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META-FEATURES!?
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Max McGee
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CloseOkay, this is a question that is basically me testing the field for something I'm going to do in one of my game projects, just to get that off the table.
How do you guys feel about meta-features? Are they worth including?
A "meta-feature" (my term) is like a feature in that it adds content or doodads but unlike a real feature it is not integrated into the game's code but instead requires some "extra work" from the player to solve, usually involving something (the internet, an instruction manual) outside of the game. The classic example of a meta-feature comes from old (text) adventure games where the answer to certain puzzles would be printed in the instruction booklet. Sometimes, not always, a decoder strip would be involved. (This particular trick was used sometimes as a meta-feature (to add gameplay value), sometimes as a copy protection method.) Likewise the answer could be hidden in a website you had to check, or somewhere you could e-mail, in short, nothing you could discover by playing the game.
The classic rm2k meta-feature is an early work-around (before menu-hacking or any of that nonsense) for having a New Game+ mode. Since you can't (unless I'm mistaken) use event code in rm2k to just return the hero to a title screen with a New Game+ option replacing the New Game option. How this would work is after finishing the game and watching the credits you'd be given a password that you'd have to write down and once you were done writing it down, you could press a button and the game would quit; there would be a sub-menu at the beginning of the game where that password would be required to access the special mode, whether you had the password or not.
So, I hope I've done a good job of illustrating what a meta-feature is. Something that YOU DON'T REALLY CODE, NOT REALLY, that requires the player to, however briefly, exit the game to enhance the game.
THE ONLY EXAMPLE THAT MATTERS:
The particular meta-feature I have planned is, first off, completely optional and is something that would encourage players to use an outside website to customize their characters' appearance and then import in the file to the charas folder after they rename it to $dudeman or whatever so the main protagonist who they also name and choose the class of looks like what they want as well. Basically, a prompt in the first 60 seconds of character creation that would say "do you like your character's appearance? If not, follow the following steps which include shutting down the gam to change it."
Disclaimers: Now I know this is NOT REALLY A FEATURE. Technically, you could do this kind of thing to ANY rpg maker game just to AMUSE yourself, the only difference is that my game would actively encourage it and patiently explain how within the game. While it may be THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE to code something like this using scripts or whatever, let's just assume that for now it's well, well beyond my capabilities.
So, what do you guys think about that kind of thing? Would it enhance your enjoyment of the game even if it wasn't technically coded into the game or would it annoy you by prompting you to exit the game to fiddle around with something? Likewise, please feel free to DISCUSS META-FEATURES in general. Are they a good or bad idea?
-Max
P.S. Meta-features are not a video game thing only. Anyone here who was sentient in the 90s probably remembers all those board games that came with a video tape and it was like OMG INTERACTIVE MEDIA, right?
How do you guys feel about meta-features? Are they worth including?
A "meta-feature" (my term) is like a feature in that it adds content or doodads but unlike a real feature it is not integrated into the game's code but instead requires some "extra work" from the player to solve, usually involving something (the internet, an instruction manual) outside of the game. The classic example of a meta-feature comes from old (text) adventure games where the answer to certain puzzles would be printed in the instruction booklet. Sometimes, not always, a decoder strip would be involved. (This particular trick was used sometimes as a meta-feature (to add gameplay value), sometimes as a copy protection method.) Likewise the answer could be hidden in a website you had to check, or somewhere you could e-mail, in short, nothing you could discover by playing the game.
The classic rm2k meta-feature is an early work-around (before menu-hacking or any of that nonsense) for having a New Game+ mode. Since you can't (unless I'm mistaken) use event code in rm2k to just return the hero to a title screen with a New Game+ option replacing the New Game option. How this would work is after finishing the game and watching the credits you'd be given a password that you'd have to write down and once you were done writing it down, you could press a button and the game would quit; there would be a sub-menu at the beginning of the game where that password would be required to access the special mode, whether you had the password or not.
So, I hope I've done a good job of illustrating what a meta-feature is. Something that YOU DON'T REALLY CODE, NOT REALLY, that requires the player to, however briefly, exit the game to enhance the game.
THE ONLY EXAMPLE THAT MATTERS:
The particular meta-feature I have planned is, first off, completely optional and is something that would encourage players to use an outside website to customize their characters' appearance and then import in the file to the charas folder after they rename it to $dudeman or whatever so the main protagonist who they also name and choose the class of looks like what they want as well. Basically, a prompt in the first 60 seconds of character creation that would say "do you like your character's appearance? If not, follow the following steps which include shutting down the gam to change it."
Disclaimers: Now I know this is NOT REALLY A FEATURE. Technically, you could do this kind of thing to ANY rpg maker game just to AMUSE yourself, the only difference is that my game would actively encourage it and patiently explain how within the game. While it may be THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE to code something like this using scripts or whatever, let's just assume that for now it's well, well beyond my capabilities.
So, what do you guys think about that kind of thing? Would it enhance your enjoyment of the game even if it wasn't technically coded into the game or would it annoy you by prompting you to exit the game to fiddle around with something? Likewise, please feel free to DISCUSS META-FEATURES in general. Are they a good or bad idea?
-Max
P.S. Meta-features are not a video game thing only. Anyone here who was sentient in the 90s probably remembers all those board games that came with a video tape and it was like OMG INTERACTIVE MEDIA, right?
Clest
0
One game I´ve been playing lately is Bootfighter Windom, a 3D mecha fighting game and in that you can customize your pilot kinda like you suggested, just that in there it is only explained in the help file, not bad for me since I always read the help files, but all my friends I sent the game link to came asking how to do it cause they are fucking lazy or impatient to read the bloody thing. In there you change your pilot´s faceset (for when they talk in battle) and their battle talks.
So my point is: Adding it to the game is nice and wouldn´t do any harm really.
As for other Meta features, you know, an investigation game where you had to research sites for clues would be interesting =^.^= (beat you´d pull that off better than I would though).
Edit: Mage Duel?:P Btw almost got to my a Mecha Duel after playing Mage Duel XD
So my point is: Adding it to the game is nice and wouldn´t do any harm really.
As for other Meta features, you know, an investigation game where you had to research sites for clues would be interesting =^.^= (beat you´d pull that off better than I would though).
Edit: Mage Duel?:P Btw almost got to my a Mecha Duel after playing Mage Duel XD
I don't like the idea of meta-game features that aren't figurable-out-able inside the game (New Game+ is kind of an in-game feature - typically you finish the game once normally, and New Game+ is enabled somehow).
That being said, I still like to have outside reference material handy - maps, equipment tables, walkthroughs, whatever... - when I play an involved RPG. That's what I'm doing for Hero's Realm and it's website.
That being said, I still like to have outside reference material handy - maps, equipment tables, walkthroughs, whatever... - when I play an involved RPG. That's what I'm doing for Hero's Realm and it's website.
bobthebobish
690
I'd say pointing to any particular website is always a bad idea. I'll use a real life example for this though. For my university we had to take an information literacy exam and what this boils down to is 'can you use google or find websites'. Well the test itself often sends you to real URL's that are not a part of said Uni. Of course nearly half of these stupid links were broken links so nearly half of the test was negated just out of relying on outside websites.
Long story short: Websites can and often do eventually go down so pointing to one will confuse and anger said players.
PS: Newgame + is 100% code-able just remake the menu and when a player completes the game reset all the switches and variables and send them to your fake menu :)
Long story short: Websites can and often do eventually go down so pointing to one will confuse and anger said players.
PS: Newgame + is 100% code-able just remake the menu and when a player completes the game reset all the switches and variables and send them to your fake menu :)
Clest
0
Skie made a 100% evented new game+ or SEB =)
But yeah, the password thing worked well for the game you mentioned (still gotta finish hard mode on that though...).
But yeah, the password thing worked well for the game you mentioned (still gotta finish hard mode on that though...).
Just to be clear, the people are voting no are saying that an optional feature like this would outright hurt the game, not just potentially add nothing?
author=kentona link=topic=2230.msg37890#msg37890 date=1224007967
I don't like the idea of meta-game features that aren't figurable-out-able inside the game (New Game+ is kind of an in-game feature - typically you finish the game once normally, and New Game+ is enabled somehow).
That being said, I still like to have outside reference material handy - maps, equipment tables, walkthroughs, whatever... - when I play an involved RPG. That's what I'm doing for Hero's Realm and it's website.
This. I say maps, strategies, etc. are they way to go if you want to add some online accessibility to your game. Of course, with you one can be fairly certain the game will be quality. (*cough*laxiuspowerlicksass!*cough**cough*)
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