Unskippable cutscenes...why?

I don't understand the mindset behing developers who make their cutscenes unskippable. It just doesn't make sense. Even if, say, you're cutscene was produced by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg with a script that would make a hardened war veteran cry, have they considered that players, at the very least, may have seen it before and want to just get on with the game? But also, many times I just don't care to watch them, and that opinion should also be respected, imo.

Take Nights, Journey of Dreams on the Wii. It's a great game, I'm enjoying it very much. And I appreciate that they tried to do a children's fantasy movie Disney kind of thing with the cutscenes. But I just don't care. I want to fly around with a purple harlequin, not listen to children gasp in amazement at how awesome the dream world is.

Anyone out there with any experience in game design want to shed light on why developers make unskippable cutscenes? If not, what are your least favorite unskipable cutscenes?

A lot of games now have loading times in their cutscenes. You can't skip them because the game is loading in content. Would you rather watch the cutscene or sit looking at a blank screen or loading bar?

A lot of games now have loading times in their cutscenes. You can't skip them because the game is loading in content. Would you rather watch the cutscene or sit looking at a blank screen or loading bar?

seanmcloughlin

Between a loading bar and an unskippable cutscene that requires watching to the end? A loading bar x 10.

I have an SSD on my PC for games, making even the slowest loading game to load in less than 5 seconds. Few things get me more annoyed than unskipable cutscenes or pointless "loading masks" that don't apply to PC gaming.

Mass Effect 1's stupid elevators were so annoying. By the time the elevators doors had opened, it could have already loaded the next level, but instead, im forced to wade through its entirety.

I despise being unable to skip cutscenes. Particularly those that do a lot of story setup to get the game underway. It destroys replay value (for me anyway).

As much grief as Final Fantasy XIII-2 gets i think they did it right. Where the cut scenes are skippable but you get an achievement and in game items for listening to them that way first time around you wanna listen but then if you choose to play again you can skip. Hell, the game even allow you to skipp Quick time event iirc

Games that have a ton of replay value, especially ones that have multiple endings, but don't allow you to skip cutscense are annoying as hell. I mean, its not going to stop me from playing the game, but its an annoying inconvenience. Same to difficult games. The tortorous part of the game isn't even its difficulty, its the pain of having to sit through the same cutscense before the battle multiple times (I'm looking at you Devil Survivor 1 and 2).

id rather see a loading bar.

i hate having to die a couple times on a part and have to watch the same 5 minute cutscene over and over again

I hate games that do have skippable cutscenes but have some kind of long drawn out mini cut scene or just animation you have to go through to play a certain bit.

They usually happen to come before a big hard boss battle. So you have to watch them over and over again.

While I think their should be an option for a cutscene to be skipped, I can't possibly understand anyone not wanting to watch a cutscene on a first playthrough just to get to the action. For example, character-driven cutscenes are what supports the fun factor in gameplay...

While I think their should be an option for a cutscene to be skipped, I can't possibly understand anyone not wanting to watch a cutscene on a first playthrough just to get to the action. For example, character-driven cutscenes are what supports the fun factor in gameplay...

Venom_Raptor

I can't either but my best-friend is a prime example of someone who all of a sudden develops ADD when it comes to cut scenes, especially in brand new games. It's annoying as f%#$ing hell because I like watching the cut scenes especially when it's a brand new game I've never played before. But my friend sits there and mashes on the button saying, "Yes, yes, yes, come on, let's go" through them. I tell him to chill but he gets all defensive and complains about just wanting to play the game. And then I tell him something along the lines of well I'd like to know what the hell is going on. It's annoying.

Although I do agree with the general sentiment that you should have the option to skip cut scenes. If it's a game I haven't played in a looong time I'll tend to watch them again and it won't bother me. But if it's a relatively new game I just beat then it can be a hassle.

Yes they should all be skippable. They should also be able to be paused. I hate cutscenes that cannot be paused.

A lot of games now have loading times in their cutscenes.seanmcloughlin

So Max Payne 3 has 5 - 10 minute loading scenes then. That's ridiculous...

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

A lot of games now have loading times in their cutscenes.Amster_G

So Max Payne 3 has 5 - 10 minute loading scenes then. That's ridiculous...

You can't skip the initial minute or so if i remember rightly.

If George Lucas came within a hundred miles of producing an unskippable cut scene, I'd kill myself.

You can't skip the initial minute or so if i remember rightly.

Ilovegames1992

There are definitely a handful of cutscenes that last over several minutes and aren't skippable. To me it automatically becomes one of the most frustrating games of all because you just know the game doesn't need that long to load. This is especially irritating when you're replaying the game.

[QUOTE="Ilovegames1992"]

You can't skip the initial minute or so if i remember rightly.

Amster_G

There are definitely a handful of cutscenes that last over several minutes and aren't skippable. To me it automatically becomes one of the most frustrating games of all because you just know the game doesn't need that long to load. This is especially irritating when you're replaying the game.

Well if anything it gives you extra incentive to not die/fail at the part you're stuck at.

Max Payne's cutscenes are bauce anyway.