Poll: When are spoilers acceptable?

[Oisin XD]

Spoilers are terrible. I had the endings of both Bioshock and Portal 2 ruined by bad links. Most of you have probably felt the anger of having a game you were looking forward to spoiled, but at the same time, don't spoiler tags become redundant at some point? I mean, if i were to give away the ending to Bioshock NOW, (I won't, 'cause it might anger people) would it be necessary to put on a spoiler tag? The game is almost four years old now or something. Is it not reasonable to assume at the people who are going to play it have played it already?

It probably depends a lot on how story-driven the game is. If I had had the ending for Modern Warfare 2 spoiled? Who cares? That game was just a shooting gallery, (at least from where I'm standing) but having Portal 2 spoiled ruined that entire day, and I still see spoiler tags when people are discussing Jade Empire.

So, my question: How much time needs to pass before spoiler tags are unnecessary, and what other factors affect that time?

(I had assumed that a thread like this already existed, but I couldn't find one with the search function. If you happen to know that there is a thread like this already in existence, please link it.)

 

[Thaluikhain]

When they are hanging out with Huntress or Batgirl. Otherwise, not really, it doesn't take much effort to put spoiler tags in.

(On the other hand, minor things suchs as "Spoiler hangs out with Batgirl" isn't a big deal, even if it's technically a spoiler)

 

[Yvl9921]

It depends on the game. The case is almost always "Never" because not everyone buys games the day they come out. But there are games such as, for example, WoW, where it doesnt really follow traditional in-game story-telling mechanics (for those aware, I refer to Sara / Yogg-Saron more so than the books), and spoilers are essential to play and enjoy the game. Or Pokemon, where you know exactly how it will end the day it's announced. Ususally if you hear the word "meta" thrown around a lot in discussions of the game, spoilers won't be quite as devastating.

 

[Zyst]

I don't think that spoilers without a spoil tag are ever good. After all, in a community, specially one as big as The Escapist there is bound to be at least one person who might get to play the game you accidentally spoiled. Even if it IS old.

Spoiler: besides

How long does it take you to do this?

 

[pliusmannn]

Spoiler

they are easy to put nowdays, also spoilers are acceptable if it's not story driven game, or maybe you look for a walkthrough, then it's your own responsibility

 

[JackWestJr]

Recently i got Portal 2 spoiled for me by my douchee friend at school, y'know, the day that i bought it from Amazon... i hate him now

 

[Ellen of Kitten]

I'd still spoiler tag Bioshock even today. It's 4 years old, sure, but that's still not that old. Well known secrets (Aeris dying) are not necessary, but say, the ending of Persona 3 (which is older than Bioshock) would still be a huge nono. Some games hinge on the twist in them, and regardless of their age should still be spoiler tagged.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Spoilers are acceptable in gameplay videos, Lets Plays, and in reviews with a spoiler warning.

I have had with people who whine because they went on to the internet, clicked "(insert game) FINAL LEVEL" and who then type "FUCK U SPOILN DIS GAEMZ!!!!". And it's even worse when they do it on a LP of a game - What? Did they expect to watch someone play through the entire game without revealing plot elements?

And, as for time before a spoiler is acceptable, it depends on how well-known the spoiled element is. For example, the whole "Snape kills Dumbledore" thing is now so well-known that it's not even considered a spoiler. It's never really acceptable to just straight-up spoil the game for someone without giving them prior warning - unless they knew it was going to happen (such as in a discussion of the story of the game).

 

[sylekage]

Yeah spoilers suck, but that's what spoiler tags are for. Or at least a caps lock SPOILER WARNING before it.

I haven't had many games spoiled for me, but if I do I've trained myself to push the spoil into the dark recesses of my mind where I won't remember it until after I see it for myself.

I learned that trick because a friend of mine is a douche and ruined Revenge of the Sith, Halo 3, and a few other things...

I wanted to beat his ass for the Halo 3 thing...

 

[Jordi]

In my opinion you should almost always use spoiler tags. Additionally, you should make it clear what game/movie/book you are going to spoil. I guess there are a few exceptions, but I don't think they are worth getting into, as using spoiler tags has never hurt anyone. Just because something has been out for years, doesn't mean everybody who's interested in it has already gotten around to playing it.

I still want to play Planescape: Torment and Jade Empire one day, and I would appreciate it if nobody spoils their stories for me.

 

[AvsJoe]

I'll go with 5 years. Seems like a really long time, but on the other hand, its not difficult to give ample warning and/or use a spoiler tag.

For instance:

Spoiler: GoldenEye Spoiler

James Bond lives.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

It isn't that hard to use spoiler tags, so people should just use them. On the part of the person that hasn't played the game yet, they should just avoid threads that have to do with the game post release.

It depends on the game. The case is almost always "Never" because not everyone buys games the day they come out. But there are games such as, for example, WoW, where it doesnt really follow traditional in-game story-telling mechanics (for those aware, I refer to Sara / Yogg-Saron more so than the books), and spoilers are essential to play and enjoy the game. Or Pokemon, where you know exactly how it will end the day it's announced. Ususally if you hear the word "meta" thrown around a lot in discussions of the game, spoilers won't be quite as devastating.

I think that is a bad point about Pokemon. Yes in all games one eventually becomes the champion, but it is the journey to that. Since the journey in every generation of Pokemon has been different, things can be spoiled. Every game since the beginning has had a story that was more than just questing to be the champion, and each story has been different. They are spoil-able, it's just all the naysayers, that criticize Pokemon, only look at the end of the game instead of the whole journey and story that comes before that end.

One can't fully say that all Pokemon games are the same, they are all vastly different then each other. And now with White and Black that can be said with the versions on a scale that is more than just differences of version exclusive Pokemon, there are whole towns that are exclusive, in more than just look too. So people can't even say it doesn't matter what version you get.

Even playing the remakes of Gen 1, it is a totally different experience playing those compared to playing White or Black.

The only people that say that all the Pokemon games are the same, either haven't played them all to make an informed idea, or wasn't paying attention while playing them to the point that they were somehow not looking at the screen while playing and skipping all the text.

 

[Olikunmissile]

When you're trying to dick over friends.

Spoiler

IT'S SHELBY

 

[linwolf]

For me spoilers will always bear a waring beforehand even if it's something as well know as

Spoiler: Citizen Kane

Rosebud is his sled

 

[MattRooney06]

Can i jsut say if anybodys putting spoiler tags for somthing, please tell us what their spoiling.....my idiotic curiosity and child like logic wont let mer not click them

 

[Bobbity]

Once it's on the previous generation, go for it. Otherwise, spoiler tags. That is, unless the story is a big driving force behind the game. I don't think that anyone would want Jade Empire or KotOR ruined, even if they're now rather old. Actually, you know what? Make that two generations old. Surely no one is still playing games on their PS1...

On the other hand, you have to be very careful with books and films, because people keep reading them long after they've been written.

 

[Smooth Operator]

They are acceptable when you/opposite party doesn't intend to play the game, then why the hell not explain what's it all about.

Spoiler: MW2 spoiler

You get killed 157 times in cutscenes alone

 

[Mrrrgggrlllrrrg]

I view games more like books and movies and tv, one part is nothing only together is it a story. For me its the build up, the chain of events, the progression that makes the story, the ending is just one part of many.

How much time needs to pass I'd say the courtesy 3 months but even thats a bit long to kill discussion so no matter what theres a certain level of personal responsibility if stories can get spoiled for you.


EDIT: frodiate Volterra, I think these captcha are trying to use subliminal messages, it wants us to defraud Volterra, Tuscany, Italy.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

For the time and effort (or lack thereof) required to set up a spoiler tag, there is no reason for not using them. I spoiler tagged a Fallout 2 quest a few months back, because although the game is ten years old there will be people out there who have gotten into the series with the newer titles and will be wanting to soon play through the Fallout back-catalogue.

Spoiler: I mean, come on...

Is this really that much effort? It's taken less than two seconds to add the spoiler command to either side of this paragraph. With so little work required on the behalf of the poster, I feel there is no reason not to spoiler tag any plot/quest elements in films and games - no matter how old.

 

[plugav]

If something is a spoiler in the sense that knowing it before you play spoils part of the fun, you should always put up spoiler tags or at least a warning. The endings of Wolfenstein 3D or Duke Nukem 3D are probably not worthy of spoiler tags, but if I were talking about an adventure game from that period, I'd still use them.