An opinion, sometimes, short is better :)

[pym]

First, let me clarify, the title refers to video games, you perverts!!!

Max payne became a virtual hero. The dark history, the quick finger on the weapon, the crazy jumps, bullet time and cool leather jacket made him into a known and loved character.
Both games in the series became a huge success and gave us thrilling and amazing action scenes that we didn't wuiet knew until then.
The only complaints were that the game was just too short.
Now I ask you guys, is that a bad thing ???
Do you prefer longer games that repeat themselves, just so they would be considered long enough ?
Another corridor, loaded with tones of monsters, and then, another one - hey wait another one!
The excitement is reduces drastically after entering a room
That certainly makes a game longer, but is that the way we want it?
This brings no content nor excitement into the game.
This just makes it longer and boring!

I think (hope) that the future will bring shorter and sharper games.
It looks like this is the direction as games become shorter nowadays.

What do you think?

[XJnine]

I don't mind games with shorter gameplay time as long as they are still good, exciting games and the publisher doesn't expect me to shell out $50+ for the title. I think developers have been forced by the gaming public to give a certain amount of gameplay time because the publishers keep charging the same price for games regardless of how long the game is.

When someone buys a game and *****es about it being short, they're not complaining about the actual length of the game, they're complaining about gameplay time vs money spent. When the games are artificially too long, to placate the short game *****ers, people complain about them being boring and repetitive.

I think a great example of where games shoud be headed in the future is Sin: Episodes. http://www.sinepisodes.com/ Small action packed episodes, low price to go along with it.

[pym]

Exactly!

When developers won't be forced to make longer games, but good and optionally short ones, I sure expect game prices to be lower...

[Fantasma]

I completely agree, I had great times playing KOTOR and KOTORII, max payne 1 and 2, Mafia,...

All of them were very good games and not too long, I get bored of very large games like GTA: SA, very large and repetitive. The best games are those that you get deeper and deeper in the whole history. I got bored of Far Cry because it is a bit long and the argument was really bad.

Also developers should sell games cheaper. Money spent VS Hours enjoyed are not balanced

[pym]

I had great times playing KOTOR and KOTORII, max payne 1 and 2, Mafia,...


The games you mentioned are just perfect examples for the type I was referring to.
Even F.E.A.R, which was a great game, got me bored a little at the end, which proves that even a great game such as that one, needs to be ended soon enough, so it wouldn't become boring...
It is hard to keep up the action and interest for more than 15-20 hours of gameplay...

[coldgin]

if games are going to be shorter, I expect them not to cost the $60. but I would rather spend $60, for game that DOES last a long time.

[Fantasma]

if games are going to be shorter, I expect them not to cost the $60. but I would rather spend $60, for game that DOES last a long time.
Why a game have to last morea if you get bored of it?
Maybe, I can spend the same time with a game that is short and I pass the final stage as I long game which gets boring and repetitive. I´m not willing to spend more money if the game that I´m going to play "lasts" the same as the other.

[pym]

if games are going to be shorter, I expect them not to cost the $60. but I would rather spend $60, for game that DOES last a long time.
Why a game have to last morea if you get bored of it?
Maybe, I can spend the same time with a game that is short and I pass the final stage as I long game which gets boring and repetitive. I´m not willing to spend more money if the game that I´m going to play "lasts" the same as the other.

I guess coldgin meant he prefers to pay more for a game to last longer and be good all the way.
Or in other words, he prefers Good long games than good short ones.
Which is exactly my point, I believe a game gets repetitive and boring after a while, it is very very hard to keep the adrenaline and tension at high levels through more then 15-20 hours...

[coldgin]

I guess coldgin meant he prefers to pay more for a game to last longer and be good all the way.


yes, that's what I meant.

example, I found Diablo 2 to be VERY long, but it was bloody good.

[pym]

Diablo 2 was really good.
Although there were times I just wanted to just skip some loaded areas of the same type I've encountered just a room before...
I guss it would have been better to cut out some levels that were just too repetitive. Hack & Slash games are a great example for what I am talking about, they get really boring really fast, so you better make a great story, variety of monsters and maybe some good riddles to make it a good game.

[coldgin]

I see your point

[Fantasma]

Diablo 2 was really good.
Although there were times I just wanted to just skip some loaded areas of the same type I've encountered just a room before...
I guss it would have been better to cut out some levels that were just too repetitive. Hack & Slash games are a great example for what I am talking about, they get really boring really fast, so you better make a great story, variety of monsters and maybe some good riddles to make it a good game.
Yep, I completely agree.

If really, a developer can make a longer game which is fun and enjoying and you don´t get tired of it, I agree that I´m willing to spend more money (60$) but usually, that is not the case and is the reason why I prefer a short enjoying game than a long boring one. If there is a game which is long and I don´t get tired of it, of course, I prefer the long one over the short one :wink:

[pym]

I, in general, prefer a shorter game than a long one.
I am almost thirty, with family, and don't have the time I used to have as a student in order to invest in games that last a few months or more to finish (although I finished Gothic II which is an exception)...
I need to know I'll be able to finish a game in a reasonable amount of time investment.

[XJnine]

Something else I hope developers start to key in on is replay value.

Nothing is worse that playing through a game and them not even wanting to play through it again because you know it will be exactly the same. I like games that have options and choices that change the outcome of the game. Things like that give me a reason to go back, play through it again and make different choices.

I guess that's one good thing about a lot of the RPG type games. The game is usually different for each type of player class you choose to use.

Obviously multiplayer is the ultimate in replay value though.

[BlackStar]

Replay value is probably the best way to tell if a game was worth the money. Some games I finish and say, "well that was fun." yet never play again. Others I play over and over.

I look at games as similiar to movies: If the story is good, then I'll watch it over and over. Special effects are great, but the story, acting, and production all have to be top notch.

Freespace and Freespace 2 get the highest replay from me and my son. 8 years old and still going strong.

[pym]

I don't know, I never got myself to replay any of the games I ever finished (and I finished quite a lot).
Even if it was another character choice with different story line, I'd still not replay it.
I don't know, I just can't. When I finish a game, it is over for me.
With the exception of the multiplayer option.
That is something completely different. I spent more than 3 years online with Starcraft...

[Fantasma]

I´m playing right now to Carmageddon II :twisted:
After 7 years, I´m playing it again and also NFS III: Hot pursuit

And about RPG, I have played KOTOR I and II and I´ve not replayed it although I know that the story is not the same in the dark side and in the light side but I just played the game with the choices that I´d choose.

[pym]

And about RPG, I have played KOTOR I and II and I´ve not replayed it although I know that the story is not the same in the dark side and in the light side but I just played the game with the choices that I´d choose.

That's what I mean...
I just can't find the interest to sit down and play the other choice.
I just read about it...