Why is linearity considered bad?

Linear can refer as anything it's when you mention linear as a game that indicates the game has no value, yes final fantasy was linear but what they did on previous titles in the past was simply make the game revolve around a world map. this worked extremely well while the story became linear, exploration didn't so based on how they made the game linear became irrelevent while todays fps games revolve around multi-player as non linear as anything could happen while stil retaining a generic story.

linearity isn't bad.

too much linearity is bad.

Linear games are great

Open world RPGS like oblivion and fallout 3 suck, why isn't there anything to do? its just empty open world with nothing in it

Why aren't there any mini games, dating sim or horse breeding? o.O

[QUOTE="TrapJak"]

[QUOTE="charlesdarwin55"] Crappiest story in the universe, crappiest combat system in the universe, awful framerate, awful voiceacting and characters. Multiplayer and music was good though.

hoosier7

FrameRate? Its a open world game, its expected.

Awful voiceacting?Did you just say Nolan North, AKA Drake, was a bad voice actor? Seriously?

Characters?I'll give you that.

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

Linearity isn't so much the problem imo.

It's the lack of variety, or choice for me.

A game like CoD truly is just point A - B with no variety, and I don't like that.

A game like Half Life, however, is just as linear, but the variety of the weapons keeps me coming back because each time I play the game I can do different things, so it feels fresh. Sometimes I just want to try to beat the whole game with a crowbar, or use the gravity gun, and a single razor blade that I have to pick up over and over, or maybe I want to run over the hunters with my car this time rather than shoot explosives at them, or yada yada whatever.

I have the same deal with these action-heavy, cinematic games that come out nowadays. The big blockbusters of the consoles usually contain these elements (such as Uncharted). It's fun the first time through, but why even play a second time? You'll be funneled through the same corridors, you will trigger the same set pieces at the exact same time as the last time you played....

I just don't see much value to these games.

TrapJak

And guess how many times I watch the really shallow, big budget hollywood movies. Maybe once?

The artfully crafted greats of cinema keep me coming back because I always discover new things about the movie, or because the emotions they bring me are so overwhelming.

However something like Transformers doesn't give me any satisfaction. There's nothing in the movies that wrenches out my emotions, nor is there anything about the movie to discover like why a certain plot twist happens here, or why a certain piece of dialogue was said there. They're just straight forward action movies that are incredibly shallow.

[QUOTE="sanim02"]

[QUOTE="ActicEdge"]

Its not bad. People are just weird like that. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean its bad.

ActicEdge

You know, I wish it was that simple sometimes Actic, I just wish it was.:P

As for linearity, it's not so bad. I like linear games as they normally provide a more enjoyable time for me, since I don't have the free time to game like many @ SW. One of the reasons why I'm not getting Skyrim this November, as I simply don't have the time.:P

I like both. Linear games usually have more polish as the set path is just generally really well done. I like that. I also like being able to explore too. Only 1 existing would be terrible.

I love the exploration of sandbox or games with more open worlds just as much, if not more sometimes!:o It's just, all the exploration and travelling and quests, just distracts me a lot from the main story, (in a good way:P), and I end up losing hours to them.:P

I don't mind playing a polished linear experience. Sometimes it's more fun, especially the first time around.:)

I just don't have the leisure that many seem to have around here... Which is time.:( ... Man I sound like an old hoot about to die.:P

Thats why MP is included.

And most movies are 2-3 hours long. Uncharted is 10.

TrapJak

1. Game company makes a 5 hour, linear, cutscene-driven shooter with an uninspired story

2. Game company tacks on multiplayer to try to give the player "value" for their money

3. Because the multiplayer is rushed, the game's community dies within a couple of months

4. The person who buys the game for $45 two months after release feels ripped off for a 5 hour experience and nobody in online multiplayer

5. Two years later, the game company shuts down the multiplayer servers

---

Uncharted is obviously an exception (as it has both a good story AND multiplayer), but unfortunately not for most modern games.

doom 93 had exploration aspect's something modern shooter's lack you have to explore the levels to find key's to progress.ZOOIINHEERRRE

Already posted something similar to this and it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

[QUOTE="TrapJak"]

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

Linearity isn't so much the problem imo.

It's the lack of variety, or choice for me.

A game like CoD truly is just point A - B with no variety, and I don't like that.

A game like Half Life, however, is just as linear, but the variety of the weapons keeps me coming back because each time I play the game I can do different things, so it feels fresh. Sometimes I just want to try to beat the whole game with a crowbar, or use the gravity gun, and a single razor blade that I have to pick up over and over, or maybe I want to run over the hunters with my car this time rather than shoot explosives at them, or yada yada whatever.

I have the same deal with these action-heavy, cinematic games that come out nowadays. The big blockbusters of the consoles usually contain these elements (such as Uncharted). It's fun the first time through, but why even play a second time? You'll be funneled through the same corridors, you will trigger the same set pieces at the exact same time as the last time you played....

I just don't see much value to these games.

Ly_the_Fairy

And guess how many times I watch the really shallow, big budget hollywood movies. Maybe once?

The artfully crafted greats of cinema keep me coming back because I always discover new things about the movie, or because the emotions they bring me are so overwhelming.

However something like Transformers doesn't give me any satisfaction. There's nothing in the movies that wrenches out my emotions, nor is there anything about the movie to discover like why a certain plot twist happens here, or why a certain piece of dialogue was said there. They're just straight forward action movies that are incredibly shallow.

Of course, its all opinion.

[QUOTE="TrapJak"]

Thats why MP is included.

And most movies are 2-3 hours long. Uncharted is 10.

peterw007

1. Game company makes a 5 hour, linear, cutscene-driven shooter with an uninspired story

2. Game company tacks on multiplayer to try to give the player "value" for their money

3. Because the multiplayer is rushed, the game's community dies within a couple of months

4. The person who buys the game for $45 two months after release feels ripped off for a 5 hour experience and nobody in online multiplayer

5. Two years later, the game company shuts down the multiplayer servers

---

Uncharted is obviously an exception (as it has both a good story AND multiplayer), but unfortunately not for most modern games.

[QUOTE="hoosier7"]

[QUOTE="TrapJak"]Story? Convuluted, sure.
Combat? The assasinations are great, but the fighting does get rather boring.

FrameRate? Its a open world game, its expected.

Awful voiceacting?Did you just say Nolan North, AKA Drake, was a bad voice actor? Seriously?

Characters?I'll give you that.

TrapJak

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

[QUOTE="TrapJak"]It's like a movie, literally. You don't rewatch movies? I can't imagine someone watching Scarface and thinking "Best movie ever made! But I won't watch it a 2nd time because I know everything in it."

TrapJak

And guess how many times I watch the really shallow, big budget hollywood movies. Maybe once?

The artfully crafted greats of cinema keep me coming back because I always discover new things about the movie, or because the emotions they bring me are so overwhelming.

However something like Transformers doesn't give me any satisfaction. There's nothing in the movies that wrenches out my emotions, nor is there anything about the movie to discover like why a certain plot twist happens here, or why a certain piece of dialogue was said there. They're just straight forward action movies that are incredibly shallow.

Of course, its all opinion.

It's not.

The people who have a very *vocal* opinion about it consider it fact though.

Its not so much a bad thing...it really comes down to the genre for me. I don't like it much in my RPGS. Which is why Fable 3 was lackluster to me.

It annoys me when it comes to RPGs because I like to replay a lot of my RPGs. That is why I really love games like Elder Scrolls and Fallout because I can replay them several times with different character types and different choices. Linearity really makes it tough to enjoy replaying a game its kind of like rewatching a movie you just saw.

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

DarthJohnova

"Some corridors are wider than others." I like that. Might put it in my sig.

[QUOTE="DarthJohnova"]

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

turtlethetaffer

"Some corridors are wider than others." I like that. Might put it in my sig.

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="DarthJohnova"]

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

DarthJohnova

"Some corridors are wider than others." I like that. Might put it in my sig.

already did. First quotein my sig that isn't the delusional rantings of a fanboy.

It depends on the game for me. The linearity of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, KOTOR etc is fine as I know it's going to be linear and it fits the feel of the game being heavily dependent on story.For Fallout the non linearity is great too since I bought the game specifically for the ability to branch from the story since generally the story's kinda weak and the main draw is that you can explore the game in that way.

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

DarthJohnova

This is for you. You earned it.

[QUOTE="DarthJohnova"]

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

theuncharted34

This is for you. You earned it.

That cookie looks delicious.

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

[QUOTE="DarthJohnova"]

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

turtlethetaffer

This is for you. You earned it.

That cookie looks delicious.

It does doesn't it. :3

[QUOTE="DarthJohnova"]

Most games are linear in some kind of way...get from point A to point B, mission complete; some corridors are just wider than others...

theuncharted34

This is for you. You earned it.

That is quite possibly the most amazing cookie I've ever seen... :P *takes and noms*

Because it's cool to complain about linearity.

Baranga

[QUOTE="DarthJohnova"][QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

"Some corridors are wider than others." I like that. Might put it in my sig.

turtlethetaffer

already did. First quotein my sig that isn't the delusional rantings of a fanboy.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

[QUOTE="Randoggy"]I'd much rather play a linear game than an open world game any day. Not many non-linear games have good stories. You can tell a story alot better in a linear game. Randoggy

IMHO, you get to tell a MOVIE story better in a linear game. You definitely tell a better story when you're in an open world where you can choose where and when to go.

[QUOTE="Randoggy"][QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

IMHO, you get to tell a MOVIE story better in a linear game. You definitely tell a better story when you're in an open world where you can choose where and when to go.

da_illest101

I wouldn't know, the game was wayyyyyyy to boring for me to even bother finishing it.

[QUOTE="da_illest101"][QUOTE="Randoggy"] I can't name one open world game that has a decent story. I fail to see how being able to choose where and when to go somewhere makes a story better.Randoggy

I wouldn't know, the game was wayyyyyyy to boring for me to even bother finishing it.

The story didn't even get good till the last mission sequence.

Linearity was never bad. Its everything else that makes the game bad and linearity is sometimes used as a scapegoat. Like Jericho that game was very linear but that main its problem. Its main problem was gameplay.

People like to complain.

I like exploration, I dont want to be forced ona guided path thats why I hated ff13... it felt like for 20 hours I was held by the hand and even then I felt obligated to follow something else...

I want to go at my own pace

I don't mind a guided patch where it doesn't branch out at all, this is most games, a mix with sand boxes like halo, or a network of guided paths like fable, or just one really tight guided path like COD, linear would imply though, you head in one single direction to complete a level, you start, can find your way by pushing forward the entire time. I think this is **** design.

Linear games started being frowned upon when GTA got popular. Everything had to be open ended after that.

A lot of gamers criticize modern shooters for being to linear which is an odd complaint. Older shooters were just as linear, but you would have to break to find keys and shortcuts instead of just playing the game. Apparently those pauses in the action were playing the game.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

[QUOTE="Randoggy"]I'd much rather play a linear game than an open world game any day. Not many non-linear games have good stories. You can tell a story alot better in a linear game. Randoggy

IMHO, you get to tell a MOVIE story better in a linear game. You definitely tell a better story when you're in an open world where you can choose where and when to go.

[QUOTE="Randoggy"][QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

IMHO, you get to tell a MOVIE story better in a linear game. You definitely tell a better story when you're in an open world where you can choose where and when to go.

Heil68

Grand Theft Auto stories aren't exactly anything to write home about.

I don't mind if a game's story progression is highly linear, but the combat and character progression absolutely must allow for customization, or else I might as well watch a movie.

That said, I usually prefer games that are not linear.

Because its easier to be told exactly what to do and its what most gamers prefer, they dont want to be really confused playing their games.

Oh, and just wanted to point out that battlefield 3 doesn't get singeplayer hate for being linear even though thats one of the main complaints about the COD series. Bad company 1 had a completely open campaign.

Linear games started being frowned upon when GTA got popular. Everything had to be open ended after that.

A lot of gamers criticize modern shooters for being to linear which is an odd complaint. Older shooters were just as linear, but you would have to break to find keys and shortcuts instead of just playing the game. Apparently those pauses in the action were playing the game.

Wasdie

I'll be honest, I don't mind that some shooters were more streamlined. (FEAR was great but finding where to go at times was a pain.)