Monster Raising games such as:

Pokemon

Dragon Warrior Monsters

Monster Rancher

Jade Cocoon 1

Digimon

Jade Cocoon 2

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker

Dino RPG [Browser Based]

[These are ordered in a timeline of when I experienced them in my life. (Top of the list was first, Bottom was most recent)]

They have inspired me to try my hand in the indie game industry. I have been working on and off the same project for the last 4 years and now I am charging in full force spending 4-6 hours a day on it. Any feedback and comments on this type of game-play would definitely help keep me motivated [my biggest vice ^=^] and possible inspire me on the way!

I just want to see what people thought of these games, still enjoy playing them and if this genre is still viable for developing a game in. I also would like to see what people would put these games/genre's target audience in. I feel these type of games are smaller then other genres and I absolutely love playing them!

V/R
Josh

I have not jumped into those types of games mostly because it's hard for those games to sell themselves to me. I imagine that I will play Blizzard's version that will be added in their next expansion (http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a347297/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-adds-pokemon-like-pet-battles.html). Even that will be more of it's here in a game I'm already playing so I'll check it out.

So, there are a few more million people about to be introduced to the playstyle. I think it is a very viable genre. Having a low barrier to entry for the game (web-based) would certainly be icing on the cake. Good luck with your project. Stick with it!

Yes, I saw that addition to the next World of Warcraft expansion and was like, "Ah, what the fuck." Because it was so similar to what I am working towards. It didn't frustrate me though, I looked at it as a great opportunity to expose many (like you!) who haven't experienced the Monster Raising genre. Maybe some who play that in WoW will realize that they enjoy it and look for other similar games.

Thank you for your support! I will definitely try my best to stay motivated and continue my work!

Hmm. 5 votes for yes. 0 for no. 1 comment. ^=^

V/R
Josh

What? There're that many of these?? I suppose I've always had a bit of a soft spot for pokemon, and I got black edition of that recently just to try it out (hadn't played one since Pokemon Blue!), and that's fun sooo... I guess I have to say yes, I do enjoy them.

Certainly not my favorite genre though, and I don't know what to think of this new WoW expansion. I stopped playing WoW ages ago, but I just can't get over the pandas. Really? Going from giant flaming dragons that shatter the world to pandas and pokemon?! Anyway I digress

However, what sort of variety is there to these? I'm sure there're many more ideas out there besides pokemon - I suppose one thing I don't like about pokemon is the focus on collecting a ton of pokemon ,rather than focusing more on a select few. Then again, you do kinda get the choice to do so...

Enjoyed Pokemon Red/Blue. Didn't care for the rest. Digimon games were really bad. It depends how it's done that matters. I was kid when those kinds of things were cool. If I picked up Pokemon nowadays I'd probably go "wow what a grind" and put it back down.

Would be cool to see something online. I know there was a huge push years ago for an MMO pokemon games since it had demand but no one really went for it except the illegal ones.

Favimon is always fun.

The PC is surely lacking in these kinds of games, I'd say it's a very ripe market.

Indeed, monster raising games are great. I mean, almost everyone has a pet, or at least an affinity for animals. What's better than raising a digital one, especially if it's interactive? (C'mon, be honest, walking the dog IRL is not as fun.)

I imagine the best kind of games are those that actually let you play as the pet as you go. Look a The Sims 3: Pets. I see their friggin poster each time I visit any place that hosts games. Pets are a great opportunity, and now that both Warcraft and Sims 3 jumped at it, saturation will follow shortly.

Not to say that there isn't room for a DEDICATED game, focused on the aspect. The GameBoy Advance game Hamster Paradise had me engaged for months, even after things went batsh*t crazy with some demons and other dimensions.

In general, there aren't that many titles that allow you to play as an animal -- and I reckon most of us did wonder how it is, being a dog/cat and living a life of food/sleep. Spice it up with fantasy, and you have a friggin hit, such as Okami.

Should you get any further on that idea, do keep me posted -- I'd love to test it out or drop a few ideas, maybe even help out a little

Hmmm. I like the feedback.
*Taking notes*

The pro's of a web based game in my opinion (Or PC) is the ability to play against a greater number of players from around the world. This is important because my game wants to focus on a very specific part of game play - Arenas. Pitting your hard trained monster team against another persons monster team. For items, gold and glory ^=^ It definitly should appeal to tactic game lovers as well. . .

I don't think these monster raising games of my childhood ever let me do that. And if they did, it was definitely not as easy as it is nowadays.

Anyone want to throw a targeted audience group out there? I think most monster raising games target a younger audience, but that doesn't mean it isn't played by adults (Pokemon I'm looking at you!).

V/R
Josh

Your target audience should be described rather by gender and preference to games. I'm 24 and proud of having a level 64 Nidoking, trashing each and every other pokemon (apart from those damn ghost types...).

Typically, if you include said battles, it will be more likelly males -- if it is purelly about breeding, women would be more inclined to play as well (sprinkling it with cute graphics would enhance the experience for them). In general, a female is inclined to play games that allow teamwork, caring, raising, and expression of all other behaviours hard-coded to their genes. Males on the other hand will enjoy the competition, the "path to glory" they can undertake with their companion -- we are descendants of territorial warriors! (sounds silly, said by a geek...)

Browser based will also attract a different type of audience, and the game will be played longer and more frequently (as with all browser games, they are more easilly accessed). Then again, you limit some features that browser based games can't have, or which diminish it's accesibility. For example, having battles that you can control in 3D in a browser requires a fairly powerfull machine, and typically a set of plugins, which could be unavailable in some places (workplace, school etc).

Basically, the audience depends heavilly on the features you are giving. From what I can gather now, it will be primary school kids - young adults, mostly male (unless there is an activity that is equivalent to combat somewhere hidden there), coming from the era of Pokemon (the newer kids might be influenced by the tidal wave of unjustified hate to Pokemon) or just inclined to like pet games.

Does anyone remember the Creatures games? I'd like to have that type of game in a open world mmo environment. I planned to do it, but it's a way too big project for me.