Unfinished Games
John Scott Tynes discusses how to make sure no game goes unfinished.
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John Scott Tynes discusses how to make sure no game goes unfinished.
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Unfinished Games
- Thread starter John Scott Tynes
- Start date
The list of games I never get round to finishing is embarrssingly long and it's not because the games are rubbish. In most cases I'll reach a hard level then not touch it for a few months go back to it after feeling guilty and do it first time.
And I agree I did the Krogan Battlemaster fight on Veteran difficlutly with a sniper/tech guy. Very hard. I take it its the one after you resuce the blue skinned doll. With the long cutscene before it. Eventually I worked out that the enemy uses the same tactics regardless of what I did so i abused this until i got lucky.
And I agree I did the Krogan Battlemaster fight on Veteran difficlutly with a sniper/tech guy. Very hard. I take it its the one after you resuce the blue skinned doll. With the long cutscene before it. Eventually I worked out that the enemy uses the same tactics regardless of what I did so i abused this until i got lucky.
I think that is what cheat codes were for back in the day. Sadly they have gone the way of the Dodo. My favorite Super Nintendo cartage was the Game Genie, just because it would allow me to see all the content of games I would normally label unbeatable.
I find this post quite interesting... [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.123401]hamster mk 4 said:
I got a lot of games I never finish... Either because I lose interest, or simply because new games pop up.
Those in the last category I usually finish later, but some I never do... I don't know why, but it is hard to jump in again when that happens. Oddly enough, I have a few games where all I have left to do is the final boss or sequence. And these are great games (Psychonauts is one of them) Why haven't I done that last bit? I think it is because then the game will be finished. And if I finish it, it loses something. Like when you are reading a brilliant book you never want to end. It's like that. I don't want Psychonauts to end, 'cause it's 'effin brilliant.
But at the same time I really want to see how it ends... will probably play through it next week, now that this thread made me remember the fact that I haven't beaten it yet. And remembering that made me lose the Game. Curses.
Those in the last category I usually finish later, but some I never do... I don't know why, but it is hard to jump in again when that happens. Oddly enough, I have a few games where all I have left to do is the final boss or sequence. And these are great games (Psychonauts is one of them) Why haven't I done that last bit? I think it is because then the game will be finished. And if I finish it, it loses something. Like when you are reading a brilliant book you never want to end. It's like that. I don't want Psychonauts to end, 'cause it's 'effin brilliant.
But at the same time I really want to see how it ends... will probably play through it next week, now that this thread made me remember the fact that I haven't beaten it yet. And remembering that made me lose the Game. Curses.
If they guys working on Alone in the Dark didn't have the time or money to fix the difficulty issues in that portion of the game, I doubt they would have the resources to implement your Gamer Hero idea.
That said, I do think it's a good idea, though we'll have to wait and see how Miyamoto's "Demo Play" does to determine if it actually works in practice.
That said, I do think it's a good idea, though we'll have to wait and see how Miyamoto's "Demo Play" does to determine if it actually works in practice.
Not many I think... I usually check it online to see if I am close to the end if I find out I have done thisKwil said:
I never do this on purpose you see... it just happens.
And I am supposed to go to bed. Don't make me go search for tropes again...
there are definately a good number of games in my collection that i just didnt like enough to play all the way through, like GTA4 (and dont give me crap about it, it just wasnt personally my game) and definately many that were too hard, like the original Fire Emblem (which i admit wasnt all that hard, i just wasnt very good at it=P)
My unfinished games would be all role playing games iv'e ever owned except for Zelda(Wii) and mass effect. just thinking about the hours toward just fighting monsters to level up high enough to beat the game were to intimidating for me and i gave up trying to reach there ends before i ever started.
There are two games I ever bought but didn't finish.
The first one is Gauntlet II for Gameboy. No matter how hard I tried and how many dungeons I cleared, I would eventually get stuck and die. Years later I realized that Gauntlet II is a never-ending game. The game will keep going for as long as you manage to stay alive. There is no last level, no final boss. So this one doesn't really count.
The second one is Final Fantasy VII. I'm a huge fan of RPGs, both on of off the computer, and FF7 was my first JRPG. Let me correct that: it was my first and final JRPG. Although the cutscenes were far beyond impressive and it had a decent story, I found the gameplay to be incredibly boring. I never did mind a bit of number crunching and I understand that some repetition is sometimes required in a CRPG but the whole menu-selecting battle system just didn't fit me, and believe me when I say that I tried, and I just didn't click with the main characters. The immersion just didn't take place. I ended up downloading a movie player and watching all the cutscenes from the CD, after which I sold the game second hand.
The first one is Gauntlet II for Gameboy. No matter how hard I tried and how many dungeons I cleared, I would eventually get stuck and die. Years later I realized that Gauntlet II is a never-ending game. The game will keep going for as long as you manage to stay alive. There is no last level, no final boss. So this one doesn't really count.
The second one is Final Fantasy VII. I'm a huge fan of RPGs, both on of off the computer, and FF7 was my first JRPG. Let me correct that: it was my first and final JRPG. Although the cutscenes were far beyond impressive and it had a decent story, I found the gameplay to be incredibly boring. I never did mind a bit of number crunching and I understand that some repetition is sometimes required in a CRPG but the whole menu-selecting battle system just didn't fit me, and believe me when I say that I tried, and I just didn't click with the main characters. The immersion just didn't take place. I ended up downloading a movie player and watching all the cutscenes from the CD, after which I sold the game second hand.
I tend to finish all my games of late. I want my achievements.
But when I had my PS1 I only completed 2 games, Ace Combat 3 and GTA 2, out of around 20-30 games. Most of this was due to difficulty and me being useless at all my games cause I never truely learned how to play perfectly.
I completed GTA 2 with cheats then without them cause I got better. And Ace Combat 3 cause I just love flying sims and got rather good at it.
But when I had my PS1 I only completed 2 games, Ace Combat 3 and GTA 2, out of around 20-30 games. Most of this was due to difficulty and me being useless at all my games cause I never truely learned how to play perfectly.
I completed GTA 2 with cheats then without them cause I got better. And Ace Combat 3 cause I just love flying sims and got rather good at it.
I currently (I only have a Wii) am working on beating the games I haven't finished. I just beat off Super Paper Mario, and Super Mario Galaxy only recently. Oh, and Rival Swords. I need to beat Soul Calibur Legends, and Mortal Kombat Armageddon when I can. Other than that, Pokemon Diamond is on the bottom of my list, as it's new.
And after todays Unforgotten Realms, I feel the urge to play TF2. And therefor should get the Orange Box.
And after todays Unforgotten Realms, I feel the urge to play TF2. And therefor should get the Orange Box.
Sounds similar to the intent of quick-time events - you're taken through a scripted sequence and every so often you have to provide some input to keep the scene moving. Unfortunately that all too often turns into "Press X to not die" and becomes a punishing test of your reflexes.
It could be done well though, if the buttons you're expected to press are essentially the controls you would be using to control the action anyway, but with your method/route pre-decided and scripted. So for a cinematic race with stuff exploding left right and centre you could have an event pop up that you need to brake for a corner - don't press the right button, you spin off into a falling chunk of masonry or something. It _could_ be done well, but it very often isn't and you end up unable to watch the cool cinematic stuff because you're on alert for the event notifications.
Maybe also if there was some pre-warning - the event comes up, you're going to need to press the button in 3... 2... 1.. DO IT NOW! and then you've got some time interval to press it. Means you can take your eyes off the notifications occasionally to watch the pretty pictures for a bit.
It could be done well though, if the buttons you're expected to press are essentially the controls you would be using to control the action anyway, but with your method/route pre-decided and scripted. So for a cinematic race with stuff exploding left right and centre you could have an event pop up that you need to brake for a corner - don't press the right button, you spin off into a falling chunk of masonry or something. It _could_ be done well, but it very often isn't and you end up unable to watch the cool cinematic stuff because you're on alert for the event notifications.
Maybe also if there was some pre-warning - the event comes up, you're going to need to press the button in 3... 2... 1.. DO IT NOW! and then you've got some time interval to press it. Means you can take your eyes off the notifications occasionally to watch the pretty pictures for a bit.
Funny, when I read the title I thought you meant games that are unfinished by the developers--in other words games that are released in a beta (or alpha) state. That's been a bigger problem for me lately.
Okay, fair enough, there is quite a few polished games I haven't finished. If somebody pays $60 for a game they probably want all the content. Locked content and even linear levels go back to arcade days. Drop that. All levels available once the game is installed. If you want to start midway through it might spoil some of the story but that is your choice. Simple fix. Power to the player.
Now role playing games that involve leveling and gearing up solve most of the problem right there because if you can't finish a task at, say, level 6, then just grind a couple levels and go back at level 9 with better equipment and you probably can. But if you can finish it at 6 you can still feel how leet you are.
Then make games good. I'm not in the least bit surprised only 28% finished GTA4 because, content aside, the game is garbage and finally we have proof. If the game is good, even if it's hard--and my reflexes aren't what they were 20 years ago--I'll still trod my way through it, cursing God and Jesus and throwing my controller against the wall the whole way. If the game is boring I just start playing something else.
Okay, fair enough, there is quite a few polished games I haven't finished. If somebody pays $60 for a game they probably want all the content. Locked content and even linear levels go back to arcade days. Drop that. All levels available once the game is installed. If you want to start midway through it might spoil some of the story but that is your choice. Simple fix. Power to the player.
Now role playing games that involve leveling and gearing up solve most of the problem right there because if you can't finish a task at, say, level 6, then just grind a couple levels and go back at level 9 with better equipment and you probably can. But if you can finish it at 6 you can still feel how leet you are.
Then make games good. I'm not in the least bit surprised only 28% finished GTA4 because, content aside, the game is garbage and finally we have proof. If the game is good, even if it's hard--and my reflexes aren't what they were 20 years ago--I'll still trod my way through it, cursing God and Jesus and throwing my controller against the wall the whole way. If the game is boring I just start playing something else.
Here are the games that I never completed:
Oblivion IV Elder scrolls - it just took to long and I kept getting side tracked and did useless things. Also I was never happy with my characters and after I usually did something I would think to myself a few hours "oh I wish that I had done that" so I would create a new character. I am up to my 5th character but now whenever I think of the game I just say "sod it"
Fallout 3 - pretty much the same thing as oblivion and I was borrowing it from my friend for a short time only. (I'm up to my third character on this game)
Forza Motorsport 2 - Well on this game what do I do first. You race. Then what? You race some more. And then? Race some more. And after that ... oh sod it! Repetitve is the only word I use to describe that game.
Soul Caliber 4 - I just think that it is a truely aweful game but seeing that it was bro's that bought the game I don't realy care.
Far Cry 2 - When I first saw this game I knew it was going to be good and it was. Fighting in the middle of Africa, doing risky missions, saving buddies from death or easing their passing, playin' with fire. These aspects of the game were brilliant and the story was believeable enough but those thing which I have just listed were the only things that you realy do in the game and it only gets more and more repetitve so I just gave up.
I liked all of the games I just wrote about, except for Soul Caliber 4, and they are fun to play when I a bored. These games all have reason that make you stop playing but what I find interesting is, What gives a game replayable value? What reasons does a game have that would make you want to play it again? There is only one game for me that does this which is the Orange Box. This is Half Life 2 episode 1 and 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. I don't know what it is for me that makes these games so replayable. Although Yahtzee could probably give you a hell of a lot of reasons why you should play Portal.
Oblivion IV Elder scrolls - it just took to long and I kept getting side tracked and did useless things. Also I was never happy with my characters and after I usually did something I would think to myself a few hours "oh I wish that I had done that" so I would create a new character. I am up to my 5th character but now whenever I think of the game I just say "sod it"
Fallout 3 - pretty much the same thing as oblivion and I was borrowing it from my friend for a short time only. (I'm up to my third character on this game)
Forza Motorsport 2 - Well on this game what do I do first. You race. Then what? You race some more. And then? Race some more. And after that ... oh sod it! Repetitve is the only word I use to describe that game.
Soul Caliber 4 - I just think that it is a truely aweful game but seeing that it was bro's that bought the game I don't realy care.
Far Cry 2 - When I first saw this game I knew it was going to be good and it was. Fighting in the middle of Africa, doing risky missions, saving buddies from death or easing their passing, playin' with fire. These aspects of the game were brilliant and the story was believeable enough but those thing which I have just listed were the only things that you realy do in the game and it only gets more and more repetitve so I just gave up.
I liked all of the games I just wrote about, except for Soul Caliber 4, and they are fun to play when I a bored. These games all have reason that make you stop playing but what I find interesting is, What gives a game replayable value? What reasons does a game have that would make you want to play it again? There is only one game for me that does this which is the Orange Box. This is Half Life 2 episode 1 and 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. I don't know what it is for me that makes these games so replayable. Although Yahtzee could probably give you a hell of a lot of reasons why you should play Portal.
Strongly agree with your sentiments JST.
A while back I decided to make a point of genuinely attempting to finish games. I will freely offer that I am getting more out of my gaming since I did this than ever before.
All those times I hit places in agmes where it was too hard, or too boring to press on, now I plough through and I would say the results have made me wish I started doing it a long time ago.
A while back I decided to make a point of genuinely attempting to finish games. I will freely offer that I am getting more out of my gaming since I did this than ever before.
All those times I hit places in agmes where it was too hard, or too boring to press on, now I plough through and I would say the results have made me wish I started doing it a long time ago.
In true spirit of this article, I didn't finish it.
It is true though, every game I got except for HL2 and Ep1 are in someway unfinished, some are very close,but it tends to be some nail on my smooth floor that pops my tires for the game-mobile, leaving be stuck,because the game-mobile never came with a spare. I'm not saying I need the spare, just make sure your game doesn't have any nails sticking out. Plus the nails are great for Yahtzee to pull at with his critic mouth.
It is true though, every game I got except for HL2 and Ep1 are in someway unfinished, some are very close,but it tends to be some nail on my smooth floor that pops my tires for the game-mobile, leaving be stuck,because the game-mobile never came with a spare. I'm not saying I need the spare, just make sure your game doesn't have any nails sticking out. Plus the nails are great for Yahtzee to pull at with his critic mouth.
Another thought: if I really want to see all the content that I can't or don't want to finish, you have "Let's Play" video's on YouTube. Heck, in that case you don't even have to buy the game. I stopped playing WoW at the start of WotLK but I still watch videos of the instances and raids. Suits me fine.
Just to add: the suggestions in the OP sound like implementing official cheat codes as one of the options in the main menu. Sounds good to me. I can understand the problem game designers have of appealing to a wide range of player skill. There should always be an easy mode, maybe disguise it without actually calling it an "easy" mode, that should be truly easy (I'm looking at you Super Stardust HD and WipEout HD), and then difficulty settings can be adjusted upward from there.
Edit #2: Okay I just watched the Alone in the Dark video. I'm going to hazard a guess that this game took driving controls from the fail GTA4 playbook and that's why it was hard, once you had worked out the route. I know it took manakin character design from fail BioShock textures. I'd guess I wouldn't have finished the game either.
Just to add: the suggestions in the OP sound like implementing official cheat codes as one of the options in the main menu. Sounds good to me. I can understand the problem game designers have of appealing to a wide range of player skill. There should always be an easy mode, maybe disguise it without actually calling it an "easy" mode, that should be truly easy (I'm looking at you Super Stardust HD and WipEout HD), and then difficulty settings can be adjusted upward from there.
Edit #2: Okay I just watched the Alone in the Dark video. I'm going to hazard a guess that this game took driving controls from the fail GTA4 playbook and that's why it was hard, once you had worked out the route. I know it took manakin character design from fail BioShock textures. I'd guess I wouldn't have finished the game either.