Jimquisition (Feb. 23) - The Old 'How Long Should Games Be?' Debate

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

The Jimquisition has never had a proper episode on game length, because it's old and goes around in circles. However, we're also plugged into the cultural zeitgeist here, because we like saying zeitgeist, so let's dress this mutton as lamb and get to it, son!

 

 

 

Can't link directly due to swearing - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWCw2Sd7RlYJ2yuNVHDWNOA

[trag3dy]

A game that can be beaten on it's hardest difficulty in less than 6 hours with little to no replayability should never cost $60. That's my stance on it.

 

I don't care how much the game costs to make. That's not my concern and it shouldn't be anyone elses either, as consumers.

[astropheed Veteran]

The length of a game doesn't matter at all to me. Nor do I think the value of a game should be quantified by the expected time to complete it. I feel the experience I got out of Limbo was worth more than what I got out of Call of Duty, and Call of Duty cost me 10 times more and I played it for ten times longer.

 

I remember Limbo, I don't give a crap about Call of Duty; that's what I associate with value.

[+Asmodai MVC]

Correct answer:

Games should be at least as long as required to provide consumers a positive enough experience to justify them buying the game in sufficient volume for the developer to recoup the cost to make the game and at least some profit.

 

As to weather The Order was too short if they don't sell enough copies to recoup the development cost and the main reason people aren't buying it because they don't feel 6ish hours with minimal replayability is worth $60 then yes, it's too short.  The market will decide.  Informing consumers that it can be finished in under 6 hours and has minimal replay value is not a bad thing.  Despite what it's defenders may say it doesn't require a "speed run" to do so.  Also I'm personally sick of hearing "we can't punish people for trying to do something different unless we want to just keep getting more of the same" or similar arguments.  YES, YES we can.  If what they're doing that's different is crap then bring on more of the same!  I'll take more of the same over complete crap any day.  It's not good enough JUST to be different.  You have to be different IN A GOOD WAY.  Now I'm not saying The Order is crap, again the market will determine that.  I'm just saying that argument is B.S. and you shouldn't reward companies just for doing something different even if you don't like it.  You should ABSOLTELY reward companies for doing something different THAT YOU LIKE.

If the market ends up saying it doesn't like 6 hour long $60 cinematic games with minimal replay and no multiplayer and that means we don't get any more... is that really a bad thing?  Do something different that people actually like (and maybe they do like The Order... sales will tell)

[123456789A]

I tend to pay $3 per (enjoyable) hour of gaming. So if it's 10 fun hours long I'll pay $30. If the side quests suck/added in just to add to the time, I don't count that toward the time. If the game isn't very fun to begin with even though it could be 10 hours long, I also consider it to be a waste of money since I don't want to play through a game I don't enjoy. I do count replay value to the total, so it can be a short game (Solitaire) but if I am going to play it a lot, it's worth the price.

 

Of course if it's like some games that I end up playing for hundreds of hours, that's great but I typically cap off at $100 (including DLC/expansions).

 

So, for a typical $60 game, I expect a minimum of 20 good hours of entertainment. So far I've been doing pretty well with that, with most exceeding that number.

[soniqstylz]

I basically compare it to movie prices.  If I'll pay $10 or so for 90-180 minutes of movie, then expect around 10 - 15 hours for a game at full price, although naturally my preference is more value (hi GTA, Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls, sports games, etc.).  And I expect that for one play through.  I'm not big on MP so that's not a factor (it might even be a detriment -- I've never played a CoD game for this very reason).

 

For something like The Order, I plan to wait until the price drops just that simple.

[n_K]

I bought gunpoint in a steam sale ages ago but only managed to play it for the first time last night. Have to say it provided great entertainment that no game has given me in years and I really enjoyed it but I did find it a bit short, 1h 30 or so. And the normal price is

[LaP]

I'm probably alone to think games are too long these days.

 

I work 40 hours a week. I have a daughter. I don't have time to play games. I play maybe 3 to 6 hours a week at the very most (most of the time when doing the laundry). I don't have time for 80 hours open world **** filled with repetitive content and not challening me at all. I prefer hard games challenging me and lasting between 10 to 15 hours. This way i can actually finish them in less than a year and actually fell like i did something worthwhile.

 

I don't care if The Order is only 6 hours. 6 hours is 2 week of playtime it's well worth buying it at a reduced price. Anyway i only buy games at a reduced price these days i'm not buying any at 70$ CAD + taxes.

 

The only thing that matters to me is if the game is good and if it's hard enough to have some fun. Doesn't look like The Order is.

[trooper11]

I don't think there is a single answer to this. Games are like any other form of entertainment, its in the eye of the beholder. Outside of technical issues, its going to be subjective.

I play tell tale games that last an hour or two per episode. I played many adventure games growing up that were similar. Then I also play the likes of Skyrim and Dragon Age that offer me 200-300 hours of play. If I focused on the gameplay hours per dollar, then I would never play anything else but rpgs.

If I have a fun time with the game and feel satisfied at the end, then I really don't care about game length. A 6 hour game does not bother me, but an unsatisfying game does.

[compl3x]

 

 

For something like The Order, I plan to wait until the price drops just that simple.

 

Or get it with PS+ which I sincerely expect to happen some time this year.