The End for Linear games ?

[CARTIER90]

It would be nice wouldnt it, for the PS3 and BD to signal the end for linear gameplay. Im fu****g sick and tired of FPS games which lead you down the garden path ala MOH and numerous others, games like black are just the same, eye candy aside....
Flashpoint was a true breakthrough title for the PC and its large (100 km2 plus) islands were the real attraction to me. Is it due to lazyiness that we dont have similar games on consoles ?, Am i alone in wanting hardcore physics and difficulty ....(bloody casual gamers :) ) ...
Should we expect Blu-Ray to be taken advantage of in this way , truly open enviorments for ALL games ?, its about time, surely this generation , the power is there, the storage medium ...and the fact that the best selling game of all time is free roaming ( flashpoint did well too ).
Im disapointed in early speculation on launch games, more friggin sport games that will have more copyright 'R' registered moves , the EA franchises that have seemingly gone on for centuries.....Next gen for me = free roam, not only because to have great gfx and freedom is a real achievment ( this combo has not really been done to date) but is also an integral part of immersiveness, the desire to explore is in our genes, we want to see whats over the hill and around the corner...to set out rigid goals and tasks without offering the chance to go AWOL and do whatever YOU choose to do is fast becoming tiresome.

[Ocelot9]

It would be nice wouldnt it, for the PS3 and BD to signal the end for linear gameplay. Im fu****g sick and tired of FPS games which lead you down the garden path ala MOH and numerous others, games like black are just the same, eye candy aside....
Flashpoint was a true breakthrough title for the PC and its large (100 km2 plus) islands were the real attraction to me. Is it due to lazyiness that we dont have similar games on consoles ?, Am i alone in wanting hardcore physics and difficulty ....(bloody casual gamers :) ) ...
Should we expect Blu-Ray to be taken advantage of in this way , truly open enviorments for ALL games ?, its about time, surely this generation , the power is there, the storage medium ...and the fact that the best selling game of all time is free roaming ( flashpoint did well too ).
Im disapointed in early speculation on launch games, more friggin sport games that will have more copyright 'R' registered moves , the EA franchises that have seemingly gone on for centuries.....Next gen for me = free roam, not only because to have great gfx and freedom is a real achievment ( this combo has not really been done to date) but is also an integral part of immersiveness, the desire to explore is in our genes, we want to see whats over the hill and around the corner...to set out rigid goals and tasks without offering the chance to go AWOL and do whatever YOU choose to do is fast becoming tiresome.


I have heard of another title for PC called "Boiling Point" that is supposed to be very non-linear. Keep your eye out for STALKER as well!

But yeah, I see this trend happening too. Deus Ex Inv. War was so linear....Graphically very nice but just felt so cramped. Same goes with Theif Deadly Shadows. I really miss all the little areas you could run and hide in with the original Thief games.....and even these are linear compared to the likes of games such as Morrowind, Daggerfall!

[casualkiss]

I hope not, I still love linear games like Call of Duty 2!

Ride the Rail is still fantastic in my books.

[woundingchaney]

Where as I do enjoy free roaming titles, I would have to say I like linear ones as well. Often Im more interested in advancing the storyline in a game than I am traversing the city and/or countryside. I look forward to this gen advancing both genres.

[cliffbo]

I hope not, I still love linear games like Call of Duty 2!

Ride the Rail is still fantastic in my books.

i agree wholeheartedly. i like linear games too. sometimes games can get too complex for their own good. yes give us huge environments to have fun in but give us definate goals to achieve that further the story. i can see a time when all games become nothing more than paint-balling in virtual reality, offering little more than shoot, kill, respawn. it won't happen... sorry

[RavenFox]

I have heard of another title for PC called "Boiling Point" that is supposed to be very non-linear. Keep your eye out for STALKER as well!

But yeah, I see this trend happening too. Deus Ex Inv. War was so linear....Graphically very nice but just felt so cramped. Same goes with Theif Deadly Shadows. I really miss all the little areas you could run and hide in with the original Thief games.....and even these are linear compared to the likes of games such as Morrowind, Daggerfall!

Stalker? Is that game still in the radar? I waited patiently fo this for a long time but...

[cliffbo]

give me Res4 over Halo any day of the week.

[VG Aficionado]

I have heard of another title for PC called "Boiling Point" that is supposed to be very non-linear.Boiling Point was released last summer and while the concepts were interesting, it was a game full of unacceptable bugs and didn't live up to the good ideas behind it. Atari style.

[Red_Eyes]

The end of linear game? No.

[venomv]

I like linear games, espicially RPG's, in my opinion it is the only way for RPG's, and that included any game that is supposed to have a good story. Free-roaming to the extent that some people want it simply destroys story lines.

[CrumCon]

non-lineair game would be cost to much and take too much time in developement, in think.

I even doubt devs would go that way in the next-gen. maybe some high-frofile games. earn some $$$ in very short-time would be any Dev's top priority.

[woundingchaney]

give me Res4 over Halo any day of the week.


Halo > RE series


Sorry had to disagree :)

[woundingchaney]

I like linear games, espicially RPG's, in my opinion it is the only way for RPG's, and that included any game that is supposed to have a good story. Free-roaming to the extent that some people want it simply destroys story lines.


I would have to agree venom, but many free roaming rpgs are only free roaming to a point (ex neverwinter nights). I would have to say that I enjoy both for different purposes. Where as storyline does seem to suffer you have more of a living breathing world setting to immerse yourself in. Its a toss up.:)

[cliffbo]

I would have to agree venom, but many free roaming rpgs are only free roaming to a point (ex neverwinter nights). I would have to say that I enjoy both for different purposes. Where as storyline does seem to suffer you have more of a living breathing world setting to immerse yourself in. Its a toss up.:)

yes theres room for both. let those in favour of running around admiring the size of their guns and those lovely volumetric explosions have their day, and let those who like to be absorbed and enlightened have theirs

[shagawi]

I hate playing games with a lot of cutscenes, it's just kill the excitment
games like DMC, Dante riding a rocket why can't I ride a rocket.

In Xenosaga cutscenes last to 20 minutes, that was too boring.

[woundingchaney]

I hate playing games with a lot of cutscenes, it's just kill the excitment
games like DMC, Dante riding a rocket why can't I ride a rocket.

In Xenosaga cutscenes last to 20 minutes, that was too boring.


Yeah thats true and it is ashamed because the actual storyline itself was rather well done. I made it through the first episode but just didnt have the gull to get the second one. Although the new releases pale compared to the original PS game.

[cliffbo]

I hate playing games with a lot of cutscenes, it's just kill the excitment
games like DMC, Dante riding a rocket why can't I ride a rocket.

In Xenosaga cutscenes last to 20 minutes, that was too boring.

i do agree with this. as much as i like linear stories sometimes they do overdo it in the cutscene department... conceded

[Helgunn]

It won't matter, developers are perfectly capable of making non-linear games on DVD, Blu-Ray will only mean more cutscenes for the majority of Ps3 (japanese) developers.

[GTShotoKen]

I don't understand what is up. I hear people say devs who design free roaming environments are lazy, but then I hear devs who design linear environments are lazy too.

What makes levels fun, free-roaming or not, is the fact that they are well structured. Having a well structured linear path is much better than a wide open field with no intelligent design.

Running everywhere is fun, but is pointless when there is nothing there. I don't think Flashpoints level design deserves so much credit in terms of sturcture because all you have are wide open fields for a huge amount of players to play on.

Battlefield, Typhon Rising, and Far Cry deserve 1ups though for their free-roaming level design.

I think Far Cry has the best idea going though because you can go everywhere, but you have several linear paths to help structure your movement along the islands.

Going off the beaten path in that game though was interesting, but not as fun as following the more structured paths because the AI was not intelligent enough to take advantage of the open terrain and make your free-roaming an absolutely stellar experience.

Like the free-roaming multiplayer games, what makes their level design so fun is because you have many other players in the terrain that actively use it and make it fun for you to make your own path to the objective.

I think linear paths warrant a more fun experience throught the level design itself, while free-roaming environments need many more elements to make their design more entertaining. Albeit, free roaming environments can lead to much better playing experiences if the game elements are sturctured correctly.

[jaxmkii]

quietly praying Operation Flashpoint 2 will be a PS3 game

[RzrWire]

Linear or Non-Linear in an RPG...

Let me use Final Fantasy as an example. I like how this game is laid out. During the progress of gameplay at certain points you are allowed to go back through previously played areas before progressing the game further. That way if you happen to miss anything or want to explore an area further you can do so, but you can't explore areas you haven't been to unless you progress further into the game's story line. I especially like FF7 & FFX in this regard because you are given the option to explore the entire world and advance your character, travel previous inaccessable places, do some side missions, ect... until you are ready to complete the final mission. I love the linear story line and getting immersed into the game. On the other hand I like the fact that you are given the option to break away from the game at certain points in order to take a breather and absorb everything.

In this regard I would also love more Non-Linear gameplay at the end of RPGs. After the final mission it would be nice if developers, as a bonus, added more gameplay options for the remaining characters you had instead of "The End" and start a new game. For example: A few extra cities or towns that didn't show up or couldn't access on the map, to explore and clean up any remaining mess that was left behind; side missions that further explain some of the mysteries that you encountered during gameplay; maybe explore other parts of the storyline and new locations that a separate party in your group explored during the game, but you never had the opportunity to; or in addition to the previous ideas, once you beat the game's story mode an online world becomes available a-la FFXI. Things like this would be heaven for those who are totally engrossed into the game. Also it adds a lot of value to the game for those who want to enjoy a great RPG but can't invest the time/money to play multiple titles. IMHO, that would be the perfect marriage between a linear and non-linear RPG.

EDIT:
CARTIER90 ~ To answer your question; There will never be an end to linear gameplay. There are far to many people that want a good story line to follow, like Silent Hill, than wonder around with no real tangible objective. While the GTA series as of late has been relatively non-linear, you still have to follow a linear path to get to your final destination. Even still straight forward linear gameplay will always have a home in the gaming world and I don't see that changing in the forseeable future.

[Miyahon]

To tell you the truth if they didn't take advantage of Xbox's large discs they probably won't use BDrom that way.

Which is sad because I'm with you. The bigger the better, the less linear the more replay value.

The only thing keeping developers from using it that way? Time and money. Even when they seem to apply themselves we get crap like "fable"

We need a big developer to step up and create a non linear magnum opus no matter how many years it takes, like Zelda was to N64 or Shenmue to Dreamcast.

[woundingchaney]

To tell you the truth if they didn't take advantage of Xbox's large discs they probably won't use BDrom that way.

Which is sad because I'm with you. The bigger the better, the less linear the more replay value.

The only thing keeping developers from using it that way? Time and money. Even when they seem to apply themselves we get crap like "fable"

We need a big developer to step up and create a non linear magnum opus no matter how many years it takes, like Zelda was to N64 or Shenmue to Dreamcast.
I liked Fable (for what it was not for what it was hyped to be).

Do I expect devs to take advantage of the BR space, yes to a point in the latter half of the gen (aka in about 3 years maybe less maybe more) but not necessarily to the extent of occupying the entire storage capacity.

[Handycrap101]

Honestly.. I don't think I would want linear games to stop coming. That would just take away from the immense amount of variety in game we have now. If I want a linear game then I should be able to get it... If I want my free roaming sand-box type of game then I'll get that too. There is no need at all to completely get rid of linear games.

P.S. wounding chaney, clear you message box. YOU'RE FULL!

[Z]

I don't know about you, but I don't expect total evolution in gaming. what I am expecting is more aspects that will help make the experience more engrossing. things like better graphics, effects, real-time surround sound, real-time physics simulation, much better physics will all play a role in that.

I don't expect actual gameplay and controls to change much. notice that I didn't include AI. though we expect better AI this time, how much better is left to be seen. AI isn't the simplest factor to increas.

to give you an example, think about what the great effects in FFX, the physics in Half-Life 2, the graphics in Doom3, HDR in FarCry, voice acting in MGS and other examples did to the gaming experience.
I also hope more demanding games can have even better online offerings like more players, more possible modes, etc.

my hope is that with new technology, the mediocre and low grade games will at least get some kind of boost to have some acceptable gameplay such as physics that are remotely appealing and hopefully, something we can try to call 'pritty' to look at. that will at least will keep us from wanting to hurt the people who made the thing...

[kaphwan]

Like Kuturagi said, ages ago:

"The playstation2 was about looking realistically. The playstation3 will be about behaving realistically."

Speaking of great new advances in physics. I think that Square-Enix could manage to make a blitzball ps3 game. No, nothing like the one you played in FFX and FFX-2. I mean a version that mirrors the FFX opening FMV. With those graphics and those particle physics effects.

That, my friends, is the point where we know that the next generation has arrived.

[CARTIER90]

You all make some good points, to keep some kind of linear mission structure is important to keep some kind of 'purpose' to the game, I am really speaking more of the environments.....'paths' that we are so used to make exploration an unnecessarily artificial experience....yes we should have clear goals / missions, but make getting there half the fun !

[indiekid4]

Halo > RE series


Sorry had to disagree :)


HAHA!! sorry that made me laugh.

[indiekid4]

i do agree with this. as much as i like linear stories sometimes they do overdo it in the cutscene department... conceded

However, i do enjoy the Final Fantasy cutscenes.

[VG Aficionado]

Some people seem to hate cutscenes since all they want to do is shoot, kill and enter the next stage to never replay the game. Then there may be games with excessively long cutscenes, but with some exceptions, these can be skipped, so I don't see the point on complaining about most games with cutscenes. Just avoid them!

Anyway, I enjoy cutscenes whenever they're relevant to the story, fun to watch or both.

[Infernal]

However, i do enjoy the Final Fantasy cutscenes.
Yah I know what you mean, the cutscenes in Final Fantasy games almost seem like rewards as you progress through the story and the CG cutscenes are always amazing to watch.

[shagawi]

Some people seem to hate cutscenes since all they want to do is shoot, kill and enter the next stage to never replay the game. Then there may be games with excessively long cutscenes, but with some exceptions, these can be skipped, so I don't see the point on complaining about most games with cutscenes. Just avoid them!

Anyway, I enjoy cutscenes whenever they're relevant to the story, fun to watch or both.


If you skip cutscenes you'll never know what happened or even what to do.

I can't imagine game without cutscenes relevant to the story (except FPS).

However, RE4 cutscenes were great.

[VG Aficionado]

If you skip cutscenes you'll never know what happened or even what to do.My point was that the people who just want to shoot and kill and totally ignore anything else, do this. You'd be surprised to know how many people totally ignore cutscenes, introductions, messages and of course, the game manual - how many people do you think actually read a game manual to know more about its background and to study game controls when they can find out by playing around and pressing the buttoms randomly? And that's assuming people actually buy original games so their games actually include all of their content plus the game manual in their original packing. And if they end up being stuck because they don't know what to do next, they usually get bored and stop playing since they won't even try to pay attention to non-action stuff. As a matter of fact, I've known some people who can't finish any storyline or any game at all without making use of cheats.

But like I said, I do enjoy cutscenes when games are good.

[Z]

I have a confession to make: I skip Splinter Cell cut-scenes...

[Helios]

Im split on the issue. I like a linear game if it has a good story line, like Dues Ex: The Conspiracy, best game story ive ever played through in fact.

But I also love my free roaming titles, no better example than GTA and I water at the mouth of what they'll be able to accomplish on next-gen hardware.

At the end of the day though no matter how great the story on a linear title is it becomes like watching a movie, its good to watch it again but its never like the first time and you dont wanna play it over and over again. Its free-roaming titles(again like GTA) that just beat the crap out of linear titles in replay value because even after the story is over there's still plenty to do. What I do want in this next-gen are more titles that blend in storyline with sandbox gaming a bit better. I dont want a bunch of sandbox titles that become like GTA where it seems like the only reason to progress the story is to open up areas on the map. I want to be deeply engaged in a story for hours on end or just fool around.

[kaphwan]

As a matter of fact, I've known some people who can't finish any storyline or any game at all without making use of cheats.

Reminds me of my little brother. We got XII and we played 2 versus 4 normal level computer players. We got our arses handed to us, and he suggested we set the level to "easy" and use cheats.

Scum that need cheats to function in a game... and scum that will use the "easy" option when they're having trouble... scum that don't appreciate a game's storyline (in cases where there is one, like FF's).

[Helios]

Personally I despise using cheats in a game before I beat it a few times. Its just not nearly as satisfying to beat a level, or boss if you use cheats.

The exception here being GTA which is actually more fun with cheats, things like rioting for example. :)

[Nodieza]

Shadow Of the Collosus was Linear to the extreme! Sure you could ride around for hours but in general, very linear. But that game rocked, then again I enjoy Dynasty Warriors which is Linear in the goal, but how you go about getting there is up to you. I also enjoy RE, SH, and Onimusha series, Linear but fun.

Too much freedom leads to problems like in RPGs you might run into an area way to powerful for you and you get beaten in a few seconds, not exactly fun. Structured open-endness is the only way to go. Freedom with limits.

Am i alone in wanting hardcore physics and difficulty ....

Cartier, I know I dont like extreme difficulty, DMC 3 turned me off in a week because of the issue of yellow orbs and pure rapage, as long as it's difficult in a "hey man I have to get better at this" way and not a "Oh my god that's f*king cheap as heck" kinda way. But I tend to enjoy easy games MUCH more.

[cliffbo]

Like Kuturagi said, ages ago:

"The playstation2 was about looking realistically. The playstation3 will be about behaving realistically."

Speaking of great new advances in physics. I think that Square-Enix could manage to make a blitzball ps3 game. No, nothing like the one you played in FFX and FFX-2. I mean a version that mirrors the FFX opening FMV. With those graphics and those particle physics effects.

That, my friends, is the point where we know that the next generation has arrived.

that quote has nothing to do with physics. if it had it would have said 'reacting realistically'. Kuturagi is refering to AI. which is why i believe Sony's ace will be that the cell, contrary to belief, is strong in that department. if its phyics i'll eat my hat (if i had one) half-life 2 has already shown whats possible as far as phyics are concerned and better phyics will go without question on PS3. AI is going to be the new frontier and the reason consequently that developers will take at least one generation of software to come to terms with PS3

[cliffbo]

Shadow Of the Collosus was Linear to the extreme! Sure you could ride around for hours but in general, very linear. But that game rocked, then again I enjoy Dynasty Warriors which is Linear in the goal, but how you go about getting there is up to you. I also enjoy RE, SH, and Onimusha series, Linear but fun.

Too much freedom leads to problems like in RPGs you might run into an area way to powerful for you and you get beaten in a few seconds, not exactly fun. Structured open-endness is the only way to go. Freedom with limits.



Cartier, I know I dont like extreme difficulty, DMC 3 turned me off in a week because of the issue of yellow orbs and pure rapage, as long as it's difficult in a "hey man I have to get better at this" way and not a "Oh my god that's f*king cheap as heck" kinda way. But I tend to enjoy easy games MUCH more.

perfectly put and completely right!

[cliffbo]

I'm split on the issue. I like a linear game if it has a good story line, like Dues Ex: The Conspiracy, best game story Ive ever played through in fact.

But I also love my free roaming titles, no better example than GTA and I water at the mouth of what they'll be able to accomplish on next-gen hardware.

At the end of the day though no matter how great the story on a linear title is it becomes like watching a movie, its good to watch it again but its never like the first time and you dont wanna play it over and over again. Its free-roaming titles(again like GTA) that just beat the crap out of linear titles in replay value because even after the story is over there's still plenty to do. What I do want in this next-gen are more titles that blend in storyline with sandbox gaming a bit better. I dont want a bunch of sandbox titles that become like GTA where it seems like the only reason to progress the story is to open up areas on the map. I want to be deeply engaged in a story for hours on end or just fool around.

i consider GTA as a linear game! try doing mission 1 before mission 2 and tell me I'm wrong. its the perfect combination: linear with with so much breadth that you feel as if its non-linear.

[WolfmanNCSU]

I really like this topic. I used to think that I just wanted totally open enviroments and no real story line that I am required to follow, until I talked to some devs about it.

It was funny to hear, but they said when the world is totally open, the gamers just tend to splash around in the lake, wonder aimlessly, or never leave the opening town/village/city. They have no direction and never tend to play the bulk of the game. So they need to have some kind of main story to follow or a goal/direction.

I think a game that does a nice job of this is Morrowind. It has the nice blend feeling of an open world to explore, but still have a main path to follow to "win the game."

[dendj55]

Shadow Of the Collosus was Linear to the extreme! Sure you could ride around for hours but in general, very linear. But that game rocked, then again I enjoy Dynasty Warriors which is Linear in the goal, but how you go about getting there is up to you. I also enjoy RE, SH, and Onimusha series, Linear but fun.

Too much freedom leads to problems like in RPGs you might run into an area way to powerful for you and you get beaten in a few seconds, not exactly fun. Structured open-endness is the only way to go. Freedom with limits.



Cartier, I know I dont like extreme difficulty, DMC 3 turned me off in a week because of the issue of yellow orbs and pure rapage, as long as it's difficult in a "hey man I have to get better at this" way and not a "Oh my god that's f*king cheap as heck" kinda way. But I tend to enjoy easy games MUCH more.


I agree 100%. Freedom with Limits!

[venomv]

I think a game that does a nice job of this is Morrowind. It has the nice blend feeling of an open world to explore, but still have a main path to follow to "win the game."

There is a problem with that though. Morrowind, while I don't like it a whole lot, does most of that very well, the only problem is, is there is almost no incentive to accually play the story. The first thing they tell of to go talk to a guy, then he bassically tells to to go do whatever you want and come back later. At which point I completely forgot about him and wandered around aimlessesly till I got bored to death. Now that just me, but I think they could have had a more involving story, later I went back and accually tryed to play the story, but it was more fun to forget the story, and do whatevery you want, till you get bored of that, too.

[cliffbo]

There is a problem with that though. Morrowind, while I don't like it a whole lot, does most of that very well, the only problem is, is there is almost no incentive to accually play the story. The first thing they tell of to go talk to a guy, then he bassically tells to to go do whatever you want and come back later. At which point I completely forgot about him and wandered around aimlessesly till I got bored to death. Now that just me, but I think they could have had a more involving story, later I went back and accually tryed to play the story, but it was more fun to forget the story, and do whatevery you want, till you get bored of that, too.

never played this game can you tell me what you did that had no conection with the main storyline?

[Nodieza]

Morrowind was FAR too open ended to keep my interest... not a bad game just so much to distract you, you wont even want to do the main story, too busy freeing slaves, stealing from shops or slaying powerful orcs to care about your "destiny"

Joining guilds didn't have much to do with the storyline and clearing out caves of monsters and plundering caves of bandits didn't either. *shrugs* game is still fun, just not much direction IMO.

[Ocelot9]

Stalker? Is that game still in the radar? I waited patiently fo this for a long time but...

The buzz is starting back up again, I would like to think it will release this year!


Boiling Point was released last summer and while the concepts were interesting, it was a game full of unacceptable bugs and didn't live up to the good ideas behind it. Atari style.


True,

I guess with the right dev team and proper timing, we could have a killer FPS with the open-endedness of say....Morrowind? One day!

[Helios]

I think the best was to truly make a free roaming style game without getting the "wandering around aimlessly" thing.

I would say a style of setup that whether through a cutscene or hints in the very begining that en tice you to do something, whatever path it might be. Almost to the state that your character is utterly weak and useless unless you do something. But lets not get that confused with an actual structured storyline. If a game did that it would be gold in my book.

[Helgunn]

To tell you the truth if they didn't take advantage of Xbox's large discs they probably won't use BDrom that way.

Which is sad because I'm with you. The bigger the better, the less linear the more replay value.

The only thing keeping developers from using it that way? Time and money. Even when they seem to apply themselves we get crap like "fable"

We need a big developer to step up and create a non linear magnum opus no matter how many years it takes, like Zelda was to N64 or Shenmue to Dreamcast.
Um... try the Elder Scrolls series.

[Helgunn]

Morrowind was FAR too open ended to keep my interest... not a bad game just so much to distract you, you wont even want to do the main story, too busy freeing slaves, stealing from shops or slaying powerful orcs to care about your "destiny"

Joining guilds didn't have much to do with the storyline and clearing out caves of monsters and plundering caves of bandits didn't either. *shrugs* game is still fun, just not much direction IMO.
You're serious, right? Not much direction? THAT'S THE POINT! The way the game goes is entirely up to you.

You're complaining about that? Morrowind is a real RPG game.

[cliffbo]

You're serious, right? Not much direction? THAT'S THE POINT! The way the game goes is entirely up to you.

You're complaining about that? Morrowind is a real RPG game.

the thread is about whether you want linear or not. he clearly doesn't like the open play of marrowind, its his personal choice. of course its the point but he's not dealing with that. we're debating which you like best. which type of game do you prefer and why?

[CARTIER90]

Helgun , id like to congratulate you on being such a fair and balanced poster....you post calmly , not aggressively and with a sincere and respectfultone...bravo..

[Helgunn]

Helgun , id like to congratulate you on being such a fair and balanced poster....you post calmly , not aggressively and with a sincere and respectfultone...bravo..
Umm... thanks? I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not...

[cliffbo]

Umm... thanks? I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not...

i think he's being sincere here, just read through your comments and you will see

[CARTIER90]

he he..... to be fair, lets not start beefs....

[cliffbo]

he he..... to be fair, lets not start beefs....

Xbs back soon and he'll be slapping wrists. i'd just like to say my son has just been on my computer and i didn't realise. hope he hasn't been rude to anyone. :)

[venomv]

Not that I've seen Clifobo, and I really hope you were being sarcastic Cartier.

You're serious, right? Not much direction? THAT'S THE POINT! The way the game goes is entirely up to you.

You're complaining about that? Morrowind is a real RPG game.

Not a lot of direction is good at times, but they don't have it structered enough to keep me intrest, they besicly want you to get lost in the game. Which they did well, but it gets borring fast, and there is zero incentive to play the story, which is there to keep you playing the game. Not to mention archery didn't work, which makes me really mad cause I always play archer swordsman when the game gives the option, but it only acts like it will let you.

[Helgunn]

Well, you can't ask for non-linear games and not like Morrowind, not possible. :) If you look up non-linear in the dictonary, Elder Scrolls is the definition.

You all want semi-linear games, it seems. :)

[xbdestroya]

I think there's benefits to both styles - the old Ultima series and Knights of the Old Republic are the only Western RPG's I've ever delved deeply into, but I liked what they had to offer. Oh, and Pools of Radiance back in the day - that game is legendarily(sp?) awesome! I hear with Morrowind you either love it or you hate it, but I've never given it a shot. But I am a big fan of open-ended, and even in the JRPG's I play for the most part, it's always the exploring and the strange side jobs/missions that I get wrapped up in.

I may try out the new D&D MMORPG, not sure...

[venomv]

Well, you can't ask for non-linear games and not like Morrowind, not possible. :) If you look up non-linear in the dictonary, Elder Scrolls is the definition.

You all want semi-linear games, it seems. :)

Accually I like linear games period, non-linear games tend to bore me bad. But I was talking about Morrowind because other people were, and it is really the perfect game for this subject. I will give Oblivion a shot, if it can make the story interesting, and keep me wanting to play it, while keeping it as open ended as Morrowind, I'll be amazed because they would have just done something amazing.

XB I would rent Morrowind to give it a shot, I wouldn't advise buying it unless you are a fan of Westeren RPG's.

[Helgunn]

xb, if you like and want a real RPG, buy Morrowind. venomv, You don't really know if the story to Morrowind is interesting because you didn't bother going through it.

[venomv]

No, I said earlier I tried it, and didn't like it, because the rest of the game is better, but that bored me to.

There is a problem with that though. Morrowind, while I don't like it a whole lot, does most of that very well, the only problem is, is there is almost no incentive to accually play the story. The first thing they tell of to go talk to a guy, then he bassically tells to to go do whatever you want and come back later. At which point I completely forgot about him and wandered around aimlessesly till I got bored to death. Now that just me, but I think they could have had a more involving story, later I went back and accually tryed to play the story, but it was more fun to forget the story, and do whatevery you want, till you get bored of that, too.