Smashing Time Wasters
I’ve been playing Hulk: Ultimate Destruction for my xbox the last week or so. And I want to like the game. I really do. But there’s something that has been keeping me from truly enjoying it: repetitive missions.
I can’t stand to repeat things.
Especially in games.
I have a limited amount of time in my life to play video games. Work, friends, projects, and writing take up a huge percentage of time I used to devote to gaming. Because of that I have to be selective with my time. And that means avoiding games where you have to play through the same level multiple times.
If I want a feeling of accomplishing nothing, I’ll go to work. (Kidding.)
But in a way that’s true. Our “normal” lives are filled with repetition. Feeding the dog, taking out the garbage, eating a sandwich for lunch every day. Whatever your routine is, it’s repetitive. And that serves an important function.
The problem is that it’s not fun. Repetitiveness is designed to produce stability and predictability - not excitement and thrill. So why are these elements added to our video games?
I don’t find chasing after the same fast truck 15 times all that enjoyable. Sure it may make the game more difficult. But is that really the goal? Should games be hard or fun? Why are they even in competition?
Well I think you no my answer to that one, so I won’t repeat myself.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Now you’ve got me thinking (very dangerous!) There are some certain types of repetitive gameplay that can be engaging and successful, too. I’m thinking here of Diablo, Monster’s Den, etc. Where the ‘grind’ or the basic gameplay could be construed as highly repetitive, but because of the frequent drops/rewards also not boring. Hmm…I think there’s a post for later in the week brewing in my mind…now you’ve got me thinking!
June 25th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Excellent! Nothing like seeing new ideas off of old ones.
In those cases the game play is repetative in mechanics, but not in entertainment/design. There is a reward for the more time you invest in the behavior.
For the Hulk all you get for your 30 minutes of chasing a truck is to do it again.