Maybe I'm getting old but I want a game that brings real people together. There are more than enough "get everyone together virtually" games.
I want a game that actually reinforces the social fabric instead of simulates it. Something that encourages people to be together in the physical world (gasp!), have fun, have shared experiences/goals/challenges, and form lasting friendships.
I have very fond memories of lugging my computer (and CRT!) to my friends/family's house to have a LAN + pizza party. The best part for me wasn't necessarily the game itself. The games were fun but I really enjoyed the social aspect of talking about a tough dungeon or strategizing how to beat a challenging opponent.
It seems like the industry is trying its best to bring people into a simulated world but why not use games to bring people together into it instead?
Pokemon Go is probably the closest thing to this I've seen recently but the core gameplay was unfortunately pretty boring when it first started and became popular.
That’s kinda what The Jackbox Party Pack games are designed for. Think Pictionary, but you doodle from your phone and it shows up on your TV and there’s nothing to clean up.
Any couch co-op game should do this - local multiplayer for up to 4 people is a great way to connect. Forced, Broforce, Gauntlet, Streets of Rogue, Overcooked 1/2, Ultimate Chicken Horse, Speedrunners, Unrailed, Guns Gore & Cannoli, Gang Beasts, etc.
Search for games supporting local multiplayer in steam, then look them up on https://www.co-optimus.com/ to see how many players they support.
I've had the idea of AR/mobile game that just recreates an existing game but using your location/movement to represent the character. Some constraints would be needed so it's not just an excercise simulator. The games I had in mind were snake/nibbles and Borderlands.
I really do feel like AR is the future, moreso than VR.
As technologists we have a tendency to want to build our own world instead of integrate into the real world. It's understandably easier/cleaner, but it strips out all the richness of the real world.
I want a game that actually reinforces the social fabric instead of simulates it. Something that encourages people to be together in the physical world (gasp!), have fun, have shared experiences/goals/challenges, and form lasting friendships.
I have very fond memories of lugging my computer (and CRT!) to my friends/family's house to have a LAN + pizza party. The best part for me wasn't necessarily the game itself. The games were fun but I really enjoyed the social aspect of talking about a tough dungeon or strategizing how to beat a challenging opponent.
It seems like the industry is trying its best to bring people into a simulated world but why not use games to bring people together into it instead?
Pokemon Go is probably the closest thing to this I've seen recently but the core gameplay was unfortunately pretty boring when it first started and became popular.