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"Challenge, or enjoyment."

Which of the titular activitie do you prefer? Something that challenges you, or something that you enjoy while playing?

Some people may say they are the same thing, but I don't agree. How many times have you been stuck on a level in a game for ages, and when you finally manage to do it, you think "Thank god for that, I'd better save it quick so I don't have to do it again."

It's happened to all of us, and it means what you've just done can't be enjoyable. Becuase if it was enjoyable, you wouldn't mind doing it over and over again. Like sex, or llama trecking.

Games like GT3, Deus Ex, Half Life, MGS etc etc, all recognised classics. But they're just not enjoyable - in my view. They offer a challenge, not enjoyment. You get a sense of achievement when you finish the game or the level, but while you're playing it, there's no fun, no pleasure to be gained.

Until you finish it, then you look back and say "Yup, I did that. I beat the game".

So many times when I've been playing GT3 I've thought to myself "I'm not actually having fun. I'm just doing this as it's a challenge." Surely other people must think the same?

Other games are fun to play while still being challenging.

Games like Tony Hawks, Soul Calibur, Goldeneye, Mario Kart etc are all fun to play. They don't just offer a challenge, they offer enjoyment as well.

These are games that you can have a laugh while your playing. You don't have to be serious and give 100% concentration all the time. Either in single or multiplayer, you can just mess about while you're playing.

If you do that in something like GT3 or MGS you die/lose straight away. Where's the fun in that?

I suppose it depends what sort of person you are. Some will enjoy the challenge of getting onto a porn film set, others would rather get there easily, and spend more time watching.

See?

So, which do you prefer, fun, or challenging?

The thing is, a challenge creates longevity but needs enjoyment to sustain it. However, once the challenge leaves there's virtually no reason to play the game any more.

A mix of both is always the best combination but for instance we have all played that 'serious' racer and turned around and headed in the opposite direction at the oncoming traffic, why? Well because it's enjoyable thats the point of games (in my opinion).

Also Multiplayer is where the best enjoyment can be found because you can do whatever you like instead of trying to beat a certain time or whatever, 'serious' (with boundries) games are only fun for so long..

Nomad_Soul wrote:
Maybe I'm a masochist
> or some thing?


I'd rather not know about your private life thanks....


:-P

Your Honour wrote:
I think the
> enjoyment comes from beating the challenge, not from actually DOING the
> challenge.


You're probably right. But I DO actually enjoy being WITHIN hte challenge. Maybe I'm a masochist or some thing?

Also we could debate a difference between enjoyment and entertainment. When repeatedly trying to defeat the challenge you're entertained but are you enjoying it?

Our survey said: noodles.

This wasn't very helpful.

Nomad_Soul wrote:
> The enjoyment comes from the challenge.


I think the enjoyment comes from beating the challenge, not from actually DOING the challenge.

There's a difference, I think.....

But the challenge can be enjoyable as well as frustrating, like those moments when you think you're going to do it, only to fail at the last.

But it does become too frustrating if it takes too long, and the fun drips away, but the challenge keeps you going - that's what I was trying to say.

The enjoyment comes from the challenge.
If the gameplay and control is spot on, then the more challenging the better. But it's a fine balance.
I've just completed Sonic Adventure 2, and I'd say the enjoyment factor and the challenge factor was just about perfect.

Meka, what you say is true. But while you're trying to beat the time, you're not having fun.

You're stressed, you're determined, you're concentrating way to hard. These things aren't really attributes of fun, are they?

Fun is sitting down with some mates, having a relaxed game of something, having a laugh and not caring if you win or lose.

That's enjoyment (As far as I'm concerned, anyway).

Not all challenges are like that though.

For instance I could challenge you to eat your own liver right out of your belly. The challenge is set, you going to take it?

*Meka eats own liver*

Darn!