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How important is theme integration/ personality/ soul to you?

Jib

Jib

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Northamptonshire
I feel like this didn’t use to matter to me very much but recently it’s taken priority for me over better gameplay.

I get bored of games that I feel don’t have personality much quicker than games that engage me in that way even if objectively I can see the one with less personality is a better game.

Maybe it’s because I think there are lots of games with great layouts and rules and far less games that I feel have soul, make me laugh or join in with call-outs etc.

Anyway, how much does personality/ soul matter to you over pure gameplay and rules? Has it changed over time?
 
Over time, I’ve realised gameplay and flow matter more to me, as I’ve got a better feel for what I enjoy. That said, theme definitely plays a part when it comes to what I’d actually own. I’m fine playing a game on location even if I don’t like the theme, but I wouldn’t buy one for home.


I’ve owned games where I was pretty indifferent to the theme, but if it’s a theme I love, it definitely makes me pull the trigger quicker. For example, I really don’t like the Deadpool theme—game’s decent, but I’d never own one, as the theme just gets in the way of the fun for me.
 
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Theme, theme, theme and it does have to play well. James bond was a dream theme for me however the pin I just don't like
 
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zxspectrum16k said:
Over time, I’ve realised gameplay and flow matter more to me, as I’ve got a better feel for what I enjoy.
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I think this is the direction most people go in, start out buying on theme or nostalgia and then as they get more into playing, gameplay matters more. I seem to be going in the opposite direction 😂 Gameplay still matters but less than it use to and if it doesn’t engage me in other ways it won’t hold my interest anymore.
 
Theme would stop me buying some games (e.g. something with loads of gore on it like Evil Dead or TWD wouldn’t fly… they live in our dining room 🤣) but I don’t have any “dream themes” which would lead me to buy without considering gameplay.

Quirky call-outs and personality are fun but I play my games a LOT, so even the wittiest of one-liners isn’t going to keep me sustained for very long. Good gameplay does
 
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Taxiturn said:
Theme would stop me buying some games (e.g. something with loads of gore on it like Evil Dead or TWD wouldn’t fly… they live in our dining room 🤣) but I don’t have any “dream themes” which would lead me to buy without considering gameplay.

Quirky call-outs and personality are fun but I play my games a LOT, so even the wittiest of one-liners isn’t going to keep me sustained for very long. Good gameplay does
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Lol I'm the same it live in our living room/dinning room id ove an evil dead but thats a bit much and walking dead is just plain ugly
 
My first pin was chosen completely on gameplay (I'm not exactly a fishing fan) but, as with others, there are themes that are just 'icky' for me - and it's usually blood-splattered horror.

I'm more favourably inclined to pins that I like based on the theme, but I'd never buy something on that basis.

Mostly, apart from gameplay, I like *personality* in a pin. The original-theme B/W pins were often very good for this, and some of the modern titles, especially GZ, also have it in spades (the literal 'goat' is a highlight that jumps to mind).

I was playing GTF at Pinfest, a pin I've always enjoyed due to its sheer force-of-personality. I was chortling along to the ridiculous cow noises and commentating my husband's play with "HOLD MY SCEPTER!" Most of AP's pins tend to *try* to be funny, but this is a rare one where the humour lands.

I think personality is probably, also, the integration of the theme with quirky little details, such as the pop-up Firey on the outlane of Labyrinth, or the increasingly absurd animations for MOVE YOUR CAR on CFTBL. It just adds an extra level of interest - some extra "oomph".

 
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VeeMonroe said:
My first pin was chosen completely on gameplay (I'm not exactly a fishing fan) but, as with others, there are themes that are just 'icky' for me - and it's usually blood-splattered horror.

I'm more favourably inclined to pins that I like based on the theme, but I'd never buy something on that basis.

Mostly, apart from gameplay, I like *personality* in a pin. The original-theme B/W pins were often very good for this, and some of the modern titles, especially GZ, also have it in spades (the literal 'goat' is a highlight that jumps to mind).

I was playing GTF at Pinfest, a pin I've always enjoyed due to its sheer force-of-personality. I was chortling along to the ridiculous cow noises and commentating my husband's play with "HOLD MY SCEPTER!" Most of AP's pins tend to *try* to be funny, but this is a rare one where the humour lands.

I think personality is probably, also, the integration of the theme with quirky little details, such as the pop-up Firey on the outlane of Labyrinth, or the increasingly absurd animations for MOVE YOUR CAR on CFTBL. It just adds an extra level of interest - some extra "oomph".

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The topper alone on Labyrinth has more personality than some machines! Getting Labyrinth and Kong at about the same time is really what’s made me realise how my preferences are changing. I think objectively Kong is a better game but I’m way more engaged and have more fun on Labyrinth.
 
Both have to be right for me.

Take a simple game such as WCS. It’s fun. Not the deepest game but I’d have another if one came along in decent nick and at the right price.

Tweak it slightly and rebrand it to say Chelsea and I’d have zero interest in playing it on location let alone giving it precious floor space in the house.

Tweak it slightly more and make it a generic game about Rugby or netball and I’d again totally pass on it.

Tweak Iron Maiden to Travis Scott and it’s going to sit there gathering dust.

Give me a Cthulhu theme and even if the game is a dud I’d initially be interested.
 
Both for me too.

Kong and Godzilla probably shoot better than Jaws but it's my favourite Elwin game/package by far with probably Jurassic Park next which again is down to theme.

However, theme itself is not enough to support a pants shooting game.

But theme only really matters to me for 'keepers', I'm quite happy to play a good game with a crap theme for a few months and still enjoy it.
 
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