Adventure Games Being Replaced by Action Games

One of the most popular game genres that helped start the video game industry really get going is now being replaced. Favorite adventure games such as King's Quest, Myst, and Gex are getting pushed out of the way by games with more action. Todays gamer seems to prefer the fast-paced play style of games in the action genre like Grand Theft Auto, Halo, and Prince of Persia. What does this mean for the beloved genre of adventure gaming?   Adventure games were some of the first interactive video games to transition from being text-based or literary to being completely graphical and having a fully visual interface. They were some of the first games available for early gamers to play on PCs and old consoles, such as Ataris or the original Nintendo. Adventure games were the first to offer gamers a new, more in-depth experience that included a detailed storyline, puzzle solving, quest completion, and exploration. Adventure games had developed characters and in-depth dialogue, and theywere able to really draw gamers into the world of adventure gaming. These games had people thinking and solving problems, rather than just relying on fast reflexes, button mashing, or lucky combos. Adventure games were among the first genre of games that people could enjoy in the comfort of their home, right on their television screen or computer monitor rather than in the very public arcade setting. Adventure games are more low-key then action games, meaning gamers could come home and relax with an adventure game.   So why is this great genre getting pushed aside to make room for more action games? One reason may be that the adventure genre is getting assimilated into other genres, placing adventure aspects into many other games. For example, many games now fall into the "Action-Adventure" genre, which includes games that integrate some classic adventure aspects such as puzzle solving into a fast-paced action game. While this helps ensure the adventure genre won't ever completely die, adventure games alone are still not selling they way they used to. There has been a decline in the sales of adventure games, and many developers are turning away from pure adventure games for action games or that hybrid ofaction-adventure.   Another reason is that gamers are changing and evolving, as are the games themselves. Modern gamers often want more of a challenge: a fast-paced game that will test their hand- eye coordination, reflex time, and technical skill. Action games offer more of that, while adventure games offer more problem-solving opportunities and less of a physical challenge. Gamers simply want a new, different experience, and at this time, adventuring gaming is getting pushed aside for more of what the market wants now. But don't expect the adventuregenre to disappear ­ look for it mixed in to some of your favorite action games.