4 ms·

I think video games are the exception that proves the rule. They are software, yes, but due to their primary use being casual enjoyment (as opposed to productiv

I think video games are the exception that proves the rule. They are software, yes, but due to their primary use being casual enjoyment (as opposed to productivity), being well-made is important for them -- video games have to run well, look pretty, have few bugs, etc. precisely because there's no other reason to play them other than to enjoy them. Meanwhile productivity software offers something else into addition to being merely well-made.

hbn 4y ago
The primary quality of what people consider "well-made" for a video game is the artistic part. Sure, nerds will compare graphical fidelity, resolutions, framerates, etc. but most people just care about whether they're enjoying themselves. Shadow of the Colossus infamously ran pretty badly on its original release platform (PS2). A good amount of the N64's library ran at sub-20fps in certain areas. Bloodborne launched with 60-second load screens. Hell, remember GTA5's multi-minute loading screens that people put up with until someone reverse engineered the code and found it was mostly pointless JSON parsing? Dark Souls was 30fps on PCs for years (without a mod that caused bugs of its own) until the remaster came out. There's lots of examples of badly-running and/or ugly and/or buggy games that are still regarded as great.
dudeinjapan 4y ago
There was a big video game market crash in the USA in the 80's before Nintendo arrived on the scene. The issue was precisely quality (see: E.T. the game)
barbariangrunge 4y ago
Have you played Japanese pc ports on steam? I… recommend against it. Most of the ones I own only work under specific conditions if at all. Several are literally unplayable, or require you to downgrade your video drivers to something from 3-5 years ago. The best of them often still drop frames, requiring fan patches to maintain 60fps. Sometimes you fall through floors. They are never patched

hbn 4y ago

The primary quality of what people consider "well-made" for a video game is the artistic part. Sure, nerds will compare graphical fidelity, resolutions, framerates, etc. but most people just care about whether they're enjoying themselves. Shadow of the Colossus infamously ran pretty badly on its original release platform (PS2). A good amount of the N64's library ran at sub-20fps in certain areas. Bloodborne launched with 60-second load screens. Hell, remember GTA5's multi-minute loading screens that people put up with until someone reverse engineered the code and found it was mostly pointless JSON parsing? Dark Souls was 30fps on PCs for years (without a mod that caused bugs of its own) until the remaster came out. There's lots of examples of badly-running and/or ugly and/or buggy games that are still regarded as great.

dudeinjapan 4y ago

There was a big video game market crash in the USA in the 80's before Nintendo arrived on the scene. The issue was precisely quality (see: E.T. the game)

barbariangrunge 4y ago

Have you played Japanese pc ports on steam? I… recommend against it. Most of the ones I own only work under specific conditions if at all. Several are literally unplayable, or require you to downgrade your video drivers to something from 3-5 years ago. The best of them often still drop frames, requiring fan patches to maintain 60fps. Sometimes you fall through floors. They are never patched