This is perhaps a topic with a lot of perspectives but almost no hidden nuances - can you ever have too much game? What's too little?
Not that many games are hailed as ‘just right’ in any criteria and duration is surely in the minority of that minority - but it does happen sometimes. Thatgamecompany's blisteringly beautiful mute adventure Journey lasted just a couple of hours but still managed to be epic. But then again that's about the length of a movie; is there something to be said for being able to finish a game comfortably in one sitting?
Books, movies and LPs come in whatever length they come in and we don't get upset with them as often as games, even if a few people did get deep-vein thrombosis watching the Lord of The Rings. We’re just about willing to let art be itself. We do of course pay quite a bit more for the average game than the average book or film and naturally want to get our money's worth, but we also recognise how much work goes into each game and by how many people, all of whom need a paycheck.
But who are we to talk? Recent surveys show that on average nine tenths of us don’t finish our games anyway, so how do we know if we’re satisfied with their length? Other major digital retailers combined sold 45,000 copies of The Witcher 2, while Steam sold 200,000 copies, making it a good sample. Of those 200,000 Witcher 2 players, 14.5% have unlocked the achievement that requires a player to “Finish the game at any difficulty”. Steam’s statistics also show that only 30% of people have finished the last story mission on Skyrim, and even last year’s acclaimed (and relatively short) Tomb Raider has only been finished by 45% of the people who've bought it.
So - does quantity have anything to do with quality in games? Is it right for us to track the lengths of games and have expectations? How do you decide what length is right? The list goes on and on. What games stood out for you because of their duration and why was it the right length or the wrong length?
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PC Specs
1) A game should be as long as the designer wants it to be to accomplish his goals for the gamers. No matter how long or short that is.
Of course, length of time should be combined with the final result/quality of the experience to balance the cost of a game too. Maybe a 2-hour long game is worth 40$ and a 150-hour one is not worth even 10$.
PC Specs
2) People don't finish their games, not even the ones they really like, USUALLY (NOT ALWAYS) because they are spoilled... SIMPLE as that. If their money had more value to them, and if they wanted to try a bit more if they can take something extra from a game, they would actually play them till the end, or a bit more than half-way at least...
PC Specs
I think that a game should last enough before being boring.
PC Specs
Quality over quantity. Shovel Knight, Binding or Issac, Stick of Truth and Super Meat Boy. Short games with awesome game play.
PC Specs
no matter is someone's point of view a good game is a good game whether it was short or long and that what matters, i don't want to play a bad game for too long and neither i want to play a good game for a short time, as long as am enjoying the game the longer the better
PC Specs
A combined score of quality/graphics and a long gameplay experience for me to have the most valuable product.No compromise should be allowed.And then if my requirements are met would give for such a game any prize they throw at me :) p.s last but not least OPTIMIZATION.
PC Specs
I'd rather have a game be too long than too short, but I also don't necessarily like collecto-thons. I'll probably hit 60 hrs 100%ing Far Cry 4, but 10 hrs will be just looking for loot, which isn't that fun.
I'd rather it be 60 hours of legit missions and content than just loot collection.
PC Specs
In my opinion, something by the lines of Skyrim or AC:4 where the main quest is marvelous to play but you keep getting dragged by other things. At the end of both games I had around 24 hours on it. But Dishonored managed to give me 24 hours too on Low Chaos with a level based game and not an open world. 1 day of quests
PC Specs
I, for one, have only left 1 game, mid way, and that is Dead Space 1. I just found it, really boring. Apart from that, i always finish current game, before choosing a new one. In fact, at any given time, i only play a single game.
Also, its my principle that, i only post my FPS and settings, once complete the game. Recently, i completed Shadow of Mordor, and currently, i am playing FC4.
PC Specs
Dragon Age: Inquisition has great quantity..Hmmm Medal of Honor 2010 was for me one of the games with the best story and i wish it has much longer story.
PC Specs
Long enough to enjoy.....but short enough so's not to be boring.
PC Specs
a few inches at least -what she said
PC Specs
Skyrim Legendary Edition - 29,99€ , 25h - endless
PC Specs
As far as I'm concerned length doesn't matter. What matters is quality.
PC Specs
At least 20 seconds.
PC Specs
I remember playing for months at Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2, finishing them, feeling really good.
Also playing Singularity, a short game, but was great too.
Take note that one is a fps, other is a rpg, both good games.
PC Specs
200 hours on skyrim and still haven't finished it lol.
PC Specs
I think we're talking about campaign length here. After you finish the main quest line and all the hidden quests + faction storylines (all of this could take up to 50 hours, maybe more), you're left with just generic side quests that tell you to go to location X, kill enemy Y, turn in, repeat.
Not saying it's not super fun, just that I don't think it counts :P
PC Specs
If developers demanding such price then they should listen to players too, i agree that if someone paying 60$ for 20-25 hours game, it literally don't worth at all.
Developers should think on it.
PC Specs
hmm, but what about programmer, 3d modeler, sound designer? not worth?
PC Specs
mafia 2 have less mission...but awesome... so, it depend on the game. :)
PC Specs
Somehow i Do prefer very Long Games like those Nippon Ishi "Disgaea" Games, because it's always Fun to get much out of those Games!
Maybe it's more on the Replayability side because the Story is not the "Time consuming" part of those Games it's the Post Game that Takes long to "Conquer".
This does not mean i dislike Games that are "Short but Great" but it's like i don't want to complete
those!.
PC Specs
30 hrs minimum, exclude the character developing like exp skills and stuffs.. i very much loved witcher 2, but i'm surprised of how short it is, and was expecting to see more towns