What is the best length a single player campaign should be?

I don't see a need to impose an arbitrary number of required hours for all video games or any genre or any video game but what is right for any one game. It's the same for movies, for TV shows (they often run for too long), and for novels. These things, however, should be priced according not only to length but also quality; and, really, it's relative to what value people are willing to give to any one thing at a given time.

It seems that single-player campaigns are getting shorter, these days. I would appreciate a 15-20 hour single player campaign.

It seems that single-player campaigns are getting shorter, these days. I would appreciate a 15-20 hour single player campaign.

MathMattS

Meh, I feel that most campaigns are too long for me. But then again, that's just me because I don't have that much time to play video games anymore compared to how much I used to so I appreciate being able to beat my games within a week. But then again, I borrow/rent/buy used or cheap games over buying full price.

RPG - 40+

Shooter - 8+

Action/Adventure/Other - 12+

Sandbox - 20+

brickdoctor

I agree with these numbers, except the Sandbox. I'd prefer 40+ hrs.

Maybe I'm just 'Old School', but I prefer single player shooters over the current insistence on multiplayer Zombie fests.

As such, I like the campaigns to last,...in real life terms, atleast a month,...in playing terms, atleast 25-30 hours. And thats on the Normal default settings.

When I first started building computers, the first game that REALLY grabbed me was Medal of Honour; Allied Assault! That game lasted a good long time. Spearhead and Breakthrough were a waste of time mind you, but atleast THE team that created Allied Assault redeemed themselves when they 'banded' together to create Infinity Ward and CALL OF DUTY!! The first 3 COD games were outstanding!!

I really miss those LONG campaign games! For the $60 the publishers are demanding for a new game these days, I would like the game to last longer than a day!!

I just finished Black Ops, after waiting for the price to drop to $35, and I finished the game in just over 8 hours!! Huh!? Wha? I felt like I was asleep for half the game, and missed some of the missions!! Dont get me wrong. I thought the story was great, the missions decent, and the graphics typical of Call of Duty,...but c'mon,...8 hours!?

And okay fine, the publishers create DLC for MP,..where is the same for Single Player?! I'd pay an extra $10 for some more missions,...

And while we're at it, discussing missions,...not all missions have to be shoot everything till it stops moving!! What happened to stealth, and using a sniper rifle? And missions don't have to move in a linear fashion. Why not have choices to make that result in different paths? The ultimate ending might still be the same, but how we get there dosen't have to be!!!

I guess it boils down to 'I want a FPS game that challenges me to make decisions for atleast 30 hours of gameplay', like Allied Assault, Jedi Outcast, Far Cry, and Stalker.

Maybe I'm just 'Old School', but I prefer single player shooters over the current insistence on multiplayer Zombie fests.

As such, I like the campaigns to last,...in real life terms, atleast a month,...in playing terms, atleast 25-30 hours. And thats on the Normal default settings.

When I first started building computers, the first game that REALLY grabbed me was Medal of Honour; Allied Assault! That game lasted a good long time. Spearhead and Breakthrough were a waste of time mind you, but atleast THE team that created Allied Assault redeemed themselves when they 'banded' together to create Infinity Ward and CALL OF DUTY!! The first 3 COD games were outstanding!!

I really miss those LONG campaign games! For the $60 the publishers are demanding for a new game these days, I would like the game to last longer than a day!!

I just finished Black Ops, after waiting for the price to drop to $35, and I finished the game in just over 8 hours!! Huh!? Wha? I felt like I was asleep for half the game, and missed some of the missions!! Dont get me wrong. I thought the story was great, the missions decent, and the graphics typical of Call of Duty,...but c'mon,...8 hours!?

And okay fine, the publishers create DLC for MP,..where is the same for Single Player?! I'd pay an extra $10 for some more missions,...

And while we're at it, discussing missions,...not all missions have to be shoot everything till it stops moving!! What happened to stealth, and using a sniper rifle? And missions don't have to move in a linear fashion. Why not have choices to make that result in different paths? The ultimate ending might still be the same, but how we get there dosen't have to be!!!

I guess it boils down to 'I want a FPS game that challenges me to make decisions for atleast 30 hours of gameplay', like Allied Assault, Jedi Outcast, Far Cry, and Stalker.

grimfate