Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

[Durahansolo]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

So what you're saying is that when we die in a game, we should no longer be able to use that character ever again, or characters if multiple die. If all of the playable characters die, well then I guess it's time to pick up another game.

I think BBQ is saying that being able to redo a fight (Example: being able to jump right back into the boss fight) is wrong without the life lessons of having to do all of the footwork/eyework (Walking from the last save point and watching long cutscenes.).

Something slightly related: I was playing Phantasy Star 0 the other day and realized that if you die in a boss fight during a quest, that you can revive in the city and jump right back into the boss fight. However, since you cannot save during quests, if you turn the game off then you have to start the dungeon back from the very beginning.

[Cheezeman3000]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

A sh**load of awesome.

I don't think I could add anything to this. Feba wins the thread.

What's annoying though is the catering to the casual crowd, even though the hardcore crowd always has been and always will be the primary consumer of software.

It's a complete lie that hardcore gamers make the majority of gaming purchases. Just look at the insane amount of Wii's sold, and then the insane amount of casual games that have sold millions on the Wii.

[DakAttack]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

It's a complete lie that hardcore gamers make the majority of gaming purchases. Just look at the insane amount of Wii's sold, and then the insane amount of casual games that have sold millions on the Wii.

I think he's got a little wiggle room with the phrase "consumer of software". In my experience, sure, casuals will buy the hardware and a few games, but they'll rarely play it. I have a friend who bought an HDTV as big as a carpet, and a Halo 2 special edition Xbox 360 just for the Halo franchise. Since then, she's gotten into Left 4 Dead as well, but she rarely plays the games. Actually, she's still buying games here and there, but she never plays most of them.

Are there different considerations for who's buying the product and who's actually consuming it?

[Cheezeman3000]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Are there different considerations for who's buying the product and who's actually consuming it?

Well, I always thought the definition of a "consumer" in the business sense was one who purchases a product, regardless of whether they use it or not. If we go by the strict definition of "consume," then no one really "consumes" games. Unless they're really really hungry.

[Malacite]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

If you wanted to conserve ammo on the hardest mode you'd limit yourself to only a single weapon. That way, they'll spawn ONLY ammo for that weapon and there really wouldn't be a problem. Coincidentally, it makes upgrading the weapon easier as well.

While this is true in Dead Space some of the other guns are badly needed at some points such as the line gun.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Hardcore gamer - They have learned the abstract language of gaming and its input devices. Enjoys gaming because for them its about getting into the guts of the game and learning just about everything regarding it. They don't need a company to set up hoops to jump through or a deep, involving storyline to feel like they've accomplished something. They did the table top RPGs, they hung out in arcades, played TCGs and enjoyed gaming on a more local competitive level.

Mainstream gamer - They came on the scene when games became more "cinematic" and had incentives like story to help motivate them to complete a game. They came up on games like Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII and some still use these two to judge any game they come across. They are the N64 kid and have a deep need to feel included in the gaming experience. They also love cheap gags like achievements, trophies and lolFFXItitles. They are also rather insistent that all control schemes should be cozy and consistent within a genre and live in denial when their favorite franchise goes handheld.

Around the middle of PS2's life, they started to want to think themselves hardcore gamers and would insists simply playing a lot of games made you a "hardcore" gamer. They're generally the ones making the largest fuss about being one, too. Owning a piece of hardware has emotional value to them.

Casual gamers - Was turned off by the abstract input devices and vocabulary of gaming. They understand crossword puzzles and movement, but not aiming a gun with a mouse and keyboard and generally can't be bothered to learn why a monster and a knight take turns to hit each other. They might rip through a book of sudoku puzzles in a weekend and then play some Wiisports. They also enjoy playing with family and in a social context with family or friends. Gaming to them is about personal satisfaction and being around other people.

Notice how similar my description of the hardcore and casual gamers are? Meanwhile, the mainstream ahem "hardcore" gamers need recognition and emotional gratification on a regular basis. They need things pre-defined for them. They want to know how they rate.

Personally, I'm just out here to fuck with all types.

I will take your first person shooters and stab you with knives, melee kill you with a rocket launcher, or run you down with a Warthog. I will enter your online time trials, pick the worst car I can find and then race it around until I get into the online top ten. I am the guy that picks the green shells and fires them down every corner of the Mario Kart track. I am the "random grenade."

I am...

[Mezlo]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Batman.

[Durahansolo]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Batman

Iron Man

(I'm gonna hope his picture isn't a picture of Iron Man since I can't see it...)

[Feba]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Are there different considerations for who's buying the product and who's actually consuming it?

The only way you could argue this matters is that it is that appreciative consumption as opposed to purely consumer consumption that drives sales. The hardcore guy buys Halo, then goes "hey, this is awesome, check it out!" and his casual friends then buy it. This is exceedingly unlikely given how much hardcore titles rely on making their profit within the first few weeks of release-- whereas its casual titles that seem to draw out their lifespans.

The only way actually playing the game matters is if you pay by the hour (Like that one PS3 game, arcade games, rentals --especially in hotels--, and MMOs) or that somehow generates word of mouth. Saying "oh yeah, well I PLAY more hours!" doesn't mean jack shit-- corporations don't care how long they can keep you for (unless again, they rely on it to maintain income, which traditional games don't), they care how much they can get out of you.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Feba, feel the need to point this out, but Nintendo's first party core titles also tend to enjoy long term sales.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii, for example, has already surpassed Super Mario Galaxy in sales and it still selling strong past its first several weeks. Mario Kart DS also sold strongly for about two years, and no doubt that Zelda: Phantom Hourglass did as well. Some Nintendo games just have longevity like that.

GTA III actually had that, too, its just the franchise and its genre are so oversaturated now that people know they can wait for the next GTA or GTA clone. Which is why Rockstar isn't putting out another one til probably late 2011. Its certainly not happening this year, according to them. This year, its all about Red Dead Redemption.

[Durahansolo]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

GTA III actually had that, too

GTA 3....Spent many hours customizing cars in that game thanks to Gameshark . Same goes for Vice City and San Andreas and this was even after I had beaten the game. GTA4 not so much

[Kailea]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

So what you're saying is that when we die in a game, we should no longer be able to use that character ever again, or characters if multiple die. If all of the playable characters die, well then I guess it's time to pick up another game.

that's not what he meant and you know it -.- people need to stop over exaggerating others responses -.-

Plane and simple, allowing one to start over from right before a battle, without having to do anything yourself, (saving or hitting a check point) is just too simplified, and dumbs down the gaming experience.

[hexx]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

Go DIAF, please. If I ran out of ammo I'd only have myself to blame, as I used to do back when I first got into survival horror. I loved Code Veronica for teaching me the value of knee-capping >.> oh man was that ever a sweet skill. Risky, but the ammo you could save by taking the knife to a zombie's knee was so worth it.

As for Dead Space, the only way you can really run out of ammo is on hard mode since there's less of it, or if you're just the worst shot in the world since dissmembering the Necromorphs was not only the most effective way to fight them but kept ammo use to a minimum.

LOL @ your nerd rage for starters. Ok, let me rip into you a little bit. You say you would have yourself to blame, yet, if said game mechanic left you at a point where you needed more ammo than you have, and you just saved with said ammount of ammo, youre fucked! Would you go quietly into the night? Hell no you wouldnt, you would bitching and moaning about that just like you are right now. Maybe after a few attempts you would get the hang of it and be the best at conserving ammo, but until then, people would prolly have to stand your rants some more.

To reiterate, people, nay, nerds, like you can never be made happy unless a game caters SOLELY to you and no one else it seems, which unfortunately would mean the demise of said game since it would leave out 90% of other customers.

[BurningPanther]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

So what you're saying is that when we die in a game, we should no longer be able to use that character ever again, or characters if multiple die. If all of the playable characters die, well then I guess it's time to pick up another game.

I'm waiting to see a game that not only self destructs, but incinerates the console it's in.

Plain and simple, allowing one to start over from right before a battle, without having to do anything yourself, (saving or hitting a check point) is just too simplified, and dumbs down the gaming experience.

Unless the cut scene involved provides key clues to the fight ahead, sitting through said cut scene doesn't make the experience any richer.

If I needed to rethink strategy, it's likely I've already done so in the 10-or-so minute break I took after my last character fell. Anyone who hasn't will simply fail the fight again, and probably continue to do so until they stop to think about their problem. Sitting through a short film won't change that.

[Malacite]

Re: Square Enix cut a game's worth of content from Final Fantasy XIII

I will take your first person shooters and stab you with knives, melee kill you with a rocket launcher, or run you down with a Warthog. I will enter your online time trials, pick the worst car I can find and then race it around until I get into the online top ten. I am the guy that picks the green shells and fires them down every corner of the Mario Kart track. I am the "random grenade."

@. @ lol this is so me (well except the worst car part)

I got a rather notorious rep amongst my RL friends for getting the most RIDICULOUS kills hocking 'nades out at random around the time Halo 2 came out. Hurray for Halo 3 having replays

Speaking of which, rather than the stupid Kill Cam revealing your position, I'd rather MW2 have a similar replay feature. It's actually better over all since it gives you the opportunity to study how games played out and learn from your mistakes. I really hate trying to snipe in MW2 because of that damned Kill Cam

Btw how you block people again? I'm tired of having to scroll past Hexx's nonsensical blithering.