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Journey creator: "Games are not good enough for adults"

Jenova Chen calls for more "intellectual stimulation".

Most video games are just not stimulating enough for grown adults, so says Journey creator Jenova Chen.

Speaking in an interview with Gamasutra, Chen suggested that for games to appeal to a more mature audience they need to include more "relevant" themes.

"My biggest complaint for computer games so far is they are not good enough for adults," he said.

"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."

That's clearly something Chen is shooting for with thatgamecompany's next project, which is still under wraps.

"Can games make you and another human learn something intellectual and relevant from each other?" he asked.

"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."

Thatgamecompany's last release, thoughtful PSN download Journey, picked up a glowing 9/10 from Eurogamer earlier this year.