What do you look for in a game?
- Thread starter Eric the Orange
- Start date
All of these things that other people have mentioned before me are all valid.
However, what really matters to me is freedom. Freedom to do almost anything and everything you can imagine. This is probably the single reason I put 300+ hours into my Oblivion game. The most recent couple of Grand Theft Auto games comes in at a close second though.
I suppose I get the most enjoyment out of trying to break whatever games I play. The games that give me the freedom to break them are especially fun. This is why I like Oblivion so much. Nothing beats opening the command line and messing with the AI and watching the hilarity that insues.
However, what really matters to me is freedom. Freedom to do almost anything and everything you can imagine. This is probably the single reason I put 300+ hours into my Oblivion game. The most recent couple of Grand Theft Auto games comes in at a close second though.
I suppose I get the most enjoyment out of trying to break whatever games I play. The games that give me the freedom to break them are especially fun. This is why I like Oblivion so much. Nothing beats opening the command line and messing with the AI and watching the hilarity that insues.
It depends on the game.
If it's an RPG:
-I like it to have bold and vibrant graphics
-Distinctive characters
-A large assortments of unique weapons and armor. Not "we have over 400 weapons, but they consist of sword, sword+1, sword+2, etc."
-To accompany the weapons, armor, and other equipment, a good range of spells and abilities is a must. These skills had better be independent of each other, and by that I mean I don't want 3 different colored energy balls labeled "fireball" "ice bolt" and "crap toss"
-I also like to have very diverse and customizable classes. Each class had better be significantly different than any other class, and reflect that in the way you play the game with your chosen class.
-I like having my own character, not a predetermined main character who looks the same no matter what equipment you give him.
-Good character development. I should feel some sort of emotion for the main character, and ideally I should be able to empathize with him.
-With good character development comes good story. I want a purpose for what I'm doing please.
-It would be nice if the warrior class has skills other than "strong attack," "stronger attack," and "whirlwind attack."
-I want to be challenged. I want to have to think a little. Involve some stratagy in battles.
-Speaking of battles, real time is best.
I think that's about it for RPGs, now, on to FPSs...
In an FPS I like to see:
-Graphics aren't as important as a good frames-per-second. I would rather have buttery smooth animation than hyper-realistic graphics.
-A wide array of guns, hopefully all with fairly unique stats, but it's understandable if some are similar to each other.
-Customization. The more the better. I think the recent CoD games and Rainbow 6 are doing good work with the customization options for weapons, but in the future, I'd like to see more.
-Unlockables. I like being rewarded for playing a game I like, and what better way than to have some sweet stuff available for either playing long enough or performing well enough? (Sweet, not good. I don't think it's fair if people who have played longer/better are given guns better than what the noobs or newbies have to work with).
-Varied maps. I hate playing an FPS where you're either playing in the jungle map, that one map with a barn, or the other map with a barn.
-Equipment. Guns are awesome and all, and they should of course be the main focus, but being able to equip yourself in whatever armors and gadgets is something I appreciate.
-I am one of those people who will tinker around with customization options that have little to no effect on game-play. So tons of pointless stats and knick-knack type add-ons are always fun for me.
-Fun game-play types. CTF and deathmatch of course, but the occasional bit of innovation never hurts. If it turns out to be a flop, there is always deathmatch.
-Emphasis on team play. I like playing a game where the only time you can take on 4 enemies at once is when you are a real BA.
-Intelligence is rewarded. Nothing irks me more than someone taping down the trigger and equipping an LMG. Being sneaky and/or smart in the way you attack the enemy team should net you far more kills than raining bullets down on enemies. Bullet-rain guns should be included, but, their focus should be on covering fire. Not as an assault weapon. Leave that to the rifles and SMGs.
Okay, wow, that turned out to be pretty long. I was going to put RTS also but...this post is long enough as it is. If anyone is curious what I like to see in an RTS just post, otherwise I'm done.
If it's an RPG:
-I like it to have bold and vibrant graphics
-Distinctive characters
-A large assortments of unique weapons and armor. Not "we have over 400 weapons, but they consist of sword, sword+1, sword+2, etc."
-To accompany the weapons, armor, and other equipment, a good range of spells and abilities is a must. These skills had better be independent of each other, and by that I mean I don't want 3 different colored energy balls labeled "fireball" "ice bolt" and "crap toss"
-I also like to have very diverse and customizable classes. Each class had better be significantly different than any other class, and reflect that in the way you play the game with your chosen class.
-I like having my own character, not a predetermined main character who looks the same no matter what equipment you give him.
-Good character development. I should feel some sort of emotion for the main character, and ideally I should be able to empathize with him.
-With good character development comes good story. I want a purpose for what I'm doing please.
-It would be nice if the warrior class has skills other than "strong attack," "stronger attack," and "whirlwind attack."
-I want to be challenged. I want to have to think a little. Involve some stratagy in battles.
-Speaking of battles, real time is best.
I think that's about it for RPGs, now, on to FPSs...
In an FPS I like to see:
-Graphics aren't as important as a good frames-per-second. I would rather have buttery smooth animation than hyper-realistic graphics.
-A wide array of guns, hopefully all with fairly unique stats, but it's understandable if some are similar to each other.
-Customization. The more the better. I think the recent CoD games and Rainbow 6 are doing good work with the customization options for weapons, but in the future, I'd like to see more.
-Unlockables. I like being rewarded for playing a game I like, and what better way than to have some sweet stuff available for either playing long enough or performing well enough? (Sweet, not good. I don't think it's fair if people who have played longer/better are given guns better than what the noobs or newbies have to work with).
-Varied maps. I hate playing an FPS where you're either playing in the jungle map, that one map with a barn, or the other map with a barn.
-Equipment. Guns are awesome and all, and they should of course be the main focus, but being able to equip yourself in whatever armors and gadgets is something I appreciate.
-I am one of those people who will tinker around with customization options that have little to no effect on game-play. So tons of pointless stats and knick-knack type add-ons are always fun for me.
-Fun game-play types. CTF and deathmatch of course, but the occasional bit of innovation never hurts. If it turns out to be a flop, there is always deathmatch.
-Emphasis on team play. I like playing a game where the only time you can take on 4 enemies at once is when you are a real BA.
-Intelligence is rewarded. Nothing irks me more than someone taping down the trigger and equipping an LMG. Being sneaky and/or smart in the way you attack the enemy team should net you far more kills than raining bullets down on enemies. Bullet-rain guns should be included, but, their focus should be on covering fire. Not as an assault weapon. Leave that to the rifles and SMGs.
Okay, wow, that turned out to be pretty long. I was going to put RTS also but...this post is long enough as it is. If anyone is curious what I like to see in an RTS just post, otherwise I'm done.
Alrighty then, by popular demand (1 person), here is what I like to see in an RTS:
-Multiple, balanced factions. The more the merrier I say. If a developer could manage to put in 20 unique factions all balanced, that would be awesome. However, we live in the real world, so I don't really expect to see that.
-Intuitive or customizable hotkeys. Nothing is more frustrating than having to press "I" as the hotkey for launching a nuke (or something).
-A diverse variety of units for each faction. Seeing the same basic units in 4 different skins is not my idea of fun.
-Lots of upgrades and customization options for units. (If you haven't noticed by now, I love customization in games) I've always wanted a game where units and weapons were separate, so that after training each soldier you send them to a barracks where you choose a weapon for them, and different classes of units are proficient with different weapons. That's enough fantasizing though...maybe I'll just make a custom map like that when SC2 comes out.
-I like the size of the battles at a fairly middle-of-the-spectrum scale. Not too large, not too small. I like one group of units to consist of between 8 and 16 guys. And I like the camera to reflect that, not too far away, but not too close. And of course it's always nice if you can adjust the camera.
-I like my RTS games to be more on the colorful and/or cartoony side in the graphics department. The grays and browns of realism make it take a second to tell your dudes from their dudes, and that's a second too long. I like the instant recognition that comes with bright colors.
I think that's just about it. And, one thing I didn't mention in any of my things is, like Zeeky said, fun. If I have fun playing a game, it really doesn't matter if it has all the things I mentioned. They're just what I like to see in games.
-Multiple, balanced factions. The more the merrier I say. If a developer could manage to put in 20 unique factions all balanced, that would be awesome. However, we live in the real world, so I don't really expect to see that.
-Intuitive or customizable hotkeys. Nothing is more frustrating than having to press "I" as the hotkey for launching a nuke (or something).
-A diverse variety of units for each faction. Seeing the same basic units in 4 different skins is not my idea of fun.
-Lots of upgrades and customization options for units. (If you haven't noticed by now, I love customization in games) I've always wanted a game where units and weapons were separate, so that after training each soldier you send them to a barracks where you choose a weapon for them, and different classes of units are proficient with different weapons. That's enough fantasizing though...maybe I'll just make a custom map like that when SC2 comes out.
-I like the size of the battles at a fairly middle-of-the-spectrum scale. Not too large, not too small. I like one group of units to consist of between 8 and 16 guys. And I like the camera to reflect that, not too far away, but not too close. And of course it's always nice if you can adjust the camera.
-I like my RTS games to be more on the colorful and/or cartoony side in the graphics department. The grays and browns of realism make it take a second to tell your dudes from their dudes, and that's a second too long. I like the instant recognition that comes with bright colors.
I think that's just about it. And, one thing I didn't mention in any of my things is, like Zeeky said, fun. If I have fun playing a game, it really doesn't matter if it has all the things I mentioned. They're just what I like to see in games.
I look for something that can keep me entertained and absorbed in another place. I look for a game that I can think about when not playing the game and still be entertained by the mere prospect of playing the game. I look for a game that is enthralling, absorbing, invigorating and most of all: fun.
For first person shooters I need an original, well- told story, interesting characters and logical, good gameplay. This basically means that Singleplayer needs to be the focus of the developers rather than Multiplayer. The half life series excelled for me.
For Role- playing games I need to feel like there is a whole world that is in constant motion and of which I am only a small part ( good AI, graphics, depth of classes, variety of quests, lore (any signs of world depth) and gameplay does this). Oblivion was probably the closest I have come to finding that game.
Strategy games are only good to me if I feel like there's more to tactics than rushing involved, its semi- realistic and isn't just a reskin of starcraft/ age of empires. The 'Total War' franchise is what I define as a great strategy game.
I guess my views could be summed up with 'depth (of characters, tactics and gameplay) equals good game'
For Role- playing games I need to feel like there is a whole world that is in constant motion and of which I am only a small part ( good AI, graphics, depth of classes, variety of quests, lore (any signs of world depth) and gameplay does this). Oblivion was probably the closest I have come to finding that game.
Strategy games are only good to me if I feel like there's more to tactics than rushing involved, its semi- realistic and isn't just a reskin of starcraft/ age of empires. The 'Total War' franchise is what I define as a great strategy game.
I guess my views could be summed up with 'depth (of characters, tactics and gameplay) equals good game'
These things:
Deep story with multi-dimensional characters. Mary-Sues and Gary-Stus make me want to team kill.
Good Gameplay, just as good as story.
Multiple ways to play the game.
Capability to be destructive.
It has to be cohesive, If I can't make heads or tail of it then I don't play.
Understandable button modes. If I have to hold more than three buttons to do something integral to gameplay..it's rather silly in my opinion.
Also, more than one way of meeting an objective. If I found a unique solution to get past something or do something. It should say I met the objective.. not make me do the sometimes extremely difficult way of doing it when my way was much more efficient.
Deep story with multi-dimensional characters. Mary-Sues and Gary-Stus make me want to team kill.
Good Gameplay, just as good as story.
Multiple ways to play the game.
Capability to be destructive.
It has to be cohesive, If I can't make heads or tail of it then I don't play.
Understandable button modes. If I have to hold more than three buttons to do something integral to gameplay..it's rather silly in my opinion.
Also, more than one way of meeting an objective. If I found a unique solution to get past something or do something. It should say I met the objective.. not make me do the sometimes extremely difficult way of doing it when my way was much more efficient.
1 Immersion: i wanna feel like im in the game and my desitions actuily mean somehting (fable 1-2)
2 customisability: too many game let you think your original jsut to take it away or hide it (saints row 1-2)
3 Lenth of play and replay ability: if a game isnt worth playing for more then 10hours or if its replay ability is so lacking that you wonder why you even paid money for it rather then rentin'd it (KOTAR)
4 MMO-(rpg): Yea but i want my skill as a gamer to mean more then "up arrow 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4"
i do play alot of fast FPS's and im drawn to them couse i feel like im dooing somthing WOW and all the wannabes just put me to sleep (Shadowrun Sega gensis old skool)
5 STORIE: if nothing els above i at least wanna feel that my time isnt being wasted or that i rather had got a tooth pulled with out any novicain (Mass efffect)
6 PLAY TESTED: im REALLY tired of playing BUggGed games like any thing that EA puts out latly if your ganna hire play testers and your ganna set a time to be done make sure that you can always push it back blizzerd might be well known for this but THEY make GOOD games and that are as bugg free as they could be befor release i know game have bugs but cant we atleast break out the raid first and limit there numbers
2 customisability: too many game let you think your original jsut to take it away or hide it (saints row 1-2)
3 Lenth of play and replay ability: if a game isnt worth playing for more then 10hours or if its replay ability is so lacking that you wonder why you even paid money for it rather then rentin'd it (KOTAR)
4 MMO-(rpg): Yea but i want my skill as a gamer to mean more then "up arrow 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4"
i do play alot of fast FPS's and im drawn to them couse i feel like im dooing somthing WOW and all the wannabes just put me to sleep (Shadowrun Sega gensis old skool)
5 STORIE: if nothing els above i at least wanna feel that my time isnt being wasted or that i rather had got a tooth pulled with out any novicain (Mass efffect)
6 PLAY TESTED: im REALLY tired of playing BUggGed games like any thing that EA puts out latly if your ganna hire play testers and your ganna set a time to be done make sure that you can always push it back blizzerd might be well known for this but THEY make GOOD games and that are as bugg free as they could be befor release i know game have bugs but cant we atleast break out the raid first and limit there numbers
oh and one more thing if a game is ganna have basis in reality that the game makers STOP adding crap that dosnt belong like COD5 and its rifle reflex sites make a game just out side the norm make a game in a alter realty but not add things that dont need to be there just make it SIMPLE people can get behind killing and guns looking like eye candy sorcerers droping fire-nukeO-booms but really simple is always best for small minds or super Brains ... yea im the lower of the two but so im still having FUN
65% Story: If it has a good story, I'll play it.
15% Gameplay: If it's not terribly fun, but has a good story, I'll play it.
10% Atmosphere: I like immersion.
5% Uniqueness: I can play World War II over and over and still like it.
5% Replay Value: I'll play it again for the story.
10% Possibility of Combine: If there's a possibility to play, make or meet Combine, I'll like it.
I know that that's 110%, but Combine get 10% extra.
15% Gameplay: If it's not terribly fun, but has a good story, I'll play it.
10% Atmosphere: I like immersion.
5% Uniqueness: I can play World War II over and over and still like it.
5% Replay Value: I'll play it again for the story.
10% Possibility of Combine: If there's a possibility to play, make or meet Combine, I'll like it.
I know that that's 110%, but Combine get 10% extra.
From the perspective of a pc gamer, it must be odd to hear me say it isn't he graphics that cause me to have interest in a game. Character or story are the two stand out elements for me, closely followed by replay ability. Obviously, that can change depending on the game. For example, Empire: Total War doesn't so much have a story as it uses history, but its replay value is immense. F.E.A.R. had good characters and a strong story, but to be honest, it just doesn't have the power to suck you in a second time round. The games that have scored on all points for me are Oblivion and Fallout 3, however, that argument is coloured by the fact you can play the characters as good or bad and they do add downloadable content along the way.
gameplay - it has to be fun. more specifically, i prefer action and puzzles. i dont like over cerebral turn based stuff, cuz thats rarely fun, which is why i hate pokemon. i would rather have a faster pace, none of that slow stuff.
graphics - i dont particularly care about the graphics as long as they are passable. if they are so bad that they make it harder to play, on the other hand, then its a problem. this problem comes into play with overly brown games (its realistic? in what reality?) and older games. the fact that it was good back then doesnt help its case, its still hard to tell whats going on.
story - story has to be original, in fact any game where the words "space marine" and "the main character doesnt speak" come in to play are almost always avoided. i also hate characters that are overly badass and super muscular, which is why half life was cool. overall though, the characters have to be likeable.
uniqueness - if its too similar to other stuff i have a bit of a problem, which is why i like assassins creed and dont like most fpses and rpgs.
replay value - if its only fun once then why bother?
extra stuff - i hate games that are overly linear. i like doing extra stuff and running around doing nothing in particular.
graphics - i dont particularly care about the graphics as long as they are passable. if they are so bad that they make it harder to play, on the other hand, then its a problem. this problem comes into play with overly brown games (its realistic? in what reality?) and older games. the fact that it was good back then doesnt help its case, its still hard to tell whats going on.
story - story has to be original, in fact any game where the words "space marine" and "the main character doesnt speak" come in to play are almost always avoided. i also hate characters that are overly badass and super muscular, which is why half life was cool. overall though, the characters have to be likeable.
uniqueness - if its too similar to other stuff i have a bit of a problem, which is why i like assassins creed and dont like most fpses and rpgs.
replay value - if its only fun once then why bother?
extra stuff - i hate games that are overly linear. i like doing extra stuff and running around doing nothing in particular.