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Recently more and more games seem to be lacking something that I see as being a very very important and required part of any game. Something that makes you want to play it over and over, even when it is complete. Little extras that make the game something special.
Grand Theft Auto 3 had this effect, no matter how much you played it you always were happy to play more, maybe due to the lack of restrictions placed on the gamer but maybe it was something completely different. The fact you could beat people down? Take part in cool missions and a great story? There is something about it which makes it such a good game which has set a new standard which most games are compared too. In a way it has set the way that things should follow, a standard that most games can learn from.
Metal Gear Solid has been hailed as a great game, and it is that but sadly once you have ran through the game a few times you have seen and tried everything there is to see and do. It looks and plays great and a lot of effort has been put into the game but you have to ask what would you rather have? Great graphics and good gameplay or maybe reduce the detail and length of the game (some of the cut scenes) and add an extra like multiplayer or something else to make it last a little longer.
Maybe MGS2 is a bad example as it is the type of game that is supposed to offer you an experience, make it seem real enough and make you feel part of it by putting so much detail and thought into the story, controls and graphics but hopefully you understand what I mean. So what adds to how long you play a game for?
Added extras
Games like resident evil try to increase how long the game lasts by adding extras depending on how well you did the first time you complete the game, things like extra costumes to unlimited ammo and special weapons. In metal gear solid you collect the dog tags to get extras like stealth and unlimited strength, air and ammo. Sure they make the game a little better when you have them as you can have a laugh and a bit of fun but they don't really have the ability to make the game last as long as you would hope.
These may increase how long the game lasts for a short time but they aren't the best way to do it.
Multiplayer
Probably the best way to make a game last longer to a gamer is to include a multiplayer mode, when you finish the main game then you unlock more extras in the multiplayer. Obviously there is a decision that has to be made, include a multiplayer and the main game can't be as good as it could have been or leave out a multiplayer and make the main game as good as you can. I think multiplayers are great for making games spend a lot longer in your machine. They can also make games a lot more fun as you can get your mates round and show them just who the master is.
The future?
I made a post a while back and news monkey also had a story on blu-ray the new DVD style standard which should be introduced. Looking back I noticed that FantasyMeister made a good point in that a certain amount of the space should be set aside for the game, some for the extras, such as multiplayer modes etc and remaining space for a buffer to reduce or wipe out loading times. Having extras to make a game last longer in my opinion is a very good thing, we pay fairly high prices for something which may give us a few hours of fun and enjoyments but after that there isn't much else to do.
Also what about the future using on-line capabilities, a lot of games prolong their life on PC's by adding the on-line feature and allow you to play against others over the web. We could see games that allow you to play against your friends like the PC games do now, but we may also see something a lot better and a lot more special.
Updates?
Yes it is a possibility, we could see games that after a while the developer could release an update which you download to your console to offer more like extra levels, vehicles, weapons, characters, secrets etc just to give you something new and different to make the game to last that little bit longer and give you more of something you enjoy. It is something I hope to see as it shouldn't be to hard to implement and has potential to make the industry and a lot of games not only last longer but make them even more better.
What else?
Well I came across a thought of maybe games that change depending on your actions throughout the game so in a way to see and do everything you would have to play through the game many many times, you could start from the same place and have various paths you could follow and various endings depending on your actions. So if you chose to run instead of fight you may not have as good fighting skills but you could be better at solving problems etc. It does need to be thought out more I know but hopefully you understand the basic idea.
Also once A.I improves to a higher level we could see it playing a big part in making games different each time you play it, or making the game last longer as you as the gamer has to do a lot more before you reach the end. You could have to ask intelligent questions and you only get the required information if you ask the right kind of questions, and without the right information you can't progress through the game. It is a possibility but again one that requires thought and also the suitable technology.
I see this being an important part of a game, you pay so much and expect it to offer a little more than just a couple of games before you become bored. Of course there are some games like football games that play differently everytime so they have the ability to last very long and get played a lot, on your own or as part of a multiplayer with mates or maybe soon on-line against others around the world. I just hope that the big developers understand that this is an important area to consider when developing their game and one that can make a good game great.
So what are your views? Which way do you think is best to make the game last longer? Which do you see as the best prospect for the future?
Grand Theft Auto 3 had this effect, no matter how much you played it you always were happy to play more, maybe due to the lack of restrictions placed on the gamer but maybe it was something completely different. The fact you could beat people down? Take part in cool missions and a great story? There is something about it which makes it such a good game which has set a new standard which most games are compared too. In a way it has set the way that things should follow, a standard that most games can learn from.
Metal Gear Solid has been hailed as a great game, and it is that but sadly once you have ran through the game a few times you have seen and tried everything there is to see and do. It looks and plays great and a lot of effort has been put into the game but you have to ask what would you rather have? Great graphics and good gameplay or maybe reduce the detail and length of the game (some of the cut scenes) and add an extra like multiplayer or something else to make it last a little longer.
Maybe MGS2 is a bad example as it is the type of game that is supposed to offer you an experience, make it seem real enough and make you feel part of it by putting so much detail and thought into the story, controls and graphics but hopefully you understand what I mean. So what adds to how long you play a game for?
Added extras
Games like resident evil try to increase how long the game lasts by adding extras depending on how well you did the first time you complete the game, things like extra costumes to unlimited ammo and special weapons. In metal gear solid you collect the dog tags to get extras like stealth and unlimited strength, air and ammo. Sure they make the game a little better when you have them as you can have a laugh and a bit of fun but they don't really have the ability to make the game last as long as you would hope.
These may increase how long the game lasts for a short time but they aren't the best way to do it.
Multiplayer
Probably the best way to make a game last longer to a gamer is to include a multiplayer mode, when you finish the main game then you unlock more extras in the multiplayer. Obviously there is a decision that has to be made, include a multiplayer and the main game can't be as good as it could have been or leave out a multiplayer and make the main game as good as you can. I think multiplayers are great for making games spend a lot longer in your machine. They can also make games a lot more fun as you can get your mates round and show them just who the master is.
The future?
I made a post a while back and news monkey also had a story on blu-ray the new DVD style standard which should be introduced. Looking back I noticed that FantasyMeister made a good point in that a certain amount of the space should be set aside for the game, some for the extras, such as multiplayer modes etc and remaining space for a buffer to reduce or wipe out loading times. Having extras to make a game last longer in my opinion is a very good thing, we pay fairly high prices for something which may give us a few hours of fun and enjoyments but after that there isn't much else to do.
Also what about the future using on-line capabilities, a lot of games prolong their life on PC's by adding the on-line feature and allow you to play against others over the web. We could see games that allow you to play against your friends like the PC games do now, but we may also see something a lot better and a lot more special.
Updates?
Yes it is a possibility, we could see games that after a while the developer could release an update which you download to your console to offer more like extra levels, vehicles, weapons, characters, secrets etc just to give you something new and different to make the game to last that little bit longer and give you more of something you enjoy. It is something I hope to see as it shouldn't be to hard to implement and has potential to make the industry and a lot of games not only last longer but make them even more better.
What else?
Well I came across a thought of maybe games that change depending on your actions throughout the game so in a way to see and do everything you would have to play through the game many many times, you could start from the same place and have various paths you could follow and various endings depending on your actions. So if you chose to run instead of fight you may not have as good fighting skills but you could be better at solving problems etc. It does need to be thought out more I know but hopefully you understand the basic idea.
Also once A.I improves to a higher level we could see it playing a big part in making games different each time you play it, or making the game last longer as you as the gamer has to do a lot more before you reach the end. You could have to ask intelligent questions and you only get the required information if you ask the right kind of questions, and without the right information you can't progress through the game. It is a possibility but again one that requires thought and also the suitable technology.
I see this being an important part of a game, you pay so much and expect it to offer a little more than just a couple of games before you become bored. Of course there are some games like football games that play differently everytime so they have the ability to last very long and get played a lot, on your own or as part of a multiplayer with mates or maybe soon on-line against others around the world. I just hope that the big developers understand that this is an important area to consider when developing their game and one that can make a good game great.
So what are your views? Which way do you think is best to make the game last longer? Which do you see as the best prospect for the future?
It's Trebor Mints.
"Trebor Mints last a minty bit longer"
Sorry, the topic title reminded me of something, and it came to me as I was replying...
I think it's going to have to be extras to make the game longer, rather than increased length of a single player quest. Once the single player quest is done, you see, we all start thinking about a new game, even if there is a multiplayer to keep us happy with friends. Developers don't want us focused on one game for too long, they want us to buy another.
Multiplayer is such a great thing to have in a game, and really adds to the appeal of a title for me. Just being able to pick up and play with friends is a must these days, and having to do certain things in the single player mode to unlock more multiplayer options is certainyl a cunning way for developers to make us think that there's more to a game than there is.
I suppose it's a difficult balance to achieve, enough lasting appeal for us not to get upset with the game, but not too much to stop us from buying another one in the near future.
"Trebor Mints last a minty bit longer"
Sorry, the topic title reminded me of something, and it came to me as I was replying...
I think it's going to have to be extras to make the game longer, rather than increased length of a single player quest. Once the single player quest is done, you see, we all start thinking about a new game, even if there is a multiplayer to keep us happy with friends. Developers don't want us focused on one game for too long, they want us to buy another.
Multiplayer is such a great thing to have in a game, and really adds to the appeal of a title for me. Just being able to pick up and play with friends is a must these days, and having to do certain things in the single player mode to unlock more multiplayer options is certainyl a cunning way for developers to make us think that there's more to a game than there is.
I suppose it's a difficult balance to achieve, enough lasting appeal for us not to get upset with the game, but not too much to stop us from buying another one in the near future.
Nobody got any views on this?
There must be someone who read it and feels like replying.
Anyone?
There must be someone who read it and feels like replying.
Anyone?
Recently more and more games seem to be lacking something that I see as being a very very important and required part of any game. Something that makes you want to play it over and over, even when it is complete. Little extras that make the game something special.
Grand Theft Auto 3 had this effect, no matter how much you played it you always were happy to play more, maybe due to the lack of restrictions placed on the gamer but maybe it was something completely different. The fact you could beat people down? Take part in cool missions and a great story? There is something about it which makes it such a good game which has set a new standard which most games are compared too. In a way it has set the way that things should follow, a standard that most games can learn from.
Metal Gear Solid has been hailed as a great game, and it is that but sadly once you have ran through the game a few times you have seen and tried everything there is to see and do. It looks and plays great and a lot of effort has been put into the game but you have to ask what would you rather have? Great graphics and good gameplay or maybe reduce the detail and length of the game (some of the cut scenes) and add an extra like multiplayer or something else to make it last a little longer.
Maybe MGS2 is a bad example as it is the type of game that is supposed to offer you an experience, make it seem real enough and make you feel part of it by putting so much detail and thought into the story, controls and graphics but hopefully you understand what I mean. So what adds to how long you play a game for?
Added extras
Games like resident evil try to increase how long the game lasts by adding extras depending on how well you did the first time you complete the game, things like extra costumes to unlimited ammo and special weapons. In metal gear solid you collect the dog tags to get extras like stealth and unlimited strength, air and ammo. Sure they make the game a little better when you have them as you can have a laugh and a bit of fun but they don't really have the ability to make the game last as long as you would hope.
These may increase how long the game lasts for a short time but they aren't the best way to do it.
Multiplayer
Probably the best way to make a game last longer to a gamer is to include a multiplayer mode, when you finish the main game then you unlock more extras in the multiplayer. Obviously there is a decision that has to be made, include a multiplayer and the main game can't be as good as it could have been or leave out a multiplayer and make the main game as good as you can. I think multiplayers are great for making games spend a lot longer in your machine. They can also make games a lot more fun as you can get your mates round and show them just who the master is.
The future?
I made a post a while back and news monkey also had a story on blu-ray the new DVD style standard which should be introduced. Looking back I noticed that FantasyMeister made a good point in that a certain amount of the space should be set aside for the game, some for the extras, such as multiplayer modes etc and remaining space for a buffer to reduce or wipe out loading times. Having extras to make a game last longer in my opinion is a very good thing, we pay fairly high prices for something which may give us a few hours of fun and enjoyments but after that there isn't much else to do.
Also what about the future using on-line capabilities, a lot of games prolong their life on PC's by adding the on-line feature and allow you to play against others over the web. We could see games that allow you to play against your friends like the PC games do now, but we may also see something a lot better and a lot more special.
Updates?
Yes it is a possibility, we could see games that after a while the developer could release an update which you download to your console to offer more like extra levels, vehicles, weapons, characters, secrets etc just to give you something new and different to make the game to last that little bit longer and give you more of something you enjoy. It is something I hope to see as it shouldn't be to hard to implement and has potential to make the industry and a lot of games not only last longer but make them even more better.
What else?
Well I came across a thought of maybe games that change depending on your actions throughout the game so in a way to see and do everything you would have to play through the game many many times, you could start from the same place and have various paths you could follow and various endings depending on your actions. So if you chose to run instead of fight you may not have as good fighting skills but you could be better at solving problems etc. It does need to be thought out more I know but hopefully you understand the basic idea.
Also once A.I improves to a higher level we could see it playing a big part in making games different each time you play it, or making the game last longer as you as the gamer has to do a lot more before you reach the end. You could have to ask intelligent questions and you only get the required information if you ask the right kind of questions, and without the right information you can't progress through the game. It is a possibility but again one that requires thought and also the suitable technology.
I see this being an important part of a game, you pay so much and expect it to offer a little more than just a couple of games before you become bored. Of course there are some games like football games that play differently everytime so they have the ability to last very long and get played a lot, on your own or as part of a multiplayer with mates or maybe soon on-line against others around the world. I just hope that the big developers understand that this is an important area to consider when developing their game and one that can make a good game great.
So what are your views? Which way do you think is best to make the game last longer? Which do you see as the best prospect for the future?
Grand Theft Auto 3 had this effect, no matter how much you played it you always were happy to play more, maybe due to the lack of restrictions placed on the gamer but maybe it was something completely different. The fact you could beat people down? Take part in cool missions and a great story? There is something about it which makes it such a good game which has set a new standard which most games are compared too. In a way it has set the way that things should follow, a standard that most games can learn from.
Metal Gear Solid has been hailed as a great game, and it is that but sadly once you have ran through the game a few times you have seen and tried everything there is to see and do. It looks and plays great and a lot of effort has been put into the game but you have to ask what would you rather have? Great graphics and good gameplay or maybe reduce the detail and length of the game (some of the cut scenes) and add an extra like multiplayer or something else to make it last a little longer.
Maybe MGS2 is a bad example as it is the type of game that is supposed to offer you an experience, make it seem real enough and make you feel part of it by putting so much detail and thought into the story, controls and graphics but hopefully you understand what I mean. So what adds to how long you play a game for?
Added extras
Games like resident evil try to increase how long the game lasts by adding extras depending on how well you did the first time you complete the game, things like extra costumes to unlimited ammo and special weapons. In metal gear solid you collect the dog tags to get extras like stealth and unlimited strength, air and ammo. Sure they make the game a little better when you have them as you can have a laugh and a bit of fun but they don't really have the ability to make the game last as long as you would hope.
These may increase how long the game lasts for a short time but they aren't the best way to do it.
Multiplayer
Probably the best way to make a game last longer to a gamer is to include a multiplayer mode, when you finish the main game then you unlock more extras in the multiplayer. Obviously there is a decision that has to be made, include a multiplayer and the main game can't be as good as it could have been or leave out a multiplayer and make the main game as good as you can. I think multiplayers are great for making games spend a lot longer in your machine. They can also make games a lot more fun as you can get your mates round and show them just who the master is.
The future?
I made a post a while back and news monkey also had a story on blu-ray the new DVD style standard which should be introduced. Looking back I noticed that FantasyMeister made a good point in that a certain amount of the space should be set aside for the game, some for the extras, such as multiplayer modes etc and remaining space for a buffer to reduce or wipe out loading times. Having extras to make a game last longer in my opinion is a very good thing, we pay fairly high prices for something which may give us a few hours of fun and enjoyments but after that there isn't much else to do.
Also what about the future using on-line capabilities, a lot of games prolong their life on PC's by adding the on-line feature and allow you to play against others over the web. We could see games that allow you to play against your friends like the PC games do now, but we may also see something a lot better and a lot more special.
Updates?
Yes it is a possibility, we could see games that after a while the developer could release an update which you download to your console to offer more like extra levels, vehicles, weapons, characters, secrets etc just to give you something new and different to make the game to last that little bit longer and give you more of something you enjoy. It is something I hope to see as it shouldn't be to hard to implement and has potential to make the industry and a lot of games not only last longer but make them even more better.
What else?
Well I came across a thought of maybe games that change depending on your actions throughout the game so in a way to see and do everything you would have to play through the game many many times, you could start from the same place and have various paths you could follow and various endings depending on your actions. So if you chose to run instead of fight you may not have as good fighting skills but you could be better at solving problems etc. It does need to be thought out more I know but hopefully you understand the basic idea.
Also once A.I improves to a higher level we could see it playing a big part in making games different each time you play it, or making the game last longer as you as the gamer has to do a lot more before you reach the end. You could have to ask intelligent questions and you only get the required information if you ask the right kind of questions, and without the right information you can't progress through the game. It is a possibility but again one that requires thought and also the suitable technology.
I see this being an important part of a game, you pay so much and expect it to offer a little more than just a couple of games before you become bored. Of course there are some games like football games that play differently everytime so they have the ability to last very long and get played a lot, on your own or as part of a multiplayer with mates or maybe soon on-line against others around the world. I just hope that the big developers understand that this is an important area to consider when developing their game and one that can make a good game great.
So what are your views? Which way do you think is best to make the game last longer? Which do you see as the best prospect for the future?