Annoying things that hamper your gaming experience

There are some elements, that are being re-introduced, rehashed and repeatedly used by the developers, which we most of us find annoying. Still, these things are present in new games. I wonder why? Here's my list:

1. Checkpoint based save games

I really want to save my games whenever and wherever I want to, so I can just leave the game and go on to do something else, and I don't want to play through the first two acts over and over only because I am not being able to finish the 3rd act. That is plainly ANNOYING.

2. Unskippable Movies

I have watched the movie once when I played the game first. Now I am finishing it again--why the bloody hell I have to see it again? Please, please keep a skip video option

3. Stupid Tutorials

There are many games where you just cannot skip the tutorials--even worse, in some games, tutorials are built inside the core game. Well, I might pick up some interesting information or abilities from the tutorial, but I just don't want to remain stuck in them. And the same problem (as mentioned in point 2) is prevalent--once I've finished the game, there's no point in going through the tutorial again.

4. Peculiar Default Controls

Although this problem is fewer nowadays, but still it annoys to find a control scheme different than WASD on rare occasions

Can you guys add some more?

Skipping the movies and tutorial is a must for me Shame not all games do it.

I hate it when these hints pop-up or when the game forces you to stop and try something as a "tutorial".

What gripes me is when a new game makes use of old-style programming instead of what's been improved upon. Prime examples would be a top-down view (instead of OTS or 1st-person), or a badly-programmed camera that was used in past games.

Oh yah, nothing spoils a game more then a bad camera you can't move.

1. Checkpoint based save games

DeadManRollin

I don't agree with this with some games. See, some games are meant to have checkpoints, so the difficulty isn't easy all the time. Kill this, SAVE, kill these 2, SAVE. With checkpoints, I find myself always watching my health, or healing, or taking my time to kill... since the other way I would just go in guns blazing and if I don't pull it off, just load from 3 seconds back....

I repeat...SOME games it's good....others, normal save is a MUST !!!

mom

My crappy computer

There are some elements, that are being re-introduced, rehashed and repeatedly used by the developers, which we most of us find annoying. Still, these things are present in new games. I wonder why? Here's my list:

1. Checkpoint based save games

I really want to save my games whenever and wherever I want to, so I can just leave the game and go on to do something else, and I don't want to play through the first two acts over and over only because I am not being able to finish the 3rd act. That is plainly ANNOYING.

2. Unskippable Movies

I have watched the movie once when I played the game first. Now I am finishing it again--why the bloody hell I have to see it again? Please, please keep a skip video option

3. Stupid Tutorials

There are many games where you just cannot skip the tutorials--even worse, in some games, tutorials are built inside the core game. Well, I might pick up some interesting information or abilities from the tutorial, but I just don't want to remain stuck in them. And the same problem (as mentioned in point 2) is prevalent--once I've finished the game, there's no point in going through the tutorial again.

4. Peculiar Default Controls

Although this problem is fewer nowadays, but still it annoys to find a control scheme different than WASD on rare occasions

Can you guys add some more?

DeadManRollin

These I can handle, but once the framerate starts getting crappy I'll stop the game immediately. Framerate issues is UNACCEPTABLE!

While these aren't the game's fault:

Lag

Losing internet connection

When my 1000-year old speakers suddenly decide to go really quiet for 5 minutes

When there's a hair in my mouse

When my mouse buttons get stuck

I definitely agree that unskippable movies, cutscenes, dialogues, etc are a big annoyance.

As for checkpoints, they can be OK if they are done smart. What I don't like is when games use game saving like it was some type of reward. Hello? Getting a special gun, or special equipment is a reward. Saving a game is just something people need or want to do, like changing their game preferences.

Other big annoyances:

Long load times. It's ok if the initial load takes a bit longer. But if I need to reload the current level, it shouldn't have to take as long as the initial load. If it needs to load everything for that level from scratch, then the developers have a few screws loose.

Shooter games where enemies, especially humans, cannot be significantly damaged unless you fire an entire clip of ammo into their head. And no matter which part of the body you shoot the first bullet into, they only react as if they were bitten by a mosquito at most. I know that they want to make the game more challenging, but I would rather them to make smarter enemies rather than godlike enemies to increase the challenge.

I definitely agree that unskippable movies, cutscenes, dialogues, etc are a big annoyance.

As for checkpoints, they can be OK if they are done smart. What I don't like is when games use game saving like it was some type of reward. Hello? Getting a special gun, or special equipment is a reward. Saving a game is just something people need or want to do, like changing their game preferences.

Other big annoyances:

Long load times. It's ok if the initial load takes a bit longer. But if I need to reload the current level, it shouldn't have to take as long as the initial load. If it needs to load everything for that level from scratch, then the developers have a few screws loose.

Shooter games where enemies, especially humans, cannot be significantly damaged unless you fire an entire clip of ammo into their head. And no matter which part of the body you shoot the first bullet into, they only react as if they were bitten by a mosquito at most. I know that they want to make the game more challenging, but I would rather them to make smarter enemies rather than godlike enemies to increase the challenge.

Qixote

Long load times that suddenly put you into the action.

Unskippable movies/cutscenes/characters

Bad AI

No jump button

Stupid camera angles

Wife & kids

I remember a game i bought called Discord Times..The AI was pretty much unbeatable....Obviously ..not fun at all.!:roll:

Respawning / Randomly spawned enemies. 'nuff said.

Hackers in online matches. Please get some skill.

Long load times that suddenly put you into the action.

Unskippable movies/cutscenes/characters

Bad AI

No jump button

Stupid camera angles

Wife & kids

Fandangle

I must agree with "No Jump Button"....damn it's so frigging annoying. If you are playing as a human being, or even a robot, you expect to hop over certain stuff. I remember playing a great game which didn't have jump, e.g. Deadly Dozen....that was sooo frigging annoying. Although there was not much need for jumping, but still it wouldn't hurt, would it?

Another thing that I must add is too many scripted events, e.g. boss battles where I have to press certain buttons in quick succession to beat him. This certain feature is okay for console games, but it gets really on my nerves when I find it in PC games, or even ports.

Last, but not the least, improper buttons shown on screen. Let me explain what I mean here. Suppose you have mapped W as the button to go forward. But in the screen the guys are showing you press Up Arrow to go forward, with a note "default control"--man that's just lazy programming. The game should be able to pick up the configuration I have chosen and give me appropriate instructions. Also, console ports often show only the gamepad buttons, and I have to memorize which button I mapped to which key, i.e. U is for green, I is for blue, and blah blah blah. This I faced in PES 4 and gave up playing the game.

linear gameplay callduty 4 is pretty guilty of this...i rember this one part in the first mission where you can progress till your teamate dies and you pick up his missle launcher blasting some tanks on a bridge. but if you dont pick it up you cant progress bad guys just keep respawning no matter how many times i kill them the worst part was the sergent yelling none stop "PRIVATE PICK UP THE MISSLE LAUNCHER"PRIVATE PICK UP THE MISSLE LAUNCHER PRIVATE PICK UP THE MISSLE LAUNCHER PRIVATE PICK UP THE MISSLE LAUNCHER PRIVATE PICK UP THE MISSLE LAUNCHER PRIVATE PICK UP THE MISSLE LAUNCHER

and 5 mins l8ter there was this part where you had to kill these people in this building but for some reason they have maigcle bullet proof boards so no matter what you cant kill them and the people you can kill just respawn so you are forced to set off this series of events that ends in a heli blasting the crap outta the building

No jumping was particularly annoying in Gears of War. Man, I hated taking cover behind an object just so I can hop over it!

I remember that mission in COD4...it was really annoying. While scripted events can look cool, it often stops the natural flow of events. Gears of War doesn't have jump? I am just cutting off gears of war from "games I should play" list. Heck, these games often make me wonder how great a game Doom 2 wasDeadManRollin

It uses an automated crouch and crawl system that works pretty well, and I thought the same thing when I was told there was no jump. But in reality it flows fairly well, except when it bugs and it slides you across the room into a group of enemies.

Gears of War, despite having no jumping ability, is still quite a spectacular action game with otherwise perfect controls. I had no problems with this game whatsoever (this, of course, after I installed a save game fix), though I do think that having no jumping ability did make getting over obstacles less fun than it could have been.

[QUOTE="DeadManRollin"]I remember that mission in COD4...it was really annoying. While scripted events can look cool, it often stops the natural flow of events. Gears of War doesn't have jump? I am just cutting off gears of war from "games I should play" list. Heck, these games often make me wonder how great a game Doom 2 wasSacif

It uses an automated crouch and crawl system that works pretty well, and I thought the same thing when I was told there was no jump. But in reality it flows fairly well, except when it bugs and it slides you across the room into a group of enemies.

[QUOTE="Sacif"]

[QUOTE="DeadManRollin"]I remember that mission in COD4...it was really annoying. While scripted events can look cool, it often stops the natural flow of events. Gears of War doesn't have jump? I am just cutting off gears of war from "games I should play" list. Heck, these games often make me wonder how great a game Doom 2 wasDeadManRollin

It uses an automated crouch and crawl system that works pretty well, and I thought the same thing when I was told there was no jump. But in reality it flows fairly well, except when it bugs and it slides you across the room into a group of enemies.

OT: No voltron :P My pic is Optimus Prime my lord and savior :D:D

And RTS games are awesome until you play someone who has made it their life mission. I hate making my base all pretty and then getting wasted because someone has zerg'd me to the point of complete anihilation.

my insanly expensive gaming laptop is always holding me back on games like crysis and other extremly demanding games

bad ports,glitches,awful controls and unskippable cutscenes

when i drink too much coffee and have to take a piss every 10 minutes

but seriously, checkpoint systems can be good, but in some games they just piss me off. modern shooters with outdated health/healing systems. overly tough enemies in games trying to be realistic. unskippable cutscenes (assassins creed). games which frequently implement time limits into missions. games with no form of AA support ( i hate jaggies oh so much).

Compatibility issues are my biggest frustration with PC games. This and crashing, but they are related.

Compatibility issues are my biggest frustration with PC games. This and crashing, but they are related.

True_Sounds

Out of those 2% left....they are just little bugs and crashes now and then.

The last game I remember having too many issues was Splinter Cell: Double Agent, but NO-one ran that game stable on PC...

1. Online authentication. First, let me say that I love Steam...its a great way to get games, updates, and great deals on purchases. With that said, when I buy a boxed game, specifically a singleplayer game (this means you, Mass Effect and Bioshock) I dont want to require an internet connection.

Internet is widely available, and you dont need a lot of bandwith for what is asked to authenticate, but that does not mean it is affordable. I have roommates, and I asked them if they want internet, then theyre like "Well we might as well get the bundle with phone and cable" which is already 90 bucks or something, then they decide to get all the sports packages which makes it cost over 100 bucks and I just cant afford that.

Also, I dont like the principle of it. It is an inconvenience to the honest gamer out there, and if you want to prevent piracy thats cool, just make sure your measures dont alienate or hassle the legit purchaser.

2. Tutorials incorporated into the actual game. Rarely is this done well, but it drives me nuts. I loved Deus Ex and Halflife tutorials; they both had a "hazard course" type of deal separate from the actual singleplayer game that seemed to go inline with the story, without taking too long. With Deus Ex it made since because you were a new recruit, and with Halflife it made sense because you were training with the hazard suit.

Now I am playing the Age of Conan trial and the "tutorial" takes hours to finish. Sorry, but Tortage is definately a tutorial. Whats worse is you have to do this every single time.

[QUOTE="True_Sounds"]

Compatibility issues are my biggest frustration with PC games. This and crashing, but they are related.

FelipeInside

Out of those 2% left....they are just little bugs and crashes now and then.

The last game I remember having too many issues was Splinter Cell: Double Agent, but NO-one ran that game stable on PC...

With XP I assume? Thanks for the suggestion, that sounds like a great idea

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]

[QUOTE="True_Sounds"]

Compatibility issues are my biggest frustration with PC games. This and crashing, but they are related.

True_Sounds

Out of those 2% left....they are just little bugs and crashes now and then.

The last game I remember having too many issues was Splinter Cell: Double Agent, but NO-one ran that game stable on PC...

With XP I assume? Thanks for the suggestion, that sounds like a great idea

The Sun, which is shining in my eyes all afternoon, so practically I can play the "darker" games only from dusk or when night falls. As from those you mentioned i would pick nr.2 which bores me alot too.

4. Peculiar Default Controls

Although this problem is fewer nowadays, but still it annoys to find a control scheme different than WASD on rare occasions

DeadManRollin

This does not annoy me since I don't use wasd. But hey I'm a lefty too, so go figure. :)

The Sun, which is shining in my eyes all afternoon, so practically I can play the "darker" games only from dusk or when night falls. As from those you mentioned i would pick nr.2 which bores me alot too.

dinuattila

[QUOTE="dinuattila"]

The Sun, which is shining in my eyes all afternoon, so practically I can play the "darker" games only from dusk or when night falls. As from those you mentioned i would pick nr.2 which bores me alot too.

FelipeInside

I am currently suffering a lot with camera issues in Drakensang.... DeadManRollin

That is quite true: I have Drakensang also. But it's not difficult to free a stuck party member.

-Poor Performance

-Rubbish HUDs

-Mouse Lag

-Tweaking Games for Surround Sound Support

-No Dedicated Servers

-DLC Fees/Monthly Fees

-No Team Balance On Multiplayer Servers To Be Rid of Team Stacks

-Game Crashes/Freezes

-High Requirements

-No 16:10 1920x1200 Native Support

-Hackers

-Racism/Discrimination

-Ubisoft Logos/EA Logos

-No Text Support/No Voice IP

-Rubbish/Unhelpful Technical Support via Forums, Email and Phone

-No Option To Skip Logos on Startup/No Option to Skip Cut scenes

-Poorly Implemented Checkpoint Saves

-Disc Checks

I've noticed a few posts about unskippable cutscenes. Some PC games (RPGs in particular) allow you to skip them by pressing the ESC key. If the game isn't programmed that way, then I try clicking the mouse to interrupt spoken dialog and speed up the scene. :lol:

Breaking my nail from a stressful match in Call of Duty 4

People disconnecting randomly.

Stutters of lag.

Terrible voice acting.

When I buy the game and it is packaged horribly.

When it is Steam reliant.

Bad optimization

NPC's getting stuck and lost

Bad level design

Ostentatious interfaces and HUD's

Lack of widescreen support

Lack of anti-aliasing support

Bad voice acting

On-screen hints and instructions throughout the entire game (see Bioshock)

Obvious bugs that make you wonder how the game made it past the QA department (see STALKER)