The Laws of Video Games

Video game designers are an interesting bunch. They have a complex job. They must make a playable game that is entertaining, but challenging at the same time. They walk a fine line. Since the invention of the video game (Pong,) game theory has become more and more complex and more solidified to the point where now it is a college degree.

Of course being a gamer, one notices that there are numerous little rules that call programmers should follow or be forced to play their dumb game for the rest of their lives.

1. Cinematics and movies should all be skippable, at least on the second viewing. I like a game with a good story, but damn, when I want to sit around shooting zombies in a game I've played before, I don't need a ten minute video I've seen that I can't skip or fast forward. Any stretch of time where the player is doing nothing and can do nothing should be skippable World of Warcraft had these flight paths where you'd just sit for 5-15 minutes, unable to do anything.

2. Saving should be available at any point in a game. Nothing ruins a game more than achieving something difficult, then dying at the next turn and having to start all over again simply because you can't save.

3. Loading a new level should not automatically start a new level. So I'm playing Warcraft III, the campaign mode, and I beat a level. The game loads the next one. Since this takes a little time (not much, it is a 10 year old game after all), I'm likely to have left the computer to take a leak or grab a drink or something. When I come back, there is a button: Press here to start or something like that. I like this because it allows me to get up and stretch and not start in a firefight or something while I'm on the john.

4. Games need continuous action. A break here and there is fine, but no longer than one or two minutes at a time. It starts to get boring if I'm walking around and not taking out zombies.

5. Have an easy mode. Games require a learning curve. I've had Jedi Knight Dark Forces II for almost a decade now. It's a great stress relief because I can play it with my eyes shut. And it's great because it's easy mode was easy, but challenging, when I first started. However, Warcraft III only has normal and normal is actually difficult for a newbie to defeat in skirmish mode. Games need to address the learning curve and give an easy mode for people just starting out.

6. At the same time, don't make it too easy. I can beat most Age of Empires II civilizations in 30-40 minutes and take maybe one casualty, if I play the Spanish. I've beaten a civilization with my army consisting of 10 conquistadors and 10 paladins. On the hardest setting. It was a 20 minute battle, they only had villagers. Not exactly a difficult fight.

J Kuhl Signing Off