Game Dev Survey

• gambleflash wrote on 2014-10-25 20:29
  1. In the vein of Mabinogi's age and fatness systems, would you play a game that makes your character actually look like they're 50+ with wrinkles and flabby skin and stooping? Or a fatness system that gives your character lovehandles and beer bellies? Assume the aging is based on how the character lives (a knight would likely not stoop and still look healthy while a chef or butcher would develop a large belly).
  
  -On that note, how much freedom do you want in developing your character? (Include character creation, skill development, etc.)
  
  2. What type of graphic style do you prefer in a game? Cutesy? Adult anime-like (ex. Witch Hunter Robin)? Elementary to Middle-school anime (ex. Naruto, Sailor Moon)? Realistic (ex. Tera)? Stylized (ex. WoW, Runescape)?
  
  3. Do you prefer the Korean MMO style of grinding (kill 5000 of this monster to reach the next level) or the western style of grinding (do 100 quests to reach the next level)? Something else (running so-and-so dungeon, raids, trading)?
  
  4. What's your current favourite game? Why? Is there something that sets it apart from other games you've played?
• Baku wrote on 2014-10-25 23:43
  1. If it's done correctly it -might- be interesting, but, you'd have to also ask yourself if this is purely cosmetic, or does it have an actual effect on the character? And then balance that. All in all, I think it'd be unnecessary. And specifically for aging... depends on how fast do you age, and what happens when you reach a very high age? All things to consider.
  
  1.b Freedom in development: Character progression and creation is one of the things I look at the most in RPGs, I like a lot of freedom, a lot of choices when making a character and when developing it.
  
  2. Don't really care much, as long as the art quality is good. (ART quality, not specifically graphic quality)
  
  3. western. The important part is to keep the player engaged, and add some variety. Things like dynamic quests like seen in GW2 dynamic events and FFXIV FATES are something that add a bit of dynamic and fun to the leveling process, another thing I consider very important is the sense of wonder and exploring, going around areas should be interesting, interesting places and landscapes. That's one of the things that keeps me sane when leveling up. World of Warcraft really did that one for me, whatever anyone thinks of WoW, the landscape and zone design is marvelous (or at least it was vanilla, I really can't speak for how it is now, since I haven't played much after the revamp of Azeroth)
  
  4. Game? MMO or not?
  It's really hard to choose ONE favorite game.
  Morrowind comes to mind, because it really feels like an amazing and wondrous adventure, an amazing and interesting culture to discover and things to see. No hand-holding at all, you are placed in this big island told why you were sent there with some directions and there you go, no stupid quest markers, just REALLY good dialogue to help you find your way.
  But then there's also Darklands, which also meet similar things to what I said above, the freedom. I really liked the dynamic encounters, going out there when you are starting out is scary, you never know what you'll run into that can wreck your ass, or rob you.
  
  MMO, without a doubt, Ultima Online is my favorite, I like the character development system, where skills go up with use, and so do stats. Interesting variety in skills, variety in builds. Lovely world to explore, big, open, huge sandbox feeling, (pre Age of Darkness expansion) danger in every corner from possible PKs or player thieves, playing UO on a RP server felt more immerse than any other game experience ever.
• Shanghai wrote on 2014-10-26 02:12
  1. While the idea is nice and would create a lot more character diversity to the game world, I don't see it being widely used. From what I've seen/experienced with friends, people typically stick to an archetype of a character, and reiterate it across different games if given the customization to. Hell, it'd be hilarious to play as a dwarf with a drinking problem, and have him sloshing through enemies with his mass, but very rarely do people explore beyond their favored options of what they see in their avatars. I'm not denying that some people would love playing as characters of different sizes or figures, it's just relatively uncommon and developers would place it as a secondary priority and stick with the classic face sliders and types and use one body model for that gender/race.
  
  - Race and a few sliders are all I tend to look for in character creation if it's an MMO. If there's only one race, then there needs to be more options and whatnot to diversify the pool of players from each other. For single player games with an emphasis on set main characters, then I'm perfectly fine playing as they are, with maybe a few outfits or accessories they could equip as a bonus. I like classes or skill-sets that don't really have a solid role in an MMO-trinity: DPS, healer, tank, so that when specced out, can perform in one-two parts of the trinity with varying levels of effectiveness. Classes like Paladins, Druids, and the like always fancied me more than Warriors or Mages, for example.
  
  2. If the graphic/art style looks cohesive and the presentation of the game is built keeping all factors in mind, then I don't mind.
  
  3. Quests do give a lot of sustenance and sometimes exposition to the game-play, as well as promote moving from one zone to another, so I'd go with Quest-style leveling. Although I do like to grind every once in awhile, so if the game offered both, that'd be great.
  
  4. I've been playing a lot of platformers/Rogue-likes lately, so indie games like Rogue Legacy, Risk of Rain, come to mind. They give a very Arcadey short game session feel that reminds me of Arcade Games(which I still do play with an emulator). They remind me of my mindset when I'm playing Arcade games, where I feel accomplished when I'm able to beat the inherently unfair quarter-sucking systems with skill and no hand-holding. Such games would be, say, Metal Slug or Bubble Bobble and the like.
  
  MMOs? I've been an odd sucker for Toontown Online, especially when community-made servers were erected up again to continue the game so I could play it from time to time. It's completely unique and retracted theme sets it apart from most MMOs, and was my childhood game for a long time. It was one of the only MMOs on the market to incorporate a cohesive turn-based battle system that encouraged teamwork between players, and even encouraged players to help one another due to the openness of the many systems in the game.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2014-10-26 07:58
  1. Not enough players actually really use this feature. Just simply races with minor adjustments is enough
  b. A system that's well thought and polished is more important than whether it's linear or not. This means hundreds of hours of playtesting.
  
  2. Depends on the theme but online games with content updates should be stylized to save costs.
  
  3. See FFXIV: ARR
  
  4. FFXIV: ARR shows how it's more important to have a polished and well running online game rather than something that falls apart. e.g. Wildstar.
• Kaeporo wrote on 2014-10-26 13:14

  Quote from gambleflash;1252072:

  1. In the vein of Mabinogi's age and fatness systems, would you play a game that makes your character actually look like they're 50+ with wrinkles and flabby skin and stooping? Or a fatness system that gives your character lovehandles and beer bellies? Assume the aging is based on how the character lives (a knight would likely not stoop and still look healthy while a chef or butcher would develop a large belly).
  
  -On that note, how much freedom do you want in developing your character? (Include character creation, skill development, etc.)
  
  2. What type of graphic style do you prefer in a game? Cutesy? Adult anime-like (ex. Witch Hunter Robin)? Elementary to Middle-school anime (ex. Naruto, Sailor Moon)? Realistic (ex. Tera)? Stylized (ex. WoW, Runescape)?
  
  3. Do you prefer the Korean MMO style of grinding (kill 5000 of this monster to reach the next level) or the western style of grinding (do 100 quests to reach the next level)? Something else (running so-and-so dungeon, raids, trading)?
  
  4. What's your current favourite game? Why? Is there something that sets it apart from other games you've played?

  
  
  1. I wouldn't not play a game with that kind of system, though I would advise against going overboard with the concept ala Fable.
  
  2. It depends entirely on the game. I typically prefer realistic graphics but I'm not opposed to other art styles so long as the design is consistent.
  
  3. While grinding does act as an extension of content, care should be taken to ensure that it never extends past bridging memorable content together. Developers should reward skill and patience but minimize RNG reliance.
  
  4. Metroid Prime. It's a truly fantastic game that gets everything right. Amazing gameplay, atmosphere (sound/graphics), rewarding boss fights, unique gameplay concepts, varied environments, cohesive back story, etc.
  
  Need more examples of quality games?
  
  Zelda (Ocarina of Time/A Link to the Past/Oracle of Ages/Wind Waker/Majora's Mask)
  Dark Souls
  Resident Evil 4
  Super Mario (Bros 3/World/64/Galaxy/3D World)
  Yoshi's Island (1)
  Castlevania (SOTN/Order of Ecclesia)
  Paper Mario (1/2)
  Golden Sun (1/2)
  Minecraft
  Borderlands (1/2)
  Donkey Kong Country (1/2/Returns)
  Shadow of the Colossus
  Bioshock (1/Infinite)
  Tales of (Vesperia/Symphonia)
  Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken
  Mass Effect (All)
  Final Fantasy Tactics: Advance
  The Elder Scrolls (Skyrim/Oblivion/Morrowind)
  Call of Duty (4: Modern Warfare)
  Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga/Bowser's Inside Story
  Okami
  Ikaruga
  Super Smash Bros. Melee
  Runescape
  Amnesia: The Dark Descent
  Bastion
  
  These are all that immediately come to mind. The quality of most should be obvious; others? Not inherently.
  
  I'll highlight some stuff.
  
  Dark Souls, Metroid Prime, Bioshock, Shadow of the Colossus, Amnesia, and Resident Evil have absolutely phenomenal atmosphere.
  Dark Souls also has amazing (and terrible) level design, the best loot system in any game, and one of the finest combat systems.
  Bastion has good art design and the upgrade system is very well done.
  Golden Sun, Tales of Vesperia, and a few others have massive, interesting worlds that you want to explore and it feels dreadful when your adventure ends.
  Ikaruga introduced that fantastic polarity mechanic.
  Majora's Mask does a great job with adult horror themes. The most mature and realistic drama that I've seen in any game.
  Mass Effect (single-player) has amazing character interaction.
  Mass Effect 3 (multi-player) is the SINGLE BEST EXAMPLE of content balancing. Those developers cared and it showed. Seriously.
  Runescape. Say what you want about the gameplay, art, music, etc. but it has a massive amount of quality, varied, and interesting content.
  Golden Sun. Dem puzzles.
  Call of Duty 4 has top-notch pacing.
  Paper Mario popularized interactive turn-based combat and that second game is notably dark and edgy, which is great and contrasts with its art style.
  Symphony of the Night. The sheer number of unique enemies in this game blows everything out of the fucking water.
  Amnesia/Fatal Frame. Not listed above but these play survival horror correctly.
  
  Check this YouTube channel out: Extra Credits
  
  If you're looking for insight on game development, that is a great place to start.