When you like a game, do you know why?

[Sewblon]

When ever I don't like a game, I know exactly what I don't like about it, I know that I didn't like Army of Two because the color desert brown dominated it, the story was stupid and tasteless and the gameplay offered no challenge or thought. But whenever I like a game, I have no idea what I liked about it or why it was fun. Are you the same way? Do you have any idea why this is?

It was fun?

This young lady is on to something, usually if it manages to entertain me without me noticing how long ive been playing for is a good sign.

Whom are you talking about? TheRedLucario and I are both male.

 

[AroLombardi]

It was fun?

 

[New Troll]

No. Yes. If I don't find it more frustrating than fun, then I like it. I can get frustrated from lots of things from finicky controls to bad story, but enjoyment comes straight from the experience itself.

 

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

I can usually tell if I really liked a game if I was up on the edge of my seat all the way through. The greater proportion of my time spent bored, the worse the game. I can tolerate any emotion in a game; frustration, disgust, fear... but I do not want to be bored, I play games to avoid that feeling.

 

[AroLombardi]

It was fun?

This young lady is on to something, usually if it manages to entertain me without me noticing how long ive been playing for is a good sign.

I never said she was wrong, but asking that sort of question need not be answered. People like other people because sometimes they just click. Not for exact reason, but the two just seem to be friends automatically. I've had this sort of friend, one who would hit me and make fun of me, but we were always friends.

 

[BoxCutter]

I like games that a have a strong story with some romantic subplot that really draws me in. When i begin to give a shit about the characters is about the time I know i'm playing a good game. As for the controls, they have to be tight. It has to seem almost fluid, I don't want to be thinking about what my hands are doing as I play I want it to seem effortless. The music also has to be integrated, the soundtrack has to evoke some emotion in me. Almost send chills down my spine in that "key moment" of the story.

I like to think I know why I enjoy games but I know what you mean. To this day I don't know why I like lumines so damn much.

 

[AroLombardi]

It was fun?

This young lady is on to something, usually if it manages to entertain me without me noticing how long ive been playing for is a good sign.

I never said she was wrong, but asking that sort of question need not be answered. People like other people because sometimes they just click. Not for exact reason, but the two just seem to be friends automatically. I've had this sort of friend, one who would hit me and make fun of me, but we were always friends.

Did we just confuse each other here? Also you let your friends hit you?

Confusion happens a lot with me. It's why I fuck up a lot.
And yes. Hitting is nothing new, and it's not like they hate me.

 

[Slash Dementia]

Most of the time I notice the story and characters if I like that, then I like game most of the time. I'm not sure what else I like, anything else just randomly happens. The game just has to keep my attention and let me get lost in it a bit.

 

[Nincompoop]

Most definitely do.

Things that make me like a game:
Graphics (if it looks good/realistic)
Physics engine (An interactive environmental destruction engine and ragdoll effects)
Animation (not art, but how people do things e.g. a kick or a jump)
Sounds (e.g. gun sounds)
Gameplay (that is actually not so explainable, usually when there are a lot of options)
Ability to evolve (level, skill increase, attributes etc.)

Games that have such capabilities

Graphics;
- Killzone 2 (abbaselutely incredibubble)

Physics engine;
- Red Faction: Guerrilla -- Battlefield: Bad Company 2(and 1, but the second will be better), they both have great interactive environmental destruction engines
- GTAIV (Euphoria, ragdoll effects)

Animation;
- Prototype (the first game I know of that has pulled of speed animations e.g. how you jump and run).

Sounds;
- Battlefield 1943, Bad Company, Bad Company 2 (they all have Frostbite engine, great sounds)

Evolving;
- Diablo - WoW - FF (I don't like it in particular, since that's all it has) etc. (it's what makes those games good)

--

Storyline and voice actings are not of my concern. They can only make the game better, not worse imo.

 

[squid5580]

When a game doesn't feel repititious is a huge factor for me. I am a firm believer that every game ever made reaches a point of becoming repititious. Sooner or later you will run into the same baddies that you will dispatch with the same weapon while in a area that resembles an area that you have been in before. *Note that this is only refering to an average length retail game not a super short arcade game. So if a game can trick me into not seeing this then that is huge.

Also kick ass cutscenes and good story and character development really can help.

 

[quack35]

I don't know why I like Oblivion so much.

 

[Robert632]

i can tell i like a game when i don't call it crap

 

[darkfire613]

I can tell a good game based on how much I want to play it. Games that I play almost nonstop (few and far between for me; a couple examples are CoD 4 and InFamous) are games that I really liked, and games that I play but don't devote all my time to are good (such as Halo 3 and LittleBigPlanet).

 

[Erana]

I don't like to over analyse things I enjoy, because objectifying something that brings you happiness devalues it.

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

Most of the time, yes.