Customisation

[SimuLord]

I don't care much for customization unless I'm playing The Sims. I care for function over form and therefore any customization options will be hashed through quite quickly by me unless there's some gamey way to use the options to enhance my character/nation/avatar's abilities.

Guiding principle is "that's pretty, but what's the strongest?"

 

[gigastrike]

Customization is nice, but unless it's well balanced, it would be pointless as ppl would just choose the most effective settings.

 

[CAB0SE]

Customization is nice, but unless it's well balanced, it would be pointless as ppl would just choose the most effective settings.

*cough*CoD4 Assault Rifle or LMG with Increased Bullet Damage and Steady Aim*cough*

 

[Downside]

I love customisation in games as it makes it feel more personal. Cod 4 did it pretty well even your soldier got customised depending on what equipment you had (like rockets on you back if you chose rpg). But there has to be a limit if the customisation isn't purely aesthetic otherwise everyone would just max out their weapons.

You try killing someone with an assault rifle with a recoil handle, scope, silencer and grenade launcher attachment. It would be a one weapon for all uses so all other weapons would be useless.

If its purely for looks then thats cool. Nothing like using someone elses customised weapon to kill people with.

 

[The Wooster]

It depends what kind of customizing you're referring to. Weapon customization is great fun, character customization? Well... see my feelings on that here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.71490#725840].

 

[Madaxeman101]

customisation is a good idea if emplimented well, making your own character and weapons only works well if it has an effect on gameplay

 

[aniki21]

I've spent longer in the character creation/customization sections of some games than I have on the actual game. EVE Online being the most notable; I spent 45 minutes or more playing around customizing my character's head, then gave up about 20 minutes into the tutorial, completely fed up.

 

[Vortigar]

I wouldn't have put near as many hours into single player fighting games without the need to collect all the different items for my favorite characters in VF.

A note Tekken and Soul Calibur and now even Street Fighter quickly picked up as well.

 

[Cyclomega]

Actually, anyone remember Chromehounds?

Lots of customization to be had there.

Yeah, great game, but it's a bit slow to unlock lots of stuff.

If you quote a From Software game, don't forget Frame Gride on Dreamcast as well.
Ok the customisation was maybe short, but with roughly a dozen items by category and around 6 categories of armor plus summonable aides, and you had 3 different mech chassis, the Dreamcast had a lot of work to do...
Plus you had to collect crystals and fuse them to create equipment, man that game was wonderful.

Anyone remembers the custom tags in Jet Grind Radio ? It was cool to make your own tag.
It's true that Tekken and Soul Calibur gave me a big incentive to play again, I tire quite fast of 3D fighters... Virtua Fighter 5 still lags behind in terms of customisation...

Army of Two's gun customisation was rather retarded.
I like The Club's customi level system. Once you have unlocked guns ans levels, you can make your own challenge modes, sure it doesn't save the game, but it's nice to be able to make your own missions with the guns you like.

It's all a question of balance in the end.

Raven> Quit the tacticool, it ruins the gun...

 

[insectoid]

Customisation is great, but only if it is thought about and implemented properly (just like any element of a game). Really deep/seemingly limitless customisation can be a real asset to a game, but cheap tacked on customisation that doesn't really change anything can ruin a game.