How long is long enough?

Buro Destruct · Jun 4, 2004

So, I'm watching G4TV.com the other day.

By the way this show is fucking retarded as are the two fucking brainless dykes and the lispy faggot that host it. The callers and their forums have the intelligence of GameFAQS.

MAYBE, if I want to be generous.

However, they did have a pretty interesting topic on about "How long is long enough?" as far as games are concerned. The general consensus seemed to be 10-12 hours, but I noticed a severe lack of discussion/support from RPG or shmup fans, both groups being on opposite ends of the spectrum. They did a pretty interesting breakdown of other forms of entertainment, and came to a "by hour" fee.

Games - avg $50/10 hours playtime =$5 an hour
Books - avg $25/15 hour reading time= $1.67 an hour
Movies - avg $8/2 hour film = $4 an hour
Theme Park - avg $50/10 hours= $5 an hour

Anyway, I was hoping for some more INTELLECTUAL discussion about the length of games. Personally 12+ hours is a bit much for me, as I like games to are easy to pick up and play, rather than getting engrossed for hours at a time. There was one caller on that shit show that said games should be long regardless of how good or bad they are. Obviously he's got no life, job, or a girlfriend.

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 4, 2004

Then again, how do you judge replay value?

You cannot place a timeframe on Sports/Fighting/Racing games, so where do they stand?

Mike Shagohod · Jun 4, 2004

Don't care/ Depends on the game.

TattooCow · Jun 4, 2004

I love those long endless RPGs and stuffs like GTA that you can take your own sweet time to play.

Splinter Cell and MGS are just nice.

MVC2 is too long for fighting game for me.

But seriously, it really depends and I think its pointless to measure the length of video game....... its just not meant to be measured.

Magician · Jun 4, 2004

Shooter = 1 hr
FPS = 10-12 hrs
Fighter = NA (round system)
RPG = 35+ hrs
Action/RPG = 6-10 hrs
Beat'em up = 1 & 1/2 hrs
Puzzle = NA (round system)
Strategy = 20+ hrs
Third-Person Shooter = 6-10 hrs
Adventure = 15 hrs
Racing = 15+ hrs
Simulation = NA (varies)

...too many genres, I know I missed a few.

Buro Destruct · Jun 4, 2004

DARK_ANDY said:
Then again, how do you judge replay value?

You cannot place a timeframe on Sports/Fighting/Racing games, so where do they stand?

They spoke about that too. Games like Madden have well over 100s of hours of gameplay in them, only because there's one Madden game a year. Its just an interesting topic I think. Sports games can't really fall into this categorization simply because you can't really "beat" a sports game. Their debate mostly hinged around how long it takes for you to start and finish a game.

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 4, 2004

Buro Destruct said:
They spoke about that too. Games like Madden have well over 100s of hours of gameplay in them, only because there's one Madden game a year. Its just an interesting topic I think. Sports games can't really fall into this categorization simply because you can't really "beat" a sports game. Their debate mostly hinged around how long it takes for you to start and finish a game.

Well then wouldn't THEY categorize Fighting Games at 15 Minutes? I mean, that's about how much it take for an average Fighting Game to beat all opponents and the final boss...

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 4, 2004

Magician said:
FPS = 10-12 hrs
Racing = 15+ hrs

For FPS, there is the Infinite Deathmatch mode, and I would rate Racing Games themselves just like the Sports game, as Endless.

Buro Destruct · Jun 4, 2004

DARK_ANDY said:
Well then wouldn't THEY categorize Fighting Games at 15 Minutes? I mean, that's about how much it take for an average Fighting Game to beat all opponents and the final boss...

Probably, I don't know. Like I said the show is a total garbage dump, they didn't really speak about that. Its just a general question about how long you like your games to be. I know I probably haven't logged more than 20 hours in most fighting games. I certianly haven't logged that much time in most shmups.

Magician · Jun 4, 2004

DARK_ANDY said:
For FPS, there is the Infinite Deathmatch mode, and I would rate Racing Games themselves just like the Sports game, as Endless.

Makes sense to me. I was just refering to the single player aspect to each genre and not their endless multiplayer replay value.

Hey, whatever it takes to make a great game last longer...is always a plus.

Nash · Jun 4, 2004

it depends on the game for me. i usually count play time only on the first run through.

FPS - at least 10 hours
RPG - at least 30 hours
adventure - at least 15 hours
action adventure - at least 10 hours
action/shooter - at least 30 minutes

those are the main ones for me. i base the amount of time on how much enjoyment the game could give without becoming tedious or boring.

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 4, 2004

scanlines mom told me 6 inches is long enough

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 4, 2004

DashK said:
scanlines mom told me 6 inches is long enough

Yes!

What's her Phone #?

RabbitTroop · Jun 4, 2004

WTF book costs $25. Almost every book I buy is around $9-12... unless we are talking hardcovers... well that's another story, but I like paperbacks (guess I am the MVS of the book world as well). Anyway, games for me are max one to two hours... That is for most, something I love, on the other hand, will get played over and over for a very long period of time. Usually, though, I only play in sparatic bursts (I haven't even turned on a game system or fired up a ROM in months.) So... perhaps I am not like most people on this site, but my utility/cost ratio is too high with games.

-Nick

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 4, 2004

He's talking about the Best Seller books, which are even in Paperback at least $30 Cdn.

When a book is fresh off the press, it's very expensive.

GoSpits · Jun 4, 2004

Depends on the game.
If I'm playing a shmup, it better be a short but sweet exhilarating blast-fest. I don't want to sit there for 12 hours whereas if I'm playing an action game, six hours makes me feel like I was ripped off.
An RPG can be a 50 hour Square game, with 5-10 of it being cinemas and another 20 being sidequests or it can be a 20-80 Elder Scrolls romp where you choose the path.
Sports games are an exception, of course, as they don't really have a set length.

Some games feel like they were cut short, some feel like they were extended at the last minute due to pressure from the higher-ups and some feel just right.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that the individual game should be the deciding factor, not the genre.

Buro Destruct · Jun 4, 2004

DashK said:
scanlines mom told me 6 inches is long enough

Get the fuck out of my thread, shitbrain.

galfordo76 · Jun 5, 2004

If it's a good game - then up to 35-40 hours is good. Anything too far over that gets a little annoying IMO. I don't really pay attention to the length of a game, honestly - unless it sucks, in which case it doesn't really matter how long it is anyway.

Moon Jump · Jun 5, 2004

I don't care. I bet half these people who make these arguments never played games on the old 2Bit systems. Nobody cared about how long a game was.

I hate these people that think the only way a game is worth your money is if it's going to last you more then ten hours. If it's a fun game and it's short it's always fine to just jump back in and play it again.

People bitched about how Rez was shorter then an hour, but I must have played the game all the way through at least six times. People that judge games based on how long they are, are stupid in my opinion. Just play them and have fun.

tsukaesugi · Jun 5, 2004

galfordo76 said:
I can't believe I actually supported the Republican party for as long as I did... what an ass I was. I'm sorry N-G.com. Really.

???

tsukaesugi · Jun 5, 2004

Replay value is a big factor too though.

Whereas most people don't reread books, or don't go to see the same movie again in the movie theater, most gamers will clear a game several times.

chris1 · Jun 5, 2004

Don't care/ Depends on the game ............

galfordo76 · Jun 5, 2004

tsukaesugi said:
???

Try to hold yourself off of my cock for more than 15 seconds. kthxbye.

Real Bout Maniac · Jun 5, 2004

DARK_ANDY said:
He's talking about the Best Seller books, which are even in Paperback at least $30 Cdn.

When a book is fresh off the press, it's very expensive.

Yup.

But then again, who takes 15 hours to finish a fucking book!? :eek_2:

Then again, judging by the mentality of most of the G4TV players, maybe it does take them that long... :oh_no:

Back to the games though, I agree with others that it all depends. And hell, if I'm having fun with the game I don't care how long it takes, just so long as I'm enjoying it.

RAINBOW PONY · Jun 5, 2004

Maybe they were talking about porno mags, as they could be considered Best Sellers next to other Mags.

How long is long enough?

How long is long enough?

0-10 hours

10-15 hours

15-30 hours

30+ hours

Don't care/ Depends on the game

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