In Game Help System

[Seventeen Uncles]

Hi everyone, I am in the midst of developing an AGS title and have been playing some adventure games for reference and inspiration and wondered what your opinions were on in game help systems which prevent needing to goto external websites if really stuck.

back in the classic days you'd have to rely on magazine walkthroughs but ive played a few recently that give you the option for help whenever its needed (the immediate example that comes to mind is Machinarium which makes you play a little minigame each time you want a hint.)

so whats your opinion on this matter? include them so more casual players have a more enjoyable experience? or leave them out to encourage exploration and trying out different things?

[bicilotti]

In game help was/is pretty standard in Interactive Fiction (example: Lost Pig).
I appreciate them because: (1) they are handy, (2) they don't break my game experience, (3) they aren't full blown spoilers but just hints.

[Slasher]

Hi,

one game I have completed yet not released has a built in walkthrough system for those that can't live without one

[Seventeen Uncles]

i think in my game the main charater is going to have a flea living on him that can whisper hints into his ear if needed.

[Fitz]

Dude, that is brilliant If you want to make a mini-game similar to Machinarium (which was a nice little thing) you could have the flea jump over hairs and extended pores to get to the ear -- or fight air currents to get to the inner ear maybe?

[Seventeen Uncles]

Her name is mys-tick, he meets her in a fortune tellers tent and she reads his fortune in exchange for his delicious mammalian blood. I think i'll do a minigame to do with feeding her some blood for hints.

[FrankT]

I believe a few of Dynamix's games, like Willy Beamish, came with a built-in help system. Is that what we're referring to?

[Cassiebsg]

Just as long as it's a players option, then I have no problem with built in help...
I got BttF a few months ago, and their hints system was keep sending me hints on what to do next, and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. That drove me so nuts, that I haven't played the game since...