When one looks at the relationships between video games and other forms of entertainment, few are as fascinating as that of games and toys. Today it is easy to see the influence that figurines have considering the incredible success of Amiibo, Disney Infinity, and Skylanders. However, when you look back a decade or two, you’ll find an industry desperately trying to present itself as more than just for kids. Of course, it was thanks to a particular toy that the video game industry was able to grow into what it is today.

The Crash

Whether you were alive at the time or not, most gamers are familiar with the video game crash of the early 1980s. These dark years saw revenues plummet from $3 billion to less than $100 million, all caused by a market flooded with terrible games, poor publishing decisions, and a few other reasons. Thanks to high-profile disasters like the infamous Atari 2600 console and E.T. game, no one wanted anything to do with video games from 1983 to 1985 (including the stores that once sold them).

As one may guess, this didn’t fare well for companies that still had hope in their medium. Looking to win back the hearts of gamers who had lost all confidence in video games, Nintendo completely changed their strategy by implementing plans like the Official Nintendo Seal of Quality. This guaranteed that games developed for their Nintendo Entertainment System were not only good, but also honest in their marketing. Beforehand, developers would use exaggerated visuals in commercials and on the game pack itself, which left consumers feeling deceived when the game was of far lesser quality.

Nintendo’s Toy

Although these new plans were working, many retailers were still hesitant about carrying video game consoles on their store shelves. Due to this, Nintendo decided to pair up their NES system with an accessory that most people are only familiar with thanks to the Super Smash Bros. games: R.O.B. (Short for “Robotic Operating Buddy”). This toy helped convince retailers to sell Nintendo’s console, seeing as it was enough to differentiate the NES from previous consoles that collected dust on their shelves for years.

Even though R.O.B. was only produced for a short while, it is considered as part of one of the smartest moves in gaming history for one reason: it worked. Despite being a simple accessory with very few uses, it helped spark enough interest in video games again; enough so that pretty soon the industry would be stronger than ever before.

Not Just For Kids

Fast-forward to the 90’s, and you’ll find yourself in an era where the video game industry is doing everything it can to separate itself from the label of “toy”. The idea that video games were only for children and younger teenagers was still very strong, brought on mostly by the fact that they were the ones filling up arcades in the late 80s and early 90s. Knowing that this demographic consists of people with no jobs, game companies tried their best to catch the interest of adults capable of purchasing more games and consoles.

Companies like Sony and Microsoft proved very effective in drawing the attention of older teenagers and adults by making their consoles look more like high-tech machines than toys. Popular games like Halo, Final Fantasy VII, and GoldenEye 007 were a few of the many titles used to attract older gamers by delivering mature storylines and gameplay. It wasn’t as much an attempt to differentiate video games from toys as it was to finally be considered a legitimate entertainment medium akin to movies and television.

The Toys To Life Era

In the year 2015 (as of this writing), things have drastically changed, as some of the most successful games today can only be fully enjoyed with physical figurines. It all started when Activision hit a goldmine upon releasing Skylanders in 2011, which proved far more popular than they could have ever imagined. This lead to Disney stepping in with their own “toys to life” series with Disney Infinity, which has seen its own explosion in popularity by using their expansive catalog of iconic characters.

Who would have thought that Nintendo would end up benefiting the most out of selling such figures? Amiibo are so hot right now that Iwata and company can’t even keep up with demand, as fans frantically search for ways to get their hands on a particular figurine. It appears as though toys have made a full comeback in the gaming industry, which leads us to wonder what else may make a return in the near future.

[su_note]Want to design and develop video games? Learn more about the School of Game Design at the New York Film Academy.[/su_note]

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One of the most beloved genres in gaming continues to be the role-playing game (RPG). It’s in these games that we often truly feel like we are in the shoes of the characters as they explore different lands, face titanic enemies, and befriend others throughout their adventure. It’s the feeling of helping to shape the world by completing quests, defeating bosses, and progressing through the main story that has always engrossed us.

We can all think of an RPG that in our opinion serves as the perfect embodiment of a certain element that makes this genre so captivating. Below are a few of our own choices along with what any aspiring RPG developer can take from these superb titles:

1. Have a Meaningful Story and Characters

Even though there are plenty of RPGs that are known for their gameplay, it’s often the charming stories that draw us in. We fall in love with a good RPG narrative after spending several dozen hours with a group of characters as they overcome challenges, form special bonds, and perhaps even suffer unexpected fates. When it comes to characters and story, it’s hard not to bring up the Final Fantasy series.

Almost every title in the main series has boasted its own cast of interesting characters that must prevent a certain evil from destroying the world. Even if the plots sound the same, titles like FF6 and FF7 feel like entirely different experiences thanks to the unique characters, great protagonists they face, and more. Unless you’re able to yourself, there’s no other genre we recommend more that you find yourself a talented writer.

2. Go For Something Inventive

Considering how many RPGs release each year, your best bet at having yours stand out from the crowd is by having it deliver something that feels new. We know this is easier said than done, but we’re willing to assume that if a gamer has just dropped 40+ hours on a turn-based RPG with practically the same gameplay as yours, they may not be as interested. You don’t have to completely change the genre, but your RPG should have a gameplay twist of some kind that makes it feel fresh and exciting.

There’s no better example than the original Pokemon Red and Blue titles. Despite having the same turn-based combat and random battle encounters as other RPGs, these games started a revolution by offering 151 different Pokemon to catch and train. By also pushing the idea of trading with others, Game Freak created a franchise that to this day remains for the most part unchanged in terms of gameplay but still continues selling like crazy across the globe.

3. Give Players A World to Get Lost In

Even if your RPG boasts great characters and fun gameplay, having a dull world to explore may just be the reason why many will be turned off. If there’s anything we have learned in the industry when it comes to some of the more recent RPGs, it’s that gamers love traversing massive worlds in hopes of encountering new quests, hidden treasures, exotic towns, dangerous dungeons, and more.

Two fantastic titles come to mind when thinking about worlds that immediately entice players: Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. Despite being very different games in terms of setting, Bethesda Softworks was able to have both; offer fascinating worlds by sprinkling notable characters, moving quests, and interesting places to check out. At every corner we felt like the digital world in these titles were alive and connected.

4. Why Not All of The Above?

This is the part where we take the opportunity to mention why Chrono Trigger is a must-play for anyone who ever plans on designing their own role-playing game. There are countless amazing titles that released in the 90s, but very few have stood the test of time the way that Crono’s time-traveling adventure has. Spearheaded by some of the most creative minds in the industry at the time, this game perfectly embodies everything you should want in your own RPG.

From fantastic gameplay, an engrossing world, and memorable story, to the multiple endings, meaningful side-quests, and emotional dramatic moments, this legendary title was nothing short of groundbreaking when it released. We’re confident that those who have tried capturing the same magic of Chrono Trigger, whether they succeeded or not, were inspired to make an excellent RPG.

[su_note]Want to design and develop video games? Learn more about the School of Game Design at the New York Film Academy. Campuses in New York and Los Angeles.[/su_note]

Last on our “Learning From The Best” series is a genre that only recently began making a comeback after a few years of seeing little attention. For many of us, it all started back in the late 80s and early 90s, when teenagers and adults alike flooded arcades to see who was the best at Street Fighter, The King of Fighters, and other great titles. Console gamers also enjoyed a rich library of fighting games throughout the decade, with groundbreaking (and often controversial) games like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Marvel vs. Capcom.

But eventually the genre started suffering a descent in popularity that would continue for nearly two decades. Plenty of great games from renowned franchises were released, but it was clear that fighting games were past their most prominent days. Fortunately, our fire for these games began growing again with the help of titles like Super Smash Bros, Street Fighter IV, and a few reboots.

The following are some ideas that we agree help make a fighting game both irresistible to play, and fun to watch:

Characters That Stand Out

It doesn’t matter how great a fighting game’s mechanics are, or how large their character roster is, if every fighter feels the same. In fact, they should not only have unique movesets, but should also look attractive and interesting. We’re not saying that one or few characters can’t play somewhat the same, like Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter, but there should be some variety or else your players will quickly get bored.

Besides the fast-paced gameplay, BlazBlue has always attracted gamers due to its colorful cast of characters. Robotic girls with floating swords, black blob-like creatures, giant red cyborgs, and the inevitable scantily-clad girl with animal ears; suffice to say, there’s no lack in diversity. But more importantly, every character not only looks different, but also plays nothing like the rest. Even if your fighting game ends up having less than 10 characters, make each one of them fun to play and you’ll have no problem gaining a crowd of fans.

A Great Story Mode

Truth be told, the average fighting game enthusiast isn’t likely to invest their time and money in a title simply for its single-player mode. This may be because this genre, which is far from the best in terms of a storytelling tool, is more about competing against other human players. However, it’s a huge plus when there’s a good story mode that lets you get familiar with characters, learn interesting backstories, and more.

A well-crafted game that ended up being a major success, both critically and commercially, Soul Calibur II had one of the better single-player modes of any fighting game at the time. It involved completing a variety of missions that offered interesting story texts as well as gold, which was used to buy new weapons and other unlockables. Watching the narrative unfold as you fight with characters wielding an arsenal of different weapons was far more enjoyable than the “fight through the roster” story modes that other games have.

A Fun, Approachable Combo System

There’s nothing more fun that putting together a string of hits that completely devastates your foe, especially when you’ve spent hours trying to perfect that very combo. At the same time, it’s easy for players to pick up a fighting game once and never touch it again if they find themselves frustrated by the fact that it only takes one failed block for their opponent to bring their health down to zero. In other words, combos should be fun to perform but not impossible to break out of.

Although there are plenty of good examples, we can’t help but go with Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Despite being a Wii title with a roster filled with Japanese anime characters, it was praised for serving as the return of vs.-style gameplay. These titles have a mechanic called “Mega Crash” that can be performed at almost any time to break your opponent’s combo.

A Dab Of Innovation

To the average person, every fighting game appears the same. After choosing your characters (and sometimes stage), the players then press buttons either wildly or intelligently until one of the two is defeated. But to a game designer and avid fighting gamer, this is hardly the case. We know why Marvel vs Capcom, Tekken, and Guilty Gear, – or Dead or Alive and Killer Instinct – are different. To anyone considering developing their own fighting game, we recommend that you study how the little gameplay differences, not visuals or story, are what  truly what set them all apart.

Of course, there’s only one game series we can think of that was infused with enough novelty to truly feel unlike any other fighting game out there: Super Smash Bros. Now one of the most popular games of the genre, the original Smash was groundbreaking for its gameplay that involved trying to knock opponents off the stage instead of depleting a health bar. Four players, unique character playstyles, and a percent-based system are a few of the many ways Nintendo did what they do best: innovate.

[su_note]Want a career in game design? Learn more about the School of Game Design at the New York Film Academy. [/su_note]