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"Learning curves in all the right places"

The learning curve.... something many people take for granted. The learning curve is a vital aspect for a game to have and is an essential ingredient in the making of a "must have" game. First of all, what exactly is the learning curve? For the uninformed the learning curve is sort of you learning how to play the game. The game will begin with a level that sort of teaches you the basics and gradually gets harder. A good one should get steadily harder as you progress through the game. Bad ones however can cause many problems.

It goes a little something like this, you buy your game and you arrive home, slap it in the slot/CD drive and get ready to play. The level starts off nicely, a few things too kill only basic weapons and items and it seems pretty good. You finish the level with a big fat smile on your face. Nice warm up, now let me into the action please. Your wish is my command *robotic voice*. You begin level two.....10 seconds in your ambushed by swarms of enemies, before you know it your lying on the ground dead as a doorknob. GAME OVER the screen reads. You begin to realise that this game has a very steep learning curve.

The developers expect you to be a master at the game straight after the training level which to say the least wasn't hard. They throw you into the action unprepared and you suffer because of this..... Its almost like being sent to war without being trained properly. Of course, this is just one end of the scale..... The other end is the opposite.

You begin to play level one, you die constantly. Very frustrated you battle on into the abyss. Try after try after try...you still can't do it. Then you get a glimpse of inspiration, which gives you that little bit extra, you complete the level. Feeling very proud you trudge onto level two. "Come on then, I'm ready for you know" you shout at the screen..... Something isn't right. The game just doesn't seem the same. Enemies are few and far between or easy to kill in a few minutes you've complete the second level with no problems at all, first life. The super had soldiers the baddies first seemed now look like the Duracell bunnies. The game has blown you out.

Now I come onto the perfect learning curve. Before I explain I will give you some games that I feel get the mix just right, not too hard, not too easy, perfect difficulty. The first game that springs too mind has to be Goldeneye. You’re eased into the action nicely having to complete Dam, not very hard, but at the same time, not too easy for first time players. Next level your greeted with a much vaster level under the name of Facility. Now this is a harder nut too crack, but all the way through it is still perfectly judged so, if you’re good enough, you will do it. The game continues like this, progressively getting harder, making you push that little bit further to progress. You feel happy when you complete another level, the way games should be.

But it doesn't stop there; it’s not only the difficulty in games that can be classed as a learning curve. If I use an RPG as an example I will explain.

You begin the game *after watching a lengthy cut scene of course :D*..... You’re treated to a town or something similar full of people ready to teach you in the ways of the games. Hints on item usage, maybe some training for combat. You feel ready for the game when you finally escape the confines of the training and are set free in the realm of the game. At the beginning you are eased into the fighting gently, nothing complicated, no status changes, no items really need to be used. Just basic combat. This is exactly what a gamer needs they don't want to thrown in at the deep end not knowing what to do and just getting annoyed by the game and throwing it away. It teaches you, it punishes you when you make mistakes, but it is always fair.

But games aren't always like this....... Turok 2 for example. Level one is a level of monstrous proportions, very hard to say the least and the game follows in this tradition but gets ever harder, so in a way it still has a learning curve, but a very steep, whist staying fair one. This game went on to be a great success so Acclaim must have known what they were doing, even if they did get complaints about the difficulty.

So, does a game really need a learning curve that is judged well? Is this really necessary to make the game succeed? DO you know any games that have succeeded in the world of being sold, but had a completely misjudged learning curve? Did you even read this far? Am I talking to myself? It doesn't really matter, just share your opinions :D

VKTR

VenomByte wrote:
> Did a topic on learning curves myself a few days ago. Basically, I said that
> games these days don't introduce any new concepts, so there aren't really any
> learning curves for an experienced gamer.

I actually read that mate....sort of why I did this one in a way. I had actually thought of it myself, but this morning before I began writing it I read it and it influenced me too write this one. I felt that you sort of dusted the topic a bit lightly and could have expanded.

VKTR

p.s BTT whats your MSN id?

Only if finishing the game is your goal. If simply playing it is all you care about, it's no problem.

Good topic Vektor. This is a perfect example of why newbies should be allowed to post topics in FOG prime.

It is true that nothing is more annoying than a game with a misjudged leaning curve. If it gets too har too quickly you wll be stuck, and if it is too eaysy you will finish it quickly. Either way the game is over too soon.

Did a topic on learning curves myself a few days ago. Basically, I said that games these days don't introduce any new concepts, so there aren't really any learning curves for an experienced gamer.

A fundamental part of gaming is lost for some...

This is what you do

*pulls out a tranqulizer gun*

"lets put this fool on ice"

*BANG*

4evers body slumps too the floor.

Smile and nod....got it. If he doesn't go away what do I do...come one what do I do? Someone help me here :P

VKTR

Just nod and smile Vector, he may go away if your lucky.

4ever wrote:
> umm u right 2 much i cant b bothered to read it sorry but this is how u do
> it.... do about 1 paragraph in the begining then1 paragraph in each note...

Just out of interest, but what the hell you on about mate?

VKTR

Vektor wrote:
> Hmm, this didn't really get the response I hoped for. Maybe not many people saw
> it *I can always dream* :D

VKTR

Nice topic Vecky.

Out of intrest 4ever are you a virtual newbie character?