Inconsistency: the name of the game

[Aristos]

Look at this entry by little Joni:

http://jonshaferondesign.com/2012/04/03/make-a-better-game-limit-the-player/

What strikes me the most is this paragraph:

With regards to the strategy genre in particular, restrictions on unit movement is one of the best examples of how limitations can make a game better. The inability of land units to enter water is why ships are so valuable – and just plain cool. Gaining access to new units with unique ‘powers’ is a major motivation for many players. Just like in economics, scarcity is what drives value – the fact that most units are unable to perform certain actions is what makes the few which can so much fun.

Say what??? This coming from the guy that gave civ5's land units the ability to magically transform themselves into their own transports?

Some consistency speaks a lot about professionalism, I think. Trying to fool people with wording expecting them to not catch the inconsistency, does not.

Amazing...

 

[Kaosprophet]

Look at this entry by little Joni:

http://jonshaferondesign.com/2012/04/03/make-a-better-game-limit-the-player/

What strikes me the most is this paragraph:

With regards to the strategy genre in particular, restrictions on unit movement is one of the best examples of how limitations can make a game better. The inability of land units to enter water is why ships are so valuable – and just plain cool. Gaining access to new units with unique ‘powers’ is a major motivation for many players. Just like in economics, scarcity is what drives value – the fact that most units are unable to perform certain actions is what makes the few which can so much fun.

Say what??? This coming from the guy that gave civ5's land units the ability to magically transform themselves into their own transports?

Some consistency speaks a lot about professionalism, I think. Trying to fool people with wording expecting them to not catch the inconsistency, does not.

Amazing...

Yes, well anything is a lost cause when dealing with those who are just looking for things to slam you about.

 

[Atlas627]

This guy above me has it right. OP does not.

1st, what Jon is saying is that gaining new abilities is what matters. Giving restrictions, forcing the player to work within them, and then giving them an out that has other restrictions (thus giving an important choice to the player) is an excellent way to promote eventful decision-making and thus good gameplay.

Land units don't have the ability to enter water in Civ5. They GAIN this ability with a tech, and to use it you have to sacrifice a number of other things, including their combat strength and hp (insta-killed), their movement points (if faster than 2), and the opportunity cost of getting some other tech. OR you can use boats which have different restrictions, namely not being able to enter land tiles, being restricted to coast tiles (which again, you can overcome at the opportunity cost of other techs), and weak bombard abilities.

As Kaosprophet said, you have interpreted what Jon said as stupid before reading it, and have singled out the line that is most incriminating by removing it from context. You can make anything true if you want to believe it enough.

 

[Camikaze]

Moderator Action: The OP seems like more of a rant than anything for discussion. There are no questions in the OP for anyone to answer; it's just an opinion devoid of discussion value. In future, please ensure that your OPs contain that which is necessary to start a civil and productive discussion.