How long should a game be?

lazyboygames

  • Posts: 485
I am working on my next game, Stunt Ball Paul, and just had my little brother play test through the 15 levels to see how long it would take him. Him playing it took 10 minutes  :-[ I was wondering if this is to short. Is it okay for a flash game to be only 10 minutes?

« Last Edit: December 09, 2012, 06:46:29 pm by lazyboygames »

Strasteo

  • Posts: 323
In my opinion, the length isn't a worry so long as the player can walk away feeling satisfied or had fun playing it. Some games go on forever, becoming a test for how long you survive. Some games have a large amount of levels, but depending on how interesting the game mechanics are this could backfire if it's the same thing over and over again. Focus first on quality and keeping things fresh for the player.

If you feel satisfied as the designer behind the game and feel like you've explored all the game concepts that you wanted to, then it's done. If you feel like more could be done and more challenges could be made, then it's not. Push yourself to make a good game, and everything else is secondary.

rojasstencylman

  • Posts: 198
truthfully, i think it should be longer as long as u can save ur game because people would want to keep playing if they haven't already beaten all the levels, and it would look good for u because u would have a lot more views if they had to keep coming back to play it. U could just make a few more levels that r nearly impossible because people want to finish their games they started playing. 15 levels isn't bad, but if it takes u 10 minutes to beat the game, it isn't that exciting.
Only the determined can even try to make a game!
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Joe

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  • Posts: 2478
Long enough to draw the player in and make them feel engaged and short enough to prevent them from getting bored. Play-testing is extremely important to help get the pacing and difficulty ramp-up of a game right. It's a really important thing that tons of games, even popular mainstream ones, do really poorly.

GregAnims

  • Posts: 305
I believe in "not wasting players time", so keep the show running as long as you can keep it interesting - but not beyond that.

Max Finch

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  • Posts: 2174
Did he have fun and felt satisfied after playing it? If yea then it's perfect. If not do some tweaking.

lazyboygames

  • Posts: 485
I think I am going to try and add + tweak levels. There is a lot that can be done, and I think this game is quite good. I just need to stop being lazy  :P

rojasstencylman

  • Posts: 198
A lazy boy making games lol ;)
Only the determined can even try to make a game!
If u get an answer to ur question, edit topic title to [Solved] by "modifying" ur first post on the topic
Also, if you want ur link to say something else like this one, which leads to the Stencyl Arcade, you do this:
[ url=http://www.stencyl.com/play ]hello[/ url ]

Max Finch

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  • Posts: 2174
You should put it up in stencyl arcade for playtesting after you sitelock it and maybe we can give you some insight. Then if you want to put it up for sponsorship take it off or something. Just a idea.

lazyboygames

  • Posts: 485
You should put it up in stencyl arcade for playtesting after you sitelock it and maybe we can give you some insight. Then if you want to put it up for sponsorship take it off or something. Just a idea.

or FGL. I will let you guys know when I post a newer version. I have one up there that was from the first 2 days of work already.

Silux

  • Posts: 438
That depends on how much content there's in the game:D
Anyway if you want something more precise, the power up needed to keep playing is between +10% and +1% every minute.(tested within a semi-random pool of 200 players)
More than 10% the game feels too fast and lower than 1% feels too grindy.

All content should change every period of time, included images, sounds and mechanics.

But it's better leave it short than too long.If a player comments that is too short means it would have played more;If a player leaves because it's too long, he won't see the ending!:O

Currently working at:
Starwarrior 2097(my main project)
How to make successful games in Kongregate and the world(article)

lazyboygames

  • Posts: 485
That depends on how much content there's in the game:D
Anyway if you want something more precise, the power up needed to keep playing is between +10% and +1% every minute.(tested within a semi-random pool of 200 players)
More than 10% the game feels too fast and lower than 1% feels too grindy.

All content should change every period of time, included images, sounds and mechanics.

But it's better leave it short than too long.If a player comments that is too short means it would have played more;If a player leaves because it's too long, he won't see the ending!:O

Thanks for the tip. Yeah I want players to finish which is why I am trying to keep it short. I have also begun redesigning a lot of the levels.

twotimingpete

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  • Posts: 1667
I don't think browser/mobile games need to be very long, but if someone likes something enough to play for 10 minutes, he may be disappointed if there's not more. There's a lot to be said for leaving someone wanting more, but if they see everything in ten minutes they may just view it as a shortcoming. YMMV, but that's my view.

rojasstencylman

  • Posts: 198
That depends on how much content there's in the game:D
Anyway if you want something more precise, the power up needed to keep playing is between +10% and +1% every minute.(tested within a semi-random pool of 200 players)
More than 10% the game feels too fast and lower than 1% feels too grindy.

All content should change every period of time, included images, sounds and mechanics.

But it's better leave it short than too long.If a player comments that is too short means it would have played more;If a player leaves because it's too long, he won't see the ending!:O

Thanks for the tip. Yeah I want players to finish which is why I am trying to keep it short. I have also begun redesigning a lot of the levels.
I know this sounds like a really dumb idea but i think that u should male so many levels that ur goal should be to make sure most people don't finish. That way it will keep people hooked on it. Make lots of levels
Only the determined can even try to make a game!
If u get an answer to ur question, edit topic title to [Solved] by "modifying" ur first post on the topic
Also, if you want ur link to say something else like this one, which leads to the Stencyl Arcade, you do this:
[ url=http://www.stencyl.com/play ]hello[/ url ]

xandramas

  • Posts: 411
Simple answer - As long as the content entertains.

Some games can offer days of entertainment, others only minutes. Depends on the repetition of your compent and how its offered to the player.
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