Re: Gameplay theory: leaving object behind..


Tue, 19 Sep 1995 16:37:16 GMT

"Sam Hulick" <shulick@guava.ucs.indiana.edu> wrote:

>Let's say you're playing a game, and you explore a place thoroughly (or
>so you think). Then a few minutes later, you take a ship to another
>country, but then realize that you needed something back in the other
>country! Would you RATHER have a game not let you board the ship
>without a few things? (i.e. a message prints "You get the odd feeling
>you forgot something") Or would you rather be able to leave anyway, and
>later find out you forgot an item or two, and restore an older game?

I would rather discover in the new country what I missed picking up or
doing in the old country and finding either the same means of
returning to the old country or a new means of returning to the old
country to pick up or do what was forgotten. The adventure should be
fully playable without having to technically resort to re-playing from
an old saved game. And I HATE no win situations then.

Once you have returned to the new country accomplishing all old tasks
correctly the means you used to go back and forth can disappear or be
found broken or left intact.

Actually I think a good game subtly won't let you proceed until you
are ready. Forinstance, the ship captain tells you, "No money, no
passage!" and kicks you off the ship. Finding the money leads you
into the part of the adventure you missed doing in the old country.

* Susan * <SusanD@ix.netcom.com>
* Sometimes The Dragon Wins! *