Making A First Impression In Video Games: 30 Minutes Or Else

Chris Buffa (Modojo): "[Insert game title here] gets really good ten hours in."

I see this on message boards and comments sections, mostly in reference to Japanese role-playing games, and it sounds ridiculous every time. Ten hours of my life wasted playing total garbage until that magical moment around the 10:01 mark, when this atrocious experience transitions to an epiphany. Ah yes, there it is. $59.99 well spent.

[sarshelyam]

I don't agree with the following line;

"Like any form of entertainment, consumers spend too much time justifying their bad purchases."

That's a generalization, and truly some games do master the art of story-telling and progressive development. However, I can certainly relate to the entirety of the article as it outlines a very real issue for me.

I'm married, two children and a full-time career that marks my time as a valuable asset. I simply do not have the time for most games that require such progressive evolution, I need instant gratification to justify the hours well spent. I love my RPG's, so this may seem like something of an issue for someone with limited time, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning & Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (or any other in the series), nail this aspect I require. While the story may have aspects of slow-build progression, each of those games start off on a high note, dump you right into a very accessible interface, and expand the more you explore...and only at your pace.

Titles like Final Fantasy require a far larger commitment from their fans and, as a result, those are the first titles to get shelved these days. I still enjoy them, but I can't be bothered with them if I only have a half hour here, an hour there, so-on & so-forth.

So for that, Mr. Buffa, you have both my attention and my approval. Why has this been such a taboo subject? Why is it that nobody, in the professional capacity, has hit this point yet in such a way that justifies the logic? Well done!

[NeoTribe]

With all do respect if u only have a half hour here or there how in gods name is skyrim good for u? I've spend 6 hours straight feeling like I've accomplished nothing lol.

[sarshelyam]

Because I have focus? Certainly, I have times where I can dump plenty more time. However, when I have 30 minutes (which is a generalization), I'm not generally playing Skyrim...I adapt my outlet based on my time.

That said, I've dropped into Skyrim with only a brief window of time I've been given, and I can successfully complete 1-2 side-quests or a main mission within that time, and be completely satisfied.

The problem with most gamers and Elder Scrolls, is time and mission management. If you aren't making a game-plan, you're simply exploring. If you're exploring, well, there's no attachment to a time limit. 10 minutes in, you haven't lost anything, if anything you've likely discovered new locations.

I think, however, the point is that in 30 minutes of playing a new game, if you haven't found your footing or, perhaps, solidified the experience...the likelihood of enjoying it further is a mysterious mark beyond your control. Are you in control of this experience, or is it controlling you?

[madjedi]

Right because you experience everything a game has to offer in the first 10 minutes. -_-

With this narrow minded viewpoint, don't play anything other than mindless shooters/button mashers, sounds like the same type of person(author) who is offended if he is required to think to solve a problem.

[Hicken]

Exactly.

Hell, he'd never stick around for a game like DC Universe: as enjoyable as it might be, it doesn't get "really good" until you hit level 30, which is gonna take you FAR MORE than 30 minutes.

Some games- especially JRPGS- can take a while to get going. It may not be TEN hours in, but three or four, as the story gets going and the pieces start falling into place, or even being revealed at all. The first few hours you spend in Midgar are okay, but it isn't until you're getting chased out of the city that things start getting good. Legend of Dragoon- my number 1- is just an alright game for the first few hours.

It's silly to propose any time limit on ANY game in ANY genre, as it could well be the last hour you play that pushes it over the edge and truly makes it worth the money you spent.

Granted, if the game flat-out sucks, that's one thing. But most of the games where someone says "X amount of time is where it really gets going" are already decent, or just slightly below average. At that point, why NOT give it until the specified time? Moreover, if you've already spent your money, what's a few more hours of gaming gonna hurt? Not like you can get your money back.