What makes the overworld in video games Padding?

I've noticed several examples on the Padding page that claim that the overworld in video games is "padding" because they don't let you get from one dungeon to another.

It's not just limited to Zelda either; games like Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy and Mass Effect get that treatment.

I know it's just my opinion, but these entries are seriously unacceptable, especially for the more overworld-focused western games like Elder Scrolls. Even then, as the definition of Padding is something that could be taken out without affecting the story, cutting out the overworld would be seriously stupid both gameplay-wise and story-wise, as there needs to be that in-between place between dungeons.

^P.S. I'm not intending this to be a stealth TRS. I just want to discuss this before doing something hasty.

I'd call that a definite misuse. "Not directly part of the main plot" is not the definition of padding, anyway.

edited 20th Aug '14 9:08:08 AM by Fighteer

I know it's just my opinion

My comment still stands, for the record.

@Fighteer: First sentence of the Padding page:

So, are we seriously trying to advance the notion that the world map of a game like Skyrim is "unimportant to the plot"?

edited 20th Aug '14 11:17:07 AM by Fighteer

In most games, most if not all gameplay could be "removed from the plot without affecting the story significantly". The story happens in the cutscenes or select special events like boss fights. But of course then it wouldn't be a game anymore.

edited 20th Aug '14 11:34:27 AM by DiamondWeapon

Right, which makes the definition of Padding given above utterly impractical for use as a trope. If you stretch enough, 95% of most games are padding of one sort or another, which relegates it to Omnipresent Trope status and disqualifies examples.

edited 20th Aug '14 11:40:58 AM by Fighteer

It's a perfectly workable definition for forms of media — other than games.

Good point, and I was thinking about that. So maybe we just nuke all video game examples.

Whoa, too big of an action there. Let's bring it to TRS before we go through with that.

It does explicitly mention Fetch Quests for video games. I'd also add any kind of repeated content (which would overlap with Fake Longevity, which also has other overlaps), and from a technical standpoint, things like slow text is padding the time it takes to complete the game. Since it's a YMMV trope, some people would consider overly long attack animations to fit as well, especially if they're always repeated at full length with no skip option. Considering Romantic Plot Tumor is on the page, along with the first I mentioned, Sidequests could also fit.

The overworld, however, gives a sense of coherence, among other things, which is important. It might fit if there are vast amounts of nothing, though.

The thing is is for a game like Skyrim Fetch Quests and Side Quests are the bulk of the games' content. They're practically part of the reason why you play the game at all. Skyrim by definition is an open-world game. If it just had the main quest of the game and the DL Cs it would be ridiculously short.

If the game revolves around that "padding", it's not really Padding at all, since if you removed it it would be a completely different game.

That said, Tropes Are Not Bad. To have a game thrive because of padding is good use of it.

edited 31st Aug '14 9:50:50 PM by AnotherDuck

Games are all about gameplay. I wouldn't call gameplay Padding just because its not important to the plot. There are games with no plot in them at all.

I wouldn't usually call an overworld in itself Fake Longevity either. Not unless there's nothing to do in it such that it's just slowing down travel. Fake Longevity in overworlds usually comes from things like excessive Back Tracking and Random Encounters.

So, does this issue warrant a TRS thread? There's a lot of confusion here.

*bump* This seems kinda important.

Sure, start a TRS thread if you think it's warranted.

I'll do that. Please open it!