Are shorter games better?

[Smeghead]

I've jus been talkin to Lyris, having read a comment in the thread about games which have been played thru twice regarding how he'd played about 60-70 games thru more than once back in the day when games were a few hours long.

We both kinda prefer shorter games that can be done in a weekend or whateva after the first play through or like Jet Set Radio, one slightly extended sesh.

Personally for me, I find the prospect of having to spend many a night playing at the same game to complete it kind of offputting, and so was wonderin what your preference is, though I do like the odd loooong RPG to sink my teeth into, generally I prefer the shorter games, takin around 6-10 hours, something a fair few of Nintendos GameCube games have done which is probably why I've finished so many cube games lately but not many on other formats.

[Bomberman UK]

I like shorter games more as well, as I don't really have the time for epics anymore, what with work, going to the gym, seeing friends...

Also, I've found that lately, shorter games tend to be of a higher quality lately than the ones that just get dragged out with cheap methods, such as tedious collecting and returning to the same levels over and over... I personally found the under-rated Luigis Mansion to be a far more enjoyable experience than that of Mario Sunshine.

The only time I can tolerate huge games is if I'm really, really into them... I'm talking about titles like Zelda: The Wind Waker and the Shenmue's which I obsess over. Could never go through a 60 hour FMV-filled RPG.

[Smeghead]

The only time I can tolerate huge games is if I'm really, really into them... I'm talking about titles like Zelda: The Wind Waker and the Shenmue's which I obsess over. Could never go through a 60 hour FMV-filled RPG.

Even them 2 are pretty short as well Shenmue took me about a week, and I've nearly done Wind Waker now as well, though they definitely hold your attention too,

expanding on it, I think maybe having a shortish main story, but then sub quests etc u can do like on Zelda, really extends the games life span, while keeping the story prim and to the point.

[Lyris]

Yup - a long game is one I end up not bothering with. I almost know I'm not gonna finish it (Skies of Arcadia and it's endless random battles...)

My favorite type of game is one that has a Short-Medium length story mode, with a Skirmish style mode and lots of Arcade style challenges (like Timesplitters 2).

[g-funk]

I used to prefer longer, story based games. Now I'm mostly playing "arcadey" type games, ones where you can just get a quick blast. Playing a lot of Soul Calibur 2 and Winning Eleven just now.

I think the main thing with longer games is that it has to be fun the whole way through, some just have you doing repetative or mundane tasks over and over again.

I find myself enjoying games to start with then getting bored quickly coz its same old ****.

[lordcookie]

I prefer shorter games due to the fact I dont have the same amount of time to play games anymore (even though I am buying 50 times more games). The shorter games can be played in 15 minute sessions and you still feel like you have progressed. Long games are just a chore for me now, unless it is something special (like Zelda TWW).

[g-funk]

Maybe were all just getting too old and our attention span aint what it used to be

[Lyris]

I'm 16 and I don't think my attention span was much to start with

[Goemon]

I have to say I prefer shorter games.

As I get older I find I have more money to buy games but don't have the time to play them all...the longer a game is the less likely I am to finish it due to other commitments.
It took me 2 weeks to finish Luigi's Mansion....not cause it was too hard but because I was working a lot of overtime and didn't get a chance to play it....I now have many games in my collection that have gone unfinished.


Ahhhh, to be young and carefree again!

[bowser123]

I think it's not neccesarily shorter games are better but games that can be picked up easily and either completed quickly or levels that don't last too long that can be re-done are my favourites at the moment.
The last few games that I have completed, Made in wario, Panzer Orta, Pikmin, Rogue Squadron, Rez, Ikaruga, WE6, Luigis Mansion and Smash Bros are all examples of games that are not easy by any means but can be completed quickly and then re-played to get higher scores. The only fairly big game I have completed recently was the ****ty Starfox Adventures which was just dull and absolutely nothing happens in the 15hrs it took me to do. Stuff like Mario Sunshine, Morrowind, Metroid and JAP Zelda are all sat half played because I've kinda lost interest.
Inspite of all this, my most played game for ages has been Animal crossing.
Though Pokemon Sapphire has got me playing non stop and I imagine I wont be able to complete it for about 15 hrs and triple that for catching all the monsters.

[Andy_T]

unless it is something special (like Zelda TWW).

don't you feel as though the sailing sections are there (ultimately) to flesh out what is a relatively short lived experience? for most of the game it's a case of getting from A-B, to begin with you engage in combat but eventually that gets boring.

[sam1981]

I love the fact that Zelda leads me by the hand and I very rarely get stuck. I feel challenged and satisfied when I solve a puzzle, but don't get stuck wandering round aimlessly.

The same with Luigi's Mansion.

It doesn't matter whether the game is small like Luigi, or big like Zelda because, like a few others here (maybe most), I've got limited time and if I'm not enjoying the game I'll just end up moving onto another one, or listening to music or watching a film or going out for beers or whatever.

I certainly don't enjoy aimlessly wandering round wondering what to do next and not progressing.

[lordcookie]

unless it is something special (like Zelda TWW).

don't you feel as though the sailing sections are there (ultimately) to flesh out what is a relatively short lived experience? for most of the game it's a case of getting from A-B, to begin with you engage in combat but eventually that gets boring.

To a certain extent I agree with you, but the journeys to each island are rarely dull. There are so many side quests that can be replayed that the journey really isnt bad. Plus there are quicker ways about getting around the sea (I wont say anymore as I dont know how far everyone is in to the game). The sea does make the game longer, but I dont think it was put there for that reason, but more to add a sense of scale to the gaming environment, and it does that really well.

[Molloy]

When the 32 bit era came along I was ready for games that were huge. All the space on these new CD ROMs had to be filled. I looked forward to a time when games would have proper stories and unlockable extras.

At this point in my life I've got tired of having to make large comitments to games. I'm not an anti-social 15 year old anymore who used lock himself in with my computer playing multiplayer games of Total Annihilation all weekend. Getting consumed and obsessed with one game was fun for a while but I like to think I have more demands on my time these days.

Games with tons of CGI, script and expansive environments are as bad for the game developers as for the gamers. They cost too much to produce and put alot of pressure on the people making the games. Modern technology should offer more artistic possibilities but because of the high budgets involved people can't take risks.

I think that arcade gaming is just out of fasion at the moment. People are after big stories, big graphics, big games. The movie business went through a stage like this from the mid 80's till the late 90's. Eventually the cost of promoting the films got to be too much and now we're seeing small budget projects doing well. I think Phone Booth was filmed in 14 days or something!?

Gaming is going through a slightly excessive period that it will soon grow out of. Epic games are good but the market is saturated with them at the moment. Aiming games at the mainsteam is an expensive tactic because they are a fickle market, you have to spend a fortune on advertising. If you target the enthusiasts they'll set the trends and the casual will follow. These things have happened to movies and is currently happening to music and I feel it'll happen to gaming eventually too.

[chosen_one666]

It all really depends on how you define better. One of the best games I've ever played was Final Fantasy VII. It was an epic. It sucked me in and I ended up playing it in huge sessions for about 2 months.

However I can see what you mean when you say you enjoy shorter games a lot more. I also have very little time to play hugely long games akin to FFVII, as I just dont have the time that I used to. Games like TimeSplitters 2 can be picked up and I can have a quick ten or twenty minute deathmatch with my brother and come away with the same satisfaction that I would if I had just reached the end of a huge story driven game. I now look for games that don't really require an extensive amount of play time for me to get my money's worth. A game that I can have a quick go on will do me just fine.