Poll: Choice in games

[Alleged_Alec]

Hello there,

I was planning to write an essay on choice in games. I find it to be a very fun and interesting subject to write about. However, just a few paragraphs into the essay, I found out how little I knew of the subject.

My question to you people was if you had any info of with some information on this subject. I am also very interested on your view of the matter.

Thanks in advance

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I prefer having a choice, you can make great games without it.
For example:

Spoiler: If you hadn't learned of this already

Bioshock

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Doesn't matter to me, so few games that claim to offer "choice" have any meaning in those choices.

Look at Oblivion, all you really "choose" are your Character Elements and in what order you complete the very linear but also very seperate story threads.

Though I did enjoy the "choice" element in InFamous, even though the game rewarded consistancy the ability to make those decisions between Good and Evil made the game feel more... super hero ish.

 

[dmase]

The usual good and bad system only has about two different ways of completing a mission or game. As the destroyer of everything good and happy or as the savior of bunnies and fairies. After making several missions programmers get tired of putting in new decisions for people to try. Laziness or lack of creative your choice.

anyway i do like my choice in games it adds variety but thats usually not a deciding factor on whether i'm going to buy a game.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I don't really care one way or the other. Choice isn't required for a good game.

 

[Alleged_Alec]

This kind of surprises me, to be honest. I've read some other threads wherein for example JRPG's were hammered on (what else?) for being linear. There were some other examples as well, but I have the memory of a goldfish, so I don't really remember which ones...

Anyway, with this info in mind, I should probably change my essay a bit...

 

[Kermi]

There are some games that make me want to explore, and do everything. Saints Row 2, Fallout 3, these are good games with a variety of things to uncover and explore, but are not ultimately necessary and I don't feel cheated of an experience if I miss a few things.
Other games that have branching paths lead me into a lot of tedious backtracking, and there's a point where I feel like I'm simply not playing it right because I'm overwhelmed with too much fiddly bullshit. Games where I feel like I need to have a walkthrough open across my lap while I play, and then I'm not really playing, I'm just following instructions. This is how final Fantasy games make me feel.

I like having choices in a game, even choices that alter the game substantially - as long as I don't feel compelled to go and do everything 100% right on my first playthrough. I'm looking forward to Mass Effect 2 for this reason.

 

[thecodemaster]

I remember Grand Theft Auto IV claiming to have missions with "choice" - things like "Kill Him" or "Let Him Go". But it wasn't choice, was it? You just got a different cutscene. Wow.

Choice isn't necessary for a good game.

 

[Colodomoko]

To be honest I don't really care but most of the games I play tend to have good and evil choices which means they are worth playing through at least twice, fabel 2 three times and I gotta say I favor the neutral side of things, keep you mouth shut all day and get paid by the highest bidder to kill the other side.

 

[Sewer Rat]

I like choice in a game, only problem is often it's a bit to black and white, I want a neutral ending!

 

[fluffybunny937]

This video I saw on youtube the other day I think suits this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlOXAtPvMDk

 

[Alleged_Alec]

This video I saw on youtube the other day I think suits this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlOXAtPvMDk

Yes, I think it does. Even though most of that video is just on the difference between problems and choices, the reason for putting choices in games is mentioned near the end.

And link670 and I agree on the mayor problems on choices in games: they are too limited and they tend to pick only the extremes.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

Doesn't matter to me, so few games that claim to offer "choice" have any meaning in those choices.

Look at Oblivion, all you really "choose" are your Character Elements and in what order you complete the very linear but also very seperate story threads.

Though I did enjoy the "choice" element in InFamous, even though the game rewarded consistancy the ability to make those decisions between Good and Evil made the game feel more... super hero ish.

True, Oblivion doesn't have much punishment for doing bad or reward per se for doing good. But I looked at the OP in a different light. I really like Oblivion for the choice to pursue the main storyline or not at my leisure. I don't like a game to rush me along when I want to milk it for all the side missions and hidden bits.

Yet Castlevania and even Pac-man are fun and your "choices" are few. I think you have to look closer at the genre of the game before really going on about choice or lack thereof. And fun is fun, regardless of choices or packaging.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

I like choice in a game, only problem is often it's a bit to black and white, I want a neutral ending!

Me too. It would be nice to see that in something like Jade Empire 2.

 

[goatzilla8463]

I like Mass Effect choices for some reason.

They give the impression that you are choosing but nothing really happens in the end.

 

[Jandau]

It depends on the game. I like both linear and choice games. I just want it to be done well.

If it's linear, I expect it to be intense, immersive and engrossing. There's only one path, but that one path better be awesome. I want engaging characters, a good script (at least as the genre dictates), awesome scripted stuff, varied setpieces and an overall fun ride.

On the other hand, if I'm presented with choices, I expect consequences, at the very least short term ones. Prefferably, I like to see my choices impact the game in the long term as well and influence the outcome. If the game boasts an open world of some kind, I'd like the world to be worth exploring, because if an open world is uninteresting, the game missed the point (I'm looking at you, Oblivion).

 

[Alleged_Alec]

It depends on the game. I like both linear and choice games. I just want it to be done well.

If it's linear, I expect it to be intense, immersive and engrossing. There's only one path, but that one path better be awesome. I want engaging characters, a good script (at least as the genre dictates), awesome scripted stuff, varied setpieces and an overall fun ride.

On the other hand, if I'm presented with choices, I expect consequences, at the very least short term ones. Prefferably, I like to see my choices impact the game in the long term as well and influence the outcome. If the game boasts an open world of some kind, I'd like the world to be worth exploring, because if an open world is uninteresting, the game missed the point (I'm looking at you, Oblivion).

But is an open world persé a non-linear game? I mean, most final fantasy games (and many other linear RPG's as well) have a pretty large open world, but their storyline is linear.

Apart from that nitpick though, I agree with you. On the other hand, I still want the things you named as demands for linear games even when I'm playing a non-linear game.

 

[Good morning blues]

I enjoy storyline-altering choices in theory, but very, very few games do it well. The only one that comes immediately to mind is The Witcher. A large part of what made that game great was the fact that it forced you to make choices that were genuinely difficult (do you ally yourself with the despotic, bloodthirsty faction that is fighting for their freedom from strongly-entrenched repression, or do you align with the faction that makes great efforts to conduct themselves with honour and uphold the law that is struggling to maintain a system that has brutal oppression and inequality as a central, defining feature?), and forced you to do so for the sake of the story (so people don't decide "well I'll just take this path because I'll get better gear sooner"). Most games, however, are just linear games that you have to play twice while clicking on a couple different dialog options at a couple of points to see a different cutscene when you beat it.

 

[Jandau]

It depends on the game. I like both linear and choice games. I just want it to be done well.

If it's linear, I expect it to be intense, immersive and engrossing. There's only one path, but that one path better be awesome. I want engaging characters, a good script (at least as the genre dictates), awesome scripted stuff, varied setpieces and an overall fun ride.

On the other hand, if I'm presented with choices, I expect consequences, at the very least short term ones. Prefferably, I like to see my choices impact the game in the long term as well and influence the outcome. If the game boasts an open world of some kind, I'd like the world to be worth exploring, because if an open world is uninteresting, the game missed the point (I'm looking at you, Oblivion).

But is an open world persé a non-linear game? I mean, most final fantasy games (and many other linear RPG's as well) have a pretty large open world, but their storyline is linear.

Apart from that nitpick though, I agree with you. On the other hand, I still want the things you named as demands for linear games even when I'm playing a non-linear game.

Of course, an open world doesn't mean the game's not linear, but I felt like mentioning open worlds as well since they tend to be far less linear.

And of course that choice-based games hould offer quality, but it is far easier to provide tightly packed quality in a linear game where you know what the player is going to be doing at any time. If a game features plenty choices and branches, it can become hard to account for every eventuality during development.

 

[Gotham Soul]

I like it, but I agree with Yahtzee in that it compels me to play the game twice.

Especially if its an RPG, I'll just have to play it twice to get all the good dialogue.