Comic books are beloved for many reasons, including creativity and expansive storytelling. Their artistic quality, main themes, and communication style can vary depending on the intended audience and purpose of the work. Still, this art form is universally seen as less formal and more engaging than disciplines such as theatre, film, or literature.
Some of the unique characteristics of comics have inspired online games, which tend to be easy to play and quick to cause players to feel deeply attached to them. Here are some ways in which this connection can be realized while preserving the main benefits for the end users.
Hero’s Journey as the Central Motif
The vast majority of comics have central characters that advance the story and serve as an emotional anchor for the reader. We are curious to learn what happens next to the protagonist, so we keep flipping the pages in search of a resolution and root for him to overcome all obstacles on his path. The hero can be a person, an anthropomorphic animal, or even a smart machine – the world of comic books is broad enough to allow for these freedoms without affecting the outcome. The main point is to have the audience identify with the main character, making them more invested in his fortunes.
This principle works well in other media, most notably in iGames that have a good backstory. In some cases, the characters can be directly licensed from existing comics to capitalize on their popularity. Some of the examples include major comic book franchises, like Spiderman or Incredible Hulk, thus attracting fans of the original franchise to try the game. In other situations, iGames developers can create heroes that are only distantly related to comic book characters or inspired by them.
Simple Visuals as an Efficient Communication Channel
Artwork is a big part of comics’ popularity – for some people, it may be more important and expressive than the story. This is true even though graphics are typically less detailed in comics than in other visual media, or perhaps precisely because of it. Casual style and simplified images require less attention to register and comprehend, making it much easier to follow the events. Comics also make great use of symbols and props, relying on them to add extra meaning to every slide.
There are both practical and stylistic reasons why simple visuals work so well in the iGaming industry. By definition, online games require the player to be focused on the gameplay and active management of resources, which is why too complex visuals could be detrimental. Symbols are also instrumental for communicating game rules instantly, and they are common not only in slot games where they are virtually irreplaceable but also in many other iGaming genres.
Unpredictable Storytelling Enhances Anticipation
Since comics are not bound by the need to be realistic, they can entertain a wider range of possible scenarios and lead the characters through some quirky and volatile situations. In effect, the reader can never be sure what will occur in the next part of the story and has to pay attention to minor clues to catch the foreshadowed twists. This is especially evident in comic books intended for adult readers, as they are less likely to fit into a neatly defined blueprint.
Games are found on websites like WOOM.BET often utilizes a similar concept to stay fresh during multiple play sessions. They can make things even more unpredictable by associating story elements with player actions and randomly determined outcomes. Many games have special features that can only be unlocked if certain conditions are met, so they can still surprise experienced players. Keeping the player on the edge is great for engagement, and it improves the chance that a game will have a long shelf life while creating profits for the operators.
Using Multiple Installments to Keep the Story Running
We are all aware of comic book franchises that have been around for decades, yet remain relevant due to constantly changing themes and content. Once they become established and find an audience, comics take their heroes through a wide variety of challenges and elaborate plots that require a longer format than most comic books afford. The solution is to continue releasing new episodes, each of which can function as a standalone but still has clear connections with the earlier material.
The same is true for successful iGames, which are often given a sequel after a couple of years. Launching a game that is a direct continuation of a previous title simplifies development as well as promotion, which positively impacts the bottom line. This also makes the fans of the original game very happy and gives them another reason to turn into loyal fans. The link between installments can be quite shallow – simply using the same title, bringing back the main characters, and maintaining a similar visual style is enough for the players to recognize the new game as a part of a larger series.
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