TIGSource Forums

Despite me religiously coming to TIG Source for like a year now, this is the first time I've ever posted in the forums... and I'm amazed it! It does stay crunchy in milk!   :beer:

Well,now to Business...

I'm taking a survey about player motivation and what players desire in Single Player games... Bartle started the ball rolling on MMO's and such, but I couldn't find anything on Single Player games. I know that many of the Bartle principles are going to directly translate over and that the line between single and multi-player games is blurring, but I still want to see what you guys say.

So in summary, Post below what genre(s) of games you play... why you play them (what you like about it)... and any other comments. I would prefer focusing on single-player games, but not opposed to tangents.

Be wordy if you like. I'm hoping for some good discussion.

 :gentleman: Good day Gentlemen....  :gentleman:

First of all you shoud properly introduce yourself in the proper thread.

I'd link, but I have a mighty headache right now.

Just to speak in terms of a survey, I think it'd be more surveyishly productive to make a...survey. Maybe copy over the Bartle survey so it makes sense for single-player. Talking about favorite genres is different from understanding player motivation.

Okay... I posted a proper introduction on the Intro-Thread. Sorry for the ommision.

I'm make a survey-form and post it soon. Thanks for the suggestion. Can't believe I didn't think of that.

 :gentleman: Okay, here we go... A couple of questions for those who wish to participate. :gentleman:

1.  :beer: What genres of games do you prefer to play?

2.  ;D Why do you like to play those games?

3.  >:D How does playing them make you feel?

4.  :eyebrows: What should games do more of or have more of?

5.  :tearsofjoy: In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?

6.  8) Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.

I have no strict preference, but there are some genres which I don't play - MMOs, JRPGs and overly simplistic "PopCap" casual games


Maybe I should answer why I don't like playing those? Well MMOs are huge time-sinks for seemingly no reward. You grind and grind and slowly advance your stats and then you grind some more. Also, monthly subscription fees FTL.

JRPGs I hate for their style. Like Yahtzee so well puts it, bunch of angst teenagers with stupid hair dos running around with big swords (might've not been word-to-word). Also, they involve very little skill, and are all about crunching numbers and stats. About as exciting as using the toolbar in Microsoft Word (ironically, I play roguelikes).

Simple, casual games are just that, too simple. Too shallow. I'm a long-term, complicated PC gamer. Sure I'll play 'em and they'll be fun for maybe an hour tops, but that's that.


How does playing games make me feel? Err... Good, I suppose? I get to experience things you never could in the real world. How some game specifically makes you feel largely depends on the game in question, now doesn't it?


Procedural content, better AI, more stylized art directions.


That's like asking, in one's opinion, what would the perfect painting look like? Games are art and a form of entertainment, each different in its own way, sure one better than some other, but there's always one that's even better, or you just can't compare apples and oranges.


Hacker.

I tinker and explore, am very adept at games, but not to the level of hardcore some gamers are. And since I design games myself, I often have to look at a game from a slightly different perspective - You see something and you think "wonder how that was done", "I could do that", or maybe even "I did that too", etc. It slightly breaks immersion, so I treasure good atmosphere when it draws me in completely.

All of them. Seriously.

The same reason I like to entertain myself with many other activities. There are thousands of reasons why I do it. Let's just say because they are fun.

Good.

Variety.

Just like I want it to be when I want it to be.

The creator's worst nightmare. I love to critic. Seriously.

Now you might say "stop the smart-a$$ answer dude" but I'm totaly serious here. 100%. I say analyze my answers and try to figure out why I said those things.  It's not to mess with you but rather make you follow an interesting path of research and understanding of the medium that is video game.

All of them. Well, with the exclusion of sports games and most racing games.

Most games I play just as a semi-fun way to waste time  :-[ Like watchig a mediocre movie or something of that nature.
More tactical games, like strategy games or tactical RPGs or what have you I play because the strategy part I find genuinely fun and rewarding.
Games with good plots, though extremely few and far between, I also find to be rewarding use of my time :beer:

Guilty.

Strategy! Also, variety, genuine attempts to do something better and in a different way than it been done before.

Scintillating masses of dream-material constantly shifting between wonders.

Awesome. I like to do stupid shit in games, like ride a hovercraft through tiny corridors intended for infantry only, which is awesome.

1.   What genres of games do you prefer to play? -- non-genre, exploration, rts, strategy, zelda-like, rpg, adventure, metroidvania, shmup
2.   Why do you like to play those games? -- probably because they're have relatively more depth than other genres do
3.   How does playing them make you feel? -- depends on the game
4.   What should games do more of or have more of? -- everything
5.   In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like? -- no such thing
6.   Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why. -- I'm not a "gamer", I don't like that word because it implies a hardcore type of game player. I'm just a person who likes and makes games.

1. Old first-person shooters, STGs, casual games, some open world games and a handful of RPGs and adventure games. Oh, and FreeCell.
2. The thing about the majority of the games I play is that they are over quickly so I can get right back into it straight away.
3. Like I've spent the time well enough.
4. Apart from less emphasis on system requirements I think a single player game that lasts no longer than twenty hours but still stays fresh in the mind because it was a memorable experience is exactly what I want. It's about condensing the game so only the really fun parts remain. Like buying the lp instead of the CD. SDKs too, a PC game shouldn't be released these days without the ability to modify it completely.
5. I still think that DooM, HeXen and Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast are the only three perfect games so I tend to not think how they can be topped. Although a third HeXen game which has a fully-featured co-op mode that has the feel of a pen and paper RPG that will run at high detail on a three year old laptop would be the holy grail of FPS game design.
6. I'm a gamer who couldn't really care about being pigeonholed.

1.  :beer: What genres of games do you prefer to play?

Roguelikes, Strategy (real-time or otherwise), Innovative/Experimental/Weird games.

2.  ;D Why do you like to play those games?

Roguelikes - because you can get into them quick and have a unique experience each time, because there's an immense depth of information you can learn about them with all the hidden uses of items and so on, because they keep it real and allow me to fail.

Strategy - because my brain enjoys the challenge of understanding a system and devising cunning ways to manipulate it to crush my foes.  also because they allow me to fail.

Experimental - because I like new things and new ideas.

3.  >:D How does playing them make you feel?

Sometimes relaxed and in the 'flow', sometimes excited, aggressive, triumphant.

4.  :eyebrows: What should games do more of or have more of?

Failure that means something.
Also: innovation, depth, and hidden secret stuff that it takes people years to discover.

5.  :tearsofjoy: In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?

I don't believe that there could be a one perfect game.  But I guess my ideal game would be an RTS, but not necessarily cut from the same mould as Dune 2, C&C, Warcraft, etc.  It would probably be reasonably abstract, quite deep, and it wouldn't take very long to play a round.  (Everything I've just said applies to the game I'm currently making.. hm.)

Or else, Dwarf Fortress as it will be in ten years time if Toady keeps working on it.

6.  8) Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.

Developer.  I get much much more enjoyment out of making my own games than from playing other people's.

I prefer to play Awesome games.  I find that Awesome games tend to put me to sleep far less frequently than non-Awesome games.


Because they are Awesome.  And Awesome is its own reward.


Awesome.  Which is kind of the point;  if a game doesn't make you feel Awesome, then the game isn't an Awesome game.


Games should, without exception, have more Awesome.  I can't think of a single game that wouldn't be improved by adding a little more Awesome.  Usually toward the end of level 5, where the designers have begun to run out of ideas.


There is no such thing as perfection;  there are only games which are Awesome, and games which are not-Awesome.


Hm...  nope, no particular word comes to mind.  Sorry!   :gentleman:

Everything but jrpgs, sports, and dating sims. I love platformers though.
Why do I not play certain games: jrpgs are too slow and generally unentertaining wade-through-menu affairs. Sports...I don't like playing or watching them irl, they're just not entertaining to me in any way shape or form (I make an exception to the more "out there" racing games). Dating sims...I mean c'mon. The games I do play, I play because I enjoy, in one way or another.
Like a god when I'm good, like an underdog when I'm not, like my authority has just been challenged when I'm failing miserably.
Games should have more action if they're not actionate enough. Less preaching if they preach too much. More incitement of deep thoughts if they're shallow. Never tone down the action, turn up the preaching, or shallow things out though. They should also have more style. Each and every game should ooze with style.
I couldn't say, for I strongly agree with mewse on this point.
Perfectionist. I must kill every enemy flawlessly. I must explore every nook and cranny. I must collect every collectable. If I make a jump just barely I go back to do it better. I must do it and do it expertly. Unfortunately I never do. This is probably why I suck so badly at twitch-reflexy games - they're based on reflex, but I can't allow my reflex to take over so I end up overthinking the situation/over-adjusting my aiming/generally waiting until the opportune moment has passed and failing miserably. Another word I'd use is mediocre.

For some weird reason my favorite genre is Action/city simulation.
Well, I love the simplified managment coupled with the fast paced action
I guess I like the sense of power, from the action parts, and responsibility, from the city parts. I also like the more selfless nature of the adventuring in these games, its about providing for your community as apposed to lust over big eyed school girls or the non game play important saving the world, prevalent in similar genres.
Diverging game play ideas, I fear the stagnation of the traditional power fantasy.
Nothing, or Dwarf Fortress.
I play games faster then most of my friends. I think its because I want to experience as many different types of game play styles. I think I also miss some minutiae that games have. I also cannot stand finding shit in the environment, I haven't played a 3d platformer since Banjo-Kazooie because of this.

1.  :beer: What genres of games do you prefer to play?

I am open to most games but it's definitely dependant on console or whatever. For the Xbox I seem to have mostly FPS games like Halo 3 but that's because there is a big market for that. On the PC I have a lot of RPG games ranging from Arcanum, Fallout 1 - 3 and Bloodlines. Independant Games I will play most of what is happening out there and that tends to be a lot of Puzzlers and Platformers but one of my all-time favourite genres of game are Adventure Games like the old Monkey Island Series or Day of the Tentacle.

2.  ;D Why do you like to play those games?

I guess because they are fun? I like to become immersed in an alternate reality. That's one of the biggest game breaking points for me, even in small games. Immersion. Any breaking of the fourth wall or the slightest reference that pulls me out of that zone is a game-killer for me.

3.  >:D How does playing them make you feel?

I'm not sure there's really an emotion to assign to it, it definitely depends on the game. Recently Jumper 3 made me pretty frustrated, left4dead makes me feel very tense and excited, there are points in games where something sad has happened story related and that has of course made me feel sad. It's the range of emotions that draws people to different games rather than one flat all encompassing emotion for gameplay or whatever.

4.  :eyebrows: What should games do more of or have more of?

Whatever the hell they like? I think games shouldn't strive to be original but just go with the creative juices take them and as long as the game is fun and polished at the end of it then the player will know it's a labour of love and who really gives a shit if it has or doesn't have a CUSTOM PUNCHBAG SYSTEM or any other gimmicky crap.

5.  :tearsofjoy: In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?

I couldn't possibly tell you and I hope nobody ever finds out what it is because it will smash all hope for game makers everywhere.

6.  8) Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.

This is a pretty stupid question I think. I mean what does it really have to do with anything? And this question is deemed more worthy than other questions like finding out what I think are the most important aspects of certain game genres or any other question that requires more than a meaningless one word answer?

I guess I will go with "Gamer" because I can't think of a better word to sum up "Gamer."

I actually don't play that many games--that's because almost all games don't satisfy me anymore. I prefer games not based on genre, but on content: brief enough (under five hours), deep enough (give me something to take with me after I'm done with it).


Because I'm sick tired of 'fun' games.


Like I'm not wasting my time.


Meaning.


It would be a game playable by anyone with anyone, but it wouldn't demand that the players devote their time to it. And every time that someone plays it, they would improve as a person.


Utopic. Any doubts?

1.  :beer: What genres of games do you prefer to play?

I prefer games that realize that they are games, and do not try to perfectly emulate reality (or be super serious).  I also don't like "addicting" games like Impossible Quiz and games that are more work than fun.  But I'm fine with pretty much everything else.

2.  ;D Why do you like to play those games?

Although I have different reasons for playing each game that I own, the primary reason I play any games is because they bring me some level of entertainment.  Entertainment, by my personal definition, does not just include shiny colors and killing bad guys, but I would also consider games with a profound statement or games that provoke high intellectual thought as entertainment. 

3.  >:D How does playing them make you feel?

My favorite games make me feel immersed in the worlds they have created.  Games that are good at that to me include Lumines, JSRF, Clean Asia, and Knytt.

4.  :eyebrows: What should games do more of or have more of?

I think that commercial games should be shorter (like Mirror's Edge and Portal) while maintaining an appropriate cost (like Portal).  Sprawling epic games feel too much like a chore.  I would also like to see games in general avoid trying to fit in genre X.

5.  :tearsofjoy: In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?

The game would probably be nonlinear.  It would have perfect pacing, including serene calm moments and intense action segments.  The entire thing would be very atmospheric, and would integrate music into the gameplay, but not in an overly obvious way.  The game would be set up in such a way that I would always want to continue playing, but I would never feel obligated to.  I would also be able to put down the game whenever I wanted to, and when I came to play it again (after any period of time), I would be able to do so without having lost anything valuable.  The challenges would probably be based more on thought than manual dexterity.  No part of the game would feel redundant, frustrating, or boring.  Well, that's about as close to perfect as I can currently think of.

6.  8) Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.

Indie.  Because I've played Cave Story.  ::)

I guess all of them except for sport games, MMOs, most JRPGs and supercasual games. I also don't play many puzzle, strategy and racing games. My favorites nowadays are action games - FPSs, platformers etc.


Something fun to do, experiencing new things, escapism...


Good games make me feel entertained, but the best ones make me feel amazed. :)


Respect for the player's intellect. Most indies will say this, but mainstream games these days are horribly dumbed down in favor of accessibility and SHINY GFX!!!. I want to see more well-designed, varied, challenging and innovative games; I want to see emergent gameplay, deep and well-told stories, new technologies that affect not how the game looks, but how it plays...

I also would like to see more games that make me feel happy.


I don't believe in perfection.


I have no clue.

1.  :beer: What genres of games do you prefer to play?

Any. The genre means nothing, and people should think less in such restraints. If a game is good, I'll play it no matter the gender.

But I can say that I prefer to play games that have heart in them, that you can see the team cared about it and wanted to make something amazing for the players, and not reskin the same game in a sequel for more dollaroos.

2.  ;D Why do you like to play those games?

Because those games make me feel good. They may make me think, they may give me lots of fun, they may be awful in a hilarious way. But if the developers cared about the game, it's probable that it will appeal me.

3.  >:D How does playing them make you feel?

Good. :) And inspired.

4.  :eyebrows: What should games do more of or have more of?

Meaning, care, commitment to creating a great experience.

5.  :tearsofjoy: In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?

There is no perfection, but a VERY good game would be a game built from the ground up to fully explore the most unique aspects of the gaming medium and build a world around them for you to immerse yourself into.

6.  8) Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.

Ambitious and hopeful. Because I like to think I'm a game designer of sorts.

1.  Anything, mostly adventure games, 4x, FPSs(or some action filled quick games), tactical or strategy games, some sandbox, and roguelikes. I never play JRPGs(there are a few exceptions), sports or car games.

2.  Adventure games, nice plots, some, preferably small, challenge. 4x, tactics and strategy, I like complexity, and the strategic elements. FPSs, they are exciting. Sandbox, depends on which, but usually open gameplay is nice. Roguelikes, ASCII, difficulty and instadeath.

3.  Depends on which, but I usually can get really inmersed inmore action based games, and a bit obsessed with others, or meditative. Ultimately, I'm all for the sensation of beating a games, so I have problems with some open-ended games.

4.  Feeling. Most games have no feeling to them, at least that reaches the player. Sometimes I get the impression games got too easy. Also they take themselves too seriously.

5.  I don't know. Depends of the day, depends of what I want at the moment. Dwarf Fortress 1.0 maybe :D

6.  Theorist. I spend as much time, reading or talking about games as playing them, or more. I like to analyse and criticize them, sometimes I over-analyse them.
    Retro also fits kinda well. I am trapped in the charm of the old times, with a feeling that the 85-94 era is long gone and not coming back. I love how thay where not self-explicative, but hard and non-standarized.

Sorry, I have to disagree.  I have never enjoyed Hermaphrodite games. :(

I love all types, though I'm picky. MMO's and party, because man those are really meant to be multilayer. Shooters, fighters and Racing get an honourable mention, because some games are etter solo and some are better with more people. When playing solo I go for more story driven games.

Solitary play let me get way more involved in the game itself as a story and world. When there are others I can't really absorb myself as much. It's as if people pull me back to reality. Any game with a really good story is better solitary in my opipion.

Depends, when the game really draws me in I fell for the game. If it's a sad story I'll probably get kinda emotional (nothing big at all, usually), when something really awesome happens I am more inclined to be happy about it and really show my appreciation.

Drama. there I said it finally. I find a game is much more appealing when you can get in the characters head and almost experience what he/she experiences. Good and bad. Interactions with others help too.

A game with deep connection to the story, having many paths.
A character that you can upgrade and customize and feel like your actually growing with the character. Though he/she needs a past and some way you can feel connected with.
Tons of action, that can be changed vastly depending how you choose to engage battle.
Also NPC that you can choose to befriend (or more :eyebrows:). Not just a shopkeeper or some dude that follows you around. People you can talk to just as a friend and/or add to your group and go out and adventure with. Uniqueness is a must. Pivotal and non-pivotal are fine.
A world like yet unlike ours, so the player feels he knows the place, but not so much that you fell like you've seen this all before. Adding species, monsters, having magic users, and a steampunk setting are all great examples.

In terms of solitary games...
engaging.
I like to feel as I become part of my games, something that very seldom happens. I find out as much as i can about my games, the world, charters, history. There are games that don't require this for enjoyment, but I still like to know.

1.  What genres of games do you prefer to play?

I generally veer towards 2d pixel platformers, action orientated games, shmups, puzzlers, adventures and quirky arthouse games that don't really fit in any genre. I don't rule out any genres, although I do tend to play less RPGs and even less strategy and simulation-type games.

2.  Why do you like to play those games?

It depends on the game and its contents. Sometimes I like to play a game purely based on its atmosphere (eg. Shadow of the Beast), other times I enjoy the choices I am given (Iji), while other times I enjoy the frantic action and large amount of comical touches. I like to be challenged.

3.  How does playing them make you feel?

Mostly good, sometimes frustrated. The games that I really enjoy are rewarding experiences.

4.  What should games do more of or have more of?

Choice. Mixture of genres. Experimentation and risk.

5.  In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?

I wouldn't know until I've played it. In my head, I would probably say some sort of vast exploration pixel platformer with all kinds of abilities and things to do thrown in with some unique gameplay mechanics. That really isn't set in stone for me.

6.  Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.

No idea. The question doesn't make a lot of sense.

1.  What genres of games do you prefer to play?
All the action genres. Mostly fps. I try them all

2.  Why do you like to play those games?
It's probably the only genre of games that gives a fuck about quality(in terms of everything)

3.  How does playing them make you feel?
Challenged... or frustrated?

4.  What should games do more of or have more of?
More attention to weapon detail and combat. Guns should feel like guns. Lot of games are lazy on this   :-X

and More scripted battle sequences. I like feeling chaos going in the background.

Good art directions, and I'm not talking abstract BS. Art direction that has it's Own style(i.e. NOT Celshadin) and a good level of quality(lazy is not style)

5.  In your opinion, what would the perfect game be like?
A shooter with
no dumb physics puzzles

Yea. I don't know.

6.  Choose a word to describe you as a gamer... Explain why.
gameart... fancier...
 ::)

I'm not especially picky. I prefer first- and third-person shooters but not military-themed games. I also like 2D platformers. I dislike RPGs and racing games, but not games in which you sometimes have to race (except in the case of Mafia, in which the racing mission sucks epically and I am grateful there is only one of.)


Many of the third- and first-person shooters are open-worlded to some extent and allow for general fucking around as opposed to linear gameplay, so I feel like I'm getting more for my money. Since I'm a big girl now and have to pay for my games with my own money, that factors into the type of games I like. Platformers are something I grew up with. As a child, I spent years playing Super Mario.


Depends on the game, really. It's rather like watching a movie to me. Sometimes you finish one and it's just okay. Others you might want to play again. Then there are those ones that you finish feeling as though you just witnessed something IMPORTANT, if you know what I mean.


Really, I'd just like to see games in general deviate from the norm and take more risks. But that's really dependent on the players, as mainstream games can't afford to do this if the players don't shell out for it. As I said, though, I generally buy shooters nowadays because games are fucking expensive and I can generally expect to get my money's worth if I buy something I am familiar with. It's a vicious cycle of sucktitude draining on the potential awesomocity of the medium.

Something that fixes all of that bullshit would be nice.


Rockstar Games Presents Transmetropolitan.


Frugal.

My collection of mainstream games is comparatively small by virtue of my lack of fabulous wealth. If I'm going to buy a game at full price, I need to know all about it beforehand. Many games don't make the cut and I have to wait for them to go down at resale.

My PS2 collection will be massive shortly, though. GameStop isn't even keeping them on the wall racks anymore; they're going the way of the N64 cartridges.

Strategy and action. I think that covers just about anything.
They're fun.  :gentleman:
A good game will make me satisfied, a great game will make me thoughtful, an amazing game will leave me moved.
They should have simple mechanics that lead to deep game play.
There's no such thing.
Analyst. I like games that give me something to think about even when I'm not playing them.

 :) Thanks for the input, guys!  :)

After reading the posts and reviewing my notes from interviewing some other gamers, I changed the subject to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and player motivation. The paper came out great and blew my professor away.

Using my knowledge of how the human brain-meats work and video games,I explained the connection between some of our built-in "needs" and how we play games.

By the way.. Yes, the paper did get an 'A'...

 >:D It's not over yet... Because of a lack of time and paper length constraints, I wasn'nt able to get into the detail I wanted.  >:( Stupid 3000 word limit... >:(

Shall this be contributed to the internets?

GENRE: i only play 3D animated vore games

WHY: o nly way i gan get off

OTHER COMMENTS:

Are you actually going to read these all?
I'm not really a genre person. I like short games. I like a degree of separation between my entertainment and reality (too real = bad, war simulation = bad, painfully real physics = bad). I don't like the gritty games. I generally don't play games that have steep learning curves or that take forever to play, with the possible exception of games with excellent story and character like Psychonauts or Beyond Good and Evil, in which case I will take time out of my schedule to play it.
I like games that leave me feeling "up" and that don't take a serious investment of my already strained time to play.
"Up". Like I said.
Colors. And Levels. Why don't games have clear levels any more? Who decided that the game narrative needs to be one long mind numbing world that you never know when to hit save and quit for the night and instead end up playing until your bladder is screaming at you, you realize you've got only 4 hours before work, and that you skipped dinner?
Level based Archon like juxtaposition of Strategy and Action with conversation elements in a space setting that employs brightly colored 3D graphics to bring to life a universe with a Douglas Adams-esque sense of humor, written by Fred Ford and Paul Reich III.
Busy. Wife and 3 kids.

I don't think he needs more answers...?