Poll: How long is too long for a cutscene?

[tumpler]

I am interested in making games and I want to know when a cutscene gets too long. So if you could help me that would be great.

 

[sky14kemea]

anything beyond 10 mins would guarantee the player has gone away to get food by then XD
well thats what i think...

 

[Harlemura]

I don't really think a cutscene can seem too long, being it's interesting to watch.
Hitting the 15 minute mark would be pushing it though.

 

[JenXXXJen]

10 mins is the limit, I'd say, unless it's the super-awesome-long-epic ending scene.

 

[Beltom]

One or two minute cutscenes in the middle of the game are fine, leave the long ones for the end and maybe the beginning.

 

[RollForInitiative]

As somebody that used to make them, I generally draw the line at two minutes. Keep it short and sweet whenever possible. You'd be surprised at how much you can cram into two minutes anyways.

 

[Salem_Wolf]

After playing Metal Gear Solid 4 and LIKING IT (scary thought for some)...I'd say as long as the cutscene gives the player appropriate information and feeds the plot more...I'd say keep it going as long as it's useful. But I'd say usually after 10 minutes it needs to stay entertaining otherwise I'll be bored and wishing for action.

 

[eatenbyagrue]

If its long enough that players have to start taking notes and/or getting food, then its too bloody long.

Square Enix is especially guilty of this, given how each game is preceded by a 10-minute long unskippable cinematic, followed by a playable sequence that may as well be an unskippable cinematic, followed by another 5-minute long cinematic.

 

[WaffleTron]

IT depends on whats going on in the cut scene, if its infinitely boring then just don't do it. Be kind, have a skip option, or else it'll be fodder for "Unskippable."

 

[Zhalath]

Above 5 minutes is kind of irritating, unless it's an extremely major reveal cutscene or something. Also, make all cutscenes skippable, preferably by a little menu popping up, pausing the scene, and asking you if you want to skip.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Depends on the contents, If its an all out badass battle with blood and sex, that can last a while. But if there talking...... zzzzzz

 

[hydrahh]

Remember MGS4? However long those cutscenes are.

Also, don't make the actual gameplay time shorter than the total cutscene time.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I don't really mind the length as long as it isn't that crap they pull in Final Fantasy half the time... some like 5+ minute long cut scene before a boss fight, and if you died the first time, you have to reload a save and sit through the cut scene again...

 

[PPSh-41]

*points at Metal Gear Solid 4*

I suppose a 10-minute long cut scene could be justified if it was needed to explain plot and if it still had enough action to not be boring that would be fine, but generally the first case is not true because the plot can/should be explained in bits in pieces, partially during game play (a la Half-Life).

I'd cut it off at about 7 minutes.

 

[erik91]

Well MGS4 ending cut scene is one and a half hour, and I enjoyed every second of it, so it really depends on what type of game. In MGS, for example, there is no length limit.

 

[Gaderael]

I never picked an option, as it really depends on the game. RPGs, yeah, I like a longer cutscene, as it's all about the story or an epic part in the tale. If it's a fighter or sports game, short and too the point does it for me. Everything else pretty much lies in between.

 

[PPSh-41]

I don't really mind the length as long as it isn't that crap they pull in Final Fantasy half the time... some like 5+ minute long cut scene before a boss fight, and if you died the first time, you have to reload a save and sit through the cut scene again...

Oh, also make all cut scenes skip-able.

 

[A random person]

Where's the option for depends on quality/importance? I don't really mind them in Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes (granted, everyone in the cutscenes has super ninja moves) since they're actually good, but in some games they're unbearable. Also developers, do not place unskippable cutscenes directly before boss fights, especially really hard boss fights.
*angrily remembers the second Riku boss fight from Kingdom Hearts*

I am a fan of no cutscene Half Life-esque game storytelling, however.