I guess I'm a bit like Veiled_light in the respect that if nothing grabs me early on, I can guess it'll be a disappointment and I'm usually right. Some games, such as Lineage 2, I can tell that with my super casual play, I'll never make it to the really interesting bits. There have been a couple that I've gone back and played again even after being disappointed because I've heard they've improved the game significantly. I absolutely hated EQ2 in beta but quite some time after release they did a bit of a make over and I enjoyed it for quite a while. Although I'm sometimes quick to judge, I do try and fiddle with a game long enough to make it to some of the features which attracted me to it initially. I'm not always successful!
i can usually tell within a week. then if i like the game enough to play to the endgame i usually give that a week or so too, cause a lot of times games change at endgame
Not very long. There are certain criteria I look for and pretty much at the initial moment of logging in and experiencing the world I can quickly assess the game.
The Old Timers Guild Laid back, not so serious, no drama. All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
Hmmm... Well first of all I take a look at the screenshots (I rarely go blindfolded). If I don't like the graphics, I usually won't bother. When I'm inside the game and I know what to do (having a goal helps here and to have it, information about the game helps) I spend my first day pretty much hyped up and playin' like taking a breath after being underwater for a long, long time, never getting enough of it. I can spend over eight hours that day, waaay over. But what determines if I really like the game is the feeling that I get, I mean if I'm still interested playing that game after say... a weak. Lately staying interested in a game been a problem for me because since being very, very much into Rising Force Online and it's community, more precise the people in the guild. I kinda grew dependent for their company. Quitting that game had impact on me, that's for sure. What can you do if you're not happy playing anymore?
About 30-60 mins is all I need to know if a MMOG is for me now a days. I've played so many, its quite easy to get a feel for them pretty quickly. Like others said...
Is the UI decent?
Are the graphics nice?
Do the controls make sense?
Is the game play any good?
If I can't answer these quickly, its not worth my time. The game should feel "right" pretty fast. You should know a well designed game as soon as you log in. Its as simple as how the CC screen is set up. Is it all cluttered? Is the info you need right where its supposed to be? So many MMORPGs can't even get something THAT simple right and it usually never gets any better. For those who spend weeks or months trying to figure out if they like something...I'd love to have so much time to waste=) If you don't know after a day, you're a bored gamer.
WOW felt right instantly. Eve, Horizons and SB are good examples of what felt SOOOOOO wrong in almost every way. WIth UO & EQ, there was no precident set, so it was hard to tell. It was all just too new and different to "get". Looking back, they kind of sucked=)
About 45 minutes to an hour depending on the game. If the interface is shit and the overall look and feel of the game is cheap, I'll drop it in less than 30 minutes.
If the game survives that initial 45 minutes, I'll play it for about a week in order to see if there's a heavy grind that sets in later, or if you progress at a nice steady curve. Although another factor is how quickly I can get into a group and start playing after I log on. the first 45 minutes is to see if the game is playable solo, after that it becomes more about grouping and community. Most MMORPGs don't make it past the first week. Here's a short list of games that have:
City of Heroes - This game gives you lots of missions and advances you fairly quickly early on. What kept me playing, however, was that search feature that allowed you to search for players in your zone according to class and level so you could instant message them and get a party together VERY quickly. This is a great "jump in and play" game for those of us that have full time jobs and families.
Guild Wars - Not an MMORPG, but it definitely feels like one. Playing with character builds and getting a party together are extremely easy. The game has no grind and if you can't find anyone to group with you can grab some henchmen and go to town.
Eve Online - Played this game for about three weeks and was going to subscribe before the scandal hit. You definitely have to read the forums and get an idea of how you're going to develop your character and your business, but it's totally worth it. Made about 7 million ISK before I left and tried to gank a few people out in 0.0 space. Didn't get to because I could never shoehorn a warp scrambler into my little Incursus without running out of power. So yeah, they all ran away before I could get lock. Good times, it's just too bad that CCP had to fuck it up.
Bottom line, if you like the way the game plays solo and you're still playing it after a week then it's a keeper. Otherwise, it's a coaster.
Comments
The Old Timers Guild
Laid back, not so serious, no drama.
All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com
An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
Hmmm...
Well first of all I take a look at the screenshots (I rarely go blindfolded). If I don't like the graphics, I usually won't bother. When I'm inside the game and I know what to do (having a goal helps here and to have it, information about the game helps) I spend my first day pretty much hyped up and playin' like taking a breath after being underwater for a long, long time, never getting enough of it. I can spend over eight hours that day, waaay over. But what determines if I really like the game is the feeling that I get, I mean if I'm still interested playing that game after say... a weak. Lately staying interested in a game been a problem for me because since being very, very much into Rising Force Online and it's community, more precise the people in the guild. I kinda grew dependent for their company. Quitting that game had impact on me, that's for sure. What can you do if you're not happy playing anymore?
Cheers.
Is the UI decent?
Are the graphics nice?
Do the controls make sense?
Is the game play any good?
If I can't answer these quickly, its not worth my time. The game should feel "right" pretty fast. You should know a well designed game as soon as you log in. Its as simple as how the CC screen is set up. Is it all cluttered? Is the info you need right where its supposed to be? So many MMORPGs can't even get something THAT simple right and it usually never gets any better. For those who spend weeks or months trying to figure out if they like something...I'd love to have so much time to waste=) If you don't know after a day, you're a bored gamer.
WOW felt right instantly. Eve, Horizons and SB are good examples of what felt SOOOOOO wrong in almost every way. WIth UO & EQ, there was no precident set, so it was hard to tell. It was all just too new and different to "get". Looking back, they kind of sucked=)
If the game survives that initial 45 minutes, I'll play it for about a week in order to see if there's a heavy grind that sets in later, or if you progress at a nice steady curve. Although another factor is how quickly I can get into a group and start playing after I log on. the first 45 minutes is to see if the game is playable solo, after that it becomes more about grouping and community. Most MMORPGs don't make it past the first week. Here's a short list of games that have:
City of Heroes - This game gives you lots of missions and advances you fairly quickly early on. What kept me playing, however, was that search feature that allowed you to search for players in your zone according to class and level so you could instant message them and get a party together VERY quickly. This is a great "jump in and play" game for those of us that have full time jobs and families.
Guild Wars - Not an MMORPG, but it definitely feels like one. Playing with character builds and getting a party together are extremely easy. The game has no grind and if you can't find anyone to group with you can grab some henchmen and go to town.
Eve Online - Played this game for about three weeks and was going to subscribe before the scandal hit. You definitely have to read the forums and get an idea of how you're going to develop your character and your business, but it's totally worth it. Made about 7 million ISK before I left and tried to gank a few people out in 0.0 space. Didn't get to because I could never shoehorn a warp scrambler into my little Incursus without running out of power. So yeah, they all ran away before I could get lock. Good times, it's just too bad that CCP had to fuck it up.
Bottom line, if you like the way the game plays solo and you're still playing it after a week then it's a keeper. Otherwise, it's a coaster.