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Games which don't respect the player's time.
- Thread starter Bronetta
- Start date
finalflame
Banned
XCX is probably one of the most egregious and blatant examples of this I can think of. I love the game, but it absolutely has a TON of bullshit that intentionally eats up time and could've been done in more straightforward way. I'd say a 100 hour playthrough is at least 20 hours of utter nonsense.
Any game where I can die and straight up lose an entire hours worth of progress, I won't play or will stop playing as soon as it happens.
Surprisingly I don't consider the souls games to do this, since you still keep items you find and can get your souls back. I mean more like JRPG's where I go through a huge dungeon, die to the boss, the only option is reload my previous save and I have to go through the entire dungeon all over again. Fuck that.
Surprisingly I don't consider the souls games to do this, since you still keep items you find and can get your souls back. I mean more like JRPG's where I go through a huge dungeon, die to the boss, the only option is reload my previous save and I have to go through the entire dungeon all over again. Fuck that.
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
I don't ever expect a game to respect my time. I find the idea a bit ridiculous.
Cipher Peon
Banned
The second I get lost, the second I get angry. I hate getting lost.
Also the second a game clocks over 10 hours (my barometer for when a game becomes long) I ask it "Why are you over 10 hours?" If the game can provide a good answer, I pay its length no mind. If not, I get unhappy.
If a game doesn't respect my time, I don't respect it. My time on this planet is incredibly precious and my opportunity costs for every action I take are huge. I have high expectations and I enjoy games that exceed them.
Also the second a game clocks over 10 hours (my barometer for when a game becomes long) I ask it "Why are you over 10 hours?" If the game can provide a good answer, I pay its length no mind. If not, I get unhappy.
If a game doesn't respect my time, I don't respect it. My time on this planet is incredibly precious and my opportunity costs for every action I take are huge. I have high expectations and I enjoy games that exceed them.
boom
Woody Invincible
Banned
Being low level on that ship and hiding in the bowels was half the fun.
I think Destiny problems are bigger than just the grind or the rng, stuff I actually didn't mind when I played it.
Destiny problems are the lack of features:
No trading system - to me a trading system would solve a lot of the problems of this game, some guy has 5 gjallerhorns and I have 5 fate bringers, he wants a fate bringer and I want a gjallerhorn... why is it so hard for us to be able to trade weapon and completely bypass rng? of course this would cut down on playtime, so maybe that's why they don't put one...
no clan housing - I don't even get the point of clans in this game, just 16 members per clan? absolutely ridiculous, also no clan housing is weird. This is probably the most half-assed feature in the game.
no text chat - having to use third party tools for grouping, unnecessary and such a hassle. an in-game text chat would immediately solve this issue. this would also help if a trading system is implemented.
they wanted to make an MMO fps, but it lacks all of the basic features of an MMO.
Destiny problems are the lack of features:
No trading system - to me a trading system would solve a lot of the problems of this game, some guy has 5 gjallerhorns and I have 5 fate bringers, he wants a fate bringer and I want a gjallerhorn... why is it so hard for us to be able to trade weapon and completely bypass rng? of course this would cut down on playtime, so maybe that's why they don't put one...
no clan housing - I don't even get the point of clans in this game, just 16 members per clan? absolutely ridiculous, also no clan housing is weird. This is probably the most half-assed feature in the game.
no text chat - having to use third party tools for grouping, unnecessary and such a hassle. an in-game text chat would immediately solve this issue. this would also help if a trading system is implemented.
they wanted to make an MMO fps, but it lacks all of the basic features of an MMO.
GankzyMcfly
Member
Destiny thread?
Pretty much. There's a lot of systems that need to be refined for another entry. The inventory management for example is a nightmare.
SoundofSilence
Member
Fixed in patch 1.02 released today.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
If you were on one of the older servers the social stuff for the first year was hearing "ＪＰ ＯＮＬＹ" and "ＮＡ ＤＩＥ" when trying to form parties or compete for limited spawns against the Japanese population.
Edit: Changed to full-width for accuracy.
Ahh have you ever tried to get a Pure Bladestone?? Besides that I guess it's not so bad. Farming for specific weapons in the souls series can be a bit of a grind. Titanite to some degree as well.
Lumpy Onion
Member
It feels like players had a certain level of patience that is missing now because of the changing of game styles. From the time I played FF XIV some people would freak out over being delayed even slightly. The moments of FF XI of waiting around with parties and travelling across the world chatting with people were some of my most memorable online experiences I've ever had. Nowadays it feels like some people just want that instant gratification and being friendly/chatty just gets in the way of that. XIV feels kinda cold at times.
IISANDERII
Member
They added microtransactions and expensive time savers to Destiny since this thread was created.
Bluecondor
Member
I became tired of GTA IV because of this issue.
While I really enjoyed the game at first, several of the later missions had extensive driving sequences that you had to repeat over and over if you failed a mission. I stopped playing one day after repeatedly failing a bank heist mission that had two different long driving sequences. I never went back to the game.
This even made me hesitant about buying GTAV, and I waited a few months to pick it up. GTAV was a much better experience with respect to issues like this.
While I really enjoyed the game at first, several of the later missions had extensive driving sequences that you had to repeat over and over if you failed a mission. I stopped playing one day after repeatedly failing a bank heist mission that had two different long driving sequences. I never went back to the game.
This even made me hesitant about buying GTAV, and I waited a few months to pick it up. GTAV was a much better experience with respect to issues like this.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
Useless Filler shouldn't count unless it's MANDATORY useless filler.
If it's optional... It's your own damn fault if you wasted time getting 5 plants and a piece cloth for an NPC, if you weren't interested in the rewards the delivery would offer.
If it's optional... It's your own damn fault if you wasted time getting 5 plants and a piece cloth for an NPC, if you weren't interested in the rewards the delivery would offer.
Rawket Lawnchair
Member
This year it was MGSV for me. You spend all that time to reach an ending that leaves you confused and makes you not want to touch the game ever again.
Assassin's Creed Unity.
I platinum'd it and wasn't too bad but there was moments where I thought the game just flat out didnt respect the players time.
If you did a mission incredibly well, there'd always be a moment that would elongate the mission by another 5 minutes for no reason. Eg. You protect the PM at one point in his carriage and you have to kill the enemies before his coach is too damaged. I did this really efficiently and the carriage just gets stolen whilst Jacob "isn't looking".
Some of the trophies are a bit of a joke too.
I platinum'd it and wasn't too bad but there was moments where I thought the game just flat out didnt respect the players time.
If you did a mission incredibly well, there'd always be a moment that would elongate the mission by another 5 minutes for no reason. Eg. You protect the PM at one point in his carriage and you have to kill the enemies before his coach is too damaged. I did this really efficiently and the carriage just gets stolen whilst Jacob "isn't looking".
Some of the trophies are a bit of a joke too.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
I also remember the trip from the dunes to Jeuno for the first time, sneaking through Jugner Forest as a low level was a pretty thrilling experience that i remember even after all these years and i haven't played the game game for a long long time.
But yeah.. definitely FFXI, camping NMs was something else.
The need for instant gratification has sure changed the nature of gaming. Purely skill-based games are pretty much dead. By purely skill-based, I mean games where the only in game reward is you getting better as you practice.* No rpg mechanics or skill bars or exp points or loot or engine parts or levels or whatever. You win or you lose based only on how you play.
Every arcade game used to be that way, but they are pretty rare now. Most traditional games as well if you remove purely luck based games from the equation. Driveclub was the last purely skill based game I played and from what I remember, people did not like the lack of rpg stuff.
A side note which may or may not be related to this: apparently traditional pastimes like golf and fishing aren't attracting many young people.
*Note: this does not mean other games do not require skill and/or practise.
bbkkristian
Member
Compared to Final Fantasy V on PS1, the load times for FFIX are actually not bad.
wanderjahr
Banned
Playing through FFX right now. I'm at the end-game with nearly everything completed...
... Everything except Blitzball for Wakka's Overdrives and Weapon, and the Thunder Plains Lightning Dodging for Lulu.
I got to 151 dodges... then my thumb slipped on the controller...
*sigh* 1... 2... 3... 4....
... Everything except Blitzball for Wakka's Overdrives and Weapon, and the Thunder Plains Lightning Dodging for Lulu.
I got to 151 dodges... then my thumb slipped on the controller...
*sigh* 1... 2... 3... 4....
GluedOnBeard
Member
Destiny, Destiny, Destiny and more Destiny.
Not only does it demand you to invest large amounts of times, akin to an MMO it also demands that you log on at set times in order to get certain weapons and gear which is the point where I said enough is enough.
Especially after spending 4 hours in one of their exotic challenges for the Spindle only for them to nerf it, that was a hugely disrespectful of players time.
Not only does it demand you to invest large amounts of times, akin to an MMO it also demands that you log on at set times in order to get certain weapons and gear which is the point where I said enough is enough.
Especially after spending 4 hours in one of their exotic challenges for the Spindle only for them to nerf it, that was a hugely disrespectful of players time.
BibiMaghoo
Member
It's the healing situation that actually makes that difference for me. I find the Dark Souls system of limiting heals before essentially having to reset the area enemies, pointless. It exists as a difficulty barrier, rather than something that enhances the game, or more importantly in this case, respects my time. Need to heal but can't make it to the next fire? Go back and start again. Allowing me to grind for items appropriate to my task is far more preferable to me, especially when one area dropped lots of them fairly easily. It allows me the choice of how to spend my time, and to manage the risk of my current inventory more freely than the flask system.
Moon_frogger
Member
Witcher 3 is absolutely guilty of this. 99 percent of those '?' Marks or whatever on the map are worthless. The other 1 percent have a rare item that can only be found there. I stopped playing because of this.
Witcher 2 on the Xbox 360 had way too many load areas.
Also to parrot what other people are saying, Destiny might be the worst offender of not respecting the player's time. Time wasting elements include the long load screen in orbit and constant grinding for incrementally better items.
Also to parrot what other people are saying, Destiny might be the worst offender of not respecting the player's time. Time wasting elements include the long load screen in orbit and constant grinding for incrementally better items.
Silver-tongued
Banned
Why would you list the ability to skip content and the ability to automate combat as innovations? They sound more like band-aids on design flaws to me.
I at least think the automation can be fun in itself. It can be enjoyable to set up stable loops or see how intricate you can get with the mechanics given to you.
Definitely Bravely Default, and by far.
I love Final Fantasy XI, but I have to admit that game is an insane timesink.
I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did back in the day with my current lifestyle. I wouldn't have time for it.
As others mentioned though, a lot of positive side effects came from that time investment, which modern MMOs don't have.
Exploration and immersion where also heightened thanks to the fact that getting from A to B was a dangerous and a time consuming effort. It really felt like a journey.
However, having to do it every time was...silly.
I love Final Fantasy XI, but I have to admit that game is an insane timesink.
I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did back in the day with my current lifestyle. I wouldn't have time for it.
As others mentioned though, a lot of positive side effects came from that time investment, which modern MMOs don't have.
Exploration and immersion where also heightened thanks to the fact that getting from A to B was a dangerous and a time consuming effort. It really felt like a journey.
However, having to do it every time was...silly.
You need to play Divinity OS if you haven't
trikster40
Member
Fillers are the biggest waste of time these days. I love open world games but they've become an excuse to just fill them with collectibles and skimp on story (Rockstar excluded).
I love a vast open world but at least keep me busy with cool missions.
I love a vast open world but at least keep me busy with cool missions.
Dont act like you have to do every side mission/activity and collect every little box to complete the game
Shotgun Kiss
Member
OP is missing incredibly long intros (some of which offer the player very little control) and mandatory long-winded tutorials.
Bravely default. There's a part where you have to fight the same 5 bosses 4 Fucking times. One of the most blatant use of padding I have ever seen. I heard that in the original version, you had to fight against ALL of the games bosses a second time in order to beat the game.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!?
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!?
Dice//
Banned
Playing through FFX right now. I'm at the end-game with nearly everything completed...
... Everything except Blitzball for Wakka's Overdrives and Weapon, and the Thunder Plains Lightning Dodging for Lulu.
I got to 151 dodges... then my thumb slipped on the controller...
*sigh* 1... 2... 3... 4....
Using the lightning manipulation trick is alright enough. Still sucks.
I think the bigger offender is the fucking light flash that can probably trigger a seizure for someone at some point.
I got serious eye fatigue doing that sequence (even with the lights on, TV dimmed, and sunglasses worn).
Tyreese Victoria
Banned
Far Cry 2 was about the journey and not the destination.
If more people got that, the industry would have been saved from Far Cry 3.
RIP.
S
Steve.1981
Unconfirmed Member
To be honest, I don't see anything wrong with anything on this list except micro-transactions and broken games. And even then, "broken" games can be patched these days.
Look at Witcher 3. I've just started playing in the last few weeks so I don't know how bad it was earlier in the year, but if the amount of negative threads it generated here are any indication, it must have been very bad. Now, 18GB(!) of patchwork later, it works fine. I haven't noticed anything amiss. In fact I'm loving the game.
The rest could be fine for some people, or even great. One man's "useless filler" could be another man's fun, rewarding experience. Grinding and RNG? Look at how popular Destiny is. And I personally love to travel around in a huge open world.
I guess I disagree with the sentiment expressed here. I'm not even sure any kind of art should be created with the intention of respecting people's time, if that's what's being suggested.