creepy/spooky is fine, as long as it's not too dark to see things. I get lost in all that darkness, hunting for items in all the shadows.
Your idea about "Drawn-like game where it will almost be a casual Myst game" is a GREAT idea!
I'm hoping to see that happen!

Thanx for asking.

Good luck! And Happy Holidays!

You know, I've seldom played a casual game that didn't bore me at some point and there are quite a few that I've never finished just because I was going "so what?" and could not care less if the sleeping princess woke, the lost souls/asylum inmates were liberated or the evil doctor/scientist was foiled.

I don't know what it is that makes an adventure game different, particularly a good adventure game, since they have so much in common with casual games (except searching through rubbish -gritty, grimy, nonsensical rubbish - to find an item you don't know you need while an item you know quite well you'll need remains out of your reach) but maybe it's the story. A good adventure game leads you on with a real story that keeps your interest with unexpected twists and turns and characters that are engaging.

Maybe that's part of it; in casual games, you don't get to like or dislike the character you're playing, he/she is just there to "do" something (and if you're out of luck has to clean up a room before going off to do it - oh, I am so with you there, Tol) and has all the personality of a snail.

For me, seeing the lead character adds to it. Most of the time, I do not like being the first person observer. I won't cry if you leave out the fairies either.

Demos are definitely my friend. Vampireville is one of the few casuals I got all the way through, mostly because of the refreshing ability to click on everything without being punished - actually needing to - and the humor, over the top though it may have been.

But since I'm one of the few who really did not like Drawn, the Painted Tower, feel free to discount all that.

Gil.

Drawn was great. I love murder mysteries, but not the creepy/scary type. I may be in the minority for that but you asked. I really enjoy games with a good story.
Kathy

I have more of a humor bent myself. Scary and creepy is not my thing, but a game that makes me laugh is a winner.

I also love a game with a great story.

I like spooky/creepy settings. I also like the Hog scenes that give you an inventory item to use. I also like when the game indicates that you have complted an area, that way you are not wandering endlessly. I don't mind alot of Hog scenes. I do like maps where you can jump to and from locations. And I definatley like voice acting. While Drawn is a phenominal game it was not my favorite, though I am not sure why.

I also like games that are not spead out. I like to go from scene to scene where you do something in each area. I dont't like having to walk through 3-4 scenes to get to where I need to be, and having nothing to do in these scenes, but think that I do, so I just waste time looking around, when there is no actual interaction.(I'm not sure if I can explain this coherently).

thracia

I think I understand what you mean. Would you be interested in playing a "Linear" HOG, where you don't choose where to go, but you simply are presented HOG scene after HOG scene?

Would other people be interested in that, or are those HOGs now not as popular?

Hi. I second Marian's post, the scarier the better in a hidden object game. I also like science fiction and haven't seen any true science fiction type hidden object games. I like adventure games of the same types and mysteries, too.

Hi Andrew,

I think the non-linear IHOGs are growing in popularity, where in fact you do wander from room to room figuring out how to use your inventory and where. There are those players who still prefer going from one screen to another in a linear way, however. I can't speak to sales figures but it seems that the nonlinear types are quite popular.

A good compromise I have seen of late in a couple of recent IHOGs (Sherlock Holmes: Hound of the Baskervilles and Mystery of Mortlake Mansion) is a map feature that the player can access at any time that shows the layout of the rooms as well as indicating in which rooms tasks are presently available, which eliminates some of the wandering from room to room if the player chooses to use this feature. The player can click on any room on the map and will be taken directly to that room. This satisfies both kinds of players; those who don't like this kind of nonlinear wandering can use this feature while others who do like it can either choose to use or ignore the map as they wish.

Not exactly Andrews. I enjoy interaction within the scene, including HO and puzzles. I don't mind going from room to room, but I like it when everything can be done in the surrounding area, before moving on. For example, I played a game recently, where you are outside, and had to click through 3 scenes to get to the buiding. There was nothing to do in those scenes, but I kept looking around, thinking there was.I like it when there is something to do in each scene, even if it is only one or two things. I don't mind a little backtracking. I think people nowadays don't like hog after hog, they are looking for more interaction as in adventure games, I like it half and half. I like the fact that it is a casual game, not an in depth, full fledged, adventure.

I also hate those puzzles where you touch one thing and 3 other parts move or light up(I call them lights out puzzles)You either have to switch everything on or off.

Ditto what Marian said.

thracia

Although Hound of the Baskervilles is not the best game I've ever played, I do like the map feature which shows me areas which have actions needed and areas which do not. And a scene is marked "completed" so I don't waste time wandering all over the place. The HOG scenes in this game are also very well integrated into the story.

That "completed" feature is an excellent one, and thank you for mentioning this, Draclvr! I really like it when I see "location complete!"

HOG after HOG will put me to sleep due to boredom. I enjoy collecting the pieces, things, and puzzle over what to do with them; as the player does in Mystery of Mortlake Mansion. This game has the map feature that allows you to pick a room you've once entered and go directly there. It also places a check mark when you've completed a room.

I think I've liked some HOGs over others due to the variation of puzzles within the game. A HOG to find a particular part, slide the picture pieces until you have a complete picture, clear the boxes by lining up the same color of whatever--a Bejewel style puzzle, matching pieces, just a good variety of puzzles.

I think the strict HOG games with scene after scene of items to collect from a list are decreasing in popularity. Many gamers are becoming better at playing casual games and are demanding more interaction than they did a year ago.

Like Marion's input. Maps are good! Speedy transport from place to place and some indication of whether there is anything to do in that place is good.

I started a thread on Big Fish Games Chit Chat Room with Pet Peeves in games. That thread will give you ideas on things that people do not want to see in games.

Like on here you will find "no slider puzzles" "I love slider puzzles" so no games will have everything that everyone wants.

Just remember games go in trends. The trend right now is the dark and spooky, but it appears that many are wanting more lighthearted games.

For my personal opinion if you could incorporate something like the Gobliins game into modern technology and make it easy enough for beginning gamers, I would love it. Humor is what I am enjoying more and more.

I would like the games to be in the same style as the Myst, Rhem and uru type foremats. Those types really keep me going and also helps me slow down on my smoking.( I may not quit, but I sure make them last a long time). And they got to have walkthroughs available for free so you can get help with the games. Thanks.