> I think I get your point now, but I find it completely distasteful. I don't think I'd like to start up a new game of Half-Life and have it ask me which level I'd like to start on -- half the fun is the feeling of accomplishment you get upon unlocking cool new things.

I agree. That's not to say that I disagree with FP on the GT complaint; it's really annoying to start out with so little and be forced to work from the very ground up, even though you've done it before. To compare it to Half-Life again, I wouldn't want to wait until half-way through the game to find my first shotgun, but at the same time I wouldn't want the EGON waiting for me next to the crowbar. Games need balancing, a careful consideration of rewards that entices the player but doesn't make them feel like they're missing out. "If you keep going, you'll find better things" is a brilliant way to write a game, but you shouldn't be punished for not having started it yet.

(In conclusion, GT = slow, games should never unlock everything from the start.)

Matthew