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Should Gamers Use Smarter Problem-Solving?

Posted by simoniker on from the dumbness-next-to-godliness dept.

Thanks to the IGDA for its 'Culture Clash' column exploring the effect of technical and gameplay advances on videogame problem-solving. A situation regarding Deus Ex: Invisible War is discussed, where "...testers approached a T intersection: to the right were laser tripwires and gun turrets; to the left was a locked door; and directly in front was a (usable) window. He said every single one of them, without fail, went to the right." The author explains: "One can imagine how frustrated developers must occasionally get when they watch gamers consistently employ Neolithic problem solving tactics when modern development tools make much more advanced techniques available." Is this a problem that developers or gamers should work to overcome?

4 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Years of training... by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 4, Funny

    I still recall the horror of my first Quake deathmatch. People wielding rocket launchers and all manner of guns, blowing each other to bits. I *tried* to reason with them. I explained that people needn't die, that we could resolve our differences in a non-violent manner. I was laughed at, fragged, and laughed at some more. It was then that I stopped looking for alternate solutions, and started looking for the Quad damage!

    --

    In Soviet America the banks rob you!
  2. Re:Who is to blame? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not much for fighting. I consider myself something of a cheap shot artist. I like to shoot people in the face, knock them out and drop them off high places, or just drop horribly mutilated bodies on town guards as they walk into the light. Sort of like a gothic horror game, but in reverse.

  3. Re:Years of training... by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, why can't Quake players just get along?

    --

    -WolfWithoutAClause

    "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
  4. True story... by LordPixie · · Score: 3, Funny

    I once had a roommate that managed to convince an entire Half-Life free for all that violence wasn't necessary. He maanged to get the the whole group to stop shooting, and dance on the extra-large table in the 'Rats' map. It was hilarious watching a dozen people swat their crowbars in a strange ritualistic dance.

    Of course, my roommate proceeded to simultaneously blow them all to hell with a single rocket 2 minutes later. But it was funny while it lasted.


    --LordPixie