basically, sex appeal, or so what the western societal 'values' of such are. In this, I feel his quote really holds no water when it comes down to it. Of course, this is all my observation and my own opinion, once again.

More importantly than any of that, though: it keeps our inner children nourished, entertained and occupied.

 

[Ryushikaze]

I only have the second game for PS2 and a demo of the first. Wasn't the latter meant to be the better one?

Do you know, I completely forgot about the second PSP game. I was referring to the PS1 Fuchikoma arcade game, which was basically a stand alone GITS episode you got to play in. And arguable, the later games are better- hell, they obviously are, but the fuchi game is just more FUN. Give it a touch up and it's good to go.

 

[Smaddy]

I get what he's trying to say, and it's typical. Nearly EVERYONE markets to the coveted 18-24 demographic. Teens are the ones who usually have really expendable cash and lots of time.

That being said, I still wonder some things--
A good game is timeless, and appeals to many people. I played FF6 at 10 years old and adored it, and at 26 I still adore it. There are many other games like this.

I also wonder... most other media first intended for kids has grown up as the fanbase has grown (ex: comic books, cartoons, and video games in general). So why is Square limiting itself by focusing mainly on the teenage demographic?

 

[Ghost X]

Couldn't agree with you more, Smaddy. People are wondering why remakes of 1980s franchises are proving popular, and its due to the very fact that 1980s kids (like myself) grew up with it all, and we're now adults. They really need to make a god-damn good He-man movie now! But anyways, how's an adult supposed to have fun if things aren't made for them except boring television dramas.

 

[Cthulhu]

But anyways, how's an adult supposed to have fun if things aren't made for them except boring television dramas.

Duh, learn to like boring television dramas .

 

[Arianna]

Duh, learn to like boring television dramas .

Ugh! Please, no. I do not understand how anyone can like soap operas or today's 'reality' television shows - at least the majority of them. I primarily stick to my DVDs and such; occassionally, there's something good on television, or I'll put up with what's on.

 

[Ghost X]

I have lost interest in television except for the news.

 

[Cthulhu]

Ugh! Please, no. I do not understand how anyone can like soap operas or today's 'reality' television shows - at least the majority of them. I primarily stick to my DVDs and such; occassionally, there's something good on television, or I'll put up with what's on.

Then watch more of it - in time, you will become numb to retardedness on TV, and in more time, your IQ will be lowered to something below 60 and you will actually start to enjoy it.

You know you want it, .

 

[Dashell]

Hey Survivor was great this season...

Russel should've won though

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Hey, I try not to judge the stuff on TV too harshly, because I know well enough some of the video games and RPGs I enjoy to death are dumb as shit in some aspects, subjectively.

 

[ForceStealer]

I have lost interest in television except for the news.

But that's some of the worst stuff on television.

 

[Ghost X]

No, that's Barney and Friends.

 

[Tennyo]

Barney and Friends is old news, bro. Is that show still even on? I think it fizzled out and got replaced a long time ago. Get with the times.

 

[Dashell]

I wanted to post a clip of that one Animaniacs episode with the Barny parody but I can't find it.. so here's the great Wakkorotti:

 

[OneWingedDemon]

I think the rest of the people are kind getting annoyed not because they are targeting the 18-24 demographic (which makes absolute sense), but the way Kitase phrased it, which seems to perpetuate the stereotype that gaming in general is junevile.

He says it's something they expect you to outgrow and IF you do not, well fine, more cash for them. But the expectation is there. It's one thing to say you're targeting a particular age group and another to say that you will not AGE the game's appeal, and imply that the ones who continue to play the games do so DESPITE it being a game for teens to 20 somethings.

So I can see why they'd think he was calling them manchildren. LOL
I don't think people are blowing it out of proportion. He prolly just phrased it in a shitty way. I understand his statement is really from a marketing pov.

 

[Max Payne]

The funny thing is, if they were saying we were manchildren, what does that make them, the people who create this stuff?

 

[Tetsujin]

The funny thing is, if they were saying we were manchildren, what does that make them, the people who create this stuff?

Toymakers?

 

[Max Payne]

You'd have to be just a juvenile as the people you're pandering to, to come up with such juvenile stuff imo. You have understand a mindset to cater to it

Video games go beyond a simple teddy bear or action figure though. Especially RPGs.

 

[knit_lace]

You'd have to be just a juvenile as the people you're pandering to, to come up with such juvenile stuff imo. You have understand a mindset to cater to it

Video games go beyond a simple teddy bear or action figure though. Especially RPGs.

Not necessarily. Creators can understand their target demographic mind set without sharing that mind set. That's where marketing research and psychologists come in.
I'm sure Sesame creators are not kids. They just study kids closely to know what they want to see.