Tyson Green (Destiny)

by Cody Miller , Music of the Spheres - Never Forgot, Friday, December 13, 2013, 20:01 (4006 days ago) @ RC

Why? BECAUSE THEY WERE FUCKING FUN.
Investment systems don't make games better. Making a good game makes it better.

Multiplayer, a customisable character, decisions that matter, challenge. Tell me what, out of that list, that doesn't make the game better when done correctly.

You need to think of these things in the context of investment systems. When he says you will fail, it's not because you're going to encounter cool situations which you are unprepared for in terms of skill or knowledge, but because your avatar won't be strong enough. This has been confirmed by Game Informer. Which is dumb.

You've just got it into your head that because now game developers are designing with invest-ability in mind, that anything that is spawned out of that -even partially- must automatically be irreparably corrupted and objectively make the game worse, for every player.

Mr. Miller, you are wrong.

It's just short hand for a design theory. You can cast many things in the light of 'investment system.' The difficulty badges on the level select screen in Halo 1. The map-specific knowledge you had to acquire to be good at multiplayer. Things players want to attain or get the opportunity to use, they are 'invested' in.

There is a difference. When you 'invest' yourself in a good game, what you get back manifests itself in your brain and body as increased skill or knowledge. When you 'invest' yourself in games with investment systems, you primarily gain flipped bits on your hard drive or the game server.

A quick test: do you keep it if you were to completely start the game over and wipe all progress? If yes, you're on the right track. If not, you are generally wasting time.

Thus the best 'investment' systems are simply making a really good game people like to play, not one based on rewards.