Gentlemen. Ladies. We, as gamers, truly are spoiled. Say what you will about games not being of the caliber of old ( though that's poppycock ), but nowadays everything is handed to us in a silver platter. Through online we can just download games, eliminating the inconveniences of the past of actually walking into a store and physically buying games. Our games lately, for the most part, are easily digestible as in they are easily beaten. The days of epic hurdles to beat videogames are long past and entering into the imagined fabled
Hall of Videogame Champions is as sure as baseball players chewing bugglegum and taking steroids. For even if you're having the rough patch of beating a game, a gamefaq is but a click away on the world wide web.
Our game reviews tell us what to spend our hard earned money on, and in more than a comfortable percentage, even spoil the game for us, telling us all there is to it. Even before the review we are bombarded with developer diaries of upcoming games with screen shots that could choke a rhinoceros. The hype train of old amongst fans is now a hype campaign initiated by the companies behind the games to ensure our interest as well as our nestled dollars in our wallet. Information passed on to try to generate buzz. All these things I can understand. Know what I can't? If you're a perceptive one then the title to this post will lead you to the answer.
The answer being the latest phenomenon of
Ten Minutes of Videogameplay employed by almost every game site, including our own who recently added it to their frontpage arsenal. Let me, before I continue, just state I know I'll be in the minority here and that's okay. This just happens to be a pet peeve of mine that I am merely exploring and voicing. For the life of me I don't get it on a few fronts. For one, I don't want to be spoiled of what will be my initial play through of those said minutes. I kind of get a kick out of experiencing my own first impression of a game. I feel these rob you of not just any excitement the game may generate initially but of any possible surprises as well. Could you imagine if these existed when
Super Mario came out. Imagine the loss of discovery that would of happened there.
Two, I could probably find more things I detest, like any kind of waiting in line or otherwise, but watching someone else play a game is a close third or second. I know it's supposed to give you an inner peak at a game, that's the purpose yet that doesn't negate the sensation of feeling like the kookiest voyeur watching someone else playing. At least on a video game review there is the narrative of the review itself. With these it's hey watch me play this. Uhh, no. I'd rather not and before anybody says anything, I avoid these like the plague.
Obviously these are a huge hit as
everywhere you look you see them. I just don't understand why gamers nowadays want to ruin the beginnings of the opening arc to any game. Yes we are truly spoiled nowadays as gamers. More in depth coverage to games, more behind the scenes peeks, interviews with developers, thorough previews and reviews. And now these ten minutes of video gameplay ( well lets be honest, these have been around for a bit) along with the constant scrutinizing of games are in a way...siphoning all the mystery and wonder of our own playthroughs.
I wouldn't be surprised somewhere down the line full video of not just ten minutes but of the game or even a demo of the game being finished as the next supplemental to be embraced.
Oh wait, that's already being done.
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I agree with you. As someone who only recently acquirred 24-hour Internet access, the change is significant.
My preferred system is to read a review/preview before I play, a strategy guide while I play, and the online plethora of information (including cheats and secrets) after I play. Information overload is real.
In defense of these 10 minute opening things, they don't really portray the entire game experience to those who view it, and thus the sequence still has novelty when you play it yourself.
I must have watched the first 10 minutes of God of War 2 ten hundred million times before I actually played the game. That didn't stop it from becoming one of my favorite game openings ever.
I, for one, love the GiantBomb Quick Looks. I've been watching them for a while now, generally they are spoiler free or skip story nonsense, and the commentary the guys make is hilarious. I would not have bought Noby Noby Boy if I didn't watch their Quick Look. And generally it is more than ten minutes, more like a half hour, game depending. And (again) I watch it more for the humor they make while playing.
I see where you're coming from, but really, no one who is already set on buying the game being portrayed should be watching these videos. It's not intended for them.
Unless of course you happen to love seeing stuff spoiled, in which case by all means, do what you want.
I try to avoid these unless I’m on the fence about buying the game.
On a similar note: about a year ago I played the Bioshock demo and loved it. But when I bought the full game I rushed through the intro and everything else that was in the demo. I found it hard to get into the “groove” of things after that, I couldn’t soak in the atmosphere or the story, and I feel like the game was kind of ruined for me because of that.
I guess you need to be in a certain state of mind going into some games and knowing what’s going to happen can take you out of that.
I have to agree with TewDee that the Giant Bomb quick looks are easily the best on the internet. Not only do they try to not spoil the game for you, but the running two-person commentray they have going on the whole time is hilarious.
I was actually rather shocked to discover that Dtoid is doing the same kind of stuff now with their 10 minute videos, except not as interesting and not as well done. You would think if you were trying to copy someone else you would at least try to make it "your own" in some way. I guess creativity is dead.
Anyways, good read Yojimbo. I can completely understand where you are coming from.
With the exception of the Giant Bomb quick look videos, I agree with you. The Giant Bomb ones are more less like demos I can watch to see if I want a game, and they've helped me decide on some game purchases as well. :)
Y'know, you don't have to watch the video. If someone wants to spoil the beginning of the game, let it be.
I love Destructoid to death, but I think the Ten Minute Tastes are terrible. They have, as others have said, no personality, and are just boring, because frankly, what's the point of watching the first ten minutes of a game just happen?
That being said, I LOVE Quick Looks. They have fantastic commentary, last for much longer than ten minutes, help you learn things about the game when Jeff/Dave/Ryan/Vinny/Brad/Drew have been playing them for a few hours or so, and they are hilarious.
IMO.
@SilverDragon1979 - I know, right? I thought "Aw man, 10 min look from Dtoid? Kick ass." and I haven't watched more than one because it was just uninteresting.
Oh, I didn't realize everyone was doing this!
I've only watch one Giant Bomb quick Look, and I think that was fro Lets Tap. They do a very nice job of adding commentary/personality.
Though, I must say, I enjoyed running a few of those while watching destructoid.tv
I hate it when people hate things. Just kidding.
You make a good point, though I sometimes like watching them if I'm on the fence about purchasing a game.
Ten minute tastes are tasty.
I too agree! I tend to avoid them. The only time I am tempted is with a game that has a huge question mark and is one that I likely don't intend to buy... I guess it's something I don't mind looking at to see if it changes my mind.
I haven't actually watched any on Dtoid (none that I remember anyway)...but then again, I tend not to like watching video of any sort. For some reason, the written word hold more interest for me.
I've reiterated this before: don't read reviews until after you've played the game. No two people come to a game with the same mindset and background. It's absurd to assume someone is going to have a review of a title that meshes completely with your own. People have been so indoctrinated with the review culture that they don't know any better.
Eh, it depends.
Giant Bomb's been doing quick looks for awhile now, and frequently, they'll be in the middle of a game. Sometimes,a trailer isn't enough. I also think video reviews are waaaaaay more effective than walls of text, but not every game has a video review, so hearing two guys play a game and say "see,this part right here is kinda wonky, but check this out".
i've started a media blackout of these things after i played uncharted2 and this years e3 showed what is perhaps the best single part in the game.
we got previews, reviews, impressions (which is just a preview) and now this bullshit 10 taste (which is just a preview!) it does need to end but some of the editors here are a bit stale when it comes to good write ups so they cop out and write what is easy to them. its just them writing a preview probably after they already previewed it and need to make that blog quota for the month so they'll get paid.
its like buying a half eaten hamburger expecting it to fill you up. lazy fuckin editors, y'all get paid to write, now write something substantial and quit taking the easy way. and that's why Jim is a head above the rest, for the most part.
I agree with you somewhat, but only in regards to commentary added to the video. I'll never get over the fact that Giant Bomb gave false information in the Demon's Souls "quick look" that inevitably turned people off from buying the game.
It seems like they're not very good at games, so their chicanery works for lighter titles, but for others, it just ruins it. The Ten Minute Tastes feel cheaper, but I like them better because it's UNADULTERATED, pure, content. What you see is what you get, kind of deal.
I usually watch one single teaser trailer and stop looking at game-play video's at all. I'm pretty happy with the fact I know what game I'm gonna love and buy without spoiling it for me by watching millions of minutes of game-play. God the MGS4 ones were horrible. Some goof ball playing it like COD and ruining it for everybody.
I use gametrailers.com reviews for my deciding factor in a purchase.
I sort of agree. I haven't watched any yet, and I do tend to avoid things like this, but if for some reason there was a game where I just couldn't decide if I wanted to buy it, I guess I would be grateful for the option.
I'll generally read a couple reviews beforehand, to get a few different opinions, and then avoid most any video about the game. My one exception has been Tatsunoko vs Capcom. Before I imported, I watched a bunch of videos, several times over. Still a fun game.
But in general, I gotta agree with you. I'm not gonna say Dtoid shouldn't do ten minute tastes, but I myself am not gonna watch them. Unless the game in question has enough significance and on-the-fence-ness to make me.
DESTRUCTOID IS GAY
I showed up to look for my inbox. I told myself, I won't comment on anything I don't care. Then a Yojimbo post catches my eye.
My two cents:
I hate this. I really do. Seeing a few clips is okay, but seeing the first ten minutes? That's not exactly going to hype me up. That's going to make me go "Oh okay, now I have to see this again." Much like when a demo has you play the first part of a game and its a fucking tutorial. Some of them are fucking brutal about making you do a certain button press or combination that I never use ever again. The Warriors for example did that. Otherwise one of the best games I've played, but that fucking tutorial in the first bit is nonsense. If I had seen that, I probably wouldn't have gone into it.
Right now I've a handful of games I'm looking forward to playing. Since new games are all about the "experience" why ruin it with videos? I mean seriously, why watch something that lets all the shit out of the bag? What happened to mystery? The days of looking at a box and going "All right, let's try that."
About two minutes is the maximum I want to see something that I'm actually interested in, otherwise I consider the experience ruined. Like knowing how Brutal Legend ends before you play it. But according to Game Informer, Brutal Legend is .5 points lower than the latest wrestling game, so I'm the asshole here. Certain stuff in Uncharted I would not want to know. I thought someone had said there was something else, so I kept looking for it. When something similar finally shows up, I said "Oh this is it." I kept looking out for it. I knew it was coming. It affected that "experience."
Now a game that's all about gameplay like a fighting game or something like that, sure. But a game that's all about your cool moves like a Ninja Gaiden or God of War, I don't want to know. Devil May Cry 4, another example. I know going into it that not only does the game switch protagonists half way, but that theres a super weapon that Dante has. Thanks internet.
The greatest sin of all was from G4. Persona 3: FES had been released. I was curious. So I go to watch the review. It starts with the line, "As we all know [this happens] at the end of Persona 3." I instantly yelled "mother fucker." The whole time I played the game I knew what was going to happen and when it finally did, I was so fucking pissed. I'm still pissed. That's bullshit. An 80 hour game that's worth playing hardly comes along and these assholes have to ruin it? Thanks a lot.
But, let me say this. When I'm researching into a game that I want to buy, like say Mister Mosquito, I'll often look for a gameplay video. Based on that one video I'll probably buy something. Otherwise I end up buying crap like Death by Degrees of the Getaway Sunday that's just unplayable and stupid. A waste of money is a waste of time. A waste of time means that was time I could have spent making money to buy another game to spend time playing. So it's all for nothing. But the experience of having bought those games and played them makes me able to talk about it now. So who knows. But Mister Mosquito is hilarious.
My point is very simple. How could the T-Rex lock himself inside the boat in Jurassic Park 2 the lost world. Twenty years later I'm still upset.
One point I forgot to put in, usually the best part of a game is that start. For some reason they always make the first part great. I don't know why. Sometimes they don't, but in my experience the best levels or scenes are right up front. Bioshock had the trip through that underwater thing. Seeing a video of that, then playing the game and seeing it makes seeing it in game feel like a chore. Batman, if I had seen the opening to that new batman game I would not have enjoyed it in game. And Uncharted, if that demo had started right at the start with that temple stuff instead of combat, I might not have enjoyed it.
This is truth you say. And it actually has effected my purchases. I used to buy lots of games and try them out and now I haven't bought a single game since.....I think Left4Dead? The reason being that I can already read so much information about a game I no longer need to get it if it's not going to bring me anything I haven't already got besides some pretty graphics. I have never watched those ten minute videos though, even though I'm not buying any of the games I MAY want to buy them or play them one day and it would be ruined if I watched them.
So I'm not the only one who doesn't like even small things that may not be considered spoilers by most people.
I do agree with what you're saying here, which is why I tend to avoid most reviews of games that I'm interested in trying out. Why most reviews tend to avoid spoilers (at least those that happen later in the game), they may "spoil" bits of the game play and small details. For example, had I read almost any review of Shadow Complex, I might would've known what upgrades to expect and not have the surprise factor that keeps me going on a first play through. I'm still upset that I already know how Bioshock will open before I get to it, otherwise, I think I would have enjoyed the surprise more.
The beginning of a game can sometimes be the most fun because of the new and unexpected experience. It wouldn't be the same feeling of discovery if I already knew what to expect. I do know why these videos of the first ten minutes of game play exist and who their intended for, but their not quite for me.
I only watch the ones here for games I am not planning on getting anyway. I enjoy my first opening minutes with a game too much to ruin them.
Sir, I have fapped you. Fapped you HARD!
At least ten minutes don't do much damage nowadays wiht the loading screens of some games. Have you seen the geniuses of Gamespot that have done the First Full Hour of some games one day prior to launch date. Jesus!!! At least wait for the game to be on the street. I guess people are just too lacy to even download a demo and decide for themselves anymore. I remember that back in the day to know if a game sucked you had to actually buy it and play it.
Im of a similar mindset. I liken game review and game trailers tomovies. There is no more lazy ay to promote your art than to lop off a piece of it in full and just let that be alright.I can cite brutal legend as a perfect example of how this betrays the final product. The demo is nearly enough gameplay to meet Thai same standard and hen you play it there's absolutely no indication at all hat it's actually an RTS game. It's misleading and it hurt my final opinion of the game. Showing me the first 10 minutes of a game would be like showing me the credits. I may get some idea of what's going on but under a good number of the games I play it's showing me something that means very little in the greater context of the full title and sometime that can be worse than seeing nothing at all.
I agree to a certain extent. I used to watch these gameplay previews a ton a few years ago, but I slowly came to the realization that I would, like you, much rather experience the game for the first time when I'm playing it.
That being said, it won't stop for the very reasons you yourself listed: the hype machine of the publisher will never stop.
It's a business, unfortunately. And we as gamers must put up with it to get the titles we desire.
C'est la vie.