Adventure game: Difference between revisions

A {{Nihongo|visual novel|ビジュアルノベル|bijuaru noberu}} is a hybrid of text and graphical adventure games, typically featuring text-based story and interactivity aided by static or [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]-based visuals. They resemble mixed-media novels or [[tableau vivant]] stage plays. Most visual novels typically feature [[dialogue tree]]s, [[Nonlinear gameplay|branching storylines]], and [[multiple endings]].<ref>[http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-First-Free-Visual-Novel-Engine-Released-30725.shtml The First Free Visual Novel Engine Released], [[Softpedia]]</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1 = Cavallaro | first1 = Dani | title = Anime and the visual novel: narrative structure, design and play at the crossroads of animation and computer games | publisher = McFarland & Company | year = 2010 | pages = 78–79 | isbn = 978-0-7864-4427-4}}</ref> The format has its primary origins in Japanese and other Asian video game markets, typically for personal computers and more recently on handheld consoles or mobile devices. The format did not gain much traction in Western markets,<ref name=ANN>{{cite web|date=8 February 2006 |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-02-08/amn-and-anime-advanced-announce-anime-game-demo-downloads |title=AMN and Anime Advanced Announce Anime Game Demo Downloads |publisher=Hirameki International Group Inc. |access-date=1 December 2006 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319205815/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-02-08/amn-and-anime-advanced-announce-anime-game-demo-downloads |archive-date=19 March 2007 }}</ref> but started gaining more success since the late 2000s.<ref name="Olympian">[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=OLPB&s_site=theolympian&f_site=theolympian&f_sitename=Olympian%2C+The+%28WA%29&p_multi=OLPB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=117221BC67C30BF0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Gameplay of the Week – Two new engaging DS adventures hit the spot], ''[[The Olympian]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20160126111339/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=OLPB&s_site=theolympian&f_site=theolympian&f_sitename=Olympian%2C+The+%28WA%29&p_multi=OLPB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=117221BC67C30BF0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Archived] from the original on January 26, 2016 on the [[Wayback Machine]].''</ref><ref>Kurt Kalata, Sotenga, Jason Withrow, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160121093118/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/phoenixwright/phoenixwright.htm Phoenix Wright], Hardcore Gaming 101</ref>

''[[Myst]]'', released in 1993 by [[Cyan Worlds]], is considered one of the genre's more influential titles. ''Myst'' included pre-rendered 3D graphics, video, and audio.{{sfn|Salter|2014|pp=46–47}} ''Myst'' was an atypical game for the time, with no clear goals, little personal or object interaction, and a greater emphasis on exploration, and on scientific and mechanical puzzles. Part of the game's success was because it did not appear to be aimed at an adolescent male audience, but instead a mainstream adult audience. ''Myst'' held the record for computer game sales for seven years—it sold over ninesix million copies on all platforms, a feat not surpassed until the release of ''[[The Sims]]'' in 2000.<ref name="best-selling">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-sims-overtakes-myst/1100-2857556/ |title=The Sims overtakes Myst |access-date=17 March 2008 |author=Walker, Trey |date=22 March 2002 |work=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108083121/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-sims-overtakes-myst/1100-2857556/ |archive-date=8 January 2014 }}</ref> In addition, ''Myst'' is considered to be the "killer app" that drove mainstream adoption of CD-ROM drives, as the game was one of the first to be distributed solely on CD-ROM, forgoing the option of floppy disks.<ref name="ign retro">{{cite web|author=Staff |date=1 August 2000 |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/082/082913p1.html |title=RC Retroview: Myst |website=IGN |access-date=21 April 2008 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120054557/http://pc.ign.com/articles/082/082913p1.html |archive-date=20 January 2012 }}</ref>{{r|1up}} ''Myst''{{'}}s successful use of mixed-media led to its own sequels, and other puzzle-based adventure games, using mixed-media such as ''[[The 7th Guest]]''. With many companies attempting to capitalize on the success of ''Myst'', a glut of similar games followed its release, which contributed towards the start of the decline of the adventure game market in 2000.{{r|arstech gfx history}} Nevertheless, the American market research firm NPD FunWorld reported that adventure games were the best-selling genre of the 1990s, followed by [[strategy video game]]s. Writer [[Mark H. Walker]] attributed this dominance in part to ''Myst''.<ref name=gamesthatsell>{{cite book |author=Walker, Mark H. |author-link=Mark H. Walker |title=Games That Sell! |date=June 25, 2003 |publisher=Wordware Publishing |isbn=155622950X |page=14 }}</ref>

The 1990s also saw the release of many adventure games from countries that had experienced dormant or fledgling video gaming industries up until that point. These games were generally inspired by their Western counterparts and a few years behind in terms of technological and graphical advancements. In particular the fall of the Soviet Union saw countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia release a string of popular adventure games including ''[[Tajemnica Statuetki]]'' (1993) and ''[[The Secret of Monkey Island]]'' parody ''[[Tajemství Oslího ostrova]]'' (1994), while in Russia a whole subgenre informally entitled "Russian quest" emerged following the success of ''[[Red Comrades Save the Galaxy]]'' (1998) and its sequels: those games often featured characters from [[Russian jokes]], [[lowbrow humor]], poor production values and "all the worst things brought by the national gaming industry".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oldgames.sk/mag/riki-8/page/31/|title=www.oldgames.sk :: Časopisy BiT, Excalibur, Score, Riki|website=www.oldgames.sk|access-date=2019-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/secretservicemagazine-1993-08|title=Secret Service Magazine (August 1993)|date=August 1993|language=pl}}</ref><ref>Kirill Nikiforov. [https://www.igromania.ru/article/31389/Russkiy_kvest_bessmyslennyy_i_besposchadnyy._Kak_rodilsya_i_umer_legendarnyy_zhanr.html Russian quest: senseless and merciless. The birth and death of the legendary genre] article from [[Igromania]], 13 August 2020 (in Russian)</ref> Israel had next to a non-existent video gaming industry due to a preference for those with useful skills such as programming to work for the Israeli army instead, nevertheless ''[[Piposh]]'' (1999) became extremely popular, to the point where 20 years later [[Piposh (2019 video game)|a reboot was released]] due to a grassroots fan movement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://il.ign.com/pypvsh-pc/39060/interview/pypvsh-2018-ryvn-bldy-m-yvtsry-hmshkhq-hkhdsh