Comments on: Psalms, Awe, and Fun

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 21:01:00 +0000

It's true that I am one of the great Bubble Bobble apologists of our time, so I feel the need to chime in and say that whenever you die in that game you get a password that brings you back to that same level. No need to start anything over.

Bubble Bobble IS pure, unadulterated fun.

By: Craig Perko

Craig Perko — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:46:00 +0000

Aw, hell no.

I'll post on my disagreement tomorrow. It's too long for 2AM in a comment.

Erg, I guess I'll post my disagreement today. Just... way later today.

By: Scott Jon Siegel

Scott Jon Siegel — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 03:15:00 +0000

Darius,
This might be a strange argument, and potentially alienating, but I'm going for it: Not having immediate access to Eternal Mode is compelling for the same reasons that stripteases are compelling. And this isn't just supposed to be a loose analogy. When a game offers you compelling interaction, but limits your play, there's a near-sexual thrill attributed to working within those bounds.

Maybe that's just me, but the first sense I had of Katamari being a groundbreaking game was that when time ran out on the first level, I still wanted more. If the game just let me roll around forever, I would've gotten bored eventually. But Katamari never lets you get bored.

By: Bradley Momberger

Bradley Momberger — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 01:49:00 +0000

Well, in keeping with my theme of "uses for adulterants of pure fun," Eternal Mode is unlockable precisely because the creators wants players to experience being the Prince in the mold in which he was created _before_ they can be star-rolling dilletantes with all the time in the world.

I can perceive Eternal Mode as "Katamari Gaiden" which dilutes the original storyline, one where players experience having to economically decide between exploration and going for already-seen surer bets. When you have played Eternal Mode sufficiently, there is no more exploration and your experience is irrevocably altered in story mode. Thus, Eternal Mode is relegated to a carrot for those who first play according to the designer's wishes.

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be making all this up.

By: Darius Kazemi

Darius Kazemi — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:53:00 +0000

Why not give players Eternal Mode to begin with? Just because we think players will say, "Ahh, we got the good stuff, no need to go any further." If that's the case, then just give players the good stuff to begin with.

By: Scott Jon Siegel

Scott Jon Siegel — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:47:00 +0000

I think we can agree that there needs to be a balance, though. Infinite resources are great, but limitations and restraints are what make games intriguing. Everyone wants to take all the time in the world to roll around a Katamari level, but it’s the imposed limits to this interaction that keep it interesting. If you could do whatever you want, it would get boring quickly. There’s a reason why you can unlock Eternal Mode, and it’s not available from the start.