One of my weaknesses is a need to classify things. More sensible people avoid doing so I know.

I was thinking of dividing Adventure games into freeware / indie / commercial. Seemed a reasonable start to me. But then I thought of the free games like "Fate By Numbers" into which more effort has gone than some indie games. And some indie games have as high production values as what I was going to count as commercial games.

So how about hobbyist / indie / studio games? Perhaps, perhaps not. Perhaps solo / less than 5 / more than 5 people? Hmmmm.

What do other people think?

Hi Peter

I'm afraid I can't think what to say because I'm chuckling so much at your dilemma .... which, given how your mind seems to be working, could get much worse

Cheers.

Mad

I like the concept, but don't forget that while people don't tend to get hostile on this site (Thank all of you who monitor such things!) a lot of us can't even agree on the basic categories of "Good" and "Bad". I can't imagine how we'd disagree if you went farther.

While you're classifing, how about getting the sellers to make sure of adventure only, or action-adventure, so we aren't getting games, that we can't play. The Haze is right we can't agree what we like or don't like. Do you suppose that's a normal human trait? Sounds like fun. I can't get my books sorted so I'm surely lost on games.
Charllotte

In my opinion, there are two groups for adventure games. Commercial and non-commercial. If you sell your game for money, in have to put you in the commercial categorie. So indie games like Darkness Within and the Carol Reed Mystery adventures fall in that group. All the other games that are free to play, go in the non-commercial group. But that's just how I see it of course.

I usually look at things as underground, indy and studio.

Underground - freeware

Indy - self-published commercial (e.g., Wadjet Eye, MDNA, etc.)

Studio - well, large studios

Hi Peter

I only have two classifications for games. Those I like and those I dislike.

Have fun with your classification mission.

"Q"

I think you're making a colossal task for yourself. What about games made by less than five people that outsource? And how exactly are you going to compile all that info - you would have to check every single game and count? And you wouldn't be able to always tell with outsourcing. I'm tired just thinking about it. How about free, self-published, and commercial (regardless of size) - that sure sounds easier. And beyond any disaggreement too.

Yes but there is always one game that sticks in your mind.....Well ...May be 2...3

What about games that start out as Indies, and then get a commercial publisher (Dark Fall: The Journal)?

Or games that start out as Indies and then are released on online gaming sites (like East Side Story releasing on Big Fish Games)?

"I only have two classifications for games. Those I like and those I dislike"

Just love that !!!!

Cheers.

Mad

I think I would sort into
detective/adventure,e.g, Evil Under the Sun.
quest/adventure,Syberia
action/ adventure Nancy drew
and horror/adventure.Darkness Within
Some games might come under more that one classification.

Judging from the requests we see here, it might be very helpful to classify them:

First person Myst-style (no panning), point-and-click
First person with 360 degree panning, point-and-click
First person with 360 degree panning, mouse and keyboard
Third person, point-and-click
Third person, mouse and keyboard
Third person, keyboard only

I agree Mad. This one cracked me up because I was thinking the exact same thing as I was scrolling down through the comments. Also, I might add (with tongue in cheek) that I sort my games alphabetically by title.

OK, trying to get serious now. There are some groups (like The Adventure Company) that I always trust, but then I will find a real gem from a group I never heard of. I don't think sorting by who came up with the concept, developed the game or distributed it is necessarily the way consumers would prefer to search a database. If I attempted to classify adventure games, I would go with the sub-genre idea that was mentioned: quest, detective, first person, action/adventure, etc. The games could be listed in more than one classification as applicable. In any event, I don't think you could pay me enough money to undertake the task, but I sure would like to plug into that database once it was completed.

In my book (or should that be adventure game ) there are two major genres 1) puzzle games like Myst and 2) storydriven games like Syberia, The Longest Journey and Still Life.

However, I think Becky might be on to something as werll

Hmm, I think that the most important classification of those posted is Third person, point-and-click! That tells me the most of what I want to learn. For more information, how about combining the suggestions made by old lady and Becky?

I'm with Karsten--the big divide for me is puzzle or story (though I like both). And of course, there are always the games that refuse to be neatly categorized. And then are the sub-categories within each category.

But it's a good challenge for the brain.

But I think Peter already has that list, and was thinking of compiling a different list with the qualifications he was talking about.

Good to see a little thread going! Thanks to those who posted. There are many aspects of games worth classifying though finding someone to do it is a challenge.

On this I'm probably going to run with hobbyist / indie / commercial (if I ever get around to running.)

Ahhhh Nickie--I didn't know that!

Peter

Hope you are in good shape Peter - It's going to be a MARATHON run.

Ssgamer....Yes...that is one that drives me up the wall....get an ''adventure'' game and find out after you get into it it is actually ''action/adventure''!!! grrrrrr

I agree with Becky on how to sort them. It would be nice to know those things before you buy them. Like 360 panning, 3rd person or 1st point click, mouse or keyboard, and so forth. Knowing that sounds great to me.

I think that with all the excellent reviews we have available to us here, there should not be a great need to classify games. Indeed info on games is available before they come onto the market. Yes, we may be disappointed with a game but that is a case of individual likes and dislikes and classification will not solve that.

Do a little research before you buy, the only cost is time and it saves disappointment and money.

I have to agree with Carousal and try to never buy a game before reading the GB review.
How are my games sorted out? By the size of the box- very sientific