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I will only buy a game if I'm confident that it'll last for a long time. If there's anything that I really hate, it has to be when I buy a game and finish it within the same day. The only real exception to this rule has to have been Rez, which although I completed in just over an hour, I (strangely) keep going back to play it. What gets at me, is the lifespan of games, and why developers try to put things in to make you play a game for longer.
In a typical racing game, there will be a number of different championships ranging from easy to hard. Completing any will give you the 'ending' credits, but what really annoys me is that to technically 'finish' the game, you have to race every championship just to unlock a crappy little worthless car (worthless because you won't use it - you've just finished the game completely). It could be a jolly old laugh if it wasn't for the lazy developers. What am I talking about? The fact that each 'championship' is exactly the same albeit with one extra track and harder AI. My idea of fun is definitely not repeating the same racing process continuously while then later being continuously beaten by cheating AI. Developers need to put a bit of ingenuity into extending a game's lifespan.
Unlockable extras aren't fun to get, and aren't a worthy prize. Take Wave Race Blue Storm for example - I spent literally days perfecting the expert tracks in Time Trial, only to find that when I did finish them I unlocked a course which was bland, boring and most importantly a 'lunchtime' track which could have been put together in a meager few hours. This annoyed me, and I generally tend to stop playing a racing game when it starts to require a great deal of practice - the rewards just aren't worth it.
But cheeky developers don't just con you into replaying over and over again in racing games, it happens in all genres. Whether that be with the frankly aweful 'collect the dog tags' of Metal Gear Solid 2, or the 'use a different sphere grid' of Final Fantasy X; I don't want to replay a game which only offers a few minor changes the second time round. I want a different challenge the second time - not harder AI and different abilities.
I could almost predict that developers expect you to play the game again, judging by how short they're tending to make the game the first time round. I've come to accept Final Fantasy games as gargantuan - my timer is on over 100 hours on Final Fantasy 8 - but on Final Fantasy 10 I'm only on about 27 hours, and I guarantee that within 30 I could finish the games. Although, picking on FF is a bit harsh considering that the main game is still triple that of many others. Added to that, there are still plenty of mini-games for me to enjoy along the way.
In fact, I think that mini-games are probably the most satisfying unlockable extra. Super Monkey Ball had three brilliant mini-games to unlock, which on their own could account for a fairly decent game. Anything from simple slot machines, a card game or simulation of a simple sport could add hours of extra lifespan and make up for the length of the proper game. I said earlier that I finished Final Fantasy 8 in over 100 hours, but that's only with the added fact that I completed every mini-game including the queen of cards quest. To finish the actual game would have taken less than half this time.
But its only worth making these extras available if people are going to play them. Putting something special at the end of a game like Final Fantasy will result in very few people actually getting it - although I doubt that anybody who owns FF10 won't want to finish the game. Unlockable extras have to be brilliant unlockable extras if its the main aim of the player.
That said, giving a meager extra few vehicles is pathetic. As I said earlier, who's going to want to use a 'special' car if you've just finished the game. Extra challenges using this special car would be a brilliant extra, but I think that developers feel satisfied with giving you something to unlock.
And then comes the case of cheat codes. If I had been able to unlock the final track in Wave Race via cheat codes, there is no way on this earth that I would have persisted with learning the racing line inside out. With the very commonplace use of cheat codes in loads of games, finishing it properly starts to become something of a joke. Especially if a cheat code offers special modes and extra abilities. If any developer with common sense had decided to give the effects of these cheat codes as rewards for completing the game, it would have meant people wanting to finish the game, not having to download cheat codes and enter a combination of button presses.
That said, Japanese developers trust the stereotype that western gamers don't finish their games. If this was truly the case, I'd accept it as a reason for the petty rewards on completion. And its only with determination that you can complete a game properly. It IS more rewarding to yourself completing a game honestly than using a cheat, and I know for sure that if there was a true, large and special thing to unlock at the end of a game, it would mean plenty more completees, and purchasers of future sequels.
And despite the fact that replaying FF10 means I can use a different sphere grid, I'm still going to anyway. And the simple reason is, because the game is totally brilliant anyway. I'm in no doubt that people will replay Metal Gear Solid 2 for the wealth of things to do. But in mediocre games, or ones which are just plain frustrating, no ample reward will result in no replaying.
And unlocking 'mirror mode' is the lamest excuse for an unlockable extra that I've ever seen. And yes, that includes Luigi's Mansion.
In a typical racing game, there will be a number of different championships ranging from easy to hard. Completing any will give you the 'ending' credits, but what really annoys me is that to technically 'finish' the game, you have to race every championship just to unlock a crappy little worthless car (worthless because you won't use it - you've just finished the game completely). It could be a jolly old laugh if it wasn't for the lazy developers. What am I talking about? The fact that each 'championship' is exactly the same albeit with one extra track and harder AI. My idea of fun is definitely not repeating the same racing process continuously while then later being continuously beaten by cheating AI. Developers need to put a bit of ingenuity into extending a game's lifespan.
Unlockable extras aren't fun to get, and aren't a worthy prize. Take Wave Race Blue Storm for example - I spent literally days perfecting the expert tracks in Time Trial, only to find that when I did finish them I unlocked a course which was bland, boring and most importantly a 'lunchtime' track which could have been put together in a meager few hours. This annoyed me, and I generally tend to stop playing a racing game when it starts to require a great deal of practice - the rewards just aren't worth it.
But cheeky developers don't just con you into replaying over and over again in racing games, it happens in all genres. Whether that be with the frankly aweful 'collect the dog tags' of Metal Gear Solid 2, or the 'use a different sphere grid' of Final Fantasy X; I don't want to replay a game which only offers a few minor changes the second time round. I want a different challenge the second time - not harder AI and different abilities.
I could almost predict that developers expect you to play the game again, judging by how short they're tending to make the game the first time round. I've come to accept Final Fantasy games as gargantuan - my timer is on over 100 hours on Final Fantasy 8 - but on Final Fantasy 10 I'm only on about 27 hours, and I guarantee that within 30 I could finish the games. Although, picking on FF is a bit harsh considering that the main game is still triple that of many others. Added to that, there are still plenty of mini-games for me to enjoy along the way.
In fact, I think that mini-games are probably the most satisfying unlockable extra. Super Monkey Ball had three brilliant mini-games to unlock, which on their own could account for a fairly decent game. Anything from simple slot machines, a card game or simulation of a simple sport could add hours of extra lifespan and make up for the length of the proper game. I said earlier that I finished Final Fantasy 8 in over 100 hours, but that's only with the added fact that I completed every mini-game including the queen of cards quest. To finish the actual game would have taken less than half this time.
But its only worth making these extras available if people are going to play them. Putting something special at the end of a game like Final Fantasy will result in very few people actually getting it - although I doubt that anybody who owns FF10 won't want to finish the game. Unlockable extras have to be brilliant unlockable extras if its the main aim of the player.
That said, giving a meager extra few vehicles is pathetic. As I said earlier, who's going to want to use a 'special' car if you've just finished the game. Extra challenges using this special car would be a brilliant extra, but I think that developers feel satisfied with giving you something to unlock.
And then comes the case of cheat codes. If I had been able to unlock the final track in Wave Race via cheat codes, there is no way on this earth that I would have persisted with learning the racing line inside out. With the very commonplace use of cheat codes in loads of games, finishing it properly starts to become something of a joke. Especially if a cheat code offers special modes and extra abilities. If any developer with common sense had decided to give the effects of these cheat codes as rewards for completing the game, it would have meant people wanting to finish the game, not having to download cheat codes and enter a combination of button presses.
That said, Japanese developers trust the stereotype that western gamers don't finish their games. If this was truly the case, I'd accept it as a reason for the petty rewards on completion. And its only with determination that you can complete a game properly. It IS more rewarding to yourself completing a game honestly than using a cheat, and I know for sure that if there was a true, large and special thing to unlock at the end of a game, it would mean plenty more completees, and purchasers of future sequels.
And despite the fact that replaying FF10 means I can use a different sphere grid, I'm still going to anyway. And the simple reason is, because the game is totally brilliant anyway. I'm in no doubt that people will replay Metal Gear Solid 2 for the wealth of things to do. But in mediocre games, or ones which are just plain frustrating, no ample reward will result in no replaying.
And unlocking 'mirror mode' is the lamest excuse for an unlockable extra that I've ever seen. And yes, that includes Luigi's Mansion.
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Difficulty levels are a bit lame though - what would be great is that different routes or areas become available on different difficulty levels. That would give more insentive to play again.
For people who have many games, they really need a reason to go back and play again, but those who only have a few games - casual gamers often - they'll play through games again because its all thats there. I'm sure it'll be more fun for these casuals if the replay value is higher.
For people who have many games, they really need a reason to go back and play again, but those who only have a few games - casual gamers often - they'll play through games again because its all thats there. I'm sure it'll be more fun for these casuals if the replay value is higher.
1) Max Payne was good but short. I still kept playing it again.
2) Developers add dificulty levels to make the game longer.
3) Well done with your well deserved GAD!
2) Developers add dificulty levels to make the game longer.
3) Well done with your well deserved GAD!
Hey, well done Half Pint! :D
I had a feeling you'd win! ;D
Maybe just a movie-demo would do??
Something like the Smash Bros. Melée one we saw at E3 last year.
I had a feeling you'd win! ;D
Maybe just a movie-demo would do??
Something like the Smash Bros. Melée one we saw at E3 last year.
Cheers, not sure what to claim though .
Well done, mate. Well deserved GAD win, once again :-)
It doesn't necessarily have to be beta version, perhaps a small demo version or something. Like what's shown at E3. Square could have included their E3 FF11 playable demo with 10 without getting a bad image.
Come to think of it, this has kind of already happened - FF6 for the PSone came with a playable FF10 demo. Heck, I bought it just for the demo!
Come to think of it, this has kind of already happened - FF6 for the PSone came with a playable FF10 demo. Heck, I bought it just for the demo!
Unfotunately, I can't see games companies going for the idea of having a beta version of forthcoming titles as a reward. The nature of a beta version implies that it's a bugged and/or incomplete version of the final game.
And exposing your potential buyer to a version of your game that shows it in a bad light as bugged, flawed and shoddy will likely discourage a lot of less well-informed people from buying it. The PR guys would be throwing fits.
Shame really, as it only tends to be the hardcore that bother finishing a lot of games, and they're exactly the demographic who'd forgive small transgressions of quality.
And exposing your potential buyer to a version of your game that shows it in a bad light as bugged, flawed and shoddy will likely discourage a lot of less well-informed people from buying it. The PR guys would be throwing fits.
Shame really, as it only tends to be the hardcore that bother finishing a lot of games, and they're exactly the demographic who'd forgive small transgressions of quality.
Yeah, I spose it is pretty possible when things happen that way.
But I don't think all series' work that way, the next in the series doesn't usually start getting worked on as soon as the newest adventure's been released - unfortunately.
Using Beta versions of the next game is a good idea though - just as long as they don't contain too much info.
One thing i've alwasy wanted to do after an RPG is go back into the world after you've completed the game and returned the land back to normal.
I remember wanting to do this in the 2 LBA games, but all you got at the end was a view of Twinsen being praised and worshiped for his efforts.
I'd love to be able to go around, see what it's like, and speak to the characters and see what they have to say now.
The world would be a completely different place after the game - free of all evil! I'd also love to go round Hyrule and explore after defeating Ganon in Ocarina of Time.
But I don't think all series' work that way, the next in the series doesn't usually start getting worked on as soon as the newest adventure's been released - unfortunately.
Using Beta versions of the next game is a good idea though - just as long as they don't contain too much info.
One thing i've alwasy wanted to do after an RPG is go back into the world after you've completed the game and returned the land back to normal.
I remember wanting to do this in the 2 LBA games, but all you got at the end was a view of Twinsen being praised and worshiped for his efforts.
I'd love to be able to go around, see what it's like, and speak to the characters and see what they have to say now.
The world would be a completely different place after the game - free of all evil! I'd also love to go round Hyrule and explore after defeating Ganon in Ocarina of Time.
What I mean by that, is us Europeans often have to wait ages before we get a conversion. By the time we do get a conversion, progress on a sequel is well underway because, as I said, it was over half a year beforehand when the first game was finished. Since we had to wait so long, and because by that time it would be possible, we could get a short playable demo of the sequel.
If you think about it, FF10 came out two weeks ago. FF11 is out in Japan in about a months time. Would it have been technically impossible to include a small single-player demo of FF11 with the European version of FF10? I don't think it would have been a problem, considering beta versions have been around for almost half a year now.
If you think about it, FF10 came out two weeks ago. FF11 is out in Japan in about a months time. Would it have been technically impossible to include a small single-player demo of FF11 with the European version of FF10? I don't think it would have been a problem, considering beta versions have been around for almost half a year now.
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