Games Are Not Good Enough For Adults, Says Journey Creator

Jenova Chen, the creator of PlayStation Network title Journey, has said the majority of games are not stimulating enough for adults.

He explained to Gamasutra that in order for games to appeal to maturer audiences they need to implement 'relevant' themes more.

My biggest complaint for computer games so far is they are not good enough for adults. For adults to enjoy something, they need to have intellectual stimulation, something that's related to real life. Playing poker teaches you how to deceive people, and that's relevant to real life. A headshot with a sniper rifle is not relevant to real life. Games have to be relevant intellectually.

You also need depth. You have the adventure – the thrill of the adventure – but you want the goosebumps too.

thatgamecompany, Chen's studio, will be looking to instill his aforementioned thoughts on what a game should deliver:

Can games make you and another human learn something intellectual and relevant from each other? Can games make you and another human experience an emotion that's deep enough to touch adults? I'm working on all of that. Making emotional games and making them intellectually relevant; making games where people can connect and come together.

Chen had recently said PlayStation Network players are "more likely to be interested in artistic games".