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me_mantis

Joined: 26 September 2003
Posts: 1152
24 April 2012 19:52 (UK time)

Generally, it's not fun if you can always blow everything up instantly.. and it's not fun if it's nearly impossible.

It's not fun if it's too complex.. but some simple games are really great.

So what do y'all think makes games fun?

I think it's a combo of story, ability to be creative (and think you're outsmartin' the game) while still having enough time to pull off all your cool tactics before the game is over - but not too much time to make it all boring.

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nyasudah
 Official Sponsor

Joined: 06 February 2005
Posts: 832
25 April 2012 05:23 (UK time)

some older opinions :p
http://jbserver.com/forums/ThreadView.asp?ForumId=1&TopicId=24&ThreadId=458
http://jbserver.com/forums/ThreadView.asp?ForumId=1&TopicId=45&ThreadId=1876
http://jbserver.com/forums/ThreadView.asp?ForumId=1&TopicId=24&ThreadId=1093
nyasudah / masuda / mp / PetiX / PtX


Edited: 25 April 2012 05:24


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40oz
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Joined: 03 January 2004
Posts: 1799
25 April 2012 20:46 (UK time)

It has a lot to do with the player being able to do the things the he/she would want to. It also includes a system of rewarding the player for doing things that you (the modder or level designer) want them to do, and punishing them (for lack of a better word) for doing the things you don't want them to do.

For example, in Meteor, you might need to kill all the enemies in a building in order to get the swipe card inside of it so that you can access the exit room. There's a bit of work involved with that, but the reward is getting access to more places to explore, and completing the level, which brings you a step closer to completing the game.

You also receive damage from enemies if you're not careful enough to kill them, and if you die, you are "punished" per se, by having to start the level from the beginning or where you last saved.

But more importantly, allowing the player to have the freedom to do what he or she wants is what players are looking for, but also with enough guidance to demonstrate the things they might not know they are capable of doing.
*Papercut
Pro-Murder.
Legalize Crime.


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arezey

Joined: 16 June 2005
Posts: 1599
25 April 2012 22:52 (UK time)

o'dear it's papercut, long time no see!

I think that not only the player should have enough freedom to do what they want to do, they also should have enough resources to do that.

Doom II, for instance, gives the player the weapons pretty quickly into the game. The plasma rifle can be acquired from map05 in a secret, the BFG earliest at map08 in a secret and first time in map10 in a regular alcove. The player gets all the weapons before a third has been played! What I'm saying is, it gets a bit boring to kill all enemies with the minigun rather than with different weapons. :p

Though that may be a bit extreme, because then, that's all the weapons you'll be getting for the rest of the game. But that can be compensated with other means, like new, stronger enemies, maps with interesting gameplay and stuff like that. Doom II has a lot of the latter form, which makes it so unique to me!

With proper environment usage, "dynamic space" as it's called by some, you can make it feel that the player is playing not only against the enemies, but against the map, reaching to its exit to beat it. Some areas being more neutral (or even friendly), some being more hostile creates variety. Variety is key to everything.

just my $.02

Edited: 25 April 2012 23:08


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me_mantis

Joined: 26 September 2003
Posts: 1152
27 April 2012 00:36 (UK time)

Yeah, So I did start this same thread 8 years ago... lol
It's still a great question, and it's fun to see what people think years and years later.

I really like the idea of the dynamic maps where there are friendly and unfriendly parts of the maps... not just static maps.

I think it's fun when you get really good weapons early on, it would probably be even cooler if the game reacted to you picking 'em up, so it actually made 'em harder, or not as useful =)

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Archie

Joined: 13 March 2010
Posts: 72
29 April 2012 11:17 (UK time)

Enemies.










For FPS, it is imo important that there is alot of other stuff to do than just shooting monsters. There could be puzzles (LOL HEXEN) and jumping. Secrets with references can light the game up a bit.
SPOILER ---> http://tinyurl.com/crqa76e

Some funny things like terrorists that yell "UIIUUIII" may get people around to play.

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