Comic for Monday 11/7 (Early High Res)
Added 2022-11-07 04:29:23 +0000 UTCGod of War: Ragnarok is out this week (yay!), and bringing with it a ton of accessibility options to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy the game regardless of disabilities or skill level. However, along with options like toggling on checkpoints for boss fights, etc, comes the old debate about easy modes in games and "git gud" gatekeeping.
So I just wanted to add my voice to the conversation in support of letting people play how they want. Don't make anyone feel bad for playing on an easier difficulty. Everyone pays the same $60-70 for a game, they have the same right to enjoy it all the way through. Choose the difficulty that feels right for you and your ability, or allotment of free time, and let's stop reinforcing the idea that people who play more casually, or on easier difficulties are less than real gamers. It's not necessary to tear them down in order to make a higher difficulty playthrough more impressive.
I hope more studios go to the lengths Santa Monica has in order to be more welcoming to a wider variety of gamers, and a ton of individually toggled options makes so much more sense than a blanket "easy mode". Maybe you love combat, but struggle with puzzles; you don't want an easy mode tuning everything down just for one aspect. In a single player game, letting players fine tune the experience to their liking negatively affects no one, but benefits so many gamers who might otherwise miss out/be left out.
Comments
I love being able to play games on harder difficulties, but physically and mentally that isn't always possible for me. Having an easier mode allows me to enjoy all the hard work that went into a game. This comic nails it, some days I'm too busted to take the stairs. If my using the elevator harms someone else's enjoyment of their journey, what are they really doing this for?
Stephen Quadro
2022-11-08 03:33:02 +0000 UTCIn a balance of harm view, easy modes allow people who would otherwise not be able to even play the game to enjoy it, vs removing some of the challenge for people who can play the game. This arguement doesn't work very well. We should deny people the possibilty to even play a game because it makes it less enjoyable for some people who struggle to pick a different setting.
Stephen Quadro
2022-11-08 03:28:00 +0000 UTCYou know the irony of this? Making games too easy(like Godmode, etc), actually does ruin the game for some. Which, I understand that sounds like crap, but unfortunately, it's true. You see, those with certain mental differences(such as ADD), have a function in their brain that kinda "forces" them do to choose, what is to their brains, the "most efficient" method of beating a game. Which is usually the easiest mode available. Which isn't an issue so long as the easiest mode available still has at least a decent level of difficulty. However, when it's excessively easy - such as taking away all or nearly all challenge - this actually ruins the game for them. I realize this seems counterintuitive but it's just how their brains work. And, this isn't a small segment of gamers either - those with such conditions are, frequently, gamers.
Shawn Spencer
2022-11-07 21:25:48 +0000 UTC
