The more you know the less you will enjoy?

(Shackahn) #1

Firstly let me say the above is a question and not a statement and for each person it will be different.

I was reading through a few of the threads earlier and noticing that most people are craving little bits of information in anticipation of the game. Up until recently I have been doing the same. I don’t know half as much information as most of the regular posters on here.

Now that the release date is a mere 3 weeks away, I couldn’t care if I don’t find out any more information about the game. I have started to feel like the more I know the less I will find surprising and it may just be a case of going through the motions with it…

So my question is, do you think that by researching all this information and asking the devs questions all the time for the tiniest update that when you actually come to play the game, a lot will be an anti-climax?

Is it better to know what all the abilities are? Or better to discover them as you play the game?

If you already know that class A can do ability XYZ, when you unlock them will you feel like meh?

If you have already seen most of the maps, when you come to play them will you feel underwhelmed?

etc

Again this will all be down to personal preference, I for one am looking forward to discovering the game as I play it.

(Mustkunstn1k) #2

That applies to singleplayer games with epic stories or whatever. It doesn’t really matter when playing multiplayer. You will need to know what to expect when playing the game and you will experience other things from other people anyway.

(Bodo_Fraggins) #3

People have imagination … speculation is inevitable … 'tis human nature

I think we have moved beyond kids peeking at their presents under the christmas tree

We can peek and still enjoy the present.

anyways your last point is a good one … 'sall down to preference … I kinda enjoy the pointless speculation and foaming at the mouth over tidbits of info … riding the hype wave

(tokamak) #4

Yeah ETQW was brilliant because there were so many new environments to explore. The detailed maps that were handed out prior to the release kind of ruined that and I’m glad the Maps aren’t being revealed too much right now.

(Auzner) #5

I don’t even believe anyone has seen anything that exhaustive.

How it all goes together is more important than each piece on its own. No one has seen all the maps or have had a leisurely fly through. The weapons are still unknown because existing screenshots of the ones that are shown just show graphic bars rather than numbers. Knowing what a class is capable of before hand helps anticipate viable tactics. As things are unlocked with one’s first character there’s a better picture of what ability to select or reserve points for. The cool downs on every ability is not known, so no one can legitimately argue their balance yet. Brink is all about considering these tactics for an advantage rather than just “run and gun” through a map. It’s not like a movie being spoiled. I don’t think knowing about it earlier hurts anything because the whole picture still isn’t known. Also Brink’s plot is not discussed much so nobody knows the game’s conclusion. It’s not a true RPG which makes the gameplay is more important than the plot. If it were spoiled it wouldn’t affect the experience as much as an RPG.

Most of the recent questions have been technical ones about dedicated servers, system requirements, bot behavior, DLCs, and MP vs SP. Those are the nature of video games that some more advanced players like to know about and don’t really relate to any intellectual property.

(Shackahn) #6

That applies to singleplayer games with epic stories or whatever

I am not sure if its to the same degree, if a developer release information about an epic story you can always be sure that the best bits are left out. With a shooter, particularly one that is multiplayer focused I dont think you can rely on heavily scripted WOW moments, instead you are relying on the game being unique every round played.

Do you take away some of the WOW factor if you already know what the abilities are in advance?

I think we have moved beyond kids peeking at their presents under the christmas tree

Haha an ecellent analogy, that said I think its fair to say most people on these forums arent kids, and i know you werent implying they were. My point is that expecations are different, if I a kid peeks at his present to use your example, because of there age etc they are still able to get massively excited even though they know what it is. We as adults absorb information differently, if we had seen all the maps like tokamak said then it would be hard to get excited about them when we played them.

Its a hard balance to achieve wouldnt you agree? To keep everyone interested but not spoil the playing of the game once it released.

Going back to what I said at the start, I believe the game will feel unique enough in multiplayer rounds to keep the excitement going. Going off topic slightly I believe that the key to any online game is its community

(tokamak) #7

Yeah and if those kids bought the presents from their parents then that analogy would fly.

(Seyu) #8

I agree with Shackahn, but rather than having anything spoiled, for me, it’s about not obsessing over the game so much as to reach a saturation point.
Anyway, I rarely get excited enough for upcoming games to want encyclopedic knowledge of them beforehand.

(Herandar) #9

This type of game has near-endless replay value. I don’t think knowing the abilities in advance spoils anything, since as far as we know, they will all be visible once you turn the game on and start modifying your avatar.

(Jess Alon) #10

Yeah I’ve never cared so much about a game that I wanted to know so much. It’s just the culture of brink anticipators.

(Shackahn) #11

Finally got off work…

Reading Auzner’s post was interesting because you mention the things that have already been made public helping with tactics? So based on information released you already have a mind set that ability X should be used with ability Z and body type Heavy should not be used with operative for example…Yet if you had experienced these things first hand in the game would you have had a different mind set.

I don’t think knowing the abilities in advance spoils anything, since as far as we know, they will all be visible once you turn the game on and start modifying your avatar.

This is something I wasnt aware of, more by choice than ignorance. Its a feature I am not sure about, if I cant see the ability I am going to unlock next then I am more likely to use the abilities I have got, and also get used to them. Since I can see everything I may think that ability 3 is useless and bypass it completely as well as ability 4 5 and 6 because the one I really want is ability 7.

I think maybe I chose the wrong subject for the thread and in fact the thread should of been entitled “What content should be made public and what shouldn’t”

Its interesting to see a few people saying they arent overly fussed about knowing the ins and outs of the game, I am quite the opposite I want to know everything about a game that I can prior to release as it adds to the excitement for me…at the same time I want the Dev to only release snippets of info to keep me salivating.

(Nail) #12

I don’t know a damn thing, and I’m happy as a clam

must be true

(Shackahn) #13

I don’t know a damn thing, and I’m happy as a clam

must be true

I couldnt agree more…wait are we talking about Brink or just in general here? :slight_smile:

(Nail) #14

for me, both

:cool:

:penguin:

(Auzner) #15

I don’t mean something that specific. You can’t assume that without having played the game. I meant more like starting to memorize the options so you’re aware of them existing while playing. Try to assume why someone reacted the way they did because of their character build and weapon config.

That’s most people too. But rather than research, read, and watch they’d rather have a demo because it’s less effort.

Right now I want to hear more about what’s going on in Mass Effect 3. Like where it will start and what’s going on in the galaxy. But I don’t want to know too much to spoil the surprises. I’d mostly like to just get info from any videos they release. Because those usually just show the game without spoiling anything.

(Nail) #16

I’m happy to wait for release, do some reading, check out some gameplay and then invest the time required to learn the game, pre release info is nice, but not neccessary imo

(Linsolv) #17

I love doing the research. When I’m excited about a game, it’s hard for me to hold back and wait for the game to come out. I’ve been known on a few occasions to be burned out on a game before it even hits, because I spend all day every day on that game. Without it even being playable.

(obliviondoll) #18

For me, to an extent, some information I prefer not knowing, but there are certain details I like to find beforehand, because they make the game easier to pick up and play.

With Brink, I’ve only heard a few short clips about the story, and avoided most of the details, and that’s really the only thing I’d be worried about. Understanding the mechanics and abilities as well as possible before they’re available is something I enjoy doing in the leadup to a game - I don’t feel that knowing things like this will reduce my enjoyment at all - and I have a similar experience with the Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer to back that feeling up.