Jimquisition: Linearity versus Replayability

[Dana22]

"To me, replay value comes in whether or not I want to play the game again".

Which is bit illogical, it would make more sense if you would add 'Right after I finish it' or 'In short term' at the endor something similar.

Because replay value is not 0/1, its a VALUE. Modern Warfare 2 (SP) will have lower replay value because of its linear gameplay and scripted encounters, then say Baldurs Gate 2 which has more open gameplay, mechanics and non-linear storytelling.

imho.

 

[Treblaine]

if you play something else every time then it's not called REplay is it? it's just playng something new so it's not REplayebility! it's just playebility

Yeah, but with multiplayer, don't people fight in the same maps with the same weapons over and over again?

Black ops came with 14 stock maps and 10 minutes per match there is only about 2 hours and 20 minutes of actual "new play" before you start REplaying the same maps, just with different rules and weapons.

If you play through the single-player with different weapons and tactics then that is definitely replay.

But that's not a problem, it is all-right to replay a map in competitive multiplayer as there are so many angles to discover with it. This is just ACCEPTABLE replayability. Still replaying the same old shit. Yeah there are map-packs, 12 new maps for $45 is pretty poor value. That's the price of a whole new game for effectively only 2 hours of new content.

Only a game like minecraft can claim infinite playability with randomly generated world and content that is limited only by your imagination.

 

[Treblaine]

Wow, so replay value is replay value? Good thing we have the hard-hitting jimquisition to tell us that! Keep aiming for those challenging targets, Jim. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAT15I-QnBY]

>missing the entire point of the video

That video barely had a point. He was saying that linear games can have replay value if they're worth replaying - i.e., replay value = replay value. Wow, video game journalism at its finest!

He's saying anything good is worth replaying. Come on, you can't have been on the internet for a day without hearing the tons of people who say "No multiplayer? No buy". Maybe you have miraculously avoided all these people, but I assure you: they are LEGION.

Yeah, well those are idiots. And could you give me a couple of examples of post that say that in these forums, because i seem to have missed every single one.

Jim is talking about the critics and they never say that half-life 2 is a no-buy because of lack of online (thought there actually IS an online mode with HL2: Deathmatch).

They say that about games like Wanted: Weapons of Fate have no replay value and they really lack that. After playing through the short single player you might as well use it as a coaster.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I've always thought it was odd when people would tell me I'm weird for replaying persona 3 fes just cause there was no co-op/online and yet those same people would usually spam the same ten songs and say its different. Or how they would basically play the same game on online and either just be better or suck more then the people they're playing against.

How is playing the same class, with the same weapons, with minor upgrades, really that different if its online then if its in a story driven single player.

and usually the answer is just a blank stare and pointing saying it has other people.

 

[Gitty101]

Well, it seems that Jim has turned a corner from his first videos - now he is making sense consistently. Congratulations Jim! Keep it up!

 

[Twinmill5000]

Thank GOD for Jim Sterling.

 

[DustyDrB]

Wow, so replay value is replay value? Good thing we have the hard-hitting jimquisition to tell us that! Keep aiming for those challenging targets, Jim. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAT15I-QnBY]

>missing the entire point of the video

That video barely had a point. He was saying that linear games can have replay value if they're worth replaying - i.e., replay value = replay value. Wow, video game journalism at its finest!

He's saying anything good is worth replaying. Come on, you can't have been on the internet for a day without hearing the tons of people who say "No multiplayer? No buy". Maybe you have miraculously avoided all these people, but I assure you: they are LEGION.

Yeah, well those are idiots. And could you give me a couple of examples of post that say that in these forums, because i seem to have missed every single one.

Jim is talking about the critics and they never say that half-life 2 is a no-buy because of lack of online (thought there actually IS an online mode with HL2: Deathmatch).

They say that about games like Wanted: Weapons of Fate have no replay value and they really lack that. After playing through the short single player you might as well use it as a coaster.

I wouldn't call them idiots. They are just misguided, and probably hypocrites (I'm willing to bet most of them have single-player only games that they've replayed at least once). But they are the reason we see some single-player games get half-baked multiplayer modes (that may or may not divert development time away from the main game. I'm not sure about the validity of that statement, so I won't use it as an argument).

I'm not gonna go hunting for posts, but I can remember some of the games that I heard it for most often here: Enslaved, LA Noire, Portal (and Portal 2), and Mafia II. There are others, but my memory isn't that good.

I did do a Google search (I put in this, so you can follow up if you like: "replay value" site:escapistmagazine.com) and came across this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.291004-games-with-zero-replay-value]. The guy I quoted here even mentions Portal as a game with no replay value in that thread (and I hope this doesn't seem dickish calling him out like that. It's not my intent).

 

[TStormer]

Every episode he makes is 20X better than the last. I am really starting to love this guy. Also his voice is far less whiney nowadays.

 

[owen4evr]

I agree I was displised to here of Metro:Last Light's multi-player but there is a lot of space to inovate in multi-player.

 

[Pinkamena]

Good points. I've replayed half life 2 so many, many times...

 

[Swifteye]

OK Jim, here's the thing: I agree with you about 95% of the time, but....listen carefully here...YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT LIKE A DICK TO BE ENTERTAINING. It's not like if you stop ripping off Yahtzee we'll all just lose interest, OK? You're a smart guy. PLEASE start acting like one.

That's his character. he's not a new guy who is getting his start here this character previously existed elsewhere. Besides Jim is narcissistic while yahtzee is the cynic and Daniel is the nice smart guy.

 

[Aprilgold]

To me, the best way to add replay value is to create a world with many optional easter eggs and quests, that way on your second time through you may find something you didn't catch the first time around. It isn't necessary, though.

This, seriously, just... This. This is why I play Saints Row 2 so much is BECAUSE of the secret islands, outfits, areas, cars, all that, its just all there waiting for you to come back and enjoy. Also linear gameplay can BENEIFET a game if the games main mechanic is good enough. Also, while on the subject, companies, stop tossing all your love into multiplayer, get some singles out there or your just a bad underground band, its starting to make our community a little too bitchy..

 

[Aerograt]

The thing that pisses me off about shoehorned, underdeveloped multiplayer it that it gives me glimpses of what could have been excellent. Bioshock 2's campaign was great (Drill Dash > Anything the first Bioshock has to offer gameplay wise) and Dead Space 2 was okay on its own. Now, these games didn't NEED these multiplayer portions, but those rare, lag free moments in Bioshock 2's multiplayer where I was able to charge into someone with Aerodash and then shoot them point with the Auto-Shotgun were some of the best moments I've ever had in a multiplayer game. Yeah, the balance is overall overly reliant on stuns, slows and instant kills (elephant gun and crossbow, oh how fucking cheap you are), but the cool abilities and variety of weapons made all the crap worth bearing for a while. Dead Space 2's multiplayer just needed some balance tweaks(/a total fucking overhaul since the humans are insanely overpowered) and better connections. The objectives and maps were fairly interesting. The Necromorphs are kind of fun to play, and obviously the humans control fine they work just like Isaac. Honestly, I want a polished, multiplayer only Bioshock game. I've wanted a good multiplayer shooter with magic or special abilities since I first played Morrowind.

Oh, and I've recently been playing through Resident Evil 5 over and over for the past month even though I'm playing the exact same levels over and over while unlocking absolutely nothing new, although it's obviously because I'm racist.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Linearity versus Replayability

Sometimes, Jim wishes he could be you so that he'd also experience the joy of enlightenment each Monday. This week, we look at the mythical struggle between linearity and replayability.

Watch Video

Jim, I have two suggestions for you so your series looks a little more proffesional and doesn't look like a low end youtube project.

1. Get a better camera.

2. Get somebody else to draw for you, their will be plenty who will do it for free.

Trust me, half the trolls will shut up if you actually make this look on par with Extra Credits and ZP.

I do see your point, and yes, I fully agree. I played the first three Spyro games much more than any Call of Duty.

 

[Korne]

This was my first time watching this show... and I don't like it. Mainly, Jim sounds like a complete twat. I agreed with most of what he had to say, yet wanted to disagree because he is playing such a dick. At least Yahtzee comes across as endearing when he is ripping apart his fanbase/industry/himself.

 

[MatsVS]

Things more important than an opportunity to being yelled at on the internet by random people:

Ambiguous subtexts
Deep and challenging themes
Visual and auditory design that is intrinsic to the game world
Morally, psychologically and culturally interesting characters
A narrative arc that is tuned to resonate with the genre and tone and genre of the game


That said, Joe Abercrombie, yay.

 

[Royas]

Pretty much put into words exactly how I feel about gaming today. I can't stand MP, I don't even notice if there is a MP mode or not in any game I buy. However, I've replayed more than a few games I've really liked many, many times. I can't even count how often I've run through Diablo 2, Max Payne 2, Deus Ex and Fallout (all of 'em). Replay value is replay value, and it's amazing how many people don't quite get that.

 

[Moeez]

Metro Last Light will have multiplayer? Surprise to me.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

OK Jim, here's the thing: I agree with you about 95% of the time, but....listen carefully here...YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT LIKE A DICK TO BE ENTERTAINING. It's not like if you stop ripping off Yahtzee we'll all just lose interest, OK? You're a smart guy. PLEASE start acting like one.

That's his character. he's not a new guy who is getting his start here this character previously existed elsewhere. Besides Jim is narcissistic while yahtzee is the cynic and Daniel is the nice smart guy.

*sigh* Yes, I KNOW it's just a character he's playing. I'm saying his character isn't very entertaining, and I think he should stop playing it.

 

[bootz]

wow so to be a good game it has to be good.

Amazing insight. My life has become easier knowing this.

Oh is fire hot jim, I Can't tell