Poll: Do you like long introductions?

[DethVanXan]

What I mean is; you know those sections of no combat/puzzle solving/whatever parts of games, where the character just walks around and interacts with people and explores for a while.
Parts like walking around on the USS Hannibal in Quake 4 or on the aircraft carrier just before the boss fight at the end of Crysis. Think about the first level of Half-Life; Wait on the tram - get dressed - push button - push cart and then it happens! Almost enough to make me think it could happen to me one day.

For me, these sections allow for contrast between the action and the calm. Having to carry out fairly mundane tasks before the shit kicks off makes the action all the better, don't you think?
Also, I love exploring places and not having guys shooting at me or some sence of urgency lets me enjoy my surroundings.
I understand that a lot of people just want to get through these unskippable cutscenes and get to the gameplay section of the game.

So what do think, fellow escapists?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I can think of enough boring things to do outside of games. When I start the game I would rather just cut to the chase.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

While many people prefer in media res, I tend to like a little intro gameplay, as long as it's not too long

 

[Outright Villainy]

It just makes it more immersive for me. People complained about the Twilight princess opening, but I thought it was perfect. Having to leave your home to save the world means nothing if you haven't even settled in.
Bioshock also opens with showing you the world through a fixed place as it guides you slowly into the depths, and that's one of the best openings to a game ever.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

I strongly dislike long, non-interactive introductions. If they're short (or very awesome) I don't have a problem with them, but if they take too long I start to get all impatient. I wanted a game dammit, not a movie!

However, if the intro sequence is (somewhat) interactive, I have far less of a problem with it. I really don't mind doing a few boring chores before the 'real' game starts. It helps set the atmosphere, introduce the setting, and ease the player into the control scheme. It's possible to go overboard with this and make it too long (and thus boring and frustrating, especially if it's not your first playthrough), and it depends heavily on the kind of game I'm playing, but in general I rather like a good introduction.

 

[DethVanXan]

Just to clarify: I was referring to interactive scenes, not just cutscenes. Cutscenes can be good, but if you go overboard (I'm looking at you Hideo Kojima) they can be very annoying.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

I don't like long introductions, but I've got nothing against a good long intro (mainly because you have the option of skipping it unlike with the introductions).

 

[Reg5879]

No because it's good to have a nice long opening to get the story started and if you don't like it, you can skip it.

 

[itari]

If pulled off well, a long introduction can do wonders. The half-life 2 intro really sets up the game. The fallout 3 intro, on the other hand, just threw me off completely. All that talk really downed my enthusiasm. The dragon age origin stories though are a mixed bag. The talk is quite a bit too much but tolerable.

 

[Mumonk]

Yes, they are good to do the very first time. But I HATE it when you have gone through something (i.e. Oblivion start) and when you want to start over, you have to go through it AGAIN >P

Thank Jeebus for PC mods <3

 

[DethVanXan]

Yes, they are good to do the very first time. But I HATE it when you have gone through something (i.e. Oblivion start) and when you want to start over, you have to go through it AGAIN >P

Thank Jeebus for PC mods <3

I understand that. I just used to save right in front of the exit where they let you alter yourself as you like. That way if you want a new character, just load up that save and you've skipped all the tutorial. Useful for consoles.

 

[Skoldpadda]

Less is more.

 

[Proteus214]

I'm not a fan of them since they often make multiple play-throughs a chore.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

I don't like dragged out presentations of characters right away. No serious introduction but a backstory that gets revealed throughout the game is what i prefer. That way you won't have to sit and wait for the exposition to be over an done with, but you get it in pieces so that you actually manage to process it all and i think you should at least be able to care for at least 3-4 minutes every now and then to get to know your character.

 

[Locko96]

I don't like non-interactive intros longer than about 7 minutes and those still make me unhappy. I also didn't like GTA4's hour long mega-tutorial although the rest of the game is great.

 

[DethVanXan]

The way I see is it, is like those conversations in any given Quentin Tarantino film, such as the "Why do you tip waitresses" conversation in Resevoir Dogs or "Would you eat a dog" in Pulp Fiction. They have nothing to do with the plot or anything really, they are just getting in the way of the story, but a Tarantino film wouldn't be the same without them.

 

[pretentiousname01]

Really need some kinda context.

Take me2's opening. While decently long, you got to move around a bit from area to area however still couldn't do anything until after you messed with the class/creation system.

Rdr's opening while longer and less interactive helped to get me in the mood. Listening to the people talk about the west, and how things were brought back memories of that old school cowboy styling.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

it ultimately depends on the game..

some openings i love/dont mind at all, as they really set the game up

however, the game should know if you have beat it once so you should be able to either start after the opening or there should be an altenate start for "veterans"

 

[DoctorWhat]

I like them if I can skip them, cos then I know that if I start a new game I don't HAVE to watch it again.

 

[Abedeus]

Only if I can skip them. In Persona 4, it takes few days before you even get to see the first enemy...