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Do games really need to appeal to everyone?

Frictional Games studio head Thomas Grip worries that modern video games often try too hard to appeal to all ages, and he'd love to see more developers explore mechanics and themes that appeal to a more mature audience.

Tom Curtis, Blogger

October 26, 2012

1 Min Read
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"Take just about any big game release and the core concepts of that game [are] something that a ten-year old can enjoy."

- Amnesia: The Dark Descent developer and Frictional Games studio head Thomas Grip reflects on how even the most "mature" games often appeal to players of all ages. Grip worries that video games might be missing an opportunity to explore more complex and adult-focused themes. After all, there are tons of movies, books, and even albums that only appeal to an older audience, and why should games be any different? "There is nothing wrong with having games that are ageless. But when just about every game released is like this, I think it is a sign that something is wrong,” Grip said. He added that even his own games like Amnesia and Penumbra are "mainly about hiding from monsters and solving puzzles," which in the grand scheme of things aren't very mature concepts. Rather than making "mature" games that use simple mechanics dressed up in curse words, blood, and gore, Grip wants to see developers explore themes and concepts that are a bit more meaningful.

About the Author

Tom Curtis

Blogger

Tom Curtis is Associate Content Manager for Gamasutra and the UBM TechWeb Game Network. Prior to joining Gamasutra full-time, he served as the site's editorial intern while earning a degree in Media Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

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