Will Short Games Spell Doom For PSVR?

Like it or not, size does matter. And so far, the PSVR's lineup has been a frustrating case of style over substance. Can Sony turn things around and make the hardware a success?

[derkasan]

I think the shorter length of some of these games might suit the platform well.

[dead_pixels]

So long as the price of the software reflects as much. Crytek slapping a $60 price tag on Robinson, a three hour game, could set a lousy precedent. Still, at least Amazon has it priced $20 cheaper ahead of release.

[Utalkin2me]

I totally agree. You can have a great experience with a 3 hour VR game. But the price will have to reflect that.

[morganfell]

I don't think short games spell doom. It is consumer acceptance related. But if PSVR doesn't make it then all of VR dies.

[Petebloodyonion]

In my opinion the PSVr should put the Focus on game like Until Dawn, rail shooters, Arcade racers and similar light games with prices tags around 20$.
The share the experience with your friends could spark interest for VR and would separate the type of game of PS4 from PSVR giving it a distinctive personality.

[EverydayJoe]

A lot of reviews gave Arkham a hard time for being a short experience, but to be honest, after playing thru it twice, and then jumping around grabbing all the riddles, I certainly felt like I got my moneys worth out of it.

With Robinson being 3-5 hours even if that is doing all that can be done is ok by me (got in on the amazon pricing with prime at $31 and change). The way I see it, paying ten dollars per hour to be entertained is totally acceptable. Most Blu-ray movies are $24 bucks and up for a 2-3 hours I don't see much difference between the two forms of entertainment in terms of price per hour.

[Eonjay]

Short games spells short games.... doom is spelled D O O M.

[Goldby]

hey, NO ONE LIKES A SMART ASS.

just because you finished school and aced spelling bee doesn't mean you can go and prance around bragging about it.

i learnted to reed from Sea same stret, don't see me bragging about it /s

[uth11]

If short games were a problem, the videogame industry would never have gotten off the ground in the 70s and 80s.

[dead_pixels]

Sure, but by that same token we've come to expect games where our characters are comprised of more than five pixels moving to the sound of a garbage disposal on the fritz.

As technology improves, so do does the expectation that the games we experience evolving accordingly. And when we're spending more for a peripheral than a console retails for, it's not unfair to expect lasting gaming experiences that stay with the player for longer than it takes to push out last night's bad burrito.

[uth11]

It's not about tech, it's about appeal. Fact is short but fun & replayable games have wider appeal than long games with 30, 40, 50 hour campaigns. VR needs both audiences to suceed

[Death]

@Uth,

"Short games" in the 70's and 80's were the norm. The same can't be said of games today. We do have arcade and indie games that are much shorter than their traditional console counter parts, but the MSRP reflects this. If PSVR games are priced like indies, maybe it's not an issue. If the games are priced the same as a much longer console game, less people may be interested. That is where the problems are. It's ok if you don't mind paying $60 for a couple hours of enjoyment, but if the majority don't share your enthusiasm support will die very quickly.

[uth11]

There are still plenty of short games being made,. Only we've labelled them "casual" now. But that's the thing. Long games have limited appeal to only core gamers. Many people don't have the time to invest in them. Short games with high-replayability are the best things for VR' right now if it's to have wide appeal

[Death]

"Short" games may have their place, but gamers investing $400 for PS4/Pro and an additional $400-$500 on PSVR may want to get a little more for their investment. Rigs is a great example of a short game with high replay value, but shouldn't be the only thing we see with VR.

I've never seen a short game referred to as casual though. Most just say it's a rip off unless it is really cheap. I think if you are willing to pay upwards of $60 for a couple hour game that makes you pretty hardcore.

[dead_pixels]

Well said, Death. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Plunking down 4-500 dollars for a platform that only offers the kinds of games you can finish in one sitting just doesn't seem like a great investment, and it's not hard to imagine that kind of brevity will be a huge turnoff for many gamers.

[Petebloodyonion]

The problem isn't the length of the game, it's the price you are being charge for the experience.
Probably no one would have complained about No man Sky if the game was released at a 20$ tag like similar indy games. But at 60$ then the game is lacking.

My favorite PSVR game is Rush of Blood at 20$ you do get a great value.

[Goldby]

Mine is driveclub at 20

[subtenko]

Pong woulda sealed gamings fate.

[lastking95]

Highly false top rated games are longer than 3 hours.

[trooper_]

Uh...no. Next lame article.

[stloony]

I dont see why they cannot pull new games out of the tv and be able to play them while looking at the game world in a box-like area in VR.

The box view would move when the camera changes, but the user would be able to put their head into the box and to look around. It would be in 3d and very immersive. And this could be done with any game.

I get wanting to create games for VR from scratch, but they should really try to get games already in development into a VR mode just like any game could be created to have a 3d mode. I do not need to be inside the game as a character. I am fine being on the outside looking in, if you get what I mean.

[jholden3249]

Totally agree.

Super Stardust Ultra (the modes which feature the normal game in VR), Volume, that Robot Rescue platformer from the VR Playroom, along with Allumette, and to an extent even DriveClub with its optional 3rd person perspective, has proven normal games can thrive in VR.

[Xzviur_Azai]

Just port Mafia 3's side missions to VR then... 10 out of 10 masterpiece in the waiting!

Edit -

Also MGSV & DA: Inquisition side missions as well. Repetitiveness for the win!

[FullmetalRoyale]

That's a fair point. I personally really want VR gaming to catch on, because the potential gen two is where I would consider buying into.

[_LarZen_]

Short gaming sessions is best for VR. It's not like playing a game on a TV. It's so much more mentally exhausting. But in a good way!

The sooner people stop comparing traditional games and gaming up against VR the better. It's a whole different ballpark.

[jholden3249]

Short gaming sessions might be best for you but it's certainly not best for me. I'll sit there and play for hours at a crack.

But even if you do prefer shorter gaming sessions, it doesn't mean you need shorter GAMES.

[shaenoide]

at the very begining of 3D it was all about short games and experiments. It will be better. The main problem right now is the price tag

[ArchangelMike]

The length of the game is not the problem, it's the price that is.

[Exvalos]

It's not the length, that's the problem it's the price tags, your putting a 3 hour game at 60.00, when you can buy a 300.00 hour game (witcher 3 for example) at the same price. These developers and Sony need to have these short games at no more then 40.00, 29.99 would be even better.

[Dixiedevil]

$60 games that last 3 hours will make me wait for a used copy which is exactly what I intend to do with Eve, Battlezone, and now Robinson. I'd drop $40, maybe $50...maybe...but $60? No.

[Silly gameAr]

Will gaming blogs ever stop asking dumb questions and actually start putting a little pride and quality into their work?

[Petebloodyonion]

and what's the problem with the article?
I do have a PSvr and love it but I totally agree that aside from short experiences, there's a whole lot of nothing.
The real big thing is Resident evil 7 but it's not a Vr game, it's a Vr supported game and even the dev clearly mentioned that they don't expect ppl to play the whole game in VR.
Then the next game is Farpoint with a no current date release.

[Silly gameAr]

I'm talking about these gaming blogs that always try to put a negative spin on any and everything. I know you see the articles like that popping up nonstop daily.

[xDealtwithIt]

For now it's nothing more than a novelty experience. So of course Sony would provide the get in, get out experience for PSVR.

I'm sure as the tech grows and becomes less of an add on we may see more in depth, longer games. Unless VR is a one trick pony and people start to realize there's nothing real special about it. But from the looks of it, vr seems to be taking off for now.

[Petebloodyonion]

The real truth is that no! there won't be a big offering of AAA VR games and we can expect this trend of small bit pieces demo to continue or normal game with a VR support on it.
Now before you all claim that it won't be the case well sad to say but profit is the name of the game and for a Studio to pour resources into a AAA made for VR game, well it will need a substantial player base for that.

For your info, Kinect is considered a stellar success for a add on device with about 24 millions units sold.
Can you name one AAA game made by a 3rd party designed with Kinect in mind?

So just like Kinect and Moves we can expect lots of shovelware like PSVr World, Indy Pc ports of VR games and some game like Resident Evil 7 who will have VR support (which is far from made for VR).

[jholden3249]

The thing is they don't have to invest a whole lot to support VR.

Common misconception is that it needs games built ground up, but no it doesn't. Volume, Super Stardust, DriveClub with its 3rd person perspective, Allumette... these games have proven that you should be able to take any video game, ANY video game, and simply format it for VR so that it has depth of field and you're playing it in a virtual space.

If they're developing games for the PS4 anyways, it's literally pocket change to format the game for VR. Even little one man indy teams are formatting their games for VR.

Sure, it may not be some ground up immersive experience but VR is amazing regardless of whether you're in first person or not. All they have to do is make the games VR compatible to keep the library stocked with tons of VR games to play, amd it would be all the big games which would draw so many people in!

Then, AFTER the install base fattens up, maybe they can start making full experiences built ground up or with separate modes developed specifically for VR. But it's not hard to simply have Sony push AAA developers, AA developers, heck any developers, to make a VR mode for their games it simply lets you play the vanilla game as is, but in virtual reality.

[Petebloodyonion]

And that's the problem! add support for VR or VR compatible.
Kinect had plenty of "Kinect support"
Plenty of ps3 titles had 3d Support for 3d tv
Heck how many 3ds titles are now made with 3d since the 2DS release?

You mention Driveclub, well care to tell us why Sony just didn't put a patch to the original for VR instead of making a complete new version?
Or why not make the whole Battlefont VR instead of creating us a simple Death star trenches run?
Heck We have seen FF15 XV Vr at E3 why not add the the whole Vr view to the whole game instead?
Simple reason because your easy pocket change do cost money, time and use completely different computer resources.

[jjb1981]

I think VR is best taken in short spurts. Too lengthy games might not be a good idea.

[dead_pixels]

I agree that VR is best enjoyed in short spurts. The thing is, the games themselves don't have to be short, they just have to offer enough places where you can comfortably stop and pick up from where you left off. The idea that VR games themselves need to be short for the comfort of the player doesn't make any sense when a game could be designed to tell a grand story but afford players plenty of places to save their game and dive back into the action.

I imagine Resident Evil VII will be a solid example of this in practice, as the series' abundant save rooms are pretty much the ideal place to scurry off to when you're ready to take a break.

[jholden3249]

^^^^^ This.

[jholden3249]

Surprisingly (because this was my biggest concern before buying PSVR), I found us some of the shorter titles are very well-suited for VR play.

With that said we NEED some more full length games. And not just of the multiplayer or arena gameplay type. I'm talking epic single player campaigns. Like a JRPG or any number of story driven AAA titles.

Eagle Flight and Robinson The Journey are gonna be a nice one two punch this coming Tuesday, but neither one of them are full length games.

[WelkinCole]

1 hr VR game I am fine with 9.99

3hr - 5hr VR game I am fine with 19.99

Thing is I am not sure I can last more than 1hr in VR at a time.

I think VR is perfect for episodic games.

1 -2 hrs episodic game content for between 9.99 to 14.99 depending on the quality. Like 6 hrs movie with 6 episodes over a year where you are literally in it and participating.

Best for people like me that don't have much time to play games nowdays as well.

[subtenko]

Do short games spell for doom for ps4, xbox, or nintendo, or even mobile? No? ok then....

[ninsigma]

As long as they don't keep selling for crazy prices. I believe robinson to be more expensive than it should but we'll see. It's the price not the length that could affect it. Batman arkham VR is an absolute jaw dropping experience. One of the best on psvr and it's only 20 euro. Another incredible game is thumper. This one actually offers more game time than batman and is also 20 euro. These are the games coupled with swallow-able prices that will push the platform. Eve gun jack is brilliant too and is only a tenner!

[Miacosa]

Only if the experiences are few & far between, over priced, and the quality is poor.

[svoulis]

I'd rather have 2-4 hour "Short" games for 20-30$ vs having a full 10+ hour game for $60 for VR. I have a PS VR and the most I use it at a time is like 1.5 hours and thats pushing it. Anymore than that My arms feel weird IRL. Literally my depth perception gets all distorted..its kinda cool but also kinda scary.

[C-H-E-F]

I think games like Robinson (which is my last name haha) should be no more than 20bucks. slapping 60 bucks on this game is an insult to those that just paid 399/499 for the darn console to begin with or more if they didn't have a PS4. This is crazy, games like Battlezone should be around 29/39 bucks out the gate same with rigs those experiences are worth it. There has yet to be a VR game that is worthy of 60 bucks. Equate this 60 bucks to the experience you get from games like GTA, NBA 2k, Gears, Forza, Uncharted, Until Dawn, etc. think about those FULL experiences to say that a 3 hour VR game equates to that is ridiculous and I will not be buying into games that try to say it is equatable. Not until their price is dropped accordingly. I think we all need to vote with our pockets.

[JBlaze226]

I don't see a problem as long that the cost of the games are not overpriced

[mike32UK]

Short games aren't the issue, it's the pricing of these games that causes problems.

[Tekkenfighter123]

Dang, remember the good old days when Video Games sites focused on the Positive side of gaming? Instead of this negative, complaining about nothing? VR games are excellent in short bites. But it seems like the new norm is crapping on something new for no reason. Focus on the positive. VR is freaking awesome, and ya'll just feeding the trolls and the people who never played it.