Video Game Length (And The Order's Length of Play)

[Chester Rabbit]

I don't need a game to be long in order for me to enjoy it or to justify my purchase. I just have to enjoy it. I don't know why on this forum a game has to be 20 hours or longer in order for most of you to consider it good.

Heck two of my most favorite games are really short if you just straight shot it.

Mass Effect. If you don't bother with anything else that game is done in no time at all. It's not that long of a trip from Eden Prime to Virmire.

And in Spyro, if I just go after a few dragons I can be at the final boss in under and hour.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Wait wait wait, are you saying an over-budget, over-hyped, media slobbered, AAA FPS isn't as good as promised?!

I know I'm being a dick, but did anyone think The Order would be any good? Seriously? At this point, good games are the very rare exception. Like Yahtzee says, just assume everything is shit until it can prove otherwise.

This isn't about the quality of the game so much of it being almost criminally short for a 60 dollar game.

I take solace in thinking of it as Economical Darwinism, if they're buying random crap with their money without a little forethought and research they deserve to get burned.

Of course to answer the question, too dang short, even rushing it. Seems like there's no longer a decent middle ground, with games either being corridors with chest high walls or open maps filled with redundant collectibles.

 

[Iwata]

Looks good to me.

To be honest, I'd rather pay for a short, but entertaining game like this than a 60-hour slogfest like Final Fantasy.

To each his own and all that.

I paid ?15 for Afterburner Climax and I once finished that game in seven minutes. Do I regret it? No, because I had a blast playing it, and I've played it multiple times.

 

[JagermanXcell]

Relevant:

Don't you guys get it? It's supposed to be short and bloated in price because the gameplay is too video gamey in this video game and needs to take a backseat for the story to shine in a F***INGVIDEOGAME. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU BUY GAMES FOR RIGHT?! CERTAINLY NOT THAT GAMEPLAY STUFF.

Intense amount of sarcasm aside, I'm not surprised. Hopefully the inevitable sigh filled receptions will wake the dev team up to actually make a video game.
Those still exist right? Email me if they do, I need to confirm if my sanity for this hobby is in check.

 

[AgentCooper]

Relevant:

Don't you guys get it? It's supposed to be short and bloated in price because the gameplay is too video gamey in this video game and needs to take a backseat for the story to shine in a F***INGVIDEOGAME. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU BUY GAMES FOR RIGHT?! CERTAINLY NOT THAT GAMEPLAY STUFF.

Intense amount of sarcasm aside, I'm not surprised. Hopefully the inevitable sigh filled receptions will wake the dev team up to actually make a video game.
Those still exist right? Email me if they do, I need to confirm if my sanity for this hobby is in check.

I have no problems if they want to have a cinematic game. It could turn into something interesting or this something called fun.
I've been a proponent of Cinematic games for sometime now. Not sure when "Cinematic" became such a trigger word for contempt. If that is not the kind of game you like or even want to play fine. Don't pretend this is some blight brought onto the consumer population by some grandiose plan to scam you out of $60.

 

[Fox12]

I care more about quality then quantity. That said, for $60, those better be five really impressive hours. Seeing as I spent $10 for a 100 hour persona game, I may be spoiled. Personally, I'll wait for bloodborne. Or maybe I'll save up for the EVA blu-ray set, since Anno wants to bleed me dry.

 

[T_ConX]

I saw a link to you Youtube video of the entire game, but when I clicked it...


Taken down? D-D-D-D-DAMAGE CONTROL!

I'm actually reading a Eurogamer article on this, and the excuses are really just pathetic...

"I know there are numbers out there," he said. "I know why the question comes up. I know numbers have been put out there that are actually not right. It's impossible to finish the game in that time, so we know the numbers are wrong."

Again, there is (or was) a video showing that completing the game in the amount of time was possible. It's one thing for a unsubstantiated claim to float around the internet, it's another thing when there's video evidence.

Rather, Weerasuriya insisted, it was Ready at Dawn's focus on creating a variety of mechanics that meant there was more work to do than if it had made a straight up third-person shooter.

"If you want to talk about the number of gameplay mechanics, we probably have a lot more than normally any single game would have," he said.

You have QTEs. And no multi-player.

"Gameplay length for me is so relative to quality. It's just like a movie. Just because a movie is three hours long, it doesn't make it better."

I'm just going to point out that the final boss isn't just a QTE; It's a repeat of a QTE from a quarter of the way through. If you're going to make the quality over quantity argument, you better have some actual quality. This is not quality. This is the kind of thing I see other games do as form of length padding. LENGTH PADDING! You're doing LENGTH PADDING and you're still under 6 hours.

B-b-but Metal Gear Rising was only...

Six hours, but it oozed with quality. Also, 60fps.

 

[Thanatos2]

If the Multiplayer for Order is good, then a short campaign is forgivable. If the Multiplayer is barebones, then I will lead the mob with torch and pitchfork raised in anger

 

[Thanatos2]

I saw a link to you Youtube video of the entire game, but when I clicked it...


Taken down? D-D-D-D-DAMAGE CONTROL!

I'm actually reading a Eurogamer article on this, and the excuses are really just pathetic...

"I know there are numbers out there," he said. "I know why the question comes up. I know numbers have been put out there that are actually not right. It's impossible to finish the game in that time, so we know the numbers are wrong."

Again, there is (or was) a video showing that completing the game in the amount of time was possible. It's one thing for a unsubstantiated claim to float around the internet, it's another thing when there's video evidence.

Rather, Weerasuriya insisted, it was Ready at Dawn's focus on creating a variety of mechanics that meant there was more work to do than if it had made a straight up third-person shooter.

"If you want to talk about the number of gameplay mechanics, we probably have a lot more than normally any single game would have," he said.

You have QTEs. And no multi-player.

"Gameplay length for me is so relative to quality. It's just like a movie. Just because a movie is three hours long, it doesn't make it better."

I'm just going to point out that the final boss isn't just a QTE; It's a repeat of a QTE from a quarter of the way through. If you're going to make the quality over quantity argument, you better have some actual quality. This is not quality. This is the kind of thing I see other games do as form of length padding. LENGTH PADDING! You're doing LENGTH PADDING and you're still under 6 hours.

B-b-but Metal Gear Rising was only...

Six hours, but it oozed with quality. Also, 60fps.

Sigh, no Multiplayer?

 

[Casual Shinji]

I have no problems if they want to have a cinematic game. It could turn into something interesting or this something called fun.
I've been a proponent of Cinematic games for sometime now. Not sure when "Cinematic" became such a trigger word for contempt. If that is not the kind of game you like or even want to play fine. Don't pretend this is some blight brought onto the consumer population by some grandiose plan to scam you out of $60.

Odd how this anger never reared its head back during the height of the cinematic platformer. I never heard people curse at Abe's Oddysee or Heart of Darkness for focussing on the cinematic experience rather than the platforming mechanics.

Also, a few games going the cinematic route somehow equates to the entire industry. After all, there's no room for both apparently.

Or maybe I'll save up for the EVA blu-ray set, since Anno wants to bleed me dry.

0_0

...

What EVA bluray set? You talking about the actual show or the recent movies, because God I would kill for the former... If they would actually make it available in Europe.

 

[Thanatos2]

I have no problems if they want to have a cinematic game. It could turn into something interesting or this something called fun.
I've been a proponent of Cinematic games for sometime now. Not sure when "Cinematic" became such a trigger word for contempt. If that is not the kind of game you like or even want to play fine. Don't pretend this is some blight brought onto the consumer population by some grandiose plan to scam you out of $60.

Odd how this anger never reared its head back during the height of the cinematic platformer. I never heard people curse at Abe's Oddysee or Heart of Darkness for focussing on the cinematic experience rather than the platforming mechanics.

Also, a few games going the cinematic route somehow equates to the entire industry. After all, there's no room for both apparently.

Or maybe I'll save up for the EVA blu-ray set, since Anno wants to bleed me dry.

0_0

...

What EVA bluray set? You talking about the actual show or the recent movies, because God I would kill for the former... If they would actually make it available in Europe.

I dont mind a cinematic game if the cinematic and gameplay portions of it are balanced. When you have games like Asura's Wrath for instance, or The Xenosaga series, or Metal Gear Solid 4, where cinematics are more then half of the game's running time, then you're just making an interactive movie, not really a game, in my opinion. I want a game, not an interactive movie.

 

[likalaruku]

A game, including farting around off the beaten path for landscape photography, & grinding, should be no less than 24 hours....Unless it plays out like a movie & is either really well written or genuinely funny.

5.5 hours would be acceptable for an episode of an episodic game.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I dont mind a cinematic game if the cinematic and gameplay portions of it are balanced. When you have games like Asura's Wrath for instance, or The Xenosaga series, or Metal Gear Solid 4, where cinematics are more then half of the game's running time, then you're just making an interactive movie, not really a game, in my opinion. I want a game, not an interactive movie.

As long as I enjoy what I'm presented with I don't really care what it is. The reason the cutscenes in MGS4 killed the game for me had less to do with the length, and more with their boring, expository nature on top of the convoluted plot.

The great thing about games is that they can be anything the developer wants them to be, because they cover every ground; writing, visuals, and interactivity. It could be a game made up completely of text, and I would still like it if its focal point was well handled. I don't think games should be forced to be one particular thing. There's room for everyone, or at least, they should be.

 

[Fox12]

I have no problems if they want to have a cinematic game. It could turn into something interesting or this something called fun.
I've been a proponent of Cinematic games for sometime now. Not sure when "Cinematic" became such a trigger word for contempt. If that is not the kind of game you like or even want to play fine. Don't pretend this is some blight brought onto the consumer population by some grandiose plan to scam you out of $60.

Odd how this anger never reared its head back during the height of the cinematic platformer. I never heard people curse at Abe's Oddysee or Heart of Darkness for focussing on the cinematic experience rather than the platforming mechanics.

Also, a few games going the cinematic route somehow equates to the entire industry. After all, there's no room for both apparently.

Or maybe I'll save up for the EVA blu-ray set, since Anno wants to bleed me dry.

0_0

...

What EVA bluray set? You talking about the actual show or the recent movies, because God I would kill for the former... If they would actually make it available in Europe.

I mean, like, everything. The show, The End of Eva, and everything else (which I couldn't care less about) will be released in a box set. They announced it in January, I think, for Japan later this year. No idea when it will hit America, much less Europe, but I would be stunned if such a major release failed to reach Europe. It's hard to get much larger then Eva, except for maybe DBZ and Ghibli (in terms of sales). Me? I'd be happy with the DVD's, but the company went under, so it's impossible to find the box set or the film for less then $400 (a piece). I missed the boat, so the only way I'll own the show is if they re-release it. Long story short, I've been saving up my pennies.

 

[JagermanXcell]

Don't you guys get it? It's supposed to be short and bloated in price because the gameplay is too video gamey in this video game and needs to take a backseat for the story to shine in a F***INGVIDEOGAME. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU BUY GAMES FOR RIGHT?! CERTAINLY NOT THAT GAMEPLAY STUFF.

Intense amount of sarcasm aside, I'm not surprised. Hopefully the inevitable sigh filled receptions will wake the dev team up to actually make a video game.
Those still exist right? Email me if they do, I need to confirm if my sanity for this hobby is in check.

I have no problems if they want to have a cinematic game. It could turn into something interesting or this something called fun.
I've been a proponent of Cinematic games for sometime now. Not sure when "Cinematic" became such a trigger word for contempt. If that is not the kind of game you like or even want to play fine. Don't pretend this is some blight brought onto the consumer population by some grandiose plan to scam you out of $60.

I'm more annoyed at the principle of it. They went in, as a video game company, wanting to make a cinematic experience, but had the audacity to say that they were pretty much forced to put in the gameplay part, so in the time it took for people to gain interest in the concept, they instead shoved in a 3rd Person Shooter... god forbid going outside the norm. And considering the recent damage control, something tells me this 5 hour movie featuring Chest High Wall Shot Bang Simulator and occasionally button pressing experience, is a pretty below average experience in the gameplay department.

At least they got what they wanted.

Plus I never explicitly said I downright hated RaD or anyone in particular for going the cinematic route. I show much respect for games that balance a fine story as long as the gameplay has elements of replayability and that thing called "fun" i'd eat up in a microsecond. For all it's flaws, The Last of Us did this well with it's world building, characters, and dialogue ect. ect. on top of being a hybrid of stealth action and horror.
There's always room for balance in elements of interactivity if you consider all the tools given to you. Something I thought only... idk... David Cage was ignorantly unaware about.

I'm fine with cinematic approaches. I'm not fine with toning down gameplay like it's some kind of an annoyance in an attempt to be safe.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I mean, like, everything. The show, The End of Eva, and everything else (which I couldn't care less about) will be released in a box set. They announced it in January, I think, for Japan later this year. No idea when it will hit America, much less Europe, but I would be stunned if such a major release failed to reach Europe. It's hard to get much larger then Eva, except for maybe DBZ and Ghibli (in terms of sales). Me? I'd be happy with the DVD's, but the company went under, so it's impossible to find the box set or the film for less then $400 (a piece). I missed the boat, so the only way I'll own the show is if they re-release it. Long story short, I've been saving up my pennies.

Well, I already own the show (as well as EoE) on DVD with the Platinum edition, but it's region 1 (myself being in Europe). And while I do have a region free DVD player, the quality can be a bit jaggy and that player isn't going to last forever. And it's pretty impossible to get another one, seeing as they're not allowed to be sold in shops here anymore. As a matter of fact, I have a shitton of anime DVDs that'll become useless once my DVD player goes under. It'd be awesome if the PS3 had one of those 'region choice' disks available that you'd slot in and would then allow you to choose what region you'd want to watch your bluray in. The PS2 had one for DVDs and it was marvelous.

Also, I have a weakness for "shinies". If something I like is rereleased in shinier quality I'm all over it. I'm still severely bummed I couldn't buy that Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water bluray set, because, again, region locked. So let's hope it'll be different with the EVA boxset.

 

[AgentCooper]

Don't you guys get it? It's supposed to be short and bloated in price because the gameplay is too video gamey in this video game and needs to take a backseat for the story to shine in a F***INGVIDEOGAME. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU BUY GAMES FOR RIGHT?! CERTAINLY NOT THAT GAMEPLAY STUFF.

Intense amount of sarcasm aside, I'm not surprised. Hopefully the inevitable sigh filled receptions will wake the dev team up to actually make a video game.
Those still exist right? Email me if they do, I need to confirm if my sanity for this hobby is in check.

I have no problems if they want to have a cinematic game. It could turn into something interesting or this something called fun.
I've been a proponent of Cinematic games for sometime now. Not sure when "Cinematic" became such a trigger word for contempt. If that is not the kind of game you like or even want to play fine. Don't pretend this is some blight brought onto the consumer population by some grandiose plan to scam you out of $60.

I'm more annoyed at the principle of it. They went in, as a video game company, wanting to make a cinematic experience, but had the audacity to say that they were pretty much forced to put in the gameplay part, so in the time it took for people to gain interest in the concept, they instead shoved in a 3rd Person Shooter... god forbid going outside the norm. And considering the recent damage control, something tells me this 5 hour movie featuring Chest High Wall Shot Bang Simulator and occasionally button pressing experience, is a pretty below average experience in the gameplay department.

At least they got what they wanted.

Plus I never explicitly said I downright hated RaD or anyone in particular for going the cinematic route. I show much respect for games that balance a fine story as long as the gameplay has elements of replayability and that thing called "fun" i'd eat up in a microsecond. For all it's flaws, The Last of Us did this well with it's world building, characters, and dialogue ect. ect. on top of being a hybrid of stealth action and horror.
There's always room for balance in elements of interactivity if you consider all the tools given to you. Something I thought only... idk... David Cage was ignorantly unaware about.

I'm fine with cinematic approaches. I'm not fine with toning down gameplay like it's some kind of an annoyance in an attempt to be safe.

The part you are hinged on with Ready At Dawn was nothing more than the typical peter molyneux syndrome. Don't let something that was probably said in either as a jest or even if it was seriousness get to you. Lesser people in the industry has said worse.

 

[small]

while i cant speak for that particular game and i usually tend to have a $1/1 hour as a value for money rule when it comes to games i do have exceptions and in the end if i enjoyed myself it was good value.

stanley parable and ryse were both short yet i enjoyed them both, ryse on sale that is at full price it wouldnt be for me

 

[Fox12]

I mean, like, everything. The show, The End of Eva, and everything else (which I couldn't care less about) will be released in a box set. They announced it in January, I think, for Japan later this year. No idea when it will hit America, much less Europe, but I would be stunned if such a major release failed to reach Europe. It's hard to get much larger then Eva, except for maybe DBZ and Ghibli (in terms of sales). Me? I'd be happy with the DVD's, but the company went under, so it's impossible to find the box set or the film for less then $400 (a piece). I missed the boat, so the only way I'll own the show is if they re-release it. Long story short, I've been saving up my pennies.

Well, I already own the show (as well as EoE) on DVD with the Platinum edition, but it's region 1 (myself being in Europe). And while I do have a region free DVD player, the quality can be a bit jaggy and that player isn't going to last forever. And it's pretty impossible to get another one, seeing as they're not allowed to be sold in shops here anymore. As a matter of fact, I have a shitton of anime DVDs that'll become useless once my DVD player goes under. It'd be awesome if the PS3 had one of those 'region choice' disks available that you'd slot in and would then allow you to choose what region you'd want to watch your bluray in. The PS2 had one for DVDs and it was marvelous.

Also, I have a weakness for "shinies". If something I like is rereleased in shinier quality I'm all over it. I'm still severely bummed I couldn't buy that Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water bluray set, because, again, region locked. So let's hope it'll be different with the EVA boxset.

If you don't mind me asking, why is it banned where you are? Sure, American stores don't carry almost anything anime related anymore, but it isn't banned in the states.

In any case, I hope your able to find the box set when it's released. Lord knows its hard to find where I am.

 

[Laughing Man]

Does the length of a game affect your purchases at all too? Because if a game ends up way too short, I'm going to feel like I wasted a lot of money.

No, the length to cost ratio does though. I usually look at one hour per £1 I pay for the game as being pretty good. On the other hand the reason I won;t be buying The Order doesn't have anything to do with game length but rather because it plain doesn't look very good.

I watched the first half hour of the game videos and while the graphics are stunning the gameplay, press single button to continue cutscene, was so underwhelming that any chance of me buying the game dropped to zero, and yes while the rest of the game may be totally different after that opening section that fact that it had a whole section dedicated to it that lasted as long as it did put me right off.