The State of Adventure Gaming–November 1998

The State of Adventure Gaming

By Randy Sluganski
November 1998

This time of year baffles me. Gaming companies have all year to release their products, but they inevitably wait until November because there is this unfounded urban myth that computer games will only sell during the height of the frenzied Christmas buying season. In the words of a man named Scrooge, “Bah humbug!” A good game will always sell regardless of the season. This misconception is reinforced when games are released in the spring and summer with little or no fanfare. Then when they bomb miserably, the gaming companies point fingers and whisper, “See, we told you the genre was dead.” If these same companies would only improve their antiquated marketing and advertising strategies, well then maybe we could be blessed with new releases spread throughout the year instead of being bombarded with 10 new releases in a little over a month.

We at JA hope to educate and entertain you this month with reviews of Grim Fandango, Trespasser, Redguard and The Blackstone Chronicles, to name just a few. We will also have an exclusive review of a new adventure game that many of you don’t even know exists. Plus, if Craig is a good boy, we will give him a cookie and a glass of milk and let him review Sabrina the Teenage Witch for our younger readers. Throw in the long-delayed interview with John Saul and an exclusive conversation with Roberta Williams and you will have to agree that JA has prepared a November feast fit for Thanksgiving. Cindy, Stu, Craig, Pete, Evan, Matt and me will all be here to fill your minds with wonderment after you have filled your bellies with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Speaking of which, I thought it would be interesting to ask the readers to send us an e-mail nominating what adventure game they consider to be the biggest turkey of all time and why. We will then accumulate all of the responses and incorporate them into a future article. Sounds like it could be fun.

Did I hear someone say party? Well, JA is going to a party and we are taking our readers along. Mindscape is throwing a shindig in a haunted mansion to publicize the release of The Blackstone Chronicles. What goes on behind the scenes at these PR parties? Will my pockets be lined with gold? Will I escape the ghostly evening with my senses intact? Be here next week as we all discover these answers together as JA takes you where no web site has dared to go before. Toga … toga …

‘Til next month. Happy Thanksgiving. Let’s feast on good games and good food.