Spotlight: Button Mashing, Exploiting Poor Game Design, and the Importance of Making Choices
Written by Jasmine Maleficent Rea   

Fact: Winter happens no matter what a groundhog says, and it's time for another installment of the Community Spotlight.

Bitmob member Brian Biederman likes mashing buttons and seeing what happens. This new age of super-focused and pseudo-realistic gaming isn't much fun for him, so he'll stick with his Dynasty Warriors, thanks. Ross Adams expands on the idea of actually having fun while gaming by imploring exploiters to take in all the available weapons and options before charging ahead in the easiest -- and often least entertaining -- way possible.

Finally, Sam Bardelson breaks down the world of games into two types, heralding games like Fallout 3 for their degree of choice and exploration. Is the future really all about karma levels?


The Ancient Art of Button Mashing
By Brian Biederman
Button mashing works for Brian. As games become more complex and insist on trying to simulate real combat, simply hitting random combinations ceases to work, and that just isn't fun. Experimenting with crazy moves that he can hardly ever replicate is just part of a relaxing gaming experience.


Efficiency Over Fun?
By Ross Adams
Exploiting a game's weaknesses and poor design isn't fun for Ross. What's entertaining about limiting your gaming experience to a handful of sure-to-win moves and weapons when the designers included a lot more for you to play with? It's easy to fall into a rut, but Ross wants you to challenge yourself and explore those lesser used options.


On Choice
By Sam Bardelson
Sam uses the styles of Fallout 3 and Modern Warfare 2 to discuss the two major styles of games -- ones where the player's actions have real impact on the world, and others that practically run on rails. Sam feels that the evolution of video games comes through choice, not through emulating action films. What do you think?

Comments (4)

Great job, authors!

Thanks for putting together the Spotlight, Jasmine!
Frank Anderson , February 03, 2010
You want poor game design? See Street Fighter 4: Zangief.
It's almost impossible to win against him.
Carlos García , February 03, 2010
@Carlos, if you're referring to the spin attack spam, just duck.
Kevin Zhang-xing , February 04, 2010
I really liked the post On Choice.
Lance Darnell , February 04, 2010

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