Zynga revealed its newest browser-based simulation game--Cityville. With the company's initial efforts failing to ensnare the hardcore crowd, we asked the most dedicated gamers around (GamePro Twitter followers) to come up with more fan-friendly -Ville games.
After Zynga announced Cityville, an urban-focused spinoff of the mega-hit Farmville, we posed the following question to our Twitter community to see what kind of simulation the developer could make to ensnare the hardcore:
Zynga's prepping another Farmville spinoff -- Cityville. What would it take for you to try a -ville game? Best answers posted, one wins swagless than a minute ago via TweetDeck
GamePro
GamePro
A few of the GamePro Twitter community, dismayed by Zynga's output so far, suggest that nothing can be done from within the company to make a compelling experience for standard gamers. Here are there complaints:
@GamePro What would it take for me to try a ville game? Traumatic brain damage. Profound loss of cognitive function. Nothing short of that.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone
Aaron Pinsley
localaaron
@GamePro a -ville game that didnt have the suffix -ville and had absolutely no relation to any of the -ville gamesless than a minute ago via web
Scott
AesopScott
@GamePro If i were tortured in a room full of TV'S and a guy with a distorted voice asking questions, maybe i'll play a ville game...less than a minute ago via TweetDeck
Gamer5670
Gamer_5670
@GamePro i'd play a ville game if it made them all crash and burn and zynga left facebook aloneless than a minute ago via twidroid
Shawn Sayler
iamkratos
@GamePro for them to come up with something original. I'm serious.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
lindsay-anne brunner
kittiekorn
Of the Farmville-inspired suggestions, one type of simulation seemed to have the most support amongst respondents. Given the success of the iPhone's resident game-creation-sim, seeing a Facebook-bound game of the same ilk by Zynga could manage to curry favor with hardcore gamers. Here are fans who would enjoy a meta take on game-making by Zynga:
@GamePro Something like Game Dev Story would be cool for those of us who don't have an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. Activille? #YourFiredless than a minute ago via web
Ross Polly
GreedyRaven
@GamePro Maybe if they did a Game(r)ville and you had to "produce" games and manage everything from the factories to programmers.less than a minute ago via web
Buyu
Buyu
@GamePro gameville where your little Guy builds games and markets them.less than a minute ago via Twitter for Android
dwolf317
And then there's the best of the rest, each of which would enjoy the -Ville approach to non-traditional ways of living:
@GamePro Build a City of Boxes in HoboVille, or Raise dinosaurs and gather food in Neanderville, Cavemen Unite!less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone
Fred Harris
FrederickHarris
@GamePro SupervillainVille. Where you train super villains from a young age until they are good enough to kill heroes.less than a minute ago via TweetDeck
Eric Smith
Ellimem
@GamePro As a bowler, I'd go with Bowlingville or Bowlville. Where you sell fat guys beer and watch them get pissed. 5 stars.less than a minute ago via Twee2
Trevor Wedding
gingertastic_10
While we had a handful of very good suggestions, we're going to award the best reply today to a darkhorse candidate, S_Brett_S, who has until the publication of the next "Tell us how you really feel" article to send a direct message to GamePro on Twitter to claim his prize. What Brett's tweet lacks in depth, it makes up for with universal appeal. Is there any genre that this suggestion wouldn't make better?
@GamePro Guns, explosions, and maybe a zombie or two.less than a minute ago via web
Brett Sams
S_Brett_S
While Zynga has given plenty of reasons for hardcore gamers to be angry at them, be it allegations of development plagarism or the over-production of inconsequential updates, neither of those are, at their core, going to keep the millions of casual gamers from coming back. The major complaint that will cause them fans in both regards is a lack of originality. Cityville is something of a departure from the Zynga norm, but hardcore fans want games that try to explore new ground from time to time. If the developer ever decides to explore its wild side, it may become just as popular amongst dedicated gamers as it is amongst the rest of the Facebook community.
What do you think of the suggestions above? Is there any that you'd add? Please continue the conversation by dropping a note in the comment section below or by replying to GamePro on Twitter.
Source: Daily News from GamePro.com
Friday, November 19, 2010