Easy Mode Mockery why?

I'll never quite understand those who are not sadomasochistic. At least not in the sense of actually going through it and feeling that way. I have a small sort of understanding from learning about others and psychology and such. And that empathy thing.

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:33:05 PM by Aondeug

Arguing in circles is fun.

And I feel like this entire topic is kind of moot... How many modern non-indie games even have Easy-Mode Mockery anyways? We keep talking about the past, but I feel that that really isn't adding anything except that the resident masochists grew up on those games (so we keep getting variations of "BACK IN MY DAY...!"). Speaking of which, outing yourselves as masochists makes it harder for others to consider your opinions as unbiased (or rather, it makes it harder for others to assume you aren't just "mocking" them for not enjoying the game the way you enjoy it), which is why "elitism" is being thrown around.

I think people need to be able to laugh at themselves every once in a while, and not get so butthurt over the fact that a game called them a pussy or whatnot.

Except not everyone has the mentality to handle that, mostly because gamers tend to treat the hobby as Serious Business (which is not entirely unjustified; people are spending money for entertainment after all).

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:43:29 PM by Customer

I understand that not everyone has the mentality for that. This does not change that I think everyone should be able to do this.

As for my opinion being unbiased...I have never once made this assertion. At all.

Also please note...My wanting any difficulty mode mockery in everything does not mean I think this should be. Just as I do not think all games should be the genres I like while killing off any I dislike.

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:45:48 PM by Aondeug

More or less.

I'm aware of all of that. And I should say that I agree that people should have more humility concerning EMM. I actually didn't think this was a big deal until I ran into this topic.

Yay! So! Possibly painful hugs for everyone!

AWW YEAH

My sleeves are lined with razor wire! HUG!

IT AINT A GOOD HUG IF YOU CANT FEEL YOUR SPINE CRACK

LETS DO THIS BITCH

This is one of the best threads so far. Bumped.

There's no reason to "bump" a thread that's barely moved below the middle of the first page...

I know I am invoking the Golden Means Fallacy bit tsn't there a way to make the difficulty level reasonable? Also, going back to what the previous posters said, What is thpoint of having an easy mode if you are juost going to demoralize the player for it? Unless it is used mostly to inspire player the player to try harder! Brilliant Seriously if you don't want to make the game easy don't put in an easy mode to mock player for playing it, not all of us sadomasochists who love that kind of stuff. Of course, your gaming may vary as they may be some players who find Touhou on Lunatic a walk in the park.

Just as not everyone likes being insulted for playing Easy Mode, not everyone hates it either. There's a reason for DOOM's difficulty level names being regarded as iconic.

Fridge Horror regarding people raging over EMM kicks in when you realize that throwing a total fit because you're losing isn't exactly the healthiest thing to do.

I'm also a bit concerned with people who think a game with an A Winner Is You ending is not worth it. I could understand if it was an epic RPG or adventure game, but beating an arcade-style game should be a reward in and of itself. It's nice if a game tells me 'YOU'RE THE BEST PLAYER EVER' (minus the Narm), but hey, if I just 1-credit'd something, I don't care if the game just puts me on the next loop a la Truxton II; I don't need to be told I just accomplished something big.

(In other words: If you want endings proportional to the challenge you just overcame, NEVER play Trauma Center's X-missions or Ridge Racers's MAX Tours.)

edited 25th Feb '11 10:24:47 PM by TsundeRay

You know what I totally hate?

Difficulty that seems to just swing up and down, no matter the setting. Fighting games in particular have this problem with their arcade modes. For example, Seth in Street Fighter IV was a HUGE difficulty jump for beginning players. And instead of making the computer smarter, the games make the computers cheat.

edited 25th Feb '11 10:28:52 PM by Scardoll

Schizophrenic Difficulty?

^^ So if the computers cheat to become hard, it DOES mean the game is harder, and you need to employ new skills to beat them.

In easy mode, anyone can just aggro a computer and spam whatever attacks, take the computer's hits, and still win.

In higher difficulty, the computers do enough damage so the aggro wouldn't work, and you'd be forced to use more smarter tactics, you'd still get hit, but not as much anymore...

In even HIGHER difficulty, you can't even afford to get hit too many times like in the previous mode, so you're forced to become even better.

So if the computers cheat to become hard

In a fighting game, the characters are supposed to be on an equal level, with the obvious exception of boss characters.

I'm not talking about increased damage or mere fast reflexes. Which the normal characters, say, perform charge moves while walking forward, it pisses me off because there was no way of predicting they'd do something like that, especially if it's your first time fighting the computer and you're used to human players. The AI should simulate human play. I shouldn't have to cheese my way through arcade because the AI is dumb as rocks, yet fights like an MK Walker.

It's not a question of being good, it's a question of "Do we have to give the computer advantages a human player doesn't have just so that we can compensate for our own lack of programming smarts?"

We don't need a game like Soul Calibur 3, where there's literally entire moves only designed to fight the AI.

edited 26th Feb '11 12:23:07 AM by Scardoll

From everything I've seen in Blaz Blue, ARC Systems doesn't do that with their games. However, their boss characters are seriously overpowered, which is even more apparent when you can play them yourself (they're only partially nerfed, and then you unlock the Ultimate forms...)

Overpowered boss characters don't bother me so much. Its when every random CPU controlled character cheats. Though honestly, I'd rather a boss character have unlimited super meter and overpowered moves than simply be an MK Walker who reads my own controller. High damage or unlimited super can be overcome with good tactics, psychic move prediction can only be beaten either by luck, mercy, or AI flaws.

So, what's everyone's thoughts on rewarding the player for beating a hard mode? Is it unfair that those who lack the dedication and time to be able to conquer harder challenges will not be able to see certain rewards first hand?

That's the equivalent of saying "what about not giving people Gold, Silver, Bronze, or any medals for the people who don't qualify as Olympic athletes due to their lack of skills?"

edited 27th Feb '11 6:54:17 PM by Signed

I believe that people who put in the time and dedication to beat the hardest challenge should get something. Doesn't have to be much. Concept art, special ending, scene where all the characters comment on the player's lack of a life. Something.

And look, if you're not going to hand out characters or stages or whatnot for doing challenges, is there really a point to having those things locked in the first place? After all, those poor people who can't even beat easy mode won't be able to see everything!

edited 27th Feb '11 7:25:06 PM by Deathonabun

I'm totally fine with rewarding those who beat high difficulties. I just don't like restricting plot to the highest difficulties ( unless the differences are fairly minor ). You shouldn't need to defeat Super Hard+ with no continues in order to get an ending beyond Congralutations! And you shouldn't need to play the game in One Hit Kill mode to avoid having the plot randomly stop halfway through.