Ex-Starfield Quest Designer Drops Wise Insight on Lengthy Games – A Perspective I Totally Embrace!

There was an era when everyone insisted that games should be lengthier to validate the cost. We associated volume with excellence, and the gaming industry complied with that request. Numerous AAA RPGs are, at a bare minimum, around 50 to 60 hours long. And that’s still on the more “generous” side of the scale! Former Starfield quest designer, Will Shen, discussed with KIWI TALKZ regarding the ongoing feasibility of lengthier games. His overall evaluation? Players are beginning to feel overwhelmed by games that require so much of their time.

“The success of titles like Skyrim and Fallout 4 was part of what transpired, these massive games you can essentially play indefinitely. There are still tons of individuals who engage with Skyrim, even after all this time. The concept of these perennial games where you could invest thousands of hours influenced the industry,” Shen remarks. In all honesty, as observed with games similar to Starfield, the notion of “evergreen games” has also influenced the live-service “surge.” Moreover, there are genres that didn’t quite fit being extended beyond what’s necessary for the user experience.

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Then, the indie community’s favorite, Mouthwashing, eventually joined the discussion! “Mouthwashing is incredibly successful due to its brevity. There are various reasons for this: the execution, the appealing keyart, and so on. However, that game wouldn’t thrive nearly as much if it were extended with numerous side quests and extraneous content. The conciseness is the essence, and that level of immersion from a developer who has worked on many major games was a breath of fresh air. It’s as if, oh, you can initiate community discussions around a game that’s much shorter because its brevity enables everyone to fully engage with the complete experience.”

former ‘starfield’ designer tells it like it is when discussing longer games

As someone who recently completed the entirety of Mouthwashing, I can sincerely assert it was one of the most invigorating experiences (despite the topic) in recent times. Mouthwashing deserves all the accolades for several reasons. To begin with, It’s an outstanding game. It encompasses various profound, relatable themes within a gripping sub-two-hour duration. Moreover, as Shen indicated, it didn’t require 15 hours to convey a two-hour narrative. Mouthwashing is concise and meaningful. It understood its message and respected players’ time.

How many contemporary RPGs can you genuinely claim appreciate your time? Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the rare instances of a game that can be hundreds of hours in length. However, each one of those hours holds significance. You aren’t merely collecting flowers, and you aren’t hindered from progressing until you locate five ancient relics. Player autonomy governs the experience over any tedious tasks for the sake of unnecessary filler.

I’m not here to criticize Starfield. I’ll just state this: you’re probably an adult reading this (if you aren’t, you’ll grasp this lesson eventually). You have bills to pay, a job — perhaps even a whole family to care for. Wouldn’t you prefer twenty two-hour Mouthwashings that you can readily enjoy over one 100+-hour fiasco that doesn’t recognize when to end?