Some Like It Short: Why Gamers Don't Finish the Job
When it comes to games, size doesn't matter. The gameplay does.
8/19/2008 8:07 PM | 8 Comments | Page 2 of 2
Blake Snow
Status: Thank you Mario, but the status message is in another castle!
Gears of War: 10 hours.
In 2006, Epic Games announced that
Gears of War would require only 10 hours to complete on the default difficulty. The announcement caused a mini-uproar on Internet forums and gaming blogs, but when push came to shove, gamers forked over the $60, applauded the game, and rallied to make it a monster seller that year.
Part of what made
Gears of War a success is its compelling online multiplayer mode, which helps many gamers overlook the brevity of the single-player experience. "Good online multiplayer can more than make up for single-player shortcomings," says Hsu.
Often times, online multiplayer alone is enough to define the experience of the game. "Gamers I know seem more focused playing others online," says gaming blogger David Cole. " 'Yeah, I haven't unlocked anything on
Mario Kart Wii,' they say. 'I'm too busy playing online with my friends.' "
GTA IV: 100 hours.
This isn't to say that lengthy single-player games no longer exist. In the same year that
Gears of War was released, both
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess debuted, requiring around 80 to 100 hours to complete.
Grand Theft Auto IV demands 100 hours to complete as well, excluding loitering.
But in the eyes of many publishers, it doesn't make sense to make an 80- to 100-hour game and sell it for $50 to $60 when a 10-hour game will suffice, especially if it costs less to develop. It's only fair then to assume the number of shorter single-player games will likely increase, but so will additional features like online multiplayer and downloadable content to ensure value.
"It's smart for publishers and developers to watch consumer playing habits," says Hsu. "If people don't have time for 50-hour epics, then perhaps shorter, more episodic content is necessary."
Aging gamers like shorter games.
How do gamers feel about the trend? They're fine with it -- provided the shorter experience remains compelling. So instead of complaining, many of today's older players even express approval.
"Ten hours for single-player is just about right when you're married, have kids and work a gajillion hours a day," says Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku, who is a father.
"If a developer creates an awesome experience, then length really doesn't matter," adds Furse, who's been gaming for 27 years.
Another gamer, Casey Willis of Atlanta, Georgia, may have put it best: "Make a game worth my time and money, and I'll be happy," he says. "After all, 10 hours of awesome is better than 20 hours of boring."
