The Video Game Critic

This is a topic critics complain about all the time, and it's one that I've been intrigued with.

I'm perfectly fine with a game being short (hell, almost every game from the 70s/80s is short) as long as it gives me a reason to keep coming back. Blast Corps, for example, is "short", but its addictive gameplay and numerous hidden secrets makes it a joy to play.

Really, I think it's foolish to say a game is too short. Many gamers these days are spoiled with content, and companies seem to be adding on more just for the sake of adding on more.

It depends on how good the game is, but less is more, and more is less for the most part.

Would love to hear from the rest of you guys.

I prefer short games over ones that take 10+ hours to beat, especially on newer consoles. I don't have a ton of time anymore and I have always enjoyed replaying games. I think shorter games that offer additional content once you beat the main game are some of my favorites or ones that are short but you replay over and over to be better in multiplayer like arcade games. Long games tend to take longer to get into and if I'm not hooked in the first 20-30 mins (the average tutorial length for most games these days) I tend to stop playing.

Really, it depends on the price and the quality of the experience. I'm fine with a game being short if it made the most of its time and I didn't spend a lot of money on it (i.e., Portal 1).

I like games that can be beat in 2-3 hours.

One of the worst things to ever happen to video games was that they became measured in "hours of content."

It's treated like the packaging on food: "this only contains 6oz of game!"

When I was younger and price per dollar of entertainment was a factor I really enjoyed games like Final Fantasy and the latest Zelda as they took forever and a day to complete.

Now, on the newer consoles if it's a 7 hour game, on easy I can get through it in a couple of weeks if I have the time...

Today, I definitely prefer shorter games. Funny, my gaming patterns have changed. Here's hoping that long dreamt of retirement gives me the chance to finish more games.

ActRaiser wrote: Here's hoping that long dreamt of retirement gives me the chance to finish more games.

Thats what Burgess thought too,

Ah, "Time Enough At Last" a classic!

Hehe, I fear arthritis will be my "breaking glasses" moment. My fall back will be RPGs.

Can't recall any games that I felt were too short. I do recall games having lackluster career modes, which in a sense, is short on content, but I don't think that's what you're really writing about here.