Jason Moyer on 10/12/2003 at 14:45
The length of games now is ridiculous. No One Lives Forever 2, Tron 2.0, Arx Fatalis, and DX2 were all ridiculously short. Whatever happened to the days of Thief when you could spend 8 hours just exploring 1 level?
Jason
Dwango on 10/12/2003 at 16:05
Games are more complex, but the AI, level design, and gameplay haven't changed that much. Its the complex graphics that are taking up all the design time. Game companies design games around the graphics because pretty pictures sell. With all the light shadings, shadows, and blooms, its taking more time to learn and design with all that, taking away from gameplay, AI, and level design. So, we get pretty, stupid games. :-)
But thats bad for us more serious gamers. We get lousy designed games, and know it. We see all the flaws in DXIW while mainstream gamers go "WOW!, this it so pretty!" They sell a ton of units based on that.
And, by the way. Just because a game sells well, doesn't mean its good for gamers. Sales may justify some sales guys, but that don't mean we shouldn't look for quality. I mean, if a bunch of lemmings jumped of a cliff, you gonna join. Hell, no, I'll look for better quality games elsewhere before I buy crap. As buyers, our money is our vote, and no way I'm voting 50 of my dollars on a short, simplified game.
easterlingman on 10/12/2003 at 18:17
So.. how much time is on everyone's final savegame for DX:IW? Mine was just under twelve hours, but I spent approximately twenty beating the game
I agree with Dwango.. alot of the time put into game development goes towards pretty graphics, because it's such a big selling point. I'm hoping that perhaps Thief 3 will be an exception, and maybe that is why ISA (whatever) set it's release after DX2s.
Narcosynthesis on 13/12/2003 at 03:40
I agree with assessment that we've left a "golden age of gaming" and are going into a temporary slump. I also think it has somewhat to do with the fact that we've pretty much entered a new realm of technological riches, including the rise of 64-bit CPUs and other hardware, and a flood of super-advanced graphics engines. Developers seem to be incredibly fascinated with them and want to take advantage and not be left in the dust. I understand that they want us to have a good visual experience, but at this point, it's the equivalent of putting a lawnmower engine inside a Ferrari; pretty to look at, but nothing to drive it along. Hopefully they'll all get over it soon and go back to concentrating their efforts on storyline and depth. I've been playing games regularly since 1986, and I've seen times like these before; it'll pass.
Jason Moyer on 14/12/2003 at 14:04
Quote:
Originally posted by Dwango I mean, if a bunch of lemmings jumped of a cliff, you gonna join.
Lemmings, now there's a game with some length to it.
Jason
CenJd on 15/12/2003 at 13:43
For all those who have REAL LIFE: DO YOU REALLY WANT IT TO END SO FAST? I wouldn´t.:tsktsk:
