What's the big deal with open-world/open-ended gameplay?

To be honest, it's been getting on my nerves for a little while. When I recall memorable games, I always recall linear, highly-scripted experiences (Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario Galaxy, etc.). So, why has there been such a newfound emphasis on open-ended gameplay this generation to the point where many games are criticized for being linear? I think that linear games allow the developers to concentrate an epic experience rather than thin it out and make it so you could easily miss it.

For example, both Oblivion and Fallout 3 left me vastly disappointed since it felt like there was too much I could do; it was a little overwhelming. Not that i have a short attention span or anything, but when I have a world that would probably take half a day to walk across and only 1 hour to play, you can't blame me for having trouble deciding what to do. And, the side quests that I attempted clearly were inferior to the main quest in quality to the point where it seemed that it was almost pointless to include them since it just felt like a step down.

There is one exception to this problem: inFamous. The game was able to successfully limit the options of open-ended gameplay to a manageable amount, and still provide a linear, epic experience in the story missions. Instead of trying to pretend like they were the story missions, the side missions served a clear purpose: to allow you to gain territory. This is how open-ended games should be made, in my opinion.

Does anyone agree with me? Disagree? Tell me why.

Whats up with all the FPSes, RPGs, etc.?

It's probably because they wanted a game that players could actually become an actual part of. Something that could place the player as part of the world and not just roleplay as a pre created character while you explore the world in his/her eyes. You end up as the one unraveling the world they create for all it's worth.

I have to disagree, open world gives you a freedom that some people enjoy.

I do like linear games to a point, but games nowadays are trying to become more and more realistic. To achieve that level you have to have open world.

I like both linear games and sandbox games.

yeah, gaming has hit a sort of renaissance-change. Many people just want more freedom, and most developers are trying to give them just that. It started with simple things like being able to choose between Mario and Luigi to BIG things like what clothes you want to wear, what guns you want to use, where you wanted to go, and when you wanted to carry out quest. Plus, some people like the MMORPG feel but hate the genre, and this is the way to appeal to those people.

Saying that, i can also note that most open world games are VERY overwhelming, just like the MMORPG genre. There is usually so much to do that if someone really tried everything out in the game, it may take a whole month if they played 24/7 without going to sleep, and then they still probably wouldn't have done all of it.

And really, I remember only the story of linear games, not much of what i DID personally in the game. I remember most of what I DID personally in open-world games.

Yup I miss the linear type games of the old days myself. Theres this one open world game though thats bigger than any other, its called Life. Thats the only open world game that I play. You get to do anything but in Life you have consequences that is the only drawback really.

Open world games are fine with me. You just won't get a very good story with them.

Yeah I pretty much agree with you. I prefer my games to be more linear, so I'm always working toward a quest, not wandering around trying to figure out where to go or what to do. I think for a lot of people, time might be a factor. I have less time to play video games, so I prefer working through a story constantly, whereas people game as their main hobby probably like more open-ended games. That's just a guess, anyway.

I like the freedom of open world games but i agree they can be very overwhelming. I have Far Cry 2 and i can't get over how huge it is, i just don't have the time or patience to explore every single area and it drives me crazy because i love collecting everything. KotOR was a great game for me because it was open but the story kept the gameplay linear at the same time. I wish more games could be like that.

Let me quote Mel Gibson from Braveheart.

"FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!"

open world games are the beez neez

I need both. It depends on the story and the gameplay. I need my open world but i also need my linear level by level gameplay

I agree with you, TC. I find open-world games a bit shallow, mainly because of the absence of story and emphasis. Developers have been focusing a bit too much on this but some people enjoy it and that's fine too.

Open world games can be fun, as long as you can actually have a say on the character, not just the usual generic male who you can't have much creative freedom with. It's why I enjoy Saint's Row 2 so much, a free roaming game based loosely, but still itself, on the GTA series but doing something that the GTA series has never done and likely never will do - let the player have a choice of gender and alter the full appearance instead of just the clothing.

It can be nice to lose yourself in an open world game after a long real life day and even better to truly be creative with gender, appearance and other personal touches that really help the player to feel like their choices really do make a difference.

R/T

It makes it a more personal gameplay expirence.

I like open world games but I love semi-linear semi-open world games. Best examples are JRPGs. It's linear but at some points you are free to go back to places you've been and find some changes there. :D

I don't like games that are too linear were all you do is go forward forward forward. Games where you just do these: (1) Clear all enemies, (2) travel to the next area, (3) clear enemies, (4) travel to the next area, (5) solve a puzzle or fight a boss, insert cutscenes in between 1-5. Repeat 1-5 until final boss.

I don't really enjoy games were there are nothing to do but to follow the path/story. I want games were you can take a break from the story and do something else, which is called side quests (sometimes called as side missions or side stories).

I like open world games.

I think it is the choice that you can do whatever you want, that appeals so much to people. I like it, I don't love it, but I like it. The main thing is that there needs to be SOME kind of direction. I'm not particularly fond of just going into the world without at least one kind of quest to get me started or something to do.Iceman8012

I think there are great open world games out there. Infamous being a new great addition to the list. The thing that bothers me about open world games becoming more and more popular is gamers and developers seem to think that adding an open world to a game will suddenly make it brilliant. It doesn't work in every game.

I like open world games.

sukraj

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"]I think it is the choice that you can do whatever you want, that appeals so much to people. I like it, I don't love it, but I like it. The main thing is that there needs to be SOME kind of direction. I'm not particularly fond of just going into the world without at least one kind of quest to get me started or something to do.FreshWhiteBread

their awesome?.. linear games get boring