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With the familiar summer lull upon us, I've turned to all those unread books sitting on my shelf which in turn got me thinking about the Green Mile, written by Stephen King. This was originally released in the shape of 6 small books over the space of about 6 months and drew a lot of praise at the time and was a bit of a gamble on King's part (not to mention his publishers). Couldn't this same sort of approach be used for videogames?
Take for example Zelda OoT , which quickly followed up Majoras Mask, using the same engine. Take this a step further with small games offering maybe 10 hours gameplay with your character advancing through the game furthering his/her skills and obtaining and keeping objects and able to transfer them across into the latest installment. I can only liken it to when we all obtained the original demo of Metal Gear Solid and because we knew that the total amount of gameplay was quite limited we took our time, fleshed it out and explored every last nook and cranny instead of rushing through it in order to complete it. It could be quite successful as an RPG, in my view, much like that of Legend of Mir or Phantasy Star Online, just episodic, instead.
Its an interesting idea, but that said, not a new one, Shenmue anyone? I like the idea but at the same time, how long would the space be between chapters? If its in rapid succesion then the game needs to be pretty much done, we all know the pain of waiting for releases only for development time to be increased beyond the release date! If it's all done then why can't I buy it (and play it) when I want, not wait for a new chapter? If its all done, why am I paying for the packaging each time when it could all be done in one release? It sounds like a system which could be destined for abuse by greedy companies. I bought the Green Mile and frankly would rather of not had the wait or the burning need to get to the shops to make sure I didn't miss an instalment.
I wouldn't mind, as long as the shortness of the episodes was reflected in the price. But '10 hours', I say? Half the games I see these days are shorter than that and still cost £45...I'd like to see a monthly, 2-hour-long episode game. 12 episodes (or 13?), £5 an issue - might work. I suppose that sounds pretty good (although somewhat more expensive than the standard title, with shipping, packaging, mark-up, etc) but I can't see it happening, maybe in a downloadable form. This could work - the developer has already done the hard work with the main game engine and it might even be possible for the gamers to influence the final outcome or the direction the story takes. You could limit the player to a day/week etc in a town with certain objectives to be met in the time frame.
What do you all think?
Thanks for reading,
LF.
Take for example Zelda OoT , which quickly followed up Majoras Mask, using the same engine. Take this a step further with small games offering maybe 10 hours gameplay with your character advancing through the game furthering his/her skills and obtaining and keeping objects and able to transfer them across into the latest installment. I can only liken it to when we all obtained the original demo of Metal Gear Solid and because we knew that the total amount of gameplay was quite limited we took our time, fleshed it out and explored every last nook and cranny instead of rushing through it in order to complete it. It could be quite successful as an RPG, in my view, much like that of Legend of Mir or Phantasy Star Online, just episodic, instead.
Its an interesting idea, but that said, not a new one, Shenmue anyone? I like the idea but at the same time, how long would the space be between chapters? If its in rapid succesion then the game needs to be pretty much done, we all know the pain of waiting for releases only for development time to be increased beyond the release date! If it's all done then why can't I buy it (and play it) when I want, not wait for a new chapter? If its all done, why am I paying for the packaging each time when it could all be done in one release? It sounds like a system which could be destined for abuse by greedy companies. I bought the Green Mile and frankly would rather of not had the wait or the burning need to get to the shops to make sure I didn't miss an instalment.
I wouldn't mind, as long as the shortness of the episodes was reflected in the price. But '10 hours', I say? Half the games I see these days are shorter than that and still cost £45...I'd like to see a monthly, 2-hour-long episode game. 12 episodes (or 13?), £5 an issue - might work. I suppose that sounds pretty good (although somewhat more expensive than the standard title, with shipping, packaging, mark-up, etc) but I can't see it happening, maybe in a downloadable form. This could work - the developer has already done the hard work with the main game engine and it might even be possible for the gamers to influence the final outcome or the direction the story takes. You could limit the player to a day/week etc in a town with certain objectives to be met in the time frame.
What do you all think?
Thanks for reading,
LF.
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You just repeating posts...are you automated or something? :)
I see what you mean, but if you don't want to waste your money, free demo discs are given away from most magazines, and you can rent it out for 3 days for £5.
I see what you mean, by if you don't want to waste your money, free demo discs are given away from most magazines, and you can rent it out for 3 days for £5.
Fair comment there Micro, but this is the main point that I am really trying to make, this is the epicerie of it all:
This is a background reason, however, as if it was the only reason, it WOULD be pointless. I find it disheartening that games cost £45 a hit, especially if they are a disappointment, and so, this would avoid losing £45 from a game that isn't worthy of a litter box.
Just a thought, though...
This is a background reason, however, as if it was the only reason, it WOULD be pointless. I find it disheartening that games cost £45 a hit, especially if they are a disappointment, and so, this would avoid losing £45 from a game that isn't worthy of a litter box.
Just a thought, though...
I don't want to offend you or anything or seem nasty but I cna't think of this as anything but a stupid idea. For a start Shenmue would be ridiculous, theres 10 games (each a different chapter) planned, if they were released as two hour long episodes there would be about 80 games! But again, I just can't see the point of making a game, but releasing it in parts. Whats wrong with the current formula? Make a game, make updates/new levels etc (you know, like the Sims where they release tons of new items free on the internet you can download to add to your game. Although The Sims don't really have a sequel as the new versions you have to buy and are expansion packs.) that can be downloaded, make a sequel and continue until they decide to stop making games of this series.
I can understand about the waiting bit, if they did this with, say, the new Zelda game, we would already be playing the first few dungeons while they are still finishing off the last parts of the game. But I don't think I really want to buy it in parts, I'd whizz through it in two hours and be totally bored for a month, when I'd rather have the full game and play through at a fairly slow pace just enjoying it, not worrying about "am I nearing the end? 'Cause if I am I'm going to be bored for the next fre weeks". That and the fact I would have far too many game boxes! (unless they were downloaded as you say, but they couldn't do this because noteveryone will have internet access.)
I can understand about the waiting bit, if they did this with, say, the new Zelda game, we would already be playing the first few dungeons while they are still finishing off the last parts of the game. But I don't think I really want to buy it in parts, I'd whizz through it in two hours and be totally bored for a month, when I'd rather have the full game and play through at a fairly slow pace just enjoying it, not worrying about "am I nearing the end? 'Cause if I am I'm going to be bored for the next fre weeks". That and the fact I would have far too many game boxes! (unless they were downloaded as you say, but they couldn't do this because noteveryone will have internet access.)
The actual idea is good but there is a bad point to it. Say I bought the first few episodes and got really into it but by the time the next was released I had run out of money. I would be devestated. Whereas with buying it as one whole game you save the hassle of going to get the next one and waiting for it to come out.
'The only way to have a few months between releases is to have 2 or more development teams, each working on a different part of the series... which is obviously inadequate!'
Well, I don't see how it is inadequate really, but that aside, I would think they could just develop part 1, and then part 2 after, and once they've released P1, release P2 shortly after, in which time they can work on the proceeding two parts etc.
Thanks for the reply :)
Well, I don't see how it is inadequate really, but that aside, I would think they could just develop part 1, and then part 2 after, and once they've released P1, release P2 shortly after, in which time they can work on the proceeding two parts etc.
Thanks for the reply :)
The idea isn't really too new in gaming, the only problem is that the time between installments is massive. As examples, there's about a year between each of the Shenmue games, and 2 years between the Soul Reaver games (that said, the series is done in 2 parts- one for Kain, and one for Raziel- making a new game every year).
The problem is that good games, even with premade graphics engines, need a lot of time spent on them. The only way to have a few months between releases is to have 2 or more development teams, each working on a different part of the series... which is obviously inadequate!
Sonic
The problem is that good games, even with premade graphics engines, need a lot of time spent on them. The only way to have a few months between releases is to have 2 or more development teams, each working on a different part of the series... which is obviously inadequate!
Sonic
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