If SDV was made as a “walking simulators” with decision making, would people still like it?
…I would.
Maybe I’m just getting old, but as another an example, I got into Knights of the Old Republic (the Star Wars MMO). But all that stiff grinding just wasn’t worth the rare view, music, or interesting character arc.
And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that more and more gameplay feels “pointless” like that. My brain can engross itself in Satisfactory setups, but after like a day I stop when I realize I’m grinding all alone. I get into Age of Wonders or Stellaris until around mid game, when AI civs get too dumb to be convincing.
So yeah. I think there’s a grain of truth there. I adore SDV, but some aspects do feel like “chores” just to see the passion and writing they gate.
I feel this every day that I can’t get anyone I play with to enjoy more “investment” gaming journeys with me.
Two of my favorite games of all time are Project Zomboid and SCUM.
They are basically life simulators from different perspectives. Project Zomboid is all about micro-managing your daily survival needs and dealing with every little inconvenience or disaster to survive as long as possible, and the organic adventures that just naturally occur as you play, particularly if you play multiplayer and are social. A routine trip to a pharmacy can turn into a week-long epic if someone breaks a leg or you run into hostile players, etc.
For me, this is escapism. For people I want to play with, this is boring and “when does it get good?” and “Why is this so slow?” and basically ruin the experience for me, so I stopped playing with other people and am now a hermit who lives in the woods and avoids people. SCUM is basically rust on survival-steroids and in the vanilla game just finding a bit to eat in a trash can is exciting when you’re just getting started, and the progression is slow and painful but rewarding when you finally get properly geared and have a base and a group.
For many of my (younger) peers, they rather play Battlefield or Marvel Rivals for hours and hours doing the same matches over and over. I don’t get the difference.
If SDV was made as a “walking simulators” with decision making, would people still like it?
…I would.
Maybe I’m just getting old, but as another an example, I got into Knights of the Old Republic (the Star Wars MMO). But all that stiff grinding just wasn’t worth the rare view, music, or interesting character arc.
And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that more and more gameplay feels “pointless” like that. My brain can engross itself in Satisfactory setups, but after like a day I stop when I realize I’m grinding all alone. I get into Age of Wonders or Stellaris until around mid game, when AI civs get too dumb to be convincing.
So yeah. I think there’s a grain of truth there. I adore SDV, but some aspects do feel like “chores” just to see the passion and writing they gate.
I feel this every day that I can’t get anyone I play with to enjoy more “investment” gaming journeys with me.
Two of my favorite games of all time are Project Zomboid and SCUM.
They are basically life simulators from different perspectives. Project Zomboid is all about micro-managing your daily survival needs and dealing with every little inconvenience or disaster to survive as long as possible, and the organic adventures that just naturally occur as you play, particularly if you play multiplayer and are social. A routine trip to a pharmacy can turn into a week-long epic if someone breaks a leg or you run into hostile players, etc.
For me, this is escapism. For people I want to play with, this is boring and “when does it get good?” and “Why is this so slow?” and basically ruin the experience for me, so I stopped playing with other people and am now a hermit who lives in the woods and avoids people. SCUM is basically rust on survival-steroids and in the vanilla game just finding a bit to eat in a trash can is exciting when you’re just getting started, and the progression is slow and painful but rewarding when you finally get properly geared and have a base and a group.
For many of my (younger) peers, they rather play Battlefield or Marvel Rivals for hours and hours doing the same matches over and over. I don’t get the difference.
KotOR were the single player games Star Wars: The Old Republic is the MMO.
I liked it a lot, personally… for a while.