Dumb things that PC games should not do by 2013

[Rezident]

Be poorly ported to PC.

And Fall Damage - it's a game FFS. Sucks when your uber-commando-ultra-hero dies 'cos he jumped down ten feet.:thumbsdown:

 

[Midwayman]

Yes, I've heard this excuse, and quite frankly, I say tough sh*t. Somehow game studios existed for decades before launch day DLC, and impossibly some studios exist without it now. *Oh, but the climates changed for game developers, whaAAH* There's plenty of ways to occupy peoples time without taking advantage of the thousands of stupids just chomping at the bit to waste their money. Of course part of me understands these dolts can waste their cash how they want, but it just perpetuates the practice, and studios seem to get brazenly worse every year.

I'd also like to add that it's often a crock of sh*t that they do all of the work post completion. I don't know how many times I've seen DLC content art released pre launch, or in collectors editions art books before the DLC even apparently exists, or hear about it in year old interviews before they change it to DLC content. Maybe they don't start putting all of the pieces together until after the game is done, but it seems to me a large amount of production gets done before hand.

Just telling you what happens on the game dev side of things. Its content that wouldn't exist otherwise. Maybe it was designed to be DLC from the start. Maybe its content originally design for the base game but would be cut for time/budget reasons. Instead they ship it as DLC so the project still hit its targets.

Concept art and interviews are a far cry from finished content, but yes you do sort of have to plan for content. Even stuff that is released months down the line is usually in the design doc as something they want to do. You need to add the code for it from the start or it is a PITA to implement later. So not *all* work on DLC is going to be done after the main game, but different people are working on different stuff at different times. I can tell you a smart EP is going to have his art team work on DLC last so you don't risk slipping the ship date. That's tied to all sorts of things like bonuses and royalties. If day DLC goes out on disc- awesome for them. If not, its DLC available in the couple of weeks between gold and launch.

So in any case day 1 DLC is about making efficient use of your team based on when people normally roll on and off projects. Not some scam to somehow screw the consumer. And yes, it makes them some money.

 

[cmdrdredd]

There is nothing wrong with QTEs at all. It only happens during intense scenarios and enhances the tension of the moment. In the case of GoW it allows more cinematic and more dramatic death scenes for the baddies and boss fights. There's nothing cheesy or out of place about it at all.

Most people complain about QTEs because they have slow reaction time and can't press the A button in time.

 

[motsm]

There is nothing wrong with QTEs at all. It only happens during intense scenarios and enhances the tension of the moment. In the case of GoW it allows more cinematic and more dramatic death scenes for the baddies and boss fights. There's nothing cheesy or out of place about it at all.

Most people complain about QTEs because they have slow reaction time and can't press the A button in time.

No need to make up some blanket statistic like that. I hate QTE's and typically won't buy games that include them (with very rare exceptions) it has nothing to do with not being good at them. You can like them, and others can dislike them without fabricating reasons why.

 

[smackababy]

First QTE was in a game released in 1983. That was 30 years ago. Get over it already.

PC gamers are a bunch of whiners.

The only thing that needs to go away in PC gaming is the PC gamers. They are such cry babies.

And people complaining about day one DLC is rather hilarious. You either just started gaming and don't remember games with expansion packs AND you have absolutely no idea how software development works.


No thread crapping and broad insults of the people who come into the PC gaming forum. -Admin DrPizza

 

[sweenish]

First QTE was in a game released in 1983. That was 30 years ago. Get over it already.

PC gamers are a bunch of whiners.

The only thing that needs to go away in PC gaming is the PC gamers. They are such cry babies.

And people complaining about day one DLC is rather hilarious. You either just started gaming and don't remember games with expansion packs AND you have absolutely no idea how software development works.

I'd say that the only thing that needs to go away in gaming is gamers. No need to just focus on the PC side of it.

I have stopped calling myself a gamer. I enjoy video games. A mouthful, but better than being associated with the kindergarten level groupthink that is "gamers."

 

[Dankk]

gamers are a bunch of whiners.

Fixed that for you.

 

[motsm]

And people complaining about day one DLC is rather hilarious. You either just started gaming and don't remember games with expansion packs AND you have absolutely no idea how software development works.

How is an older generation expansion pack even remotely similar to day 1 DLC?

 

[ImpulsE69]

First QTE was in a game released in 1983. That was 30 years ago. Get over it already.

PC gamers are a bunch of whiners.

The only thing that needs to go away in PC gaming is the PC gamers. They are such cry babies.

And people complaining about day one DLC is rather hilarious. You either just started gaming and don't remember games with expansion packs AND you have absolutely no idea how software development works.

What, are you 12? I mean really. You give expansions as an example, but expansions didn't come out day 1. And actually..every one of your troll attempts here miss the mark. GTFO of PC gaming as we already know from your constant trolling in the console forums that you obviously don't know how to work one. We all get it, you like to have your games spell out what you need to have done. One button at a time. XYBA

 

[smackababy]

How is an older generation expansion pack even remotely similar to day 1 DLC?

Ultima 8 Speech pack. Day one "expansion". Most expansions were overpriced, took forever to come out, and sucked. The Sims expansions? HL:Blueshift? BG2: Throne of Baal?

I'll take DLC any day.

 

[Bateluer]

Ultima 8 Speech pack. Day one "expansion". Most expansions were overpriced, took forever to come out, and sucked. The Sims expansions? HL:Blueshift? BG2: Throne of Baal?

I'll take DLC any day.

ToB was better than any DLC. Same with Brood War, Frozen Throne, Beyond the Dark Portal, and many more. Expansions took longer to come out because they were actually making new content and the wait was worth it. Most DLC isn't worth the time it takes to download, and zero day DLC is offensive.

Also, the Sims? You brought that up to show why expansions are bad . . . really? Take a look at The Sim's store page in Origin. The game exists to sell DLC junk.

 

[motsm]

Ultima 8 Speech pack. Day one "expansion". Most expansions were overpriced, took forever to come out, and sucked. The Sims expansions? HL:Blueshift? BG2: Throne of Baal?

I'll take DLC any day.

Saying that typical expansions are overpriced compared to modern DLC is just nonsense and you know it. Also, using Throne of Bhaal as an example of a bad expansion... I don't even, wat? I'll leave you to troll someone else.

 

[werepossum]

FWIW this is mostly a misunderstanding with consumers. Games can be released feature complete and have day 1 DLC. The thing is the art teams generating content usually finish up before programming is done. They normally might roll onto another project that's earlier in production, but the normal schedule can result in a hire/fire cycle with some art teams as you don't need nearly as many people early on. With day 1 DLC you can keep the extra team on and generate content that was never in the original budget and not have to fire people. Works great. Its kinda like getting pissed because you paid for the normal edition of a game and didn't get the legendary collector edition content for free. Just 'cause something is available doesn't mean you've paid for it.

I agree with this for some games. If it's a game with ten hours' play or four maps, then it kind of ticks me off too. On the other hand, the last two Fallout games had literally a hundred-plus hours of play without replays or mods. If a developer is generating that kind of content, something has to give, especially for the smaller and less profitable PC market. In that case I'm happy to pay extra for DLC as it essentially allows me to buy $100+ worth of work in pieces. If I like the game, the extra content is available to allow me to like it some more. If I don't particularly like the game, then I can forgo the extra content.

Done correctly, DLC should prolong a game's utility and maximize its value because neither the game engine nor the basic premise have to be created. Therefore the DLC team can concentrate just on content.

 

[Maximilian]

Yesss feed it guys!! Feed it moar!!

 

[ImpulsE69]

But it's fun

Seriously though. The gist of all of this is that console and pc games can both be fun/good depending on tastes. The thing many PC gamers have issues with is that what is good on console doesn't necessarily translate well to a pc game. Thus..many of the complaints.

I mean..honestly...I don't mind QTC events, but I prefer them on consoles rather than PC games, because they are things that are better suited to button mashing on gamepads than keyboards. I mean...did anyone try Diablo or other PC RTS ported to console vs PC..omg the horror....

 

[chalmers]

Please don't quote him, I have that retard on ignore. Every single time he posts is an attempt to trollbait, especially his first post in a thread. Get a life.

Depending on who you're talking about, I agree - just ignore people who are trolling. And, it's helpful to report their post. But please don't drop to the level of calling people 'retards' in the PC Gaming forum. Thanks. -Admin DrPizza

 

[cmdrdredd]

No need to make up some blanket statistic like that. I hate QTE's and typically won't buy games that include them (with very rare exceptions) it has nothing to do with not being good at them. You can like them, and others can dislike them without fabricating reasons why.

When someone says most it doesn't mean all...

This isn't the only forum I visit and the complaint about qtes I see elsewhere are they require timing and sometimes people don't get enough time to hit the correct button. I remember shenmue being very hard because of this. I know one thing though, some games would not have as awesome a boss fight without some qte gameplay. It allows the game to have a cinematic feel and do things you couldn't do in normal gameplay. It is for wow factor more than anything.

 

[motsm]

To get this back on track, I'd say giant controller and couch oriented UI's need to go. If porting from a console just keep it optional, but add one specialized for mouse, keyboard & desk setups.

As for rebinding keys, I've found some games these days implement it on their ports, but forget that they have contextualized certain actions. So E is your default use key, so they link using certain contextual objects like turrets or vehicles to the E key. However, they never link them to the key bind menu, so you if you change your use key to something else, those actions will still be E with no way to change them. The few times I've run into this it just made me instantly regret supporting their lazy port job.

 

[Cerb]

1. Volume sliders that is too soft even on max. Easily solved with checkbox to boost volume +10/20 dB. But programming that is hard, bro, so I have to cater to this special snowflake game with my worn out speaker volume knob when everything else doesn't screw with me. Thanks.

Listen to older music, and/or watch a good movie, and your volume should be about right for a good game (use ReplayGain to help with newer music). Max volume should be 0dBFS, and the only things that get close to that should be explosions or big guns firing right next to you.

2. No option to disable depth of field and motion blur, or bundling either one with things like Post-FX *cough* Saints Row 3 *cough*. The eye pain, make it stop.

Yeah, screw that. I make a point to research that, now, since games are typically non-refundable. Some games have had good motion blur, but zero games have had good DoF (outside of animated cutscenes). I don't see why console players put up with it, myself. I would include bloom in that list, too. **** bloom filters. They belong on shiny waxy/polished surfaces only, and even then should typically be of lesser intensity.

3. Non-instantaneous alt-tabbing. Or making alt-tab changing the game from fullscreen to windowed mode, because that absolutely make perfect sense TO ANNOY THE CRAP OUT OF ME.

I get going to windowed mode being a problem (what game(s)? I don't recall that happening), but sometimes alt-tabbing will take a few seconds, because Windows basically restarts its window manager. Using the compatibility mode settings to disable compositing and visual themes may lave you without Aero, but should help that some.

 

[futurefields]

1. No more DLC that affects the main game. Only "new game" style DLC such as Far Cry Blood Dragon, The Ballad of Gay Tony, Undead Nightmare. Those are acceptable. Game changing DLC and/or cutting out parts of a game to sell as DLC should not be accepted by the masses any longer.

 

[JeffMD]

To list a few:

1. Volume sliders that is too soft even on max. Easily solved with checkbox to boost volume +10/20 dB. But programming that is hard, bro, so I have to cater to this special snowflake game with my worn out speaker volume knob when everything else doesn't screw with me. Thanks.

2. No option to disable depth of field and motion blur, or bundling either one with things like Post-FX *cough* Saints Row 3 *cough*. The eye pain, make it stop.

3. Non-instantaneous alt-tabbing. Or making alt-tab changing the game from fullscreen to windowed mode, because that absolutely make perfect sense TO ANNOY THE CRAP OUT OF ME.

Anyway, Devs won't give a shit because we gamers are just entitled idiots and they are lazy assholes.

I gotta nitpick...

#1.. get an audio setup that doesn't suck! Game audio is never soft. You simply lack an amplification powerful enough to get it as loud as you want it.

#2 I'm all for adding as many graphic options as possible, but since half the instances of these are not actually depth of field but instead shaders, its hard to switch them on and off at will. Most games do thankfully toggle motion blur.

#3 The blame with this lies entirely on your video card and display device. Play your games in full screen windowed mode for best results, just hope they don't do stupid things like planetside 2 and unexplainably make the game window "always on top" making alt tab %100 useless in windowed mode.

 

[Zenoth]

Timed Missions

I hated them during the 8-bit days, still hate them today.

 

[AdamantC]

ESCORT MISSIONS!
Can't believe no one has brought these little piles of horror and frustration. Who ever thought trying to protect hapless NPCs with absolutely no sense of self preservation and brain dead AI with hardly any health need to taken out back and shot.

 

[Scooby Doo]

Everytime you mention quicktime events... I think of apple's QT file format LOL

 

[JeffMD]

Escort missions are fine if the npc isn't fragile. I like the whole mobile defense tactic. GW2 kind of does this both ways. Some escort missions will feature an npc that can tank by himself for sometime alone, others will die after the mobs throw out a few AOE spells.