Free for All: Are kids' games valid? Page 2

As you can see, there are differences but they are really small. Yes, there are more realistic games in the adult market, using the latest in graphics technology and programming. But all games, even the most realistic ones, read in our eyes like fantasy because of the limits of today's technology. Developers have to weigh graphical quality with their target player's PC strength, and going with a more stylized look often can help them out. I think the fact that World of Warcraft, the most played pay-to-play MMO in the country, is ultra-stylized shows that adults can find themselves becoming attached to characters that aren't exactly realistic.

In the FTP market, it is possible that this stylized art-style is almost required to attract younger players that only have access to hand-me-down PCs or less-than-powerful netbooks. And isn't that one of the secrets of World of Warcraft's success, the ability of the game to run on almost any machine? I think we can toss out the idea that cartoony, stylized games are only for kids.

But can an adult enjoy a kids' game? Can adults find the same level of involvement, or the same camaraderie in a game that is frequented by younger players? I would not only say yes, but that adults have been enjoying this type of youthful play for longer than they have enjoyed more "adult" gaming. After all, the original MUDs were nothing more than a fantasy story with the same interactions from those choose-your-own-adventure books from our youth. This is not an attempt to try and take mature games down to the level of kids' games, but an attempt instead to show that the kids' market and FTP gaming are just as valid as any other.

Consider this, that I am a 35 year old man and my hobbies include playing drums, painting and drawing, writing and playing with virtual dragons and spaceships. At some point am I supposed to say "OK, I need to grow up and stop playing with virtual toys" or am I allowed to regress a bit into childhood whenever I want to? Or could it be that these "childish" things are not only for children, and do not have a cut off at around age 15? So why should we consider one type of gaming somehow not worthy of our time, or one age group as not as invested in their games as we adults are?

Perhaps this explains my fascination with games that could be considered "for kids." Maybe my recurring dream is trying to tell me that, as I get older and farther away from my youth, that my youth can be carried with me and experienced through my gaming? That silly dream is just trying to warn me that I still value things like play, imagination and toys. That must be it.

In closing, consider trying out a game like Wizard 101, FusionFall or Dragonica. Don't worry about hitting max level and don't go to a wiki to try to find out the best way to get max DPS. Log in, make your character and just play for a bit. I think you might be pleasantly surprised at the feeling you are having while you play.

It's called fun.