Freedom in Games: Good or Bad?

RKRigney | July 08, 2008 | Blog | Playstation 3 Wii

As time goes on, game developers are giving the players more and more options and freedoms within their games. Is it all good or is too much freedom a bad thing?

(Note: NOT THE ENTIRE ARTICLE. IT'S A QUOTE.)

Let’s start with a relatively small freedom resulting in a rather drastic impact, from a game that’s recognized the world over: Final Fantasy VII [I suppose I should say there are potential spoilers here for all two of you who don’t know what happens here; you’ve been warned]. I was in 9th grade when I first played VII, and it was also my first RPG. I was thrilled to learn that instead of some loser named Cloud, I could be the hero with the obnoxiously oversized sword that’s destined to save the Planet. So, Ryan was the hero, Barrett was named after my best friend, and Aeris was named after some chick I had crush on at the time (we’ll call her Ditzy McMuffins). So I’m playing through the game and eventually I learn that Ditzy Mac (the real one) is a filthy gutter-tramp and deserves to receive a root-canal from a landscape architect; the game, however, does me one better. Sephy comes along and plows the second oversized sword in the game through her small intestine and maybe even a pancreas or two as a bonus. Sweet! While most every other nerd had tears snaking through acne-canyons I danced and sang as poor little Ditzface bought the Chocobo Farm. Clearly the former action was what Square was hoping for (and largely received), but I was able to completely reinvent the emotional attachment developed throughout the game simply with a name change.

13 comments | go to source (slapstic.com) | Add to favorites!

favourite this article |

send to friend |

add alt source

140	The Good (and not so good) Cosplayers of Games Convention 2008 (11) August 24, 2008
173	Grade-A games like Halo 3, MGS4, Bad Company excell, do ALL games need to be Grade-A titles (21) August 24, 2008
88	Old School Games were just as bad as GTA (9) August 7, 2008
48	Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Dated (3) October 9, 2008
87	Gundam Musou 2 Screenshots: Char's Counterattack, Strike Freedom, and Mobile Armors (3) September 12, 2008

Comments

Comments with -10 or lower "thumbs" are removed from display.

0 thumbs!
DusktoDawn | July 08, 2008

It just all depends.......
0 thumbs!
Gutter_Tech | July 08, 2008

i still think his thoughts are hilarious cuz i did a similar thing back then..... take that ditzy mcgutter skank
0 thumbs!
Aussie Legend | July 09, 2008

How can it not be a good thing

quote poster
I learn that Ditzy Mac (the real one) is a filthy gutter-tramp and deserves to receive a root-canal from a landscape architect
Lol, nice one.
1 thumbs!
Zero and X | July 09, 2008

....... why..... why must I deal with stupidity!?

People constantly do this and its just so annoying. Why the hell do we have to swing from one extreame or another about EVERYTHING!? You just cant label something subjective as "good" or "bad" because theres nothing wrong linearity or freedom in games, its just diffrent. I swear this is like saying "Rock music, good or bad?" its so stupid, people have diffrent opinons about everything and your gonna find peopl who like it and dislike it, its just how people are. Oh but excuse me for trying to talk people out of doing what society has taught us, to label every *bleep*ing thing on the planet.
- 2 thumbs!
  RKRigney | July 09, 2008
  
  If you would kindly take the time to read the article you would find that the author does not label the subject as good or bad at all in the end of things. It's simply a thoughtful analysis of the question. So be chill.
  - 0 thumbs!
    Zero and X | July 11, 2008
    
    I wasnt bashing the article, but the conecpt of labeling something like this as "good" or "bad"
1 thumbs!
Silver Mirror | July 09, 2008

I think there's definitely a place for both linear and freedom games. Or even a combination, there's no wrong way to do it.

And that guy in the article really didn't examine whether it was good or bad. He just kind of trailed off
1 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | July 09, 2008

howabout: "restriction in games - good or bad?"

i think we have an answer.
0 thumbs!
Murray3 | July 09, 2008

As long as your options really do control the flow of the game... I'm looking at you Golden Sun!
-2 thumbs!
Demonfurby | July 09, 2008

Wgat the hell, people would rather have a linear game than an rpg or freeroam game? People are *bleep*ed up...
- 0 thumbs!
  Zero and X | July 11, 2008
  
  Yes, people like linear games, theres nothing wrong with that.
0 thumbs!
R1DDL3S | July 09, 2008

I like open games with linearity, that way you know what you have to do but you chose when and home

Or linear games with multiple options
0 thumbs!
black doom | July 09, 2008

I like my games like I like my life. Up in the air with me stuck following a path I can't control and feeling like everything is pushing me one way regardless of what I want to try. Keeps me from straying too far.