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[LegendofLex]

You're not connected to other players at all times while playing Souls games, so there's really no reason why there can't be a pause function that's disabled while other players are connected to you.

Other options for momentarily pausing a session are nuisances and them being nuisances doesn't seem to be an essential part of the game design.

s it not acceptable to have one series that removes this feature so as to invest you more into the world? Once you hit start and spawn in, your playing constantly up until you decide to quit.

Having to quit the game completely and reload it when I just want to pause is actually less immersive.

 

[Alucrid]

yeah souls games really need a pause button. i could also use a shield toggle so i don't have to hold L1 the entire game. maybe a toggle to walk button too.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

A game like Alienation sure could use a pause option, when you're playing by yourself.

Nah. That'd break the Horde event being something that can take you off guard at any time. Any time, not any time that's convenient for you.

You might not like it, but that's the game.

 

[LegendofLex]

Nah. That'd break the Horde event being something that can take you off guard at any time. Any time, not any time that's convenient for you.

The horde event isn't going to take you off guard when you quit the game completely to go to the bathroom because there's no pause option.

You're just going to waste several more minutes than you otherwise would have.

 

[Malcolm9]

Not being able to pause Resident Evil 6 is a pain in the arse, especially at a vital moment when someone knocks on my door/rings the bell/calls me on my phone.

 

[007]

...Having to quit the game completely and reload it when I just want to pause is actually less immersive.

Either way you're halting immersion. One just takes longer to get back into the game.

 

[LegendofLex]

Either way you're halting immersion. One just takes longer to get back into the game.

And you're defending this... why?

You've just admitted that the only difference is that one user experience sucks more than the other.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

The horde event isn't going to take you off guard when you quit the game completely to go to the bathroom because there's no pause option.

You're just going to waste several more minutes than you otherwise would have.

You can't just quit Alienation and retain your progress in a level. Stick to talking about games you actually play when you want to try being clever.

 

[WoolyNinja]

Hitting the home button substitutes pause pretty well for most games. Rest mode is very nice for similar purposes.

To the OP's credit there are more than a handful of games that don't allow pausing aside from DS/BB. Many of them have online integration, sure, but even in single player the option isn't there-- Alienation being the most recent example for myself.

Yep, I understand why they couldn't have that when playing online but why in singleplayer?

 

[LegendofLex]

You can't just quit Alienation and retain your progress in a level. Stick to games you play when you want to try being clever.

You're just going to waste several more minutes than you otherwise would have.

.

The drawback is always the same regardless of the game

 

[UmbraeCruxis]

get in a safe place and go.. I do it all the time, no need to pause

I suppose. That feels like putting duck tape on a small crack in a leaking pipe. Quick to fix and relatively easy. Easier to just not have the crack in the first place.

It offers very little to me in my opinion. I don't feel like souls loses anything from having a pause button, and I gain the ability to pause my game when There's food at the door of when one of my roomates is moving stuff in front of the tv. Quitting and reloading just feels like the same process but like 2 minutes longer...

 

[CREMSteve]

Remember how Starcraft would let people pause the game during online matches? That shit was annoying.

No idea if they still do it or not, but you used to be able to pause NHL online games, it was fucking ANNOYING. One guy would pause, wait 30 seconds, then another guy would pause, wait 30 secs, another guy... And on and on. Was a very effective trolling technique, one of many reasons I stopped buying those games.

 

[007]

And you're defending this... why?

You've just admitted that the only difference is that one user experience sucks more than the other.

No, I admitted one takes longer than the other. It doesn't fit the experience the game is trying to convey. If you need to stop, exit to the menu. If something comes up and you die, thats the game, like it or not.

I'm defending it because it's part of the game. I empathize with arguments against its lack of the feature, but I stand by why the developers chose not to include it.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

.The drawback is always the same regardless of the game

Yeah, you might die because you had to do something real quick. Welcome to die.

 

[wiibomb]

I suppose. That feels like putting duck tape on a small crack in a leaking pipe. Quick to fix and relatively easy. Easier to just not have the crack in the first place.

It offers very little to me in my opinion. I don't feel like souls loses anything from having a pause button, and I gain the ability to pause my game when There's food at the door of when one of my roomates is moving stuff in front of the tv. Quitting and reloading just feels like the same process but like 2 minutes longer...

it also gains the ability to "just pause the game when the boss is trying to kill me"

This has more to do with a design choice than "duck tape on a small crack in a leaking pipe." From don't see any leaking pipe an certainly doesn't mind if that was their decision for 5 games

 

[Melchiah]

Nah. That'd break the Horde event being something that can take you off guard at any time. Any time, not any time that's convenient for you.

You might not like it, but that's the game.

Going through the whole area takes a long time, longer than going from lantern to lantern in Bloodborne, and not being able to pause when playing offline is definitely inconvenient. I don't see how pausing would affect the horde event negatively. Hell, you can pause the game in Resogun, and in Dead Nation to my recollection. I hate having to choose whether to answer the phone, or loose progress/bonuses in the game.

 

[family_guy]

Use rest mode.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

That shit pissed me off in Dragon's Crown. It dropped a point because of that.

 

[Shahed]

I really hope anyone saying that I should I should quit game to pause has never complained about load times before, or will in future.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

Going through the whole area takes a long time, longer than going from lantern to lantern in Bloodborne, and not being able to pause when playing offline is definitely inconvenient. I don't see how pausing would affect the horde event negatively. Hell, you can pause the game in Resogun, and in Dead Nation to my recollection. I hate having to choose whether to answer the phone, or loose progress/bonuses in the game.

Why can you mentally handle that sustained risk while connected online but not when offline?

 

[Screaming Meat]

It was a design choice. Like it or not it was chosen to be this way.

Precisely. It's a perfect fit for Souls games' unforgiving nature.

 

[TemplaerDude]

If I could pause the game every time I shit my pants it wouldn't be a Souls game.

 

[UmbraeCruxis]

it also gains the ability to "just pause the game when the boss is trying to kill me"

This has more to do with a design choice than "duck tape on a small crack in a leaking pipe." From don't see any leaking pipe an certainly doesn't mind if that was their decision for 5 games

I suppose? Why does it matter if I can pause the game as the boss is about to kill me? Even then, I don't usually do it anyway. In other ARPGs and hack and slash, I assume most people don't try to abuse pause in boss battles? Pause is just a quality of life that I would appreciate. Obviously doesn't deter my enjoyment of the game not having it, but It'd be nice to be able to pause for a second if something needs my attention. That's all.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

I just realized I've only seen one rival invasion in Alienation so far. That's another thing that should be able to jump you while idle and while in the inventory menu. Since they gave people the option to disable invasions, it's basically the default. Even if you host and set it to allow invasion, nobody tries because it's been conditioned out. The game not just being one way, take it or leave it, totally stifled that component of the game. Sad.

 

[Melchiah]

Why can you mentally handle that sustained risk while connected online but not when offline?

Because I'm playing with someone online, usually with a headset on, and the session is scheduled for both parties. That's pretty rare though, as the vast majority of my gaming time is spent playing solo. I played Bloodborne through three times in offline mode, and I even play something like Destiny mostly by myself. To Destiny's compliment, you can usually find a safe spot nearby to stay for a while if phone rings, or duty calls, especially in patrols, and strikes only last about half an hour. So, as my online time is very limited, there's rarily an issue with it.

 

[LegendofLex]

No, I admitted one takes longer than the other. It doesn't fit the experience the game is trying to convey. If you need to stop, exit to the menu.

Let me put it to you a different way.

Exiting to the menu just to leave my game for three minutes is functionally - in terms of the functional experience of playing the game - the same thing as a pause menu. I'm immersed in the world, and then I press a couple buttons and am taken out of the world to handle real-life interruptions, after which I drop back into the game, in the case of Souls, exactly where I left off.

We can say that this is functionally equivalent because it's always the suggestion that comes up in all of these threads.

The difference is that it's a really clunky, slow-ass pause menu that requires me to press a bunch of other buttons and wait a really long time for the game to put me back where I was.

This is not worthy of praise by any metric. If a developer thinks this needs to be "part of the game," then the developer deserves to be taken to task by complaints, because this is simply poor UX design, not a virtuous experience. It does not make the game better. The game does not depend on it functionally or experientially. It does not offer a game balancing effect that would otherwise not be present if the game had a traditional pause. It is simply a nuisance, full stop.

The point of those games is you can't pause to change your equipment. You could still pause by just quitting the game and resuming in exactly the same place

This can still be a constraint. They don't have to let you do anything while the game is paused.

Yeah, you might die because you had to do something real quick. Welcome to die.

So, basically, "fuck you"?

 

[NinjamicWZ]

Because I'm playing with someone online, usually with a headset on, and the session is scheduled for both parties. That's pretty rare though, as the vast majority of my gaming time is spent playing solo. I played Bloodborne through three times in offline mode, and I even play something like Destiny mostly by myself. To Destiny's compliment, you can usually find a safe spot nearby to stay for a while if phone rings, or duty calls, especially in patrols, and strikes only last about half an hour. So, as my online time is very limited, there's rarily an issue with it.

No, I meant just connected online, allowing for the possibility of people to join. Just like how you said you play Destiny.

So, basically, "fuck you"?

That's what dying in a video game feels like for you? A vulgar, personal slight against you?

 

[ogbg]

The point of those games is you can't pause to change your equipment. You could still pause by just quitting the game and resuming in exactly the same place

 

[Dunan]

I would also really, really like to pause when doing solo content in an MMO.

When I first picked up Final Fantasy XIV, I was totally confused by just about everything, and the primary reason everything was so difficult was that there was no way to pause the game and get my bearings, particularly during boss battles. And in that game, even a few seconds spent not knowing what to do usually means you lose the battle.

I eventually got better by doing what little training-oriented content the game offered -- the Guildhests -- over and over, knowing in advance what the battles wanted me to do, talking with the other players (this isn't solo), and just using sheer repetition.

Now I've absorbed all the MMO concepts that regular RPGs don't prepare you for, but I still wish it were possible to pause. When you're playing by yourself, you should be able to play at your pace.

 

[Melchiah]

I just realized I've only seen one rival invasion in Alienation so far. That's another thing that should be able to jump you while idle and while in the inventory menu. Since they gave people the option to disable invasions, it's basically the default. Even if you host and set it to allow invasion, nobody tries because it's been conditioned out. The game not just being one way, take it or leave it, totally stifled that component of the game. Sad.

That's a good thing. If I couldn't avoid PVP, I wouldn't play Alienation at all. Some people enjoy the PVE side, and don't wish the other one being forced upon them.

 

[Shahed]

The point of those games is you can't pause to change your equipment. You could still pause by just quitting the game and resuming in exactly the same place

Then don't allow the player to make any changes. There are plenty of games where after pressing pause the only thing you can do is unpause.

Dying because the game wouldn't allow me to suspend the game unless I exited to the start menu?

I'd definitely consider that a massive disrespect of my time for the sake of some developer's ego.

I have no qualms about dying in the Souls games. One of the main things I like about them is that the games are never cheap. If I die it's my own fault and I'm fine with that. Heck the games aren't even hard so it's not as if you die a lot.

However dying because I had to quickly do something or divert my attention away would annoy me. I wouldn't be dying to a mistake, but to a game needlessly not letting my pause. It's either leave the game where it is and risk dying, or face an annoying loading screen. Both options are bad. A simple pause button would work so much better.

 

[LegendofLex]

That's what dying in a video game feels like for you? A vulgar, personal slight against you?

Dying because the game wouldn't allow me to suspend the game unless I exited to the start menu?

I'd definitely consider that a massive disrespect of my time for the sake of some developer's ego (not to mention, apparently the ego of some fans?).

 

[Melchiah]

No, I meant just connected online, allowing for the possibility of people to join. Just like how you said you play Destiny.

I don't follow. There's no pause even when I'm playing offline/solo, and unlike in Destiny there are no safe spots.

 

[BouncyFrag]

The four Souls games and Bloodborne don't have a pause button and never will. Those clamoring for one and not understanding this will only lead to further frustration. Just let it go.

 

[RPGam3r]

No pause in Souls is stupid and every excuse feels like some lame justification to protect FROM as they can do no wrong, except for allowing a B team touch the precious franchise.

 

[Thud]

My PS3 shut down and I could still play where I left off after turning it on.

Does it need a pause mode at this point?

 

[Caayn]

Not being able to pause is more immersion breaking than being able to pause for me.

Something in the real world pops-up an needs my attention.
Pause: Just press the pause button -> do whatever required attention -> unpause continue from exactly where I left off without loading.
No pause: Quit the game -> do whatever required attention -> boot the game up -> wait for it to load -> start from my last saved checkpoint.
No pause 2: Leave the game running -> be killed a thousand times -> lose equipment/exp/quest/etc -> start from last checkpoint

I don't like the concept of losing the ability to pause in favour of small gameplay "enhancements". Especially when they can be achieved in a different manner without sacrificing an ability that we've had for over two decades.

 

[RPGam3r]

The point of those games is you can't pause to change your equipment. You could still pause by just quitting the game and resuming in exactly the same place

A pause does not require access to menus. If everyone is ok with an exit to menu than a standard pause shouldn't be an issue.

 

[LegendofLex]

My PS3 shut down and I could still play where I left off after turning it on.

Does it need a pause mode at this point?

If you're okay with the fact that a game lets you step away and pick up exactly where you left off, I don't see why you'd be opposed to it letting you do that without annoying load times.

 

[Melchiah]

A pause does not require access to menus. If everyone is ok with an exit to menu than a standard pause shouldn't be an issue.

Imagine if From added a pause option, but it would cost, say, Insight/Estus Flask.

 

[jotun?]

All single player games should also allow save/resume anywhere outside of combat. Just don't necessarily allow loading to a previous save. Binding of Isaac has the right idea.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

That's a good thing. If I couldn't avoid PVP, I wouldn't play Alienation at all. Some people enjoy the PVE side, and don't wish the other one being forced upon them.

Yes, it's a good thing that the PvP component has been neutered almost entirely, otherwise you wouldn't play it. If you wouldn't play it, then we'd all be missing out.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons developers make some of their games online-only, to drag people out of their comfort zones?

I don't follow. There's no pause even when I'm playing offline/solo, and unlike in Destiny there are no safe spots.

Are you sure we're talking about the same Alienation? Everything you've been saying is at odds with the game. You said it takes longer to clear the map than it does to get to a bonfire, when it's no more than 45 seconds of walk time between checkpoint beacons. You said you also don't see how it would interfere with Horde events like you've never heard that "wub wub" go off while you're in the inventory screen, to even know that it can get the drop on you when you least expect it. Now you're saying there's no safe spots when the entire game is a process of clearing out areas and effectively rendering them "safe" until you die, and every checkpoint is a safe spot - if you sat at it, you'd respawn right where you are, even if you died.

 

[Shahed]

Imagine if From added a pause option, but it would cost, say, Insight/Estus Flask.

I'd use it. It would still have the game being awkward for the sake of it but I'd still use it. It's not as if running out of Estus or Insight is a real issue. It'd be better than what we have now even if it was still annoying

 

[LegendofLex]

Yes, it's a good thing that the PvP component has been neutered almost entirely, otherwise you wouldn't play it. If you wouldn't play it, then we'd all be missing out.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons developers make some of their games online-only, to drag people out of their comfort zones?

The answer is 100% because they make more money off of games-as-a-service models.

 

[007]

Precisely. It's a perfect fit for Souls games' unforgiving nature.

Exactly. I'm glad someone can see beyond it's lack of inclusion.

Let me put it to you a different way.

Exiting to the menu just to leave my game for three minutes is functionally - in terms of the functional experience of playing the game - the same thing as a pause menu. I'm immersed in the world, and then I press a couple buttons and am taken out of the world to handle real-life interruptions, after which I drop back into the game, in the case of Souls, exactly where I left off.

We can say that this is functionally equivalent because it's always the suggestion that comes up in all of these threads.

The difference is that it's a really clunky, slow-ass pause menu that requires me to press a bunch of other buttons and wait a really long time for the game to put me back where I was.

This is not worthy of praise by any metric. If a developer thinks this needs to be "part of the game," then the developer deserves to be taken to task by complaints, because this is simply poor UX design, not a virtuous experience. It does not make the game better. The game does not depend on it functionally or experientially. It does not offer a game balancing effect that would otherwise not be present if the game had a traditional pause. It is simply a nuisance, full stop.

You're right that the game is not dependent on the lack of a pause feature. Again no one here said it was.

To leave the constant world of these souls games you need to manually exit the world. A pause feature wouldn't make sense, online or offline. As soon as you start you are in the game controlling your character from start to finish. It stops when you choose to stop, not choose to suspend or take a break. There is no break in this world. Thats why they chose to remove a traditional pause feature.

I'm surprised you cannot see past the lack of inclusion to why they chose to remove it for 5 games. Do you think Fromsoft simply forgot to include it, or removed it out of spite? There is a design reason for its lack of presence. I'm sorry if the lack of pausing troubles you so much, but that's on you.

Exiting to a menu is not as laborious or troublesome as you claim.

 

[Melchiah]

I'd use it. It would still have the game being awkward for the sake of it but I'd still use it. It's not as if running out of Estus or Insight is a real issue.

So would I, but the idea of them trolling like that just amuses me.

Yes, it's a good thing that the PvP component has been neutered almost entirely, otherwise you wouldn't play it. If you wouldn't play it, then we'd all be missing out.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons developers make some of their games online-only, to drag people out of their comfort zones?

Who's "we", all I see is you talking about it.

It's not about comfort zones, it's about what people like and don't like to play. Personally, I never play PVP. I've skipped every quest in Destiny, that involved Crucible, and I hate the fact Bungie nerfs the guns and classes for PVE based on PVP issues.

 

[SneakyStephan]

Yes. But Soulsborne games don't.

Yes they do.

The idea that not being able to pause in dark souls is somehow meaningful to the game is taking the dumb 'git gud' meme to its most asinine extreme

 

[Eusis]

Hope this is a joke or this deserves to be in the one thread about dumb reasons why people dont wanna play a game.

Nah, for parents or those who are worried about needing to leave a game abruptly it's perfectly valid. Disappointing to skip a game over but not wholly unreasonable.

 

[007]

Nah, for parents or those who are worried about needing to leave a game abruptly it's perfectly valid. Disappointing to skip a game over but not wholly unreasonable.

It can be irritating when a game can pose difficulties to play properly, but again thats a case by case basis on the players part.

I'd love to play the Witcher 3 but I don't have the time to invest in playing it. That doesn't mean I'm going to get mad that CD projekt made a game to big for me.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

Dying because the game wouldn't allow me to suspend the game unless I exited to the start menu?

I'd definitely consider that a massive disrespect of my time for the sake of some developer's ego (not to mention, apparently the ego of some fans?).

Ego? No. I don't think so. I'm not the one using phrases like "massive disrespect of my time"

If your time is so important that you can't get sent back to the last checkpoint, you might be playing the wrong game, because you are going to die one way or another, sooner or later, even if you're at the controller 24/7.

The answer is 100% because they make more money off of games-as-a-service models.

By taking them out of their comfort zone.

Who's "we", all I see is you talking about it.

You believe that I'm the only person who plays Alienation online?