I think I understand what happened in this thread. I state that if games advertise they offer certain features (that are not mentioned as features that come into play as the game progresses), those features should be available to the player the first time the player starts the game. Somehow Stephen thought this meant "Every game should have every single aspect of the game accessible the first time the player starts the game."

Where Stephen came into this message thread, what he directly replied to was a reply of mine to something Matthew said -- that all gamers are expected to use cheat codes to unlock items that should have been included at the beginning of the game. If I don't want to do that, I should just muddle along with whatever the game actually provides at the beginning. (This conceit is one I find appalling. It is indicative of lazy programming or poor communication between the game designers and the advertising department.)

If a game advertises features that one gets at the beginning of the game, the game should have those features. Based on Stephen's latest response, he either still doesn't understand that sentence despite me writing it or variations of it three times or Stephen is being purposefully obtuse.

On to direct replies from Stephen's latest post.

> And yet it's my understanding that it doesn't totally deliver on all those points -- that the worlds require collecting stuff to unlock.

Please read what I said. Based on what the game says, I would expect 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.)" This is a valid interpretation of "Adventure through numerous mystical lands".

> I mentioned the Civ II claim of being able to command AEGIS Cruisers (which you certainly can't do at the start) and I noticed that Warcraft II says there are 28 levels (and you must play through it). Deus Ex and Half-Life made no specific claims, so they'd be Faux Pas-safe. System Shock 2, on the other hand, says there are 14 weapons but you only start with a crowbar (or something similar, haven't played it in a while), so it's not.

"Faux Pas-safe"? Now you're just getting pissy.

System Shock 2:

"Sequel to the award-winning System Shock
Detailed character generation and growth, inventory and equipping, and traits
Advanced Psi-powers, such as Cyber-Psi, Cryrokinesis, and Force Wall
Modify, repair, and set your weapons to do the most damage possible
16-bit color, colored lighting, variable translucency objects, and more"

It doesn't say you can use 14 weapons nor does it insinuate that your character starts off with more than your character actually starts off with. Everything in the Features box is exactly what I would expect I get when I start the game.

Warcraft 2 Batttle Chest:

"Multiplayer support for as many as 8 players via Battle.net or IPX network
Battle.net play features Unique User IDs and a ranking system for worldwide challenge ladders
Over 70 explosive missions across 4 epic campaigns allow you to play as Human or Orc
Over 100 Blizzard signed and approved maps, newly built or redesigned
Map, Unit, and Sound editing tools allow customization of single and multiplayer battles"

The "4 epic campaigns" indicates that there is a progression through the "70 explosive missions". From that, the buyer can assume that one would have to progress through four different groups of missions, possibly in a sequential order. From that description, I cannot tell if all four campaigns are accessible when the game is first started or if Campaign 2 can only be accessed after completing Campaign 1. All I - or any buyer of this game - can tell is there are four campaigns with an average of 15 missions in each. Most likely, you have to play through all 15 in order. Perhaps there are decision trees involved in the campaign -- you lose Mission 1, you go to Mission 2A; you win, you proceed to Mission 2B.

"100 Blizzard signed and approved maps" indicates the playing fields these "70 explosive missions" take place on.

As with System Shock 2, everything described in Warcraft 2 Battle Chest is available when I start the game if I could access all four "epic campaigns" at the beginning of the game.

Civilization 2 (Jewel Case):

"Addictive, epic, intuitive: command your armies, build cities, and create wonders of the world to stand forever
Danger is no longer just on 4 sides--civilizations threaten from above and below on multiple worlds within each game
The Original Civilization II, now extended into the Centaurus Star System
The Universe of Lalande 21185
The World of Midgard"

I see no claim of commanding AEGIS carriers.

> This is so pedantic. So if Half-Life says, "Play through a storyline with 20 levels," that's okay, but if it says it "Features 20 levels" then that's not?

Yes. That's why most all copy released to the public by large companies usually goes through a legal department to see if the language used accurately reflects what should be said. "Play through a storyline with 20 levels" indicates that each level is played sequentially. "Features 20 levels" does not. Words have definitions.

- FP

Above feature listings were taken from product descriptions at Amazon.com