The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Are comtemporary games too intricate and complicated for beginners?
Imagine if you had never picked up a joypad in your life and you had a go on say, Metal Gear Solid 2. How do you think you would fare? I think I can say without any doubt that 99% of us would be pretty darn poor, and I'm sure all the on-screen shenanigans and intricate controls would almost completely flummox us to the point where we would probably just give up thinking it was all too complicated to be bothered with.
The reason why I bring this up is that I recently witnessed this first-hand.
A friend of my brother (aged 24) who I've not seen for a year or so, visited our house and observed me deep in the killing fields of Halo. He said he was amazed by the graphical detail, so I asked him if he wanted a go.
"No" he said, "I've never played a videogame in my life."
So I suggested something a bit simplier, so I put on Jet Set Radio Future, to which he retorted: "That looks even more complicated."
To cut a long story short I eventually persuaded him to have a go on Max Payne. As he took hold of the joypad and I explained the controls, I was greeted with a look of total bemusement, and after about twenty seconds he handed the joypad back to me saying: "It's all a bit confusing for me."
So as games get bigger and better, and as the controls get more and more intricate, do you think comtemporary games are just not as beginner-friendly as they used to be?
When I got into gaming (in the SNES and Megdrive era) games were definately less daunting and easier to get into.
Imagine if you had never played a videogame in your life and you bought one of the next-gen consoles: How do you think you would get on? Do you think most available games would just seem too intricate?
Imagine if you had never picked up a joypad in your life and you had a go on say, Metal Gear Solid 2. How do you think you would fare? I think I can say without any doubt that 99% of us would be pretty darn poor, and I'm sure all the on-screen shenanigans and intricate controls would almost completely flummox us to the point where we would probably just give up thinking it was all too complicated to be bothered with.
The reason why I bring this up is that I recently witnessed this first-hand.
A friend of my brother (aged 24) who I've not seen for a year or so, visited our house and observed me deep in the killing fields of Halo. He said he was amazed by the graphical detail, so I asked him if he wanted a go.
"No" he said, "I've never played a videogame in my life."
So I suggested something a bit simplier, so I put on Jet Set Radio Future, to which he retorted: "That looks even more complicated."
To cut a long story short I eventually persuaded him to have a go on Max Payne. As he took hold of the joypad and I explained the controls, I was greeted with a look of total bemusement, and after about twenty seconds he handed the joypad back to me saying: "It's all a bit confusing for me."
So as games get bigger and better, and as the controls get more and more intricate, do you think comtemporary games are just not as beginner-friendly as they used to be?
When I got into gaming (in the SNES and Megdrive era) games were definately less daunting and easier to get into.
Imagine if you had never played a videogame in your life and you bought one of the next-gen consoles: How do you think you would get on? Do you think most available games would just seem too intricate?
It feels a little like that when you are playing against your mates on a game you've nevre played before.
Because you play games they go
"And that kinda does that and then that does that. Oh and if you press that, that and then it's really good"
And then they just beat you every time until you've finally got used to the controls. Then it's all over.
I let my sister play sometimes and she can only do those levels on Crash where you are on an animal and have to go left, right and jump occiasionally.
But then again, think how little you'd be able to do if controller's only had 2 buttons on.
They'd have to think up loads of combinations for every single move or action.
"Press 'B' 3 times rapidly then 'A' once. Press up, then left and you can jump! Godd, eh?"
Er, no, actually.
Lots of controls = lots of control (heh)
You just need some time alone with a game to learn it's working and away you go.
Because you play games they go
"And that kinda does that and then that does that. Oh and if you press that, that and then it's really good"
And then they just beat you every time until you've finally got used to the controls. Then it's all over.
I let my sister play sometimes and she can only do those levels on Crash where you are on an animal and have to go left, right and jump occiasionally.
But then again, think how little you'd be able to do if controller's only had 2 buttons on.
They'd have to think up loads of combinations for every single move or action.
"Press 'B' 3 times rapidly then 'A' once. Press up, then left and you can jump! Godd, eh?"
Er, no, actually.
Lots of controls = lots of control (heh)
You just need some time alone with a game to learn it's working and away you go.
Shocktrooper...I'm a PS2 owning Ninty aswell :-(
Be thankful that we're all very experienced gamers, and that it wouldn't take us too long to adjust to a new controller or control system.
As I said in one of my posts, I CANNOT wait until I first grab a-hold of the GC controller - a NEW controller + a NEW game = a NEW experience!
What a formula!
As I said in one of my posts, I CANNOT wait until I first grab a-hold of the GC controller - a NEW controller + a NEW game = a NEW experience!
What a formula!
Maybe some companies will have to consider the possibillity of 'dumbing games down' in the near future???
I've never really thought about it before, but it must be a real challenge to suddenly enter the Gaming World at the age of 5 with one of the 3 next-gen. consoles, or even a PC!
I started playing in 1990, with my NES. Mario Bros. first got me, and with a simple controller I found it to have quite simple gameplay in an enjoyable game. I also had Duck Hunt and I found that the actual use of a gun helped me to adjust. So maybe another possibillity could be to release special pads for beginners???
It's things like this that the big names will have to consider if they want to attract gamers from an early age!
Maybe they have been trying this, and that is why we see so many more 'adult' games on the PS2, PC, and X-box, meaning they're ignoring the youngest of gamers!?? :o
I've never really thought about it before, but it must be a real challenge to suddenly enter the Gaming World at the age of 5 with one of the 3 next-gen. consoles, or even a PC!
I started playing in 1990, with my NES. Mario Bros. first got me, and with a simple controller I found it to have quite simple gameplay in an enjoyable game. I also had Duck Hunt and I found that the actual use of a gun helped me to adjust. So maybe another possibillity could be to release special pads for beginners???
It's things like this that the big names will have to consider if they want to attract gamers from an early age!
Maybe they have been trying this, and that is why we see so many more 'adult' games on the PS2, PC, and X-box, meaning they're ignoring the youngest of gamers!?? :o
If you reach 24 years of age and you've never played a videogame, an intense game like Halo is bound to appear complicated at first.
It took me a few hours to get used to the controls and I'm a game addict.
It took me a few hours to get used to the controls and I'm a game addict.
For the more exprienced gamer, controls make a big difference. It kind of adds to the gameplay really, it's something you got to get use to.
Theres no doubt about it that the new age controllers are much more complicated then that of their predcessors. When I played on the Gamecube in a shop the other week I was fiddling everywhere with the controller and thinking "Man, this is the most complicated controller ever". People who take their time though get use to it VERY quickly.
In my view, controllers are better these days. More buttons mean more features to games, which also means added gameplay. I wouldn't want to go back to the SNES controller era it would all be too simple for todays games which are demanding for the controller.
It is true that simpler controls can make for better gameplay. Classics prove that. I think in a way it's all about the 'pick up and play' factor.
The guy you meantioned who said he hadn't played a video game and was 24...where has he been? That's the first I've heard of someone that hasn't played a video game. Even all of my grandparents have. I think maybe he wasnt very itelligent or just was against playing games for some reason...
Theres no doubt about it that the new age controllers are much more complicated then that of their predcessors. When I played on the Gamecube in a shop the other week I was fiddling everywhere with the controller and thinking "Man, this is the most complicated controller ever". People who take their time though get use to it VERY quickly.
In my view, controllers are better these days. More buttons mean more features to games, which also means added gameplay. I wouldn't want to go back to the SNES controller era it would all be too simple for todays games which are demanding for the controller.
It is true that simpler controls can make for better gameplay. Classics prove that. I think in a way it's all about the 'pick up and play' factor.
The guy you meantioned who said he hadn't played a video game and was 24...where has he been? That's the first I've heard of someone that hasn't played a video game. Even all of my grandparents have. I think maybe he wasnt very itelligent or just was against playing games for some reason...
Are comtemporary games too intricate and complicated for beginners?
Imagine if you had never picked up a joypad in your life and you had a go on say, Metal Gear Solid 2. How do you think you would fare? I think I can say without any doubt that 99% of us would be pretty darn poor, and I'm sure all the on-screen shenanigans and intricate controls would almost completely flummox us to the point where we would probably just give up thinking it was all too complicated to be bothered with.
The reason why I bring this up is that I recently witnessed this first-hand.
A friend of my brother (aged 24) who I've not seen for a year or so, visited our house and observed me deep in the killing fields of Halo. He said he was amazed by the graphical detail, so I asked him if he wanted a go.
"No" he said, "I've never played a videogame in my life."
So I suggested something a bit simplier, so I put on Jet Set Radio Future, to which he retorted: "That looks even more complicated."
To cut a long story short I eventually persuaded him to have a go on Max Payne. As he took hold of the joypad and I explained the controls, I was greeted with a look of total bemusement, and after about twenty seconds he handed the joypad back to me saying: "It's all a bit confusing for me."
So as games get bigger and better, and as the controls get more and more intricate, do you think comtemporary games are just not as beginner-friendly as they used to be?
When I got into gaming (in the SNES and Megdrive era) games were definately less daunting and easier to get into.
Imagine if you had never played a videogame in your life and you bought one of the next-gen consoles: How do you think you would get on? Do you think most available games would just seem too intricate?
Imagine if you had never picked up a joypad in your life and you had a go on say, Metal Gear Solid 2. How do you think you would fare? I think I can say without any doubt that 99% of us would be pretty darn poor, and I'm sure all the on-screen shenanigans and intricate controls would almost completely flummox us to the point where we would probably just give up thinking it was all too complicated to be bothered with.
The reason why I bring this up is that I recently witnessed this first-hand.
A friend of my brother (aged 24) who I've not seen for a year or so, visited our house and observed me deep in the killing fields of Halo. He said he was amazed by the graphical detail, so I asked him if he wanted a go.
"No" he said, "I've never played a videogame in my life."
So I suggested something a bit simplier, so I put on Jet Set Radio Future, to which he retorted: "That looks even more complicated."
To cut a long story short I eventually persuaded him to have a go on Max Payne. As he took hold of the joypad and I explained the controls, I was greeted with a look of total bemusement, and after about twenty seconds he handed the joypad back to me saying: "It's all a bit confusing for me."
So as games get bigger and better, and as the controls get more and more intricate, do you think comtemporary games are just not as beginner-friendly as they used to be?
When I got into gaming (in the SNES and Megdrive era) games were definately less daunting and easier to get into.
Imagine if you had never played a videogame in your life and you bought one of the next-gen consoles: How do you think you would get on? Do you think most available games would just seem too intricate?