The difference between medium and full length games

Krynge · Mon 01/03/2004 13:08:58

It's been bugging me for a while this one...

I can understand the difference between a short game and a long one, but what discriminates a medium length game from a full length one? I mean just because a game is of medium length does it mean it isn't FULL LENGTH?? For example, FLASHBAX is under the full-length category in the games section, but when compared to the likes of KQ2VGA for example, it seems tiny in terms or play hours. Can you see where I'm going here..?

I know it would probably be a real pain in the AR5E to do, but would it be possible to outline each game or at least each category by the number of screens playable (excluding intros/outros and cutscenes) or perhaps average gameplay time (in hours)? And while I'm at it, would anyone actually be BOTHERED doing this? I only ask because I think that it would improve the AGS 'experience' for people who are new to the community (and maybe even the veterans).

Minimi · Mon 01/03/2004 13:39:45

Good point! First of all, Flashbax does not belong to the "full games" category, but medium games.

With a full game, we mean games, with the length of the commercial games like, Indiana Jones, Kings Quest, Day of the Tentacle, Larry, Police Quest, Broken Sword etc... etc...

Medium length games, are games that take a few hours of gameplay, or longer hours of play with a considerable less amount of rooms.

big brother · Mon 01/03/2004 14:49:51

I remember finding something on the AGS site that differentiated the categories in terms of rooms rather than hours. I can't seem to find it, but I'd like to know it again.

rodekill · Mon 01/03/2004 15:06:31

That's the problem with the short-medium-long system. For example, when I first released Rode Kill: ADITL, there were like, four AGS games total. At the time, it was actually pretty long comparitively. Now, as time goes on, the games are getting longer and better, so you've got these older games which are kind of stuck in limbo. Do you find someone to go in there once in a while and re-organize things? I wouldn't want that job.

Captain Mostly · Mon 01/03/2004 17:29:58

I'd like someone to move Mittens Shooter in Non-Adventure Games catagory. It mean, it won a non-adventure game prize! I think it deserves to be upgreaded from joke game!

Mind you, this is un-connected (well, not ENTIRLY un-connected, as the move would presumably come under the remit of this hypothetical re-organiser), and something I've been banging on about for ages. So ignore me.

MillsJROSS · Mon 01/03/2004 17:46:57

I don't see this as much of a problem, as CJ's new voting system incorporates the question, "What category of game do you think this deserves to be in?"

I'm not sure if it's moved there after so many votes or not, or if a mod has to move it manually, but this way it allows the general mass to decide.

The difference between these two categories has been discussed at length. And some people view it one way, by room #, others another way, time it takes to complete. My only suggestion is for people to vote on the games they've played, so the games page is more comprehensive, and represents the general viewpoint of the community.

-MillsJROSS

Pumaman · Mon 01/03/2004 21:53:24

Yeah, this was discussed in the Games page review thread.

Basically, as long as the games within a category are consistent with each other, that's the important thing. It's for this reason that as Mills points out, I added the question to the new voting form. Since people should only vote once they've finished the game, it seems a good time to ask (since if they've finished it, they'll know how long it is).

Currently nothing is actually done with the data collected from the votes on this, but I'll add a feature for it to show the moderators any games which have a large number of people saying they're in the wrong place - then the moderators can choose to move the game if appropriate.

As a general rule of thumb, short games are up to 30 minutes gameplay, medium games between 30 minutes and 4 hours, and full games over 4 hours. This is by no means a hard-and-fast rule though, sometimes a game just 'feels' like it belongs in one category or another.

Kinoko · Tue 02/03/2004 01:03:53

I'm not disagreeing with the system, I think it works pretty well the way it is. It's just the "four hours" bit that seemed a bit excessive to me if we're comparing commercial games, particularly the older ones like Monkey Island. I can finish that game in less than 3 hours easily @_@ I suppose someone playing for the first time will take much longer but... I don't know. 4 hours just seems like longer than most of the old adventure games I remember playing took me. Admittedly though, not the first time playing... so I suppose that's the point.

shbaz · Tue 02/03/2004 02:38:15

Of course you can finish a game you've already played in less than three hours. You'd know all of the puzzles, the puzzles are what take the most time. The first time I played FF7, it took over 60 hours. Another time, it took 8 hours. I think we're talking on a first-play time scale..

Squinky · Tue 02/03/2004 03:03:10

Quote from: Captain Mostly on Mon 01/03/2004 17:29:58
I'd like someone to move Mittens Shooter in Non-Adventure Games catagory. It mean, it won a non-adventure game prize! I think it deserves to be upgreaded from joke game!

Mind you, this is un-connected (well, not ENTIRLY un-connected, as the move would presumably come under the remit of this hypothetical re-organiser), and something I've been banging on about for ages. So ignore me.

You know, I always wondered why it was put in Joke games....Whats weird is that I didn't post it, because I didn't want to, and then I looked at my games one day and found it up there under joke games....heh...

Captain Mostly · Tue 02/03/2004 09:21:43

That seems quite harsh of someone! Not only posting it for you (without telling you) But then dismissing it as a Joke game!

Sill, who's laughing now eh?!! WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!!!!!!

Pumaman · Tue 02/03/2004 18:25:41

Sorry, my bad.

I added it when it got nominated for an AGS Award, because the Awards system required that all the nominated games were in the database.

I chose a category for it in a hurry without taking the time to re-play it and remind myself where it really qualified.

So, apologies - I've fixed the category of it now to Non-Adventure, but if you'd like it removed completely then do say so and I shall do so.

Squinky · Wed 03/03/2004 04:14:14

Yikes, no need to apologize Chris! I completely understand why you needed to do it, and thank you for your time. It's cool that you posted it, and truthfully, I understand your choice....

Now I feel like a bastard, but I really wasn't trying to complain...

Captain Mostly · Wed 03/03/2004 12:58:33

*hangs head in shame*

Pumaman · Wed 03/03/2004 20:40:27

Blimey, it's no big deal... I'm just apologising to be polite, I'm not offended or anything.

Anyway, just give us a shout if you'd like it removed.