Open-Ended or Linear?

[The Pumpkin King]

So, which do you prefer?

Mind you, the games in the poll are just examples.

For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, an open ended game is the sort that lets you craft your own experience in it, do your own thing in a world of their making. You're often the one faced with decision-making and structure is frowned upon, for the most part. Kind of the Burger King 'Have It Your Way" of gaming.


In a linear game, things are mapped out so that you experience them in a certain order. As opposed to a "web" of experience, it's a "line" of them. This line may branch a bit sometimes, but you're still forced to watch it in sequential order. The advantage of this is that if the maker of the game has a message to delever, he can do so very concisely, at the cost of allowing the user to make decisions.

There's also games that fall roughly in the middle, like, say, FarCry. Each mission is a very open and dynamic environment with a lot of freedom, but you still have to face things in a very sequential order.

Personally, I prefer open-ended games IF the experience is fleshed out well. If it's shallow, then a linear game is better, as they can tell an experience that's exactly what the maker intended. But most of the time, I like doing my own thing. =P

[matrixman]

Um, are the Tiger Woods golf games linear or open?

My favorite genres are usually First Person Shooters or Adventures, and those types seem to be mostly linear...

I've heard about the legendary open-endedness of Morrowind, but I've never tried it, precisely because I'm afraid to be sucked totally into that world. Next thing you'll know, I'll forget to eat, and I'll turn into a decaying corpse in front of my computer. That's also why I haven't tried the Sims (mind you, I guess it would be fun to create just that kind of gaming-obssessed character in the game). It's also why I've avoided the Massive Multiplayer Online RPG's.

Wait a sec, I'm already having a massive multiplayer online role-playing experience: it's called Kevin's Watch!

[Worm of Despite]

I prefer both types; depends on the mood. Every now and then I want to go exploring, so I pop in Morrowind; conversely, if I want to blow up stuff, I'll pop in a FPS or Resident Evil 4, etc.

Then again, my favorite game ever is Baldur's Gate II, which is extremely long and open-ended. BGII is a bit of an exception, though, because, on the whole, I enjoy Japanese-style RPGs more than American.

[Baradakas]

Linear. FFX, Star Ocean, etc.

[Queeaqueg]

Depends what mood I am in. Sometimes I like open ended because they are fun to go around and cause destruction. Other time I like Final Fantasy and Breath of Fire because I need a story to play to.

[Loredoctor]

There is one GREAT open ended game on the way - H.U.N.T.E.R. Set in a post-apocalyptic Chernobyl.

[Avatar]

Prefer open-ended myself.

--A

[The Dreaming]

I prefer both types; depends on the mood. Every now and then I want to go exploring, so I pop in Morrowind; conversely, if I want to blow up stuff, I'll pop in a FPS or Resident Evil 4, etc.

Then again, my favorite game ever is Baldur's Gate II, which is extremely long and open-ended. BGII is a bit of an exception, though, because, on the whole, I enjoy Japanese-style RPGs more than American.

Wow, I agree whole heartedly. I miss the good old isometric tactical rpg. Neverwinter Nights never captured me the way BG II is. (That and I think 3rd edition D&D rules blow)

[jacob Raver, sinTempter]

I think linear is too linear and as of now open ended is too open ended...

...seems like a joke, but I'm pretty serious, one story path is lame, but open ended is like a desert, there needs to be a hand that guides you to some extent...

...eventually someone will hit the perfect medium between the two...

...I voted linear until then...

[Cagliostro]

Back when I had time to dawdle, open-ended didn't really exist, but I'd probably be more into then than I would be now. I need the payoffs quicker now than I did.