What Makes A Good Game?

[Aswald]

For centuries, alchemists have tried to discover the formula for turning lead into gold. In more recent times, programmers have tried to discover the "formula" for making a good game. So what exactly makes some games enduring classics, while others aren't even worth the cost of printing the instruction booklet?

Graphics and sound? No, the original Zork and Infocom all-text adventures didn't have any, yet they were great. Difficulty? A tough game doesn't automatically equal a good one. A good arcade-to-home translation? Then why doesn't everyone like Space Panic for the ColecoVision?

A game that has staying power? But what makes such a game?

[ManekiNeko]

Making a good game requires an even balance of art and science... of left and right brain thought. Both creativity and intelligence are necessary to make a video game that truly stands out from the rest. Without logical design, competant programming, and well integrated play mechanics, a video game simply can't work... but without creative concepts, attractive graphics, and atmospheric sound, the game feels forced. When the two are brought together, the game becomes a complete experience.

JR

[Aswald]

Hmmm, here's a thought: imagine an all-text game on a Playstation 2, using 100% of all of the memory on a CD. That game would last for an eternity!

[Arcade Antics]

A good arcade-to-home translation? Then why doesn't everyone like Space Panic for the ColecoVision?

Because not everyone liked the original arcade game. It's an excellent port of the coin-op.

[Aswald]

Exactly. So a good arcade-to-home port doesn't mean a good game!

[Arcade Antics]

Your question was "what makes a GOOD game?"

You can't answer it with a BAD game ported to home is still BAD. :P

[Alex Kidd]

It's just as well you asked what is the best food or what is the best music.

It's completely subjective.

EVERYTHING plays a role in what makes a 'good' game.
I mean, genre, graphics, sound, etc alone can not make a good game. hell even if they are all good and put into one game, STILL does not mean IT will be a good game.

All shooters are pretty much the same, but some are great, some suck ass.
All beat-em-ups are much the same, some are great, some suck ass.
Etc...

I LOVE Altered Beast and Space Harrier. I have NO idea why. I've heard games with better music, seen games with better graphics, but the actual FUN factor is what makes it. and I can't quite put my finger on what makes it fun...

Alex Kidd

[Anonymous]

A better question might be "What ruins a potentially good game". Still subjective, but you can weed out what's obviously not good, like excessive random battles, or the inability to jump backwards.

[josekortez]

Addictiveness and replay value make games good. I'm not a so-called "graphics whore," so I don't need to play the flashiest titles, but good graphics don't hurt. Puzzle games like Tetris and Puyo Puyo are perfect examples of these two concepts at work. Also, Crazy Taxi is my favorite game of all time, but the game moves too fast for you to sit and enjoy the scenery.

The problem with most of today's 3D titles is that the frickin' camera is either static or it won't swing around to meet the character which results in cheap deaths.

An easy solution is leaving that darn second analog out of the equation unless it is completely necessary to include it. Games like Ape Escape and some first-person shooters use them well, but usually this is not the case.

[Raccoon Lad]

A good interface- (player controll) and the right amount of action. Awesome Grafx help too.

[Eternal Champion]

That's actually a good question. I can't even really answer it without giving it a lot of thought...I'm suddenly really impressed with game designers, like Miyamoto, the guy behind Super Mario Bros., Zelda, Metroid (I think), etc. Wow. He's obviously bloody brilliant.
I like games like Zelda, Metroid, Kid Icarus, Metal Gear, Rygar because I have to figure what to do next, but can still advance in small ways--giving me reward for playing. Combined with the "action" part of it, this keeps it fun and bringing me back for more. I don't like a really hard challenge, like some RPGs. I don't really count shooters with cheap one-hits in quite the same way. (I'm looking at you, GAIARES! >:( )
When I first played Metroid I couldn't get anywhere. I gave up on it. Tried again and just stumbled upon something...probably the bomb. Then I was able to meet the next challenge. Lots of successive puzzles are fun.
Also variety of gameplay. I like ass-kicking, so variety of play mechanics make Streets of Rage 2 and 3 fun. And interactivity with the game environment--throwing bad dudes into pits and off platforms is great fun. :D
I think there's quite a lot of psychology involved.

[GENESISNES]

i think it depends on the genre.

for instance a wrestling game would be good if you could play a long season with different unlockables and secret characters, plus make your own guy look JUST like you.

I think things that make games fun are unlockables, or collecting. like trying to get all the cards in the FF8 card game, or all of teh characters in Dragonball Z Budoki. it is even more fun if you can battle someone else, like i always thought it would be fun if you could plug in a 2nd memory card and controller into FF8, and play your friends cards in a game against each other.

I think Animal Crossing is fun because you can collect so much, and see how your friend played it, earn money, live a life, and etc.

[hamburgler]

The graphics
The controls
The sound
Replayabiliaty
challange
genre
The camera view
Online or offline modes
Meomory
The Textures
game engines
How fast or how slow the game runs.

[davidbrit2]

NAKED CHICKS AND MAH JONGG! LONG LIVE MAME!

I'm kidding, obviously.

[Neonsolid]

Gone.