No, I like to start what I finish. It's the completist in me. Blame it on a Protestant work ethic, stubbornness or determination, but there's a level of satisfaction in turning the last page of book, watching the credits roll on a film, or the season finale of a favourite TV show. Ticking it off my 'list of things to do' is all part of the experience.
If you're getting that same level of satisfaction from videogames on a regular basis then good luck to you. Not me. My collection of unfinished games - my pile of shame - far outweighs the titles I've clocked from start to finish. Sure there are more books and movies in the world then I'll ever find the time to read or watch but the difference is I don't tend to swing by my local Borders and drop cold hard cash on books and movies and then only partially consume them. My failure to complete all my games is my pastime’s greatest sense of frustration.
Am I just collecting games for the sake of it? Perhaps it's a sickness? On last Sunday's episode of CSI, (Kill me if you can) Dr Raymond Langston remarked that "Collecting's pathological whether you're a rich man or a serial killer." Still, he's a fictional character on a fictional TV show, so I shouldn't put too much faith in that. So why can't I finish what I start?
I'm pretty discerning when it comes to the games that I play, so I don't think I'm failing to finish games because they aren't compelling enough. And it's not like I've got a short concentration span either...'hey look, it's an ice-cream truck.'
...Sorry. Where was I? Is it just me? Could be. Sure, I'm a videogame writer. Does that mean if you put a video game controller in my hand that I'm suddenly possessed with the stealth of a ninja, the physical strength and dexterity of LeBron James in full flight and the ability to out snipe NCIS special Agent Jethro Gibbs with one eye closed? It's highly possible that I boasted as much on my PALGN job application, but I may have played a little hard and fast with the truth; the stealth of an injured LeBron in full flight might have been closer to the mark.
Truth is, regardless of my gaming ability, I don't think it is just me. We've all got our piles of shame. Over at the Neogaf Gaming forum, member LovingSteam posted a ‘call to arms’ last Thursday entitled Resolve to finish one game this week and beyond!.
LovingSteam's challenge: "So for all of us who have a gazillion games to finish, I say we should all agree to finish at least one game this week. It can be one that you are already playing
or one you haven't started. By this time next week let us all finish at least one."
One Titan too many.
And while we're at it, lets sweep the leaves in the yard, mow the lawns and do a run to the tip. As one GAF'er, Moz La Punk responded, "When did we agree to make playing games feel like work?"
Perhaps some of those titles we've abandoned were just inexcusably bad and didn't deserve our time or attention. Perhaps we've grown and matured and what was shiny and bright and appealing to us six months ago is no longer of any interest. But what of the rest of the games, not played or incomplete? Titles we loved when we first played them six days, six weeks ago or six months ago, and still adore now. What's stopping us from seeing those games through to the bitter end?
Now The Wrap is all about solving problems. You won't find me bitching and moaning about the way things are without at least putting up a few positive ideas. There has to be some simple reason why I'm not completing these video games. They are either too long, too hard or just too boring. Let's take it as read that it's not the latter. What can we do about those other two possibilities?
First up, I need a 'Get Past'. Let me make myself perfectly clear. I don’t need a 'Walkthrough'. Walkthroughs tell me what to do and where to go, but very rarely help me do it. Just forget the stuff I can work out myself. Save yourself the trouble. Seriously, no one wants a refresher course on the control system. We've got an in-game tutorial and a game manual and if i really thought there was something enlightening in those pages I'd take the time to read them. Nor do I need your bastardised take on the story. Don't care, don't need it...not listening. What I do need is details, and alternate strategies for the bits you know I'm going to get stuck on. Focus on the tricky stuff and forget the rest. Rather than a detailed one foot in front of the other walkthrough, concentrate on those tough sections. So many walkthrough's simply tell me what I need to do. I already know what I'm meant to do. I just can't do it. Give me a detailed, multiple strategy 'Get Past'. That's what we need...or is it just me?
Developers; help me out here. How many times do you want me to die? Twenty? Thirty? Really? You don't think the game is starting to lose it's shine? I've gone to the walkthrough. I know what to do but I just can't do it. I can't kill all three Titans. I need one cut down by friendly fire and the other to grow restless and just wander away. I think I can cope with the one remaining Titan. That's what I need; smart intuitive AI that will see me struggling and cut me some slack. Variable AI works both ways. If I'm shooting fish in a barrel, then take my gun away or at least stop leaving all those ammunition crates by my feet. Better still; don't put the fish in a barrel. And don't just tell me to play it on easy. I am playing it on easy! Variable AI will cut down on game length, or more accurately, will ensure that a ten hour game play will be a ten hour game play regardless of whether you’re a gaming god or just cannon fodder with a controller.
So you've hired a DVD from your local Blockbuster. It has more scratches than a hip hop DJ, and refuses to advance beyond a certain scene in the movie, repeatedly stopping at the same point. So you simply hit the FF button to get things moving along. Bingo. That's what video games need. Don't want to replay that scene over and over again until your eyeballs bleed? Hit the FF button. Sure it's cheating and by all means, you can keep your trophies and your achievement points. Just let me finish the game.
Either a Fast Forward functionality or simply unlock it all from the start. I'm an adult. I bought the game. Let me play it all. If I want to play the last scene first then let me. If I only want to play the last scene, let me. Unlock it all from the get go and I'd likely complete the game (in a manner of speaking) that much more quickly and then you can sell me your next title. Everybody wins. Or is it just me?
Until next weekend, that's The Wrap.
BackWrap
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