Exploration in Videogames

[Pearwood]

I always thought "exploring" in games was just a tool by developers to drag out the game length forcing you to wander around an overly large sandbox for half an hour between questgivers and quest locations or to look for a dungeon to do for hours then still end up finding bugger all. I much prefer a game that's linear but allows for exploration within its limits like the Silent Hill series or the Pulse section of FF13. The collectibles in Uncharted are a good example as well although I bloody suck at finding them.

 

[Dexiro]

I like to explore just for the sake of adventure.

When i played WoW i'd spend most of my time skipping ahead and trying to explore every last area way before the game intended me to.
Exploring another planet and finding a place torn apart by storms with landmasses floating into the sky, or finding a prehistoric jungle with giant towering ruins, it was pretty damn impressive. Each new area was like opening a present and seeing what surprises were inside ^_^

Did it benefit me? Not really, it was just fun :3

 

[SturmDolch]

The main reason why I started WoW for the first time, 5 years ago, was because of the promise of exploration. I had been on vacation in Switzerland and loved going on the mountains and just walking around exploring. In the game, I explored more than I leveled. It allowed me to climb mountains while I sit in my room in dreary old Edmonton. It was the closest thing to being back in Switzerland without the game being boring.

 

[Volstag9]

I try to do this in every RPG or MMO, I try to be the cartographer, finding every settlement i can and marking it down on a map. I obsessively did this in Oblivion and Fallout 3.

Now i want to try this in a game like EVE. But the task seems a bit daunting.

But this is pretty much all i do in those games. Nothing really stimulates me, i just do it!

 

[octafish]

Some games work for me some don't I wandered aimlessly in Fallout 3 and enjoyed it, STALKER was made for exploration (and sudden gruesome death). I explored the hell out of Mass Effect but didn't bother in ME2, had a good look around in Far Cry 2 but helicoptered my way around the islands in Just Cause 2. Space traders have always sucked me in, GTA games never have. It depends on the mise en scene I guess as well as the actual discoveries you can make.

However there is no-way I'd describe an on the rails corridor shooter like Bioshock as a exploration worthy game.

 

[Jason Brett-Williams]

Depends on the game. Linear games don't let you explore much. It's follow the railroad tracks to the end.

In sand-box games like Saint's Row or the like then heck yeah!. I spent an hour first time playing SR2 to just drive around town and light up all the locations on my map.

When I get bored or want to relax I'll load up a game that lets me explore and just travel around to check out the sights.

 

[DangNabbit]

Depends on the game. Linear games don't let you explore much. It's follow the railroad tracks to the end.

In sand-box games like Saint's Row or the like then heck yeah!. I spent an hour first time playing SR2 to just drive around town and light up all the locations on my map.

When I get bored or want to relax I'll load up a game that lets me explore and just travel around to check out the sights.

I know what you mean, but Bioshock was a linear game and I think it's prbably the game that's given me the biggest exploratory urge.

 

[Jason Brett-Williams]

I know what you mean, but Bioshock was a linear game and I think it's prbably the game that's given me the biggest exploratory urge.

Know what you mean. I played all the original Baldur's Gate's. Loved the travel even thought once you explored it it was done. I'd still go back to some spots that looked great.

When I played Eq one of the things I loved was how you would get a bit of Xp discovering a new zone once you traveled over so much of it. when I played WoW I loved to just wander around places, even spots I had played it but never filled out on the maps.

 

[Direwolf750]

And from the heavenly choir, comes a pure, crystaline voice. Suddenly, more sound, and only when millions of voices join in this perfect chord, does one grasp the true magnificence of their song. They sing "Morrowind... Morrowind..."

That's a good point, I've never played Morrowind, but Oblivion (and Fallout 3) DEFINITELY made you want to explore. They made the player look around for quests, new weapons and hidden dungeons.

I hated exploring Oblivion, due to the copy-pasta-dungeons-oh-god-why-forests effect (CPDOGWF Effect), and for some reason I was uninspired in Fallout 3. Morrowind kept me at it though due to the sheer magnificence in visual design.

Spoiler

and cliff racers, of course.

Firstly, DEATH TO ALL GOD DAMNED FUCKING DOUCHEBAG CLIFF RACERS!!!! (sorry if it's a bit much but they TICKED ME OFF!)

Secondly, Morrowind had a wonderful and diverse world, but to be honest, the lack of fast travel made everything so difficult. The transportation system could get you so far, but only so far. I loved the ability to make things with activated abilities, and item auto recharge with time.

However, where oblivion really pulls ahead is modding potential. Having played both games more than is reasonable, and checking out both modding communities extensively, oblivion has much more and BECOMES more varied with each mod. Especially the "reborns" and combat/magic overhauls.

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

Firstly, DEATH TO ALL GOD DAMNED FUCKING DOUCHEBAG CLIFF RACERS!!!! (sorry if it's a bit much but they TICKED ME OFF!)

Secondly, Morrowind had a wonderful and diverse world, but to be honest, the lack of fast travel made everything so difficult. The transportation system could get you so far, but only so far. I loved the ability to make things with activated abilities, and item auto recharge with time.

However, where oblivion really pulls ahead is modding potential. Having played both games more than is reasonable, and checking out both modding communities extensively, oblivion has much more and BECOMES more varied with each mod. Especially the "reborns" and combat/magic overhauls.

Morrowind had fast travel in the form of Teleportation and Stilt Striders. What Oblivion did is, in my opinion, inexusable. Fast Travel became too easy and arcadey, and I am not at all a fan of that. I haven't seen Oblivion mods though. If I ever install it again, then I might check it out - thanks

EDIT: Save the Cliff Racers - they're people too.