11th April 2005, 9:09 PM
Well, if the game is enjoyable througout, then honestly I don't mind. "Filler" through a massive game when only the first part and last part are worth playing? Yeah, that sucks, but I've played a number of long games that don't have that. I don't mind having 30 dungeons if they managed to actually make them all good. I'm talking about a hypothetical situation here mind you.
And as to your need to get to the "end" of a game.... well.... Ever hear the phrase "the journey is more important than the destination"? I mean, it's a martial arts movie cliche (and no, I don't want you to point out that most of them don't have that lesson, they probably don't, but the majority of people who aren't "in the know" would think martial arts movie when hearing that phrase). For me, that means I don't CARE if I am getting to the end any time soon so long as I'm having fun right THEN. If I'm having fun the whole time, I don't WANT to get to the ending. If I ever actually get tired of it, I stop playing for a while! I'm okay with that, and as I said, when you finally want to pick up that controller again, wouldn't you RATHER have something more to do in the game than have NOTHING to look forward to than closing the game's box and sticking it on some shelf somewhere so you can say "I have BEATEN you, GAME! Bow to me!".
But, I do understand what you mean when you say quality over quantity. I believe that too. I'm just saying that it's impossible for a game to ever be "too long", when you consider length as a quality in and of itself, ignoring the developer side of things completely.
That's all I'll say on this.
And as to your need to get to the "end" of a game.... well.... Ever hear the phrase "the journey is more important than the destination"? I mean, it's a martial arts movie cliche (and no, I don't want you to point out that most of them don't have that lesson, they probably don't, but the majority of people who aren't "in the know" would think martial arts movie when hearing that phrase). For me, that means I don't CARE if I am getting to the end any time soon so long as I'm having fun right THEN. If I'm having fun the whole time, I don't WANT to get to the ending. If I ever actually get tired of it, I stop playing for a while! I'm okay with that, and as I said, when you finally want to pick up that controller again, wouldn't you RATHER have something more to do in the game than have NOTHING to look forward to than closing the game's box and sticking it on some shelf somewhere so you can say "I have BEATEN you, GAME! Bow to me!".
But, I do understand what you mean when you say quality over quantity. I believe that too. I'm just saying that it's impossible for a game to ever be "too long", when you consider length as a quality in and of itself, ignoring the developer side of things completely.
That's all I'll say on this.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)