Gamers: Your Opinions Matter, Please Help?

Question

Gamers, I'm doing a research study at UCI and I need as many opinions as possible. Here are some Easy & Fun Questions to Answer. Your time is greatly appreciated. More Detail the better! Thank You so very much!

1.) How many hours of game do you play on average per week?

2.) What type/ genre of games do you play? (Ex. RPGs, Action-Adventure, FPS, etc.)

3.) Do you believe that the story elements (characters, storyline, background information) are very important to gameplay? Why or why not?

4.) Would games today suffer greatly without any game narratives or game story-telling elements, such as character dialogues, FMVs/cutscenes, introduction to story background, and etc? Why or Why not?

5.) How does game narratives, such as character dialogues, FMVs/cutscenes, introduction to story background, affect your gameplay? (Consider: Do they encourage you to play the game more? Do they halt our gameplay and interrupt your concentration? Do they annoy you or please you?)

Thanks!

Response to jnlen0504:
Yes, I am a student and not some person trying to do a market study. I don't believe these questions are actually relevant to marketing strategies. And yes, I'm actually going to various game forums sites to ask different questions.

My research topic is on the impact of Game Narratives on game design. I'm gathering open public opinions, specific game genre-fan's opinions, and game developer's opinions. Therefore, my research requires me to gather sources from various places, such as places that are geared to the relative public and not just a single-interest group, like Game forums would be.

For those who have responded so quickly, thank you so very much. ^__^ (A best answer will be chosen.)

Answer 1

1) 10-15 hours a week

2) RPG's, Action adventure, puzzle

3) I don't think they're important to game play, but I think they are very important to the game itself, depending on what kind of game it is. RPGs really should have a good story. There's really no excuse for them not to, other than lazy developers. Action/adventure should have atleast a decent story, but it doens't have to be super. Just something to draw the player in a little more (I.E, Mario seeking Princess Peach) FPS can survive on a crappy story, though a better story will pull players into it more. Etc...

4) Yes, games would suffer without the story elements. Just because graphics have gotten better doesn't make a good story unnecessary.

5) Some games with good stories have encouraged me to play the game several times, to get the most out of it. Pick up on things I missed the first time around. However, if the story is too dry, I stop playing if I can't skip the scenes. Some games that interrupt actual gameplay for cut scenes (instead of waiting for fights to stop or whatnot) really just annoy me to no end. Especially if you work up a great move and it's killed by the cut scene.. and you lose the built up power you needed to do the move. (Such as in N3)

Answer 2

1) Varies, but about 10 hours.

2) Mainly RPG's

3) Characters are vital in an RPG - if I don't feel anything for them, then I can't really care what happens to them. Most RPG characters are cliched and badly drawn. The storyline in an RPG matters less, as they will invariably be the "save the world" type and I accept this, but occasionally a game will surprise you.

4) Many FMV sequences spoil games now because they are too long and the dialogue is still trite and not worth listening to. I would still like them to be included, but the dialogue could be condensed and improved.

5)FMV sequences mainly halt the gameplay for me and very rarely encourage me to play on as gameplay is the most important aspect.

Answer 3

1.) Probably about 25-30 hours a week.

2.) Mostly RPG, but i like some FPS also.

3.) Yes. Because it can add twists and stuff to the game, and it's just more fun in general.

4.) Yes, i think so. Because it probably wouldn't make much sense. And every gamer loves a good story line.

5.) To me, the cutscenes are just a part of the game. It pretty much tells me what to do next. So yes, i do like them.

Answer 4

1. about seven to ten
2. I like MMORPGs, RPGs, RTS, and Fighting Games (like Mortal Kombat)
3. Yes I do. An interesting character or story line can keep me hooked into a game. They aren't nessecary for every game, but as a general rule they are needed (Even Mortal Kombat takes a stab at it)
4. I think so yes. But in the past the exposition was handled rather clumsily, taking you out of the game world. More recently character and plot development has been put into the game
5. A good storyline will keep me playing longer sessions and keep me playing the overall game long after I would hae put it down. Warcraft 3 is the best example. I would play round after round just because I wanted to see where the story would go next

I will be more in depth later as it is too late to get very thoughtful at the moment. I just wanted to throw my $0.02 out there.

By the way, I'd be very interested in hearing more about your research. Video game theory is a passion/hobby of mine. I'm currently writing an article about incorporating some military-style CRM into gaming strategy.

Answer 5

1. I would say between 5-10 hours
2. I play RPGs, FPS, racing games
3. Yes, stories are what make games INTERESTING. I refuse to play a game that lacks a good story. It helps you keep interest in the game.
4. I personally hate cut scenes. I think games should let the user have as much freedom as possible.
5. They really give a much broader picture of the story behind the game, which makes the game interesting. If your character has a voice, that also helps a gamer to actually CARE about his character. They don't necessarily encourage you to play MORE, but it helps you keep the interest you have in a game strong. I don't mind them as long as they aren't too superfluous or too long.

Answer 6

Hi,
1. almost every day because what ever we do with interest it is a game.
2.action-adventure
3.yes important because the game we are playing should have some meaning.
4.Yes without game narratives only games of kind which increase emotion, anxiety, greedy etc.
5. game narratives interrupt concentration, and also annoy

Answer 7

1) 20+ hrs a week
2) all genres
3) eh worked for ff7 but to much story can be annoying work on the gameplay
4)A cutsceane here and there is good but dont make a cutsceane ever freakin 5 mins like some games do make them rewards for overcoming a challenge
5)doesent really matter

Answer 8

1. probably 10-20 hrs a week before i got grounded, and even more during the summer
2. anything, but only if it has an online mode
3. sort of, i play to have fun, and what really matters to me is the multiplayer experience
4. yes, i dont know why, but it would seem rather mindless
a good story is great, a bad story is ok, but no story is unacceptable
5. makes it more emotionally involving than just blasting the aliens to bits, they please me most of the time

Answer 9

are you sure you don't work for SOE and doing some market research?!? LOL
if you really need answers, you may want to try various RPG sites and see if they have forums you can post your questions on. also as an FYI, most (if not all) customer service employees that produce these types of RPGs are players themselves and would probably give you the best insight.