How much time do you expect out of a game?

[Feba]

Now, I mean, on average. I personally try to aim for about two bucks for every hour, so anything over around 25 hours is gravy on a $50 game. What do you consider the low end? I've heard of some FPS games that can be beaten in under 6 hours on the first playthrough, which seems downright cheap to me. On the other hand, their goal is usually to have good online content, with the story being gravy.

Also, what games have been very good values (try to keep it to current gen consoles), in that you get a lot of content; possibly at a lower price than most new titles?

Personally, RE4 and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for Wii have been great deals. I've easily gotten 60 hours out of RE4 (and I still feel like I could pick it up and play through it every now and then), and Lego Star Wars I'm up to about 40 hours and still have a TON of stuff to do. Super Mario Galaxy has been great too, although I don't really have even an estimate right now.

[DakAttack]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

I think it's about the plot, rather than time spent playing, for me. Game play takes a close second, but I really only judge whether it was worth the money based on how I feel about the game after beating it.

[Armando]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

I'm kinda with Dak. I could get a hundred hours of gameplay out of any Metroid game simply by doing the 100% challenge, minimum % challenge (beating the game with literally the bare minimum of items that'll still allow you to complete the game), and speed runs. But you could beat any Metroid game in like 10 hours.

If we limit the scope to console games, I like my RPGs to have at least 15-20 hours of gameplay. Survival/adventure games like Metroid Prime or Resident Evil, something around 10 hours on my first playthrough is fine. Fighting games are a special case, if you like them you'll play them constantly, if you don't you hardly will. I expect any sort of party/multi player game like Mario Kart to have enough depth that you can honestly say you got better at it, but also be intuitive/simple enough that any of my friends can pick it up and play, and most importantly, not get old fast.

I don't really care too much about the cost-to-gameplay hour ratio because I only buy games I really enjoy.

[Effedup]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

Personally, I don't really look at it from dollar per hour perspective...to me it's all about the experience as a whole. Honestly, the time to complete a game is less of an issue for me than replay value...if a game is going to be short that's ok, but there needs to at least be an option and incentive to play it again in a new way. The Acheivment system on the Xbox 360 really helps with that, as people can always go back and try to get acheivments they missed the first time around, even if the gameplay itself stays the same with each play through.

As for games that pack a great value, I'm a big fan of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band games. They're great party games, and I find myself playing sometimes just because I'm in the mood to hear some good music and get some interaction at the same time. There are new songs available to download all the time (although, they cost money which is a slight downer but to be expected), so it's enough to keep someone occupied for a while. It'll cost you a little more than a standalone game (I think it's $79.99 for Guitar Hero III with the wireless guitar controller), but the good news is the guitar works for ALL the games in the series, so you can probably get away with buying the other titles alone (and the guitars can be bought seperately as well now, if you want to get another controller).

Personally, I'm chomping at the bit to get my hands on Grand Theft Auto IV. Judging from the reviews it's gotten (10 out of 10 on IGN, the first time a game received a perfect score on there since Soul Caliber in 1999), plus the immense replay value that is standard with all the GTA titles, and the addition of multiplayer (which has been long desired in the GTA franchise) I see this as being THE game that other games in the genre are measured against for years to come. Hell, I still play GTA: San Andreas to this day, and years from now I'll probably still be playing GTAIV, at least, unless GTAV comes out ^^

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

I take it genre by genre rather than money to time. If I'm buying a top-down shooter, I know by genre standards I'm probably not getting much more than a couple hours tops. Its about score, speed and precision play, not epic cinematic plots.

Fighters I don't look in terms of time, but the character depth that would lead to hundreds of hours of play. Same with RPGs, last RPG I refused to finish was Xenosaga II because it had no charater depth for an RPG, all the skills and abilities were the same and you started from the same point. That's unforgivable for an RPG, there should be real distinctions between the character.

Adventure games I don't measure in time, but scope. Games like Ico or Zelda would be prime examples, but also RPGs on the scale of Dragon Quest VIII, FFXII or the Elder Scroll series, even MMOs.

In FFXI, I remember that moment I first rode the ferry to Selbina as Foobar. He was just a little taru RDM starting his adventure and looking out across the open sea, you could see Heaven's Tower off in the distance. It made me feel just a tad homesick. But that's what a game with a good sense of scope should do - make you feel like you're on a true journey.

[Kittyneko]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

In FFXI, I remember that moment I first rode the ferry to Selbina as Foobar. He was just a little taru RDM starting his adventure and looking out across the open sea, you could see Heaven's Tower off in the distance. It made me feel just a tad homesick. But that's what a game with a good sense of scope should do - make you feel like you're on a true journey.

Oh yea, that old feeling..
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARghlVjBab0]YouTube - A Little FFXI Story[/ame]

This makes me cry again :'(
I need to not watch emotional things... darn it

[Jei]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

I feel touched everytime I heart gustaberg music... my first hunting ground of my first character on my first day of FFXI.

[Murphie]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

Man, I hate that stupid video. It's so schmaltzy. It's like a hallmark card threw up all over FFXI.

I'm with Dak and Armando re: the topic.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

Yeah, it just depends on the quality of the experience.

A game can be 8 hours long but it could be the best 8 hours ever put into a videogame. Or it could be 60 hours long, with 45 hours of throwaway moments and grinding.

[Eiyoko]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

When I look for whether or not a game is worth my good cutscenes, the actual gameplay, or (what I love the most) a good plot. While many people will diss a game for something done wrong, if they never look at the other aspects they're probably missing out.

As for time, it doesn't matter, so long as it's fun like everyone and myself said. Portal, for instance (I haven't picked it up but I saw a copy of it alone somewhere for like $25 or so)

[DakAttack]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

Man, I hate that stupid video. It's so schmaltzy. It's like a hallmark card threw up all over FFXI.

I'm with Dak and Armando re: the topic.

Actions stars like you need explosions and blood, amirite?

[Murphie]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

Needs more punched babies and kittens given the finger.

[Kurb]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

i need bang for my buck especially since games are 50-75 quid over here
I know lads who buy play clear and trade in which is good for them.

[Feba]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

So absolutely none of you have ever finished a game quickly and felt completely ripped off? That's what I'm talking about.

Of course, it varies by genre, and of course fun is important too, but obviously nobody likes buying a game and having it be over a few hours later.

[Neomage]

Re: How much time do you expect out of a game?

I have one that was absolutely horrible... Lunar Call 2, I think it was. Not sure.

I paid 30 USD for that PoS, and beat it in under two hours. Not just that, but once you did beat the main storyline there was no additional... anything.

The gameplay also sucked. Like some games, this had a scaling system, but the system was horribly off balance. In addition, you had to chose between getting a lot of very crappy items, or EXPing for a chance at a very good one. But you didn't want to EXP, because unless you got that very good item it just made the game harder.

Got that game was horrible... ended up selling it for 2 bucks. What a rip.