360 Magazine: Gamers Can't Finish Games

360 Magazine: Only 40% of players finished Assassin’s Creed II – but why could this be?

Ubisoft has just announced that only 40 per cent of players finished Assassin’s Creed II. We say “only”, but when you consider that the game’s sold well over 6 million copies, that’s still a heck of a lot of people anyway.

[MrMccormo]

I always try to finish games, but that means I tend to ignore multiplayer.

I imagine "the masses" are the opposite: they play the single-player, they ragequit because of their short attention spans, and then just jump into online multiplayer until the next big online multiplayer game comes out. It also explains why many "gamers" are perfectly fine with a pathetic 4-hour campaign: it's because they actually have a chance of beating it!

[darthv72]

games i have not finished.

Reach, ODST, Batman AA, SoTC, MGS4, GoW3, Gears 2, LoZ Windwaker.

There are plenty more but those are the ones that come to mind.

My issue is with time. When I was younger I could buy a game and have it finished by the next day. Now there are so many great games and so much little time that I try out of each with the intent of going back to finish.

I have this giant sampler plate of games all with a bite out of them.

[jjank11]

Wow, I can't believe you have not finished those games. Windwaker is the only one on your list I didn't finish but I let my friend play through it and I watched/helped him.

I've been going back and buying alot of PS2 games to play, since there were such an enormous amount of games for that system to keep up with and I was more of a nintendo person growing up.

[AKS]

Shadow of the Colossus has one of the best endings in video game history, especially if you've played through ICO. That's one you should definitely finish.

[AAACE5]

I used to intentionally put a game on hold because I don't want to beat it quickly! Then I realized that I get bored with a lot of games.

I played about an hour of Assassin's Creed 2 and quit! It fealt a lot like the old one. I beat the old one, but I basically forced myself to do so because I was bored with it and was about to trade it!

Since then, I have realized that a lot of these games arent worth their price. I try to avoid most Rpg's because I don't have the patience for them. Sports games feel over priced. Single player games feel too short based on price. So I usually get games with a good story mode and good multiplayer and pick the other games at a cheaper price!

I guess i'm not a hardcore gamer anymore. I used to buy a few games at a time, now I barely buy a game a month.

Strange cause I have a Ps3 and a 360, yet I feel like I have nothing to play! I've tried other games, but few feel like they are worth the time.

[DaTruth]

Not finishing games??? The only game I didn't finish was RE:Code Veronica. That damn giant axe dude I couldn't pass cause Steve was a pu$$y!

Aside from that, I will force myself to beat any crap game if I even paid a dollar to rent it! But I don't buy a lot of games, maybe five or six a year!

[AngryTypingGuy]

I know that I'm in the minority. I tend to buy a game and play for the most part that game only until I beat it. I beat almost every game that I start.

[40cal]

From you list that I have finished.

Batman AA, SoTC, MGS4, GoW3, three of them more than once.

One game series that I have never completed everything in the game is the Gran Tursimo series. So much content.

[Kurt Russell]

I am an Achievement whore, I have beat most games in my collection. Only games off the top of my head I failed to finish are Metro 2033 and Overlord.

[jeseth]

The games are so easy its like they walk you by the hand all the way through.

Games have become pathetically easy, and for that reason I could see how some gamers can quickly lose interest in games.

For example, right now I'm playing Enslaved. The game is beautiful, the story is great, but Enslaved is incredibly easy. Platforming is a joke . . . and the enemies (so far, I'm in Chapter8} are very easy/ This is a great game IMO but if you are a gamer that doesn't fall in love with the setting/story then I could see giving up on the game.

Double edged sword I guess.

[AntoineDcoolette]

Only 40% of people finished AC2. what a shame. I've finished the majority of my PS3 games but haven't really put more than a few hours into DA:O and Sacred 2 or a few minutes into Sonic Unleashed >_>

[Longrod_Von_Hugendon]

"I always try to finish games, but that means I tend to ignore multiplayer"

gamers would rather play with friends/other gamers than play by themselves. we need more co-op modes.

[NoBias]

I wouldn't say it has anything to do with short attention spans. It's just that some gamers are more competitive in the way they like to play games. There's no right or wrong way.

I'm definitely more of a competitive gamer. I like a good SP campaign but I like testing my skills against humans more so than AI. It's that awesome feeling of learning and improving. No different than people who like to play sports. Granted, no you're not running around building up a sweat but there's still the same competitive drive/itch.

[zireno]

well I can as long as the game is good, the only games I don't finish are the ones that just bore me to death like final fantasy XIII.

[tplarkin7]

There are those that buy gadgets and games, simply to own them. They don't actually use them for more than 5 minutes.

[Graey]

that would be me with my games. I have Batman, Mgs4, Gow3, Reach, transformers, red dead, call of jaurez, bioshock 2, uncharted 1/2, demon souls, infamous, bbc2, resonance of fate...lol those are just teh ones i can see while typing.

my problem is i have to many games and less time. or rather I buy the games then play for a bit and my attention span goes to something else. honestly it goes to WOW haha...but i have every intention of going back to finish them all. I have them in the order I want to finish them, so that I can finish the ones I'm more along in than the ones I just started for say 5mins.

Assassins Creed 2 was honestly more of the same from the first game. just was to boring for me. Stopped and sold it or threw it away or gave it away...something.

[tacosRcool]

I always finish the singleplayer if I can. There are few games that I haven't finished the singleplayer and one of them is Silent Hill 4. That game scares the begeezus out of me

[Shackdaddy836]

Only two...

Dead Rising and Dead Space.

I didnt finish DR cus I kept forgettin g to save and it pissed me off.

I didnt finish DS(although I still want to) cus it scared the piss outta me. I would get so paranoid to the point that it would take 10mins to walk to the other side of the room. I also dont play horror games that much so Im really bad at them...

[Jaces]

Most every game I play I beat, except for a few rare occasions where my interest just isn't kept or I don't have time:

P3
FFXIII (Booooring!)
Ninja Gaiden 1 & 2
FEAR 2
FarCry 2
Battlefield Bad Company
Folklore
Legend of Dragoon (Lost the freaking 4th disc!)

Other than that I tend to finish through whatever game I buy. It is a shame that multiplayer is becoming the new thing as where the campaign is completely ignored, shame.

[No Way]

I agree with you, I always try to finish single player.
Although, that does get put off if I don't finish and I get a new game.
But, I'll go back and finish at a later time if I liked the game.
But, yeah.. that could be a reason why the likes of CoD have a short campaign.

I love multiplayer games. But, I would prefer a long campaign. Co-op even better!

[avengers1978]

I finish games, all the damn time, even bad games.
But then again I'm Hardcore gamer 4 life.

[eggbert]

the gameplay was repetitive, and the storyline sucked. Fighting in that game is boring. AC2 looks like the same gameplay so I just completely passed on it.

[deadreckoning666]

AC2 IMO isn't worth full price because it gets boring after you beat the game. The main story is incredible though.

@iHEARTboobs- It was fun for a good while..but when I realized that there wasn't much to do but to collect feathers, I sold it.

[iHEARTboobs]

Never finished AC1 either. Bought the second because it was supposed to be better and so far it is. Some things get repetitive but it's so far a fun game.

[John-117]

Boobs heart me

[Persistantthug]

AC2 was a lot better than the first...

You should try it eggbert.

[Redempteur]

Agreed AC2 is quite good despite the flaws
i did 94% of the trophies of this game .it was a pleasant expérience

[bangoskank]

AC2 started off great but I lost interest halfway through. Just got a bit boring and some of the bugs made it frustrating.

[No Way]

Really? You though AC1 story sucked? I liked it..
Though, I'm not sure which story was actually better.
They are both pretty kickass stories, if you ask me..

@deadreckoning666 -
That is true, although I think it's still fun to run around and kill people.
Did you do all the 'pigeon cage' missions, as well? There seemed to be a lot.

[vhero]

Most players dont finishing with games these days because devs concentrate too much on multiplayer meaning single player gaming gets the raw deal, and we see shoddy storys and linear gameplay which is too boring to finish.

[ape007]

well said 1-UP

I still havn't played in new single player this generation that have the same impact as call of duty 4

black ops mp will sure OWN but the player will mostely be good but not mindblowing as part 4

[Myst]

I don't see why those few didn't change their weapons in Fable 2. I'm always curious to see how it's designed and how much damage it would deal, but I'm guessing those few didn't want to/didn't need to for their own fights.

[fossilfern]

Theres a good few games I haven't finished like Darksiders, iv had it since it came out and iv hardly played any of it. but i have a long list of games to finish :D

[MGRogue2017]

I finished both the first & second Assassin's Creed games.. I also own the GOTY edition of AC2 & currently making my way through the included DLC which is quite fun.

I will definately be getting Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. Also, I love Ezio's & Altair's walking animations.. They look like BadAsses. :P

[Octo1]

My 13 platinum trophies beg to differ :)

[whitesoxfalife]

I AGREE MY 30,000+ SAYS HELLO... killed AC1-2 with an 805/900 gamerscore for both

[A Cupcake for Gabe]

I only have 4 plats but AC2 is one of them. Played the first one and thought it was Meh and repetitive, but AC2 is outstandingly fun and immersive. So kudos to a sequel with a boost in creativity and originality over the first one.

[Hades1337]

The story got me through AC1, but I really enjoyed AC2. Can't wait for ACB.

[Optical_Matrix]

Depends on the game. There are many games I have and haven't finished simply due to time constraints. But I try my best. Especially now I'm a full time student at University, it's going to be harder. Where as God of War III, Uncharted 2 and MGS4, I literally played nothing else for the weeks they launched until I finished them, with other games like Pokemon Heart Gold and Killzone 2, I took breaks to play other games but finished them when I could. Problem these days is that there are too many games coming out. And I'm one of the types of people that likes to buy games at launch to keep on top of things.

[Kingdom Come]

I just didn't feel compelled to, I felt slightly disappointed that the game had little improvements in comparison to the first game, whilst still great, I had already also seen the ending due to some dumb ass on a forum (Not N4G). I do plan to return to the game soon before the release of Assassins Creed 3 however I am not getting Brotherhood as I played the Beta and found it incredibly "Tacked On" title worthy...

[Orionsangel]

I like Assassin's Creed II, but after a while. I just lost interest and I keep saying to myself, I'll get back to it. The game just feels too complicated. I like games that take me by the hand and guide me to my next mission. Most of the time I don't know what to do next in ACII.

That being said, I've finished plenty of games in recent years. Bioshock, ACI, Gears1&2, Fable III, GOWIII, Heavy Rain, RDR. I didn't beat Star Wars the Force Unleashed. It's again another type of game where I lose interest and it gets shelved and don't even ask about FFXIII. I sold it. It was way too slow going and hard for my taste.

[Tex117]

Are you being sarcastic?

[danielle007]

They really could not hand feed you more. The quests are always displayed on the map, and you can even set a waypoint, so you run straight to it.

[BornToKill]

some games suck.

i finished ac2 cause it's awesome.

[TwistedMetal]

to many people like to blabber at the mouth about games and then dont even finish games. people say oh single player is short im not getting the game even though i probably wont be able to finish lol. Or oh this game only has online so lets bash warhawk because i wanted a single player that I cant finish.

Then people talked about omg x360 has achievements so we can get more out of our games that we dont even play or finish. How about people who dont finish games or get all the platinums and achievements in games just stfu for real. You have no right to bash anything because half the time your probably watching movies and netflix and half of you morons are paying for access to that crap on x360 when you can get the better ps3 for superior blueray movies, netflix, 3d, dvd, downloadable movie store, hulu, etc with free access to everything. If your doing non gaming things on your x360 you fail because its better on the ps3 and more quality as well.

watchnig movies on a shitty pay service toy x360 with no blueray on a freaking hdtv. gtfo with that.

[thor]

Well said.

[jjank11]

Right on. I love my PS3. With the latest update to Netflix on the PS3 and the complete bargain that is PS+, I'll find myself using my 360 much less. I only really use it for Halo, and other FPS games like Bad Company 2 and the occasional COD because most of my friends play those games or only own a 360.

Although, it is still kind of sad that some games are still just being ported to the PS3 (i.e. Bayonetta)

[big_silky]

you almost had a good point until your typical ps3 fanboy anti-360 ocd kicked in. seek help for your mental illness.

[gamer8179]

Why don't you list some things that are better on the ps3 thats non gaming related? All I can think of is blu-ray. You sound like a retard

[Scotland-The-Brave]

PS3 supports 7.1 surround sound, plays nearly all media types. Its totally better at media capabilities. If someone else could help me i cant remember lol.

[Oner]

TwistedMetal already said

Blu-ray
Netflix
3D
Hulu
Free Access

But to add some more (which you asked for gamer8179) how about these ~

Web Browsing
Media Streaming for PC & PSP
Folding@Home
VidZone/Mubi
PlayTV
Etc...

Hope that helps your misinformed "understanding" gamer8179...

[No Way]

I have a computer for browsing. If they make it for use during gameplay..
Then I'll give em credit, for that. But, not during gameplay? Fagettaboutit.
X360 has media streaming too, what's your point? Alright, next!
I'm not sure what folding@home does for you, but have fun with that.
And, iduno what the other two are, so I can't comment on those two.

X360 has some features that PS3 does not.
And, there will be even more with next update.

[Oner]

First off ~ you should mind your business. My comment was directed @ "Gamer"8179...and it's point was made perfectly clear...but I can answer yours as well, since you are simply trying to put something down based of YOUR opinion...not facts as I posted. Now, onto those facts ~

Just because something is not enticing to YOU does not mean they are not for others. That is FACT #1

Fact #2 I said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the Xbox 360 in my post so I am not getting into an ignorant & immature fanboy "discussion. So I will stick to what I said and only comment on things pertaining to it. If you do not know what features are available on the PS3 then that is YOUR own fault.

Fact #3...actually I don't even want to be bothered with this. I said what I felt I had to and made my point abundantly clear.

[antz1104]

Agreed w/ big_silky. It was a valid point (to some degree) until you shat out all the anti xbox garbage. At least that rage rant came out online, and not in a church, library, ect.

Oh and I'd love to see the "at least 20" games you've got 100% on.

[No Way]

You got one bubble.. I think that's a hint. Take it.

"stfu for real."

[TANUKI]

I'm... actually guilty of this. But, most of the games I haven't finished are older ones (PS2, Gamecube, etc).

Sadly though, my list of incomplete PS3 games is steadily rising, as I am buying more and more (damn release dates for being so close to one another).

[thor]

I think game companies take this the wrong way. They see "only 40% of gamers completed X game" and think "OH NO!! WE MUST MAKE OUR GAME SHORTER AND EASIER!" when in fact games are already too easy, with myriad checkpoints, difficulty settings and aids. What they need to do is make the game less boring, AND realise that 50% of "gamers" can't be bothered because they just buy games for the hell of it, play for an hour or two but rather enjoy some other hobby more.

[KonigXero]

I hate to admit it, but throughout my life as a gamer I've only finished a handful of the games I ever bought. These include Final Fantasy VIII/X, Uncharted 2 and...and...fml. lol

Hmm..this article really caught my eye. I don't know exactly why I have a tendency to not finish games, but I'm not gonna make excuses and say I lose interest or "I don't want the incredible experience to end." On the other hand, I'm not lazy either. It's just a matter of losing the flow. Not to mention, moving onto new games that catch my interest.

[jjank11]

Multiplayer is the reason I end up not finishing games. I slowly go back to older games I own and haven't finished to play through them. Also, I end up buying alot of older games that just didn't interest me as much when I was younger. But most of the big AAA titles, I'll finish them. There honestly is not enough time to enjoy multiplayer intensive games and try to play through games that have long campaigns, all while working full time.

I'm still working my way through AC1

[ape007]

multiplayer waste a lot of time, sometimes you feel bad about it

[ExitToExisT]

The only game i did not finish this gen is ; Bionic commando

[OhMyGandhi]

if you haven't completed assassin's creed 2, please log out of n4g, or simply x out the window and get on the console of choice, find a nice comfortable spot, grab a beverage or something to snack on, and get playing.

oddly enough, as someone who didn't care for the first assassin's creed, the second one blew me away. one of my favorite games to come out this generation.

here are a few games I've yet to finish.

1) bioshock 2
2) halo 2
3) Black
4) Wolfenstein (the new one)

my issue was time, because I rented bioshock 2 and wolfenstein (which I thought was a rather fun game, I know, I am evil and insane for liking it). I can't
find my AV cord for my original xbox for black, and I played halo 2 online, and just never bothered with completing the single player.

[Yangus]

I finished Quantum Theory....GOTY.

[pixelsword]

I'll take your word for it.

[Frenza]

One of the two games I got platinum in.

[Tzuno]

Only noobs don't finish games shame on you Xbox 360 magazine because you called the noobs gamers. The real gamers always GAME.

[NewsForSnowflakes]

My girlfriend has even finished Assassin's Creed 2.

[TheColbertinator]

Who? Rinoa?

[XabiTheHumble]

I have finished every game I have bought this gen except ff13.

[Simco876]

Me too Ken... just can't finish that bore of a title (Final Fantasy XIII)

[Octo1]

The Saboteur was a pain in the ass to Platinum. Looking at those free play mission dots on the map was dizzying.

[Bradeh]

I've finished every game i own, but i make sure i only buy good games. I wouldn't stress to complete a bad game. AC2 was awesome though.

[ksense]

well the only games I finished right away once i started playing are mgs4, resistance2 and uncharted 1/2. I would have finished god of war 3 if i had not played the gow collection like nonstop the month before because by the time i got to 3 i was drained out of god of war lol. since i game mostly on my pc and everytime i get on and i see friends i just jump into a multiplayer game with them and rarely have time to go back and play ps3/360 games and have the urge to finish single player games. i recently finished gta4 on my pc lol. Killzone 2 played for an hour and stopped playing. conviction i played for an hour and i stopped playing. assassins creed the same. i dont know they just got boring real quick. i need a story that will make me want to keep playing and find out what will happen next.

[ministryx]

I have a gamertag of 30877, and I always try to or beat games to 100%. I just hate games that are short. Vanquish,Mafia II. URRGGGGGGGGGGH.

[blackburn5]

Some people just take longer to finish games then others. For instance I know people who will buy a game and play it all day into the dead of night and finish it and claim to was too short but others who have less time on their hands play the game over in short bursts and eventually finish it and get the most out of it. Sometimes people who play games have other things to do then sit and play games endlessly until they are finished. I haven't finished MS2 yet but it's not because I don't want too, but can't find the time

[gypsygib]

I finish all the games I keep (which is 90%) - if a game doesn't motivate me to finish it then I trade it in. Why keep a game I don't want to play.

[hesido]

This is worrying. This means we'll get shorter and shorter games. Why work on an epic ending at the 10th hour of play if 60% of people who play your game don't even bother the effing finish the game? Make your game 4 hours, and people who see your ending will be much more, and you'd have to work much less.

Damn.

[Moentjers]

As the average age of gamers will drop on the 360 after the kinect launch, even less games will be finished.

[DARK WITNESS]

I finish nearly all my games, the only time I don't is when I feel what I paid for it is not = the value in fun factor I am getting, so the first thing I want to do is trade it in to get Max money back for it.

If I really like a game then I will go out of my way to finish it and get achievements etc.

[wedgie]

This is unfortunate IMO. I always finish my games-mostly because I spent the money to pay for them. For me, I have always liked a good plot driven game. Hence, why UC1/2, Assassins Creed 1/2, RDR, Infamous, Batman AA, Dragon Age, and a number of other games I own are my favorites. The plot keeps me interested and wanting to play through to the end.

Even games I just rent, I mostly rent them for the plot (Force Unleashed, played my buddy's 360 for Gears and Halo).

I do enjoy a quick COD match or something every once in a while, but for me, the drive to play games has always been good gameplay and plot.

This is unfortunate because I would like games to get a little bit longer, not shorter. I hope that these results are not misinterpreted by developers (COD's 4 hour campaign was a bit ridiculous).

And that is also why I am not the biggest fan of sports games lol

[256bit]

i still need

NOCTURNE
DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA 1 & 2
SHADOW HEARTS 2 & 3
BAROQUE

i put ps2jrpgs to rest for a bit till i beat ATELIER RORONA

[sickbird]

i've heard of ONE of those games you mentioned haha.

[AKS]

I wonder what percentage finish Demon's Souls.

[Tex117]

I never finished BattleToads...Never will.

[Da_Evil_Monkey]

not to 100% e.g. max trophies/achievments but I do complete the main story and in the case of open world games/RPGs any side missions I have been given during my playthrough. I even completed the single player in games such as CoD, BC2, KZ2 and AvP before I touched multiplayer. I don't see the point of buying a game and not finishing at least the main story, the only game I have not finished that I'm no longer playing is Farcry 2 because it just got so boring.

[artsaber]

I guess Games like Heavenly Sword was a good length. People complain about it, but for the masses of ADD gamers out there it would be perfect. But I prefer a meaty campaign, and I dislike speed runs. Game casually with enthusiasm I say.

[outlawlife]

a lot of games get boring these days

you want us to finish a game then make one that is actually engaging, it is very frustrating when you see everything a game has to offer in a few minutes and then you spent hours rehashing what you already have done

[Sidology]

That is because Assassin's Creed II sucked.

Admittedly, my Pile of Shame is huge — probably over 50 games, but to be fair, they're mostly JRPGs and I just don't have the time to invest.

[Dark_Overlord]

an alarming number of increasing game killing bugs in games?

Playing Deathspank ToV and I already know of 2 common game killing bugs that make the game unfinishable, and who can forget ANYTHING that Bethesda release :/

I know theres lots more, but don't think i'd have time to list them all lol

[djfullshred]

I agree with the author that "finishing" a game like Assasin's Creed 2 can be interpreted differently by different players. I did all the main missions, all the puzzles, most side missions, but not the assasin missions. I felt like I was waaaay finsished by the time I stopped playing. I appreciate all the hard work they did in cramming that game so full of stuff to do though.

[clarkdef]

I found ass2 to be a very boring experience, I am playing Demon's souls right now its freakin amazing!

[SpinalRemains138]

I have to laugh at the guys who keep repeating this ever-present "I have no time" mantra. All the while they continue to have ample time for N4G posting. Just admit that you don't like finishing games. Fat people say the same thing about exersize, and they're full of baloney too. If you want to do something, you make time. End of story.

[WLPowell]

but I have a friend (as someone said earlier) just buys games for the sake of buying. He still hasn't beat God of War 3 or Heavy Rain. I told him one dedicated saturday and you will.

[sickbird]

i try to finish most of my games. If the game is really good ill play it till i beat it. Sometimes ill get like 60% into a game and get bored, put it down for a while then come back and beat it sometime down the road. Im currently finishing up Resistance 2.
there are games i play for a couple hours then never play again, The Darkness, FarCry 2, BioShock ( i know shocker ) Fallout 3...

[firefoxprime]

Megaman Legends 1...
StarWars BF2
Hulk: U.Destruction
Pokemon Soulsilver
Rogue Galaxy
Ultimate Spiderman