Dear Gaming Industry.
Hello. How are you? Myself, I am doing pretty well... except for when it comes to video games.
First things first, even though I’ve certainly enjoyed my fair share of retro games, I’m not one of those “get offa my lawn with your newfangled graphics” kinda guys.
I like all eras of gaming equally, and can sit down and play "Super Mario Land" right alongside "Uncharted 2", my personal favorite game of all time. That said, there is a trend in video games these days that drives me absolutely nuts. Let’s discuss, shall we?
Tutorials are the Chief to video games's Randle McMurphy at the end of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". And no, I don't mean they're giving them a hug... more referring to the brutal smothering.
There is an absolutely insane amount of hand holding these days and more importantly, gameplay stoppage. Take for example, "Guitar Hero". I bought the most recent Guitar Hero on an insane sale, and figured I’d give it a shot. Smash cut to 20 minutes later, and I’m about to hurl the shitty plastic guitar through my window because I still haven’t been allowed to play a full song. Why, you ask? because there are six. tutorials. SIX TUTORIALS. That’s insanity. That’s literally one tutorial for each button on the fret board. And I can only imagine that there are more tutorial to be tutored as I unlock more powers. It's also the 12th Guitar Hero game. I know how to play the dang game. While I understand that some may be new to the series, having the option to be given this insane amount of teaching seems much more reasonable. I’m holding a guitar shaped controller. You really think I can’t figure out I need to strum to do things? This disdain for your player’s intelligence makes me very reluctant to keep playing the game.
While it’s true that some older games had terrible conveyance and were incredible obtuse, there is surely a happy medium to be found. But you game developers seem to think we’re all friggin morons, and treat us as such. Maybe the option for a tutorial, or the option to just get throw in? All I know is that with the amount of stoppage at the beginning of games and the lack of ability to do whatever you want, it makes games incredibly frustrating.
Another resource that discusses this in depth is Arin Hanson/Egoraptor’s Sequelitis about Megaman. At one point he mentions the “yeah I get it” chart. This is the perfect description of modern gaming. I can’t count the amount of time’s I have said “yeah, I get it” as a tutorial just continues to expound about some inane detail. There's something to be said about allowing us to figure out the functionality of the game, developers. If I can’t figure it out, that’s on me. So let me explore. Please.We don't need you to shove every little thing down our throats.
(Very) Sincerely,
George
