Let’s stop with the unskippable cut scenes

Andru Edwards of Gear Live — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:48:34 +0000

If there is one game design trend I would love to see come to an end, it would be the unskippable cut scenes that some developers feel the need to torture us with. Now don’t get me wrong, I totally understand that some of the more story-driven and epic games call for cut scenes. It’s a way to immerse the player in the game’s world (or universe) and feel like they are a part of it in some fashion. It also allows for the player to get to know the characters in the game on a deeper level. I get that, and it’s cool. I even get that some developers see their games as art, and as such, want to show their art in the way they intended it to be enjoyed during it’s creation. However, can you think of any other entertainment medium that locks its users up like this? If I am listening to a song, I can fast-forward if there is a portion I don’t want to hear. When watching a DVD, I can skip a chapter, or just fast forward a bit through a chapter. Sure, it may not be ideal for me to do so since I could potentially miss something crucial, but that is my choice. When I am playing a game and am “in the zone” so to speak, sometimes a cutscene can get in the way. I know many a gamer who would agree. So please, game developers. Hear our cry. Make your cut scenes skippable if the gamer so chooses. It doesn’t have to be as simple as hitting the A button, since we don’t want to see people skip by accident. Make them press Start or some such. Just don’t lock us in – it takes enjoyment away from your game, rather than adding to it.

Games for people with brains

public — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:40:23 +0000

Seriously, I’m tired of games being made to appeal only to the lowest common denominator. I’m tired of games being so idiot friendly, that only an idiot will enjoy them.
I would like a few mainstream companies to finally make a few military history based titles that unashamedly require the person actually read the manual, and actually be ready to think and actually be required to try before the game will deliver squat to the game.
I’m also tired of games being called wargames, when they are really only arcade shootemups.
I’m tired of games based on clicking the mouse rapidly being called strategy anything titles.

I want titles that require real planning, real command decisions, and actual real world military considerations and repercussions.

Finally, I want military titles to more fully break out of the rut of only being realistically possible if sold for PC.
I want more games like Panzer Tactics for the Nintendo DS.
I want more games like Age of Empires: Age of Kings for the DS.

There’s room for more turn based designs.

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Let’s stop with the unskippable cut scenes

Games for people with brains