Mini Games

Dear BitMobbers,

Back in the N64 era one game came out and said lets do something different then the others. Mario Party was chalked full of mini games. It may have not been the first, but honestly it started the craze for these types of games.

Through out the years after people realized mini-games in a full game could be marketable. I think it has some advantages and then sometimes these mini games don't feel like they belong. I could name 5 games from this generation and last generation that have used mini games in there games.

- Final Fantasy 8 or 9 with that card game.

- Final Fantasy X with that Sphere game.

- World of Warcraft is getting Peggle

- Fable 2 with those Pub Games

- Splinter Cell where you have to pick the locks. (Can be classified as a mini game)

I know mini games are fun during a game, but it appears more and more games are using them. Do developers like making smaller games in side bigger ones to take away from the now experience? Why do I have to wait come to a completely different menu to have a mini experience?

With mini games being the craze of the average now gamer. I hope companies will see this trend and over look it moving forward. Of course unless you are trying to be the next Mario Party.

Cheers,

Toby (ATC)

P.S. - In case my question was not picked for last night Mobcast from twitter it was: "Since we all know Beatles Rock Band will be a Smash Hit. Can you give one reason why it wont be a smash."

(4)

Lance Darnell

June 19, 2009

Toby, as a fellow Viva PInata player, I am shocked you forgot the breeding mini-games!!!

Great article though, and I assume your nightmare would be a game with more mini-game than main-game.

Aaron Thomas

I thought the minigames in the last Ratchet & Clank did nothing but interrupt the flow of the game. They weren't fun, they were repetitive and they kept me from doing what that games does best - platforming and shooting.

Greg Ford

I dunno. Implemented correctly, I think minigames give a nice break from the action. I just finished Sly Cooper and loved its minigames. One was like Geometry Wars.

Also, BioShock with its Pipe Dreams hacking minigame. I enjoyed it at first...then it was grating by the end.

Toby Davis

I forgot a lot of games. Normally I write my articles when I wake up at 6 am and before I get ready for work at 6:40 am.

@Lance let me know if you need the Famous Pinata Achievement for VP: TIP. I will let you visit it. 8)

@Greg for me I have barely made it to melting the ice and stop playing. Guess I may need to look into it more, but really not a priority IMO. As for Sly Cooper I have yet to play one, but if they have a 4th I will be playing it though since I only heard good things so far.