Post by peekaboo on Jan 2, 2007 18:04:01 GMT -8
The following is not specifically directed toward anyone here on this forum. It's not a rant (well, maybe a semi rant), it's just a few thoughts that blossomed into more than I should have put down.
I play a lot of games now that I'm retired. I'm registered on many sites with add-on games made by forum members. The games are usually a blast. Really enjoyable. However, I've run across a single theme, many times, posted by different people concerning the add-on's: unhappiness with a particular type of game add-on.
Some game add-on makers will probably disagree with my following synopsis but here is my question:
What is the point to making a game that is supremely hard/tricky to finish?
Maybe it's the thrill of making a game that very few can finish or some can finish but not with a good ending. Maybe it's ego. I'm not sure.
The player wants the good score, or at least to be able to finish. It's a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of euphoria when perfection is reached. The player is happy and showers congrats and thank you's to the game maker, who is very pleased that his/her creation is appreciated. The creator is happy, the player is happy.
But I agree with the unhappiness of certain games. Don't get me wrong. I love games that are challenging, that make you think. But I also want to have fun while playing. Isn't that what games are about? Relaxation, enjoyment, and the satisfaction when you finish it? I don't mind spending a couple or more hours on a game if I'm feeling challenged. I don't mind going to the forum for a few hints/answers. I even replay them again just to simply enjoy the mind benders.
What I don't like is to spend those hours in complete struggle and frustration. Then be so close to the end and find out that I'm just not going to be able to finish or that I don't have all that was needed to get a halfway decent score. What a waste of time and effort. The let-down is tremendous. I would be very hesitant to play any of their games again but, to be honest, I would try, maybe, a couple more.
And the worst scenario of all?! Playing a game that is challenging and fun, you've struggled but you're enjoying it; then you get to a part that a designer put in to deliberately thwart the player. Usually close to the ending. A sucker punch you didn't see coming. If it's a lonnngg game and you missed some hidden/disguised solution early on in the game, you have to start all over. Simply awful. It's definitely not funny. These designers go on my list of 'Abolutely, Do Not Play This Designers Games'. Thank goodness it's short.
I've pretty much finished every game I've played. Has every game reached perfection or been enjoyable? No. This is perfectly normal. A person can't expect to like the game or reach the pentacle every time. That would be unrealistic. But if you read posts on game forums, you can see which game makers gets the high-fives, the fulsome praise; and the ones that get very few/none comments, or else get lackluster reviews.
Here are a few of my thoughts from the player end of it:
Impossible-to-finish games: trash them. Just not worth anything.
Almost impossible to finish: Don't expect to finish. If you have time to spend and a wish for trouble, go for it. You'll have bragging rights. Not for me.
Realllyy really Hard to finish games: Totally Unsatisfying; way too much effort and time and a relief to end, if you end at all, even with a good score.
Sucker Punch games: My personal dislike. Expect to feel cheated. Fun and challenging at first, but look out. Can probably be finished eventually but the solution(s) are way outside the box.
Hard to finish games: Expect lots of effort, time, and plenty of frustration along the way. But if you finish and with a good score, it's a great feeling.
Challenging games: Makes you really think, sometimes hard. Doesn't try to hide the solutions but does make you search till your eyes cross. Lots of fun and worth it.
Mostly middle of road, sometimes hard spots: Great! Love them! Play them and enjoy.
Easy time game: They are loads of fun for a quick satisfying pick-me-up.
Well, I'm thru except for two things. Please remember that I'm not a scholar. My words may not be the ones I should have used but they're the ones I came up with. They are not meant to offend in any way. Sometimes words have different meanings for different people. We might actually be in agreement but using different descriptive words. I apologize beforehand if you take offense. So please don't chew on me. I'm fragile. All other comments welcome.
Secondly, all the designers should be thanked and appreciated for the work and skill they put into making games. They give us hours of entertainment. They lift us up out of our same-oh-same-oh lives. They give us fantasy, danger, thrills galore. The add-on designers are especially to be appreciated. They get nothing back from their games but whatever we give them. So Thank You, Thank You, each and every one of you.
I play a lot of games now that I'm retired. I'm registered on many sites with add-on games made by forum members. The games are usually a blast. Really enjoyable. However, I've run across a single theme, many times, posted by different people concerning the add-on's: unhappiness with a particular type of game add-on.
Some game add-on makers will probably disagree with my following synopsis but here is my question:
What is the point to making a game that is supremely hard/tricky to finish?
Maybe it's the thrill of making a game that very few can finish or some can finish but not with a good ending. Maybe it's ego. I'm not sure.
The player wants the good score, or at least to be able to finish. It's a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of euphoria when perfection is reached. The player is happy and showers congrats and thank you's to the game maker, who is very pleased that his/her creation is appreciated. The creator is happy, the player is happy.
But I agree with the unhappiness of certain games. Don't get me wrong. I love games that are challenging, that make you think. But I also want to have fun while playing. Isn't that what games are about? Relaxation, enjoyment, and the satisfaction when you finish it? I don't mind spending a couple or more hours on a game if I'm feeling challenged. I don't mind going to the forum for a few hints/answers. I even replay them again just to simply enjoy the mind benders.
What I don't like is to spend those hours in complete struggle and frustration. Then be so close to the end and find out that I'm just not going to be able to finish or that I don't have all that was needed to get a halfway decent score. What a waste of time and effort. The let-down is tremendous. I would be very hesitant to play any of their games again but, to be honest, I would try, maybe, a couple more.
And the worst scenario of all?! Playing a game that is challenging and fun, you've struggled but you're enjoying it; then you get to a part that a designer put in to deliberately thwart the player. Usually close to the ending. A sucker punch you didn't see coming. If it's a lonnngg game and you missed some hidden/disguised solution early on in the game, you have to start all over. Simply awful. It's definitely not funny. These designers go on my list of 'Abolutely, Do Not Play This Designers Games'. Thank goodness it's short.
I've pretty much finished every game I've played. Has every game reached perfection or been enjoyable? No. This is perfectly normal. A person can't expect to like the game or reach the pentacle every time. That would be unrealistic. But if you read posts on game forums, you can see which game makers gets the high-fives, the fulsome praise; and the ones that get very few/none comments, or else get lackluster reviews.
Here are a few of my thoughts from the player end of it:
Impossible-to-finish games: trash them. Just not worth anything.
Almost impossible to finish: Don't expect to finish. If you have time to spend and a wish for trouble, go for it. You'll have bragging rights. Not for me.
Realllyy really Hard to finish games: Totally Unsatisfying; way too much effort and time and a relief to end, if you end at all, even with a good score.
Sucker Punch games: My personal dislike. Expect to feel cheated. Fun and challenging at first, but look out. Can probably be finished eventually but the solution(s) are way outside the box.
Hard to finish games: Expect lots of effort, time, and plenty of frustration along the way. But if you finish and with a good score, it's a great feeling.
Challenging games: Makes you really think, sometimes hard. Doesn't try to hide the solutions but does make you search till your eyes cross. Lots of fun and worth it.
Mostly middle of road, sometimes hard spots: Great! Love them! Play them and enjoy.
Easy time game: They are loads of fun for a quick satisfying pick-me-up.
Well, I'm thru except for two things. Please remember that I'm not a scholar. My words may not be the ones I should have used but they're the ones I came up with. They are not meant to offend in any way. Sometimes words have different meanings for different people. We might actually be in agreement but using different descriptive words. I apologize beforehand if you take offense. So please don't chew on me. I'm fragile. All other comments welcome.
Secondly, all the designers should be thanked and appreciated for the work and skill they put into making games. They give us hours of entertainment. They lift us up out of our same-oh-same-oh lives. They give us fantasy, danger, thrills galore. The add-on designers are especially to be appreciated. They get nothing back from their games but whatever we give them. So Thank You, Thank You, each and every one of you.
... as if you took word out of my mouth... 
), where the solver has an opportunity to look over the general layout of the map to determine what Toolz s/he needz before being bombarded with Rockz, Cannon Ballz, Boomerangz, etc.
