when does a game stop being a game?

[Hurray Forums]

*points at the 18 story monster every one seems to ignore* Xenosaga had a 2 hour introduction. Not tutorial like Kingdom Hearts but introduction. I timed it. Worse than action sequences you should control or excessive dialogue which moves the plot forward, it meanders around talking about this guy who has a crush on the main character. 2 hours between those two showing that she's an absent minded scientist and he's got a crush. Once you finally get to combat it lasts for a bout 20 minutes if you don't grind and you're stuck with 45 minutes more of cutscenes about a pirate. If you want to dive for a game that's like an interactive movie pick on Xenosaga. Final Fantasy looks free range compared to that crap.

If you're going to complain about a game at least try to keep the complaints realistic. It was not a 2 hour long introduction, not even close, the longest time for consecutive cutscenes in the entire series is 45 minutes. Also, if all you got out of the introduction up to the point that you refer to was that a boy has a crush on a girl and there is a pirate you must not have been paying attention at all. It's fine to dislike a game but at least make sure you understand it before complaining.

 

[onethought99]

I think games stop being games when they start to become a virtual life. Games like Second Life and similar MMORPGs dont appeal to me because they seem to have become a life simulation which I think is futile, why dont you just go out there and do it for REAL!.
On the subject on games with moral messages, I think that this is a branch of direction. While they arent traditional, it is simply another evolution of the median. Even if you dont like this direction, it needs to be respected as a powerful way to communicate a message (righteous in intention or propagandist) so we can recognise it and its intention. I like games that have a message so long as it is well executed and is enjoyable to play

 

[Emperor Inferno]

Games stop being a game when people start defending them to the death. Case in point: Halo.

Now, there may be some who will do that (and Halo is a great example), but it's not fair to say that means it's stopped being a game. People like me can still sit down and enjoy Halo, or another game I like (Diablo, KOTOR, etc.) in spite of all the fanboys out there who do exactly what you just said. Maybe that kills it for some people, but I can just ignore all the hoopla and enjoy a game anyway.

 

[Syphonz]

when does a game stop being a game?

When its EA Sports?

is this in a good way? or a bad way?

personally I think EA Sports almost become sports themselves..NHL 09 FTW.

 

[Aeviv]

Games stop being a game when it stops being fun

Or when you get paid. Then it becomes a way of life