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Anytime you go mass market, you're looking at making things streamlined and blander.
This is why cars and apartments only come in a few bland colors. This goes for a lot of food too.
Exceptions are fads created by celebs/influences. But then they get dumbed down over time.
This is why cars and apartments only come in a few bland colors. This goes for a lot of food too.
Exceptions are fads created by celebs/influences. But then they get dumbed down over time.
Basically, you're trying to go with the lowest common denominator of acceptance to reach the critical mass market.
Homogenization is a large part of it. Starts with classes in MMOs and reduction of class interdependencies.
Homogenization is a large part of it. Starts with classes in MMOs and reduction of class interdependencies.
Another key thing you do to reach the mass market is to reduce choice.
This is why progression in DnD 5e and WoW is not as interesting as it once was.
Of course paths have optimal and suboptimal builds, but that's the nature of choice.
Remove of choice needed for mass market.
This is why progression in DnD 5e and WoW is not as interesting as it once was.
Of course paths have optimal and suboptimal builds, but that's the nature of choice.
Remove of choice needed for mass market.
Removal of choice is part of what we call "reducing friction points." We also called it removal of anything that makes a player even contemplate quitting.
Mass market has no time to figure out your system, so you make all paths safe.
This also reduces difficulty.
Mass market has no time to figure out your system, so you make all paths safe.
This also reduces difficulty.
This is why ubiquitous healing this a thing. If you die, you can't continue and you reach a "maybe I'll quit playing" moment.
So as a game gets more casual, you give everyone options to heal without dependency on others, or risk management.
So as a game gets more casual, you give everyone options to heal without dependency on others, or risk management.
Progression also become more and more guaranteed. Just show up and you'll progress.
This is vital in mass market where they only have a short time to play your product. They need to feel they made progress no matter how little they played or without reading the rulebook.
This is vital in mass market where they only have a short time to play your product. They need to feel they made progress no matter how little they played or without reading the rulebook.
5e has a problem with the worthlessness of money, and making of magic items rare and removal of item economy.
Earlier editions had more uses for cash over time and more fluidity in money to magic exchange, esp for spellcasters.
This is better for long term campaigns.
Earlier editions had more uses for cash over time and more fluidity in money to magic exchange, esp for spellcasters.
This is better for long term campaigns.
All of these are just the result of what you need to do to reach the "billion+ dollar" level of gaming.
The siren call of money is too good to pass up, esp for public companies, so this is why many games go this route.
It's just the way it has to be to reach that scale.
The siren call of money is too good to pass up, esp for public companies, so this is why many games go this route.
It's just the way it has to be to reach that scale.
