Essay

For this essay I've decided to discuss open-ended games and write about such topics as what makes them appealing and to whom do they appeal, how they have evolved, how open-ended games have helped computer gaming to become more of a social rather than solitary activity, so what exactly is an open-ended game, what qualifies a game as being an open-ended game? One definition is it is a game that presents the player with nonlinear gameplay and presents the player with challenges that can be completed in a number of different sequences. In contrast to a more linear game which will confront the player with a fixed sequence of challenges to be overcome whilst an open-ended game will allow for greater player freedom. Some games have both open-ended and linear elements and some offer a sandbox that allows players to explore the game environment independently from the game's main objectives e.g. Startopia.

Games like the Elder Scrolls Morrowind and Oblivion are pretty much the definition of an open-ended game, Morrowind probably being the most open-ended game ever made or at least the most open-ended game I have ever played more open ended design in terms of exploration and questing, you can develop a good or bad reputation, death is permanent in the terms of you won't just automatically resurrect, you have to reload from a previous save. Some may complain that Morrowind was just too open-ended and it was a very long time before you even got into the main storyline of the game although this was the appeal of the game to others who often argue that that Morrowind has a longer lifespan than Oblivion due to being more open-ended but, I think that for a lot of people Morrowind isn't as much fun because there isn't the direction that you expect in video games. A lot of people don't truly like open-ended games, they want some kind of linear-story to follow and get frustrated with games that don't offer that story. I preferred Oblivion myself as it got into the main storyline straight away but it never forced you to do quests and allowed you to ignore them if you wanted to and just explore other aspects of the game so for me it got the balance right, the game also has good longevity due to its construction set which allows modding.