Since the birth of turn-based online games, there have been many debates about whether turn-based online games are just social software. The reason for this debate is partly because people want to explore the true positioning of online games, and on the other hand, there are attacks between game fans. They hope to establish that the gameplay is more noble than the social element, by smearing the favorite games of turn-based online gamers into social software, and establish their own status as the type of online game they are enthusiastic about.
In fact, if you look at the arguments of the positive and negative sides, you will find that what they say is actually true, which is why this classic thesis can endure for a long time and keep the discussion hot.
From a square point of view, turn-based online games have largely lost their charm as turn-based games themselves. Since turn-based online games have become a powerful gold-sucking player in China, the difficulty or threshold of turn-based games themselves has been decreasing, and even players can directly use money to play through the cards. The mechanics created throughout the game are only for the money business, while a series of mechanisms around social networking such as friend conversations, gangs, and friend shows are quickly established and grown. Many times, players who are social animals go to play turn-based online games just to get acquainted with the gang, exchange gameplay with friends, and then quickly turn to all kinds of messy trivia. This happens so often that many people prefer to chat on the game rather than real chat software.
In addition, the gradual replacement of mobile games with end games has further developed this trend and even moved towards the situation of inward volume. Mobile phones with communication attributes themselves make the communication atmosphere of mobile games more intense, and turn-based mobile game manufacturers are constantly cramming various types of social play into the game, making the fun of turn-based itself more dull. There is no numerical analysis, there is no attribute restraint, and turn-based online games are just a social software.
The opposite side believes that the development of turn-based games into social software cannot erase the game attributes of turn-based games. This is because even if the manufacturer is crammed into more social play, its main axis is still based on play, rather than simply communication. That is, players can only socialize by playing the game first. The chat mechanism in the turn-based online game proposed by the square makes the turn-based online game become a social software, and the other side believes that this is just an innate attribute of the online game. The difference between online games and stand-alone machines is that they have social attributes, if you deny the existence of social attributes, is it not to deny the existence of online games themselves?
The author believes that both sides are right. We can even combine the views of both parties to summarize one of the possible answers to this question. In other words, turn-based online games act as a medium for social entertainment on the one hand, and on the other hand, it guarantees certain game attributes. After all, no matter how much the social turn-based online game still needs to level the card and plot, it still needs players to upgrade and fight monsters.
So, what are your views or insights on the relationship between turn-based online games and social software? Readers are welcome to share your insights below.