> > If an action game says one can play on twenty different levels and says NOTHING about unlocking the levels or progressing through the levels, the game should allow the player access to all twenty levels.
>
> I must conclude, then, that you are pissed at virtually every video game ever made. If you look at the box for pretty much any action game, it'll boast about the game's variety of weapons and yet most start you off with just a pistol (if that).

Obviously, I haven't made myself clear. Perhaps some real world examples would help. I own two games that could be considered Action games. One is Gauntlet: Dark Legacy. The back of the box says the following:

"4-Player Cooperative Action - Choose to be a Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard, Jester, Dwarf, Sorceress, Archer or Knight and battle the enemy with your friends.

8 Magical Realms - Adventure through numerous mystical lands including Sky and Dream worlds.

Advanced Combat - Perform advanced attack combo moves that will enable you to decimate hordes of enemies.

Countless Special Items - Fill your arsenal with magic potions, power-packed weapons, magical shields and other special items as you traverse each level."

What would I expect from a game that lists this on the package? That I could play with three other players and choose to play one of eight different characters. That I could travel through eight different levels, either sequentially or in any order of my choosing. (The writing isn't clear if one plays through them all in order or if, once a "Magical Realm" is entered, one has to play through various stages.) That I could have my character do attack combo moves. That I can pick up many different items on my quest.

You know what? It delivers on all those points. Now, if the "Choose to be a..." sentence listed all the locked characters and didn't say that they were locked or that they had to be earned or in any way implied that I could play them right when I start the game, you're right, I would be upset.

The listing of what is in the game on the back of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty reads:

"Features:

New moves and infiltration methods, such as diving summersaults, hanging from ledges, and using disguises.

Battle new, highly skilled opponents, as well as some returning vengeful foes.

Fully interactive environment where bullets pierce steam pipes, smoke reveals laser beams and wet shoes leave footprints.

Powerful musical score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (Enemy of the State, Armageddon, The Rock)."

There's no broken promises here. No mention of cool things that can be unlocked. All the unlockable stuff, you find out about that in the game. No mention of dog tags anywhere on the box.

> Video games generally require some time investment to see all that the game has to offer. This is such an implicit part of gameplay that I hardly see why it needs to be spelled out. It'd be like if you bought a new car that was advertised as being able to do 150 miles per hour, and then screamed at the dealer because you didn't realize you'd have to start at zero mph and work your way up.

Actually, it's like you bought a new car and the dealer told you you'd have to drive it for two years before he'd install passenger seats. Sure, you'll eventually get the passenger seats, but why couldn't something so basic be included in the car when you first purchased it?

I never said that some games shouldn't require a time investment to tell the story. Adventure games, action games, RPG games tell stories. Fighting games, and racing games generally don't.

> > If a video game says that you can play on any of the twenty levels, there should be an option to play on any of the twenty levels.
> >
> > How can I make this clearer?
>
> 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 don't think you understand my point at all. With the hypothetical racing game, I was complaining about a game that advertises one thing and delivers another.

Both you and Matthew are moving away from what I originally was complaining about. If a game box or case says I can do something, I should be able to do it. I never said "everything should be unlocked". If this racing game I was talking about actually had 400 cars and said I could play with 200 cars, I should be able to start playing with two hundred cars unlocked. If it says I can play with 200 cars and there were dozens more I can earn, then I still should be able to play with two hundred cars.

Action games are entirely different. Fighting games, racing games... they all have short quick race or quick fight modes. There's no real story to the games. You start up an action game -- Half-Life and or Metal Gear Solid 2, you know you're going to play through a story. With the story type of game, you know that you progress through the story and that certain events are supposed to occur at certain times.

There's nothing on those two game boxes that say "Jump right to a level." If there was something that said "Access any level at any time," then sure, I should be able to do so. As far as I can recall, Half-Life doesn't say you can play on any of x number of levels. If anything, it says you can play through x number of levels. Actually, it probably says you can play through one entire story.

> Stephen

-FP