So why did open world games start getting smaller maps with next-gen?

[Sulaco]

i don't think it is.

I do wish Skyrim was larger. i have pretty much explored it all. I'm ready for a good expansion pack

Dragon Born?

 

[futurefields]

I think another thing is developers dont want you playing the same game for years anymore.

Its too much bang for the buck, hence smaller worlds, dlc, etc...

 

[Sixguns]

I think another thing is developers dont want you playing the same game for years anymore.

Its too much bang for the buck, hence smaller worlds, dlc, etc...

And we have a winner. Why give us all of the game for only $60 when after all the DLC a game can cost well over $100 for the same thing. I think being able to patch or DLC has ruined big worlds forever.

 

[futurefields]

I wait for GOTY's if i can... thats why im just now thinking on getting gta4.

 

[Bill Brasky]

The problem with that is that it also can totally kill the immersion experience of really feeling like you're a part of the world, and really rewarding you for exploring.

I call it the Oblivion phenomenon. As much as I loved Oblivion, the "compact" nature of much of the maps made the world feel artificial. You'd have ancient, massive ayelid ruins...like.....100 yards from each other.

I don't buy the "well, as long as it's populated with stuff" aruegment that less is more. It will depend on the game, but having too much junk just crammed into a smaller area gives that Theme Park feel that the world is condensed by design, and that's the last thing I want in a massive open world game or RPG.

I wish I still had that kind of time to become immersed in a game. I hate filler because my few gaming hours are valuable and I don't want to spend them running around empty maps.

 

[zerocool84]

I hear the next GTA game is supposed to be larger than SA. Hopefully it will be and also that we can actually use/walk/drive on it.

The next GTA is supposed to be larger than San Andreas and IV combined.

 

[futurefields]

I think they actually said its going to be bigger than San Andreas, GTA4, and Red Dead Redemption maps all put together. Which would be allsome. Hopefully they dont have to sacrifice too much detail to pull that off.

They also said driving is going to feel less boat-like.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Because there's too much goddamn walking. Have you actually played Oblivion? Ugh.

 

[Sulaco]

Because there's too much goddamn walking. Have you actually played Oblivion? Ugh.

Erm...I don't think open-world RPGs are your game then. Might I suggest Final Fantasy XIII :