Do you like to know how far along you are in a game? (how much is left)

[coltyhuxx]

This might be an odd topic -- but I ask because in looking at gamefaqs for Phantom Hourglass this morning, I found myself compelled, not to spoil the game but to see how many sections there were beyond the point I was stuck at. Sort of like a very vague spoiling sensation.

Then I felt like I almost tarnished the gaming experience right there because I realized that I've only got a third left (and I was just getting into the exploring!)... The obvious answer is "don't do that then" but it's a sort of compulsion almost, like I can't help scrolling down or even guesstimating how far along I am by the position of the scroll bar when I'm on gamefaqs..

Anyone else?

[whoknows]

If I've been playing for awhile I do like to know how much I got left...I'm too lazy though to actually check :-P

[Dark Slayer120]

Well I always find that if I am wondering how much is left, or wanting to know when it will end I'm probably not enjoying the game to start with. I can see your point but for me if I am wondering this then I am not enjoying the game anyway. If I am really into a game I get lost into it and never want it to end.

[Chacrana]

I usually only do this with some RPGs, but I don't do it if I'm not enjoying a game. I do it hoping that there's a lot left. If I don't like a game, I stop playing it, and often just throw it away rather than selling it.

[lordxixor101]

I like to know. I think it's really driven from other media experiences. When you are watching tv or a movie, you usually know how long it is, so you know how much is left. When you are reading a book, almost everyone flips to the last page to see how big it is. Not only that, a table of contents (in many books) usually gives that away.

So, I think it's natural. I usually like to know too, but I'll rarely go out of my way to find it out, only if I'm already looking at the game at gamefaqs would I check to see that.

[fatbeer]

There are plenty of Cag members wanting to know how long it takes to beat a certain game. Some people want to know due lack of time or wanting a time estimate to beat a game or trying clear up their backlog of game Hell, they even started a whole thread about it.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134738&highlight=hours

[PyroGamer]

I just play my games. I rarely, if ever go online to read anything about the game at all, besides discussing the game's quality.

Last time I did anything like that was with Halo 3 skulls.

[javeryh]

Sort of. I am curious to know how far along in MP3 I am because I'm losing momentum. I just got to the shapeshifter bounty hunter boss... 1/2? 2/3? Am I close?

[botticus]

I like to have an idea of the time committment of a game. So generally I'm more curious before I start a game how long it is, but there are times when I'm in the middle and want to know how much there is left.

[coltyhuxx]

Sort of. I am curious to know how far along in MP3 I am because I'm losing momentum. I just got to the shapeshifter bounty hunter boss... 1/2? 2/3? Am I close?

What is MP3? I'm sure it's going to come to me.

That's interesting that CAG's started a thread with the number of hours req'd to beat a game. Never noticed that thread before. Time-to-complete seems really hard to estimate... I know my friend takes twice as long (literally) as I do because he is such a completionist and I am SO not a completionist. I could give an ass about collecting all eighty pieces of the splintered tri-force to unlock a picture of Mario or whatever else Nintendo has padded their game with.

[ighosty]

Depends on the game. If it is a game I am really enjoying then I really don't care to know where I am in the game, but most of the time I find how long the game takes to beat and I can judge how fair I am by thinking about how long i've played it.

[javeryh]

What is MP3? I'm sure it's going to come to me.

Metroid Prime 3

[Puffa469]

I usually have an idea of how long a game is from the reviews Ive read, so if a game averages 20 hours to beat, while playing it thats how I determine where I am in the game. Most game saves tell you how long you've been playing, and I use that as a rough idea of where I am in the game.

[Lupuri]

Depends on the game. If it is a game I am really enjoying then I really don't care to know where I am in the game, but most of the time I find how long the game takes to beat and I can judge how fair I am by thinking about how long i've played it.yeah, Im totally with you. It really depends on the game. Something that was compelling to the point where I couldnt wait to play again (like Bioshock was prolly the last thing for me) Id like to know... but personally. I do spoilers AFTER I've beaten the game or if I get stuck. Just get more satisfaction playing the game on my own terms the first time, instead of going through a game like a novel.

Plus, most of the time you just have to look at achievements =D

[tangytangerine]

I usually only do this with some RPGs

That's usually the only genre I do it for. Did it recently for Front Mission 4. Battles were getting too similar and looked on Gamefaqs to see where I'm at(was about 6 battles off to finishing the game).

[Pancake Rabbit]

If I'm getting sick of a game and want to know if I'm close to beating it, I'll find out how much is left.

[lokizz]

only on the games that feel like work to play. bully was one of those games i needed to know how much i had left because the game was dragging on forever same with psychonaughts. but games like god of war and god of war 2 i just jump in and play and before you know it the games is over. same for kingdom hearts 1.

[Mr. Beef]

I like finding out how long i have left before the end. The problem is finding a spoiler-free way of doing so. I usually only do it when I'm getting frustrated, or if it feels like I'm just plodding along. If I'm seriously into the game I'm playing (PW and KH come to mind), then I just keep going.

[msdmoney]

Yes, I just like to know how far I am, and how far I have to go. I usually just look at a Table of Contents over at gamefaqs to see how many levels there are. I do this even when I am enjoying a game.

[The Crotch]

Sort of. I am curious to know how far along in MP3 I am because I'm losing momentum. I just got to the shapeshifter bounty hunter boss... 1/2? 2/3? Am I close?Heavily depends on how many items you've found so far, how many you want to get, and whether or not you know about the map room in Skytown.

Assuming you ignore all that noise and just power on through, you've got - by my estimate - about 3 hours left. I dunno, it's been a while, and I did a lot of item hunting, so it's really hard for me to judge. I'm sure there are other people better qualified to speak on this.

[wubb]

Interesting question. I guess I don't really mind knowing how much longer I have but I usually only try to find out if I feel like a game has been dragging.

[javeryh]

Heavily depends on how many items you've found so far, how many you want to get, and whether or not you know about the map room in Skytown.

Assuming you ignore all that noise and just power on through, you've got - by my estimate - about 3 hours left. I dunno, it's been a while, and I did a lot of item hunting, so it's really hard for me to judge. I'm sure there are other people better qualified to speak on this.

Thanks - I need to go find that maproom I guess. I'm pretty close though.

[CokeCola]

The less I know about a game going into it, the better. That includes length. Sometimes I guess it doesn't end up mattering, but occasionally a game will floor me with a story extension when I think I'm close to the end, and those are awesome when they go unspoiled. I'm thinking of the likes of Red Faction, Okami, and Bioshock.

[yukine]

Absolutely, I like to check how far along I am in any game I play. It doesn't matter if I love it, I still want to know.

I don't know why either.