Social Platform Games aren’t (necessarily) Social Games
I love PopCap. Not only are their games built around perfect nuggets of gameplay, but they understand what they’re making so well that even the strange and quirky art for Peggle manages to become an integral part of how game transcends its simple, pachinko-style dynamic.
And Bejeweled Blitz, PopCap’s first official Facebook offering is no exception. It’s a perfect distillation of the classic three-in-a row experience that they pioneered. It, once again, reinvents the game by forcing you to try and go for your best score within sixty seconds. It’s a game I’ve played a hundred times before, has been cloned a thousand times, and yet somehow they’ve managed to make the gameplay feel fresh once again.
Too bad it isn’t actually a social game.
Looking at it from a chicken vs. egg perspective it seems like there’s always an advantage in making the social elements your driver. Especially if you’re not Popcap. After all, no one has bothered to argue that virality isn’t a good thing for a very long time. And socializing your product means reaching out to a new audience in a way that goes beyond what gameplay alone can do.
That’s why the catch-all term "Social Games" really bugs me- a lot. It reminds me of the early days of casual, when everybody knew that there should be a better term, but nothing else would stick. Looking at the current condition of the casual marketplace and their relation to the platforms, I think it’s beneficial to differentiate between the elements that the publisher/developer can own and the ones they can’t. It may already be too late, but I’m hoping that people can do more to separate games that are simply played on social platforms (Facebook, Myspace, etc.) from games that deeply integrate social elements.
The term I’m using is "Social Platform Games". It’s a little more specific but leaves the door open. And if you’re all about the social platforms why not call yourself something that describes it that way. It’s a moniker that a game like Bejeweled Blitz can wear proudly, without having to worry about when or if they’re going to add in all the awesome social elements. And if you’re a true social game on top of that, even better.
Right now it’s a one man crusade to see if I can get people to adopt it the term. But if someone wants to come up with something a little more catchy accurate let me know
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I think this is a good use of the term platform, which is starting to feel like the buzz word du jour. One the 1up Yours Podcast (which I hope wasn’t killed today) they would frequently say Little Big Planet is intended as a platform. Rock Band 2 is more of a platform than just a game. Michael Pachter recently said that Wii Fit borders on being its own platform. I feel like its a concept that plays very much into the direct-to-consumer initiatives JR has been evangelizing for EA.
On a side note, my heart goes out to any and all who lost their job today in the 1up acquisition. 1up Yours and LAN Party sit up there right next to This American Life on my favorite podcasts list. I hope that everyone lands safely on their feet.