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(Almost) Immediate Freedom is necessary
Topic Started: Apr 4 2011, 10:17 PM (28 Views)
Jason Keiderling
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Within the first 7-10 minutes of the game (or about that) the player should get freedom and control. I do not simply mean that they should have the ability to travel anywhere in a big portion of the game world, but they should feel like tha game has started. They should be given a significant objective that will require at least a half hour or more. If they are getting tiny tasks such as go see this guy, then he sends you over there, and so on it will feel like they are still in the tutorial stage. As soon as they get this freedom at least some side quests need to be obtainable and some subquests should be involved.

It is also important that prior to getting this freedom they are given a new item to equip, and new party member, and their first level up so they are familiar with the game and feel like they've already started. Showing them an expensive weapon they can't realistically afford for some time but would definitely like to have right in the first shop would help with this feeling too.

A game that did this well: Knights of the Old Republic

A game that didn't: Final Fantasy II (4 in Japan)
Edited by Jason Keiderling, Apr 20 2011, 03:58 AM.
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