Joystiq Poll: Do you watch cutscenes? [update 1]
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Oct 8th 2006 at 4:55PM }
Loads of time, cash and effort go into developing cutscenes in games, but do gamers watch them? Do you see them as integral to the game, or annoyances that slow down the experience?
Technical mumbo jumbo: this is not a scientific or rigorous poll and is only intended to capture the general consensus of Joystiq readers. Results will be posted approximately one week after the poll is opened for votes. Sure, you probably could hack this poll if you worked at it, but it's more fun for everyone if poll results accurately reflect the opinions of all readers, so please refrain from tampering with poll results.
[Update: fixed poll width]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
LordMinogue @ Oct 8th 2006 5:01PM
I love games with a good story. Heck, I've memorized the dialogue from most Halo cutscenes.
Alcoholic Zombie @ Oct 8th 2006 5:07PM
If it has generic voice acting and crappy plot, I hit those button on the controller faster than a mexican crossing the border.
And dont hate me for that joke, Im mexican too.
Lol!
Viva La Zombie!
blackmajik @ Oct 8th 2006 5:10PM
picture 10/10
Chris R @ Oct 8th 2006 5:08PM
I will watch them once but If I can't skip them I normally don't play the game. My idea of fun is not booting up and game and waiting 10 mintues before I can do anything.
Blink @ Oct 8th 2006 5:10PM
I'm with Chris. A one time viewer...then I shouldn't have to watch them again, give me the buttons as a choice. I don't wanna watch them every time I lose a mission.
Seroth @ Oct 8th 2006 5:12PM
I used to like cutscenes. Now I'm a really impatient gamer, and I want to skip them, but I can't because they usually reveal important plot or gameplay details or something like that.
Mark W @ Oct 8th 2006 5:17PM
One time viewer here as well. Maybe if the second time I play the game is several years later I'll watch them again. Has anyone seen the http://speeddemosarchive.com/ ? These guys know how to blast through cutscenes.
Morale @ Oct 8th 2006 5:19PM
The poll results seem pretty obvious (the majority of polltakers say that they keep their attention glued to the screen). Guess that's what happens when the majority of joystiq is made up of RPGers (they like their cutscenes).
I personally like the ingame cutscenes that use the game engine. If done correctly usually you don't miss a beat. However, if they're unskippable I want to scream. Nothing like clicking through 10 minutes of boring dialogue to get to doing anything.
Zorak @ Oct 8th 2006 5:20PM
Nothing is more frustrating than watching and, in some games, rewatching a cutscene that you want to skip but can't. Equally frustrating is accidentally skipping an integral cutscene and being left to wonder what the hell you do next. I've long maintained that it should illegal - punishable by death, possibly torture then death - for developers not to allow the optional skipping and replaying of cutscenes.
Vlad @ Oct 8th 2006 5:20PM
as long as they're interesting and not too long, they're great. I couldn't imagine playing something like Metal Gear or Final Fantasy and skipping all the cutscenes/text...that's the best part of the game, in some ways!
Silver R. Wolfe @ Oct 8th 2006 5:37PM
@ LordMinogue
That's just sad. Halo's story isn't even that great to begin with.
Try memorizing all the dialogue in FFX and then we'll talk. :D
Nathan M @ Oct 8th 2006 5:44PM
I rarely watch cutscenes. The story is so much more fun when it's done in game like in Half-Life.
GamerZero @ Oct 8th 2006 5:43PM
I think cut-scenes are incredibly important
and should be watched at all times because they make the game.
That is why the PS3 will rule because only
Blu-Ray stores the most CGI in 1080P.
I actualy prefer to watch a game than play it.
Infact...I don't like games atall!
Mojo @ Oct 8th 2006 5:58PM
Most games I play are for the narrative aspect, anyway. I loves me a game with a great, well fleshed-out story. The Call of Cthulhlu: Dark Corners of the Earth is one of my favorites. Of course, it does most of its story development HL-2 style.
Squeak @ Oct 8th 2006 6:15PM
General consensus is redundant - a consensus is general.
I always watch a cutscene the first time through - if it's a game where the story doesn't matter, such as a cheesy fighting game with merely dialogish scenes in between, I'll skip over them. Other than that, I actually enjoy the cutscenes, especially in an FF or KH sort of game.
Josh @ Oct 8th 2006 6:27PM
Why wouldn't someone? What's the point of playing a game with a story if you don't pay attention to the story?
A moot poll in my opinion, but it seems there are some people who voted that are a little too much into instant gratification.
Mabui @ Oct 8th 2006 6:33PM
I'll watch them the first time, trying to comb them for useful tidbits on what I'm supposed to be doing, generally I think its a waste of money for the developer, I actually find myself happier with still artworks, scrolling text thats read to me.. that I can skip if I want.
I don't tend to like watching them the second time, always look for a way to skip.
Derick @ Oct 8th 2006 6:35PM
why not add an option like, 'The first time I play it'
because seriously, if I've played the game through a few times, the story is pretty much already there....
I can remember playing through OoT a few years ago, wishing that there was a way to skip straight to the puzzlin and action...
but I most certaintly watched (and read) it the first few times....
Derick @ Oct 8th 2006 6:40PM
to mabui. #17.
yeah, that's exactly what I meant.
I just had the page on for a while before I submitted my comment.
eric j. @ Oct 8th 2006 7:26PM
#3 and #4 mirror my thoughts exactly. i enjoy them once or twice but often im stuck restarting a part over and over being forced to watch a cut-scene that's the worst one in the game.
DarkPassion @ Oct 8th 2006 6:55PM
I love a good cutscene. While in some games cutscenes just wouldn't work I pay alot of attention to cutscenes when they fit.
I remember when I played Kingdom Hearts II. My friends and I were glued to the TV every cutscene, taking notes of every detail, and discussing everything but when the scene was rolling the house was silent and the suround sound was amplified. Then we'd all scatter the house looking for snacks and such and immediaetly reunite for the next cutscene.
Exick @ Oct 8th 2006 7:08PM
I watch once assuming I'm interested. Not being able to skip them is infuriating to me. Interestingly, most of the people I've played games with refuse to watch them, even on their first playthrough. The poll results confuse me a little because of that. I figured most people wouldn't care about them.
Mischa @ Oct 8th 2006 7:10PM
The first time I play through I love cutscenes, but the second and third times, I become less interested in them.
DarkTetsuya @ Oct 8th 2006 7:17PM
Where's the "Depends on the game" option? If it's a 60 hour movie like Xenosaga I'll just skip them, but if it's something more tolerable like Metal Gear or RE/BioHazard, then yeah I'll watch them.
Brad Lee @ Oct 8th 2006 7:18PM
I enjoy cutscenes, but only when used very, very sparingly.
Games like FF and MGS are overkill, and within 20 seconds (or less if the cutscene bores me), I mash buttons to skip the scene, and if I can't I get really pissed. And if I then have to watch another 20 seconds of load screen after I already watched 20 seconds of load screen for a 20 second video clip, I get very, very, very pissed. Something like that is enough to ruin a game entirely for me.
Then again, for the most part, I really don't care about a video game's storyline.
And for that matter, I never understood why people play video games for the story. Then again I never really understood why people watch movies for story either. Given, there are some great movies out there with suberb stories (and yes 'some' video games too), but really, story is only a secondary element to film. The point of watching a movie is visual (and to a lesser extent aural) stimulation, and the point of video games is interactivity. If you want a good storyline, books have always been and probably will always be the best place to find it.
And as far as video games go, I'd say storyline is generally pretty far down on the list, to the point where it is not even necessary in some games (Geometry Wars, Tetris, etc.). I'd say the list goes something like this:
1) Interactivity (Gameplay, Fun Factor, whatever you want to call it)
2) Visual Stimulation (Graphics, duh)
3) Aural Stimulation (Sound effects, music, voice, etc.)
4) Storyline and Characters (this would also include tie-ins with movies, rap stars, etc.)
Sure a good storyline and characters can help immerse players into the game, but the same goes for the visual and aural aspects as well. But, if a game is actually fun, the immersion should come all on its own. I just think too often developers focus on the visual/aural stimulation and the storyline/characters when the real focus should be placed on interactivity, since that is the one aspect that seperates video games from film.
Of course the reason why developers do that is because gamers eat it up, and its easier to market a game with good graphics than a game with good gameplay. But hey, hopefully Wii will change things.
Wet Jimmy @ Oct 8th 2006 7:28PM
Cut scenes should ALWAYS be skippable, no exceptions.
I will always watch a cut-scene... Once. I value storyline in a game, and will always watch a custscene the first play through. What I HATE is when a developer will not let you skip a cutscene on subsequent plays.
I'm happy to watch a cutscene once, but I don't want to watch it twice...
Sup909 @ Oct 9th 2006 2:55PM
Yes on the first time through, but I usually skip them after that.
Alan Wii @ Oct 8th 2006 7:45PM
@ Brad Lee. Oct.09 00:45
Whilse some games like tetris don't require a story, larger games can get dull if it isn't story-driven. Plus without stories games/films could be seen as pointless as a lot of people like to have a more interesting goal rather than 'kill all to win' for a game or 'look it's beautiful' for a film.
I think the list of importance goes:
1. Gameplay (Vital in order to enjoy playing the game)
2. Music (To grab attention)
3. Story (Bring interest and goals to the game)
4. Graphics ("Nice pictures")
I always watch cutscenses in games the first time through. Kingdom Hearts II is a good example of how a game with lots of cutscense should be. On KH2, every cutscene except the ending, is skippable (I spell that right?) as soon as you first play the game.
I should comment more on Joystiq - Get my views heard lol. :D
----- Mii choose Wii -----
Intangible 360 @ Oct 8th 2006 7:54PM
I absolutely love well done cutscenes, and stories.
Dave Silva @ Oct 8th 2006 7:59PM
I'll watch them once while playing. But, once I've cleared a game and I'm playing to improve my skills, I skip them. Simple as that. :)
BklynKid @ Oct 8th 2006 8:03PM
You guys do realize that you're just asking for someone to hack the results just for show.
Goober @ Oct 8th 2006 8:01PM
Nothing wrong with cutscenes, but don't let them stand in my way of actually playing the game. I was checking out Okami for the first time and only sat down to play for a few minutes, but I had to endure around 30 minutes of pressing the X button just to get through all the opening stuff. It wasn't even automated, so I couldn't just sit back and watch, I had to tap the button for every dialog box, and no option to just outright skip (which should ALWAYS be an option, no matter what game you're playing). So that annoyed me, and I don't expect to ever play it again (was just checking it out at a friends), because I don't want to sit through all that again (memory card was full, oh well!).
computer games @ Oct 8th 2006 8:25PM
It all comes down to how good the game is. Something like Dead Rising has great cutscenes so i'm glued to them.
Other games they are just superfluous fluff so I'll try and skip em. And it also depends if it's the first play through or not of course.
I don't re-watch them often (during replaying a game) unless they were very interesting the first time.
Alkaiser @ Oct 9th 2006 12:33AM
I generally watch the cutscenes until I've figured out the plot. This usually takes maybe 10-25% of the game, and then I just start skipping everything, if possible, because the people who write the dialogue just end up reiterating and constantly overtly alluding to whatever was in the cutscene that it honestly doesn't matter.
Judd @ Oct 8th 2006 8:38PM
Like #26 Wet Jimmy, I agree that it doesn't matter if it's the first time watching a cutscene, the gamer should always have the option to skip the cinematic. Unlike #16 Josh, I think that certain games, such as sports games, have cinematics that aren't crucial and I should have the option to go through it if I want to.
Like #9 Zorak said occasionaly you accidently skip through the cutscene. That's why I hate it when games (not sports games, but adventure games) skip through the whole scene if you hit any button. It should be that the gamer should hit a specific button combination to pass through it. Not complex, but something that isn't going to happen accidently, like hitting both bumper buttons at the same time. What I don't get is when games have some cinematics that you can skip, and others that don't allow you to. Choose one or the other.
There is the exception to the rule of course. Right now I'm playing Phoenix Wright which is almost completely story based, and it constantly takes the action away from the player. But in this case in order to succeed at the game you need to know the story. Unless gamers cannot succeed in gameplay without seeing the cinematic is should always be optional. Actually the game never really goes into a cinematic, because you constantly need to hit the touchscreen or A button to read the next sentence.
What this all comes down to is choice. If I want to skip through the cinematic (even on the first time), I should. If I don't want to have to constantly hit A to progress to the next part of the cinematic, I should have the option for the text to continue automatically. Hell, by now we should be able to pause, rewind, and fast forward our cinematics but that may be asking a little too much for now.
Rawnblade @ Oct 8th 2006 8:44PM
Cutscenes are the eye candy of the game. I recently picked up Devil May Cry 3 (god only knows why I didn't so much earlier), and I'm loving the cutscenes, I pray for the next door I open to lead to one. Not every game is as fun with the cutscenes as I've found DMC to be, but still, it's good stuff and a reward for what the work you've put into the level.
ALH @ Oct 8th 2006 9:02PM
It Depends on the game. I've grown tired of lengthy cinematics recently, i traded back kingdom hearts 2 after less than 10 hours playtime because the whole thing seemed to be a nonstop cinematic, one that skipped from one to the next too, robbing us of the right to even walk to the next location to initiate a cutscene :|.
Remember what your english teacher always said- show not tell! Its much more fun to work out for yourself whats going on than to be slapped in the face by someone telling you it.
John Lucas @ Oct 8th 2006 11:53PM
Always watch them.
Why get a game if you aren't going to immerse yourself in the experience? Plus the programmers worked hard so reward them by watching at least.
I always had to keep my friends from hitting the start button or skip button to make sure everyone saw the cutscene. Those guys were never patient.
However I do think some games don't need as much or sometimes any cutscenes at all. Sometimes you just wanna jump in and play.
John Lucas
Darryl @ Oct 8th 2006 9:05PM
Kinda half watch it the first time round, then pound futiley in an attempt to skip if I ever have to watch it again.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 8th 2006 9:20PM
A well put together story should never once have to rely on cutscenes at all. They're just a crutch when the story writer cannot incorporate the story within the game and has to pull us out of it for a while to get some point across. I'd rather have a dialogue with other characters where I can interjetct with choices, even if they're not of the kind that change the course of the story.
A cutscene screams to me, "Hey, our writing staff isn't all that great. We couldn't figure out how to not break apart the game and now have to pull the control away from you to get the whole thing strung back together."
The pre-PS era had a ton of great RPGs, and they didn't have to utilize cutscenes to keep the story moving forward. Even great segments like the opera house in Final Fantasy 6 were interactive and the player never once had to get sucked away while the game played with itself.
Cutscenes are just an ugly crutch that have done a great job to hinder the fusion of gameplay and story. Cutscenes are an ugly piece of gaming history that really needs to die.
FireStorm685 @ Oct 8th 2006 9:35PM
I love cutscenes if they advance the story and look really good, like the one towards the beginning of Enchanted Arms it was really enjoyable, sure it lasted around 10 minutes but it was gorgeous and really helped advance the story I don't think I blinked once durring the whole thing.
Cyborg771 @ Oct 8th 2006 9:38PM
I never understand people who complain about cutscenes in games. Unless I have played through the same scene a thousand times I will watch them. Skipping past them is like skipping every few words in a book. If people want games to be treated like an art form, don't turn around and treat them like work. Enjoy the story behind the game and not just the mindless button mashing.
Rob X. @ Oct 8th 2006 9:59PM
Depends on the game. I hate cutscenes with all my heard so I never play games that feature long, drawn out cut scenes. Basically, I no longer play Japanese RPGs. I like playing video games, not watching them. That's what movies are for.
If cut-scenes are required, make them as painless as possible. Keep them skippable, created within the in-game engine and keep my character(s) in my control as much as possible during them. Prey's alien invasion sequence comes to mind as the type of cut-scenes I like.
Bill=Pwnt @ Oct 8th 2006 9:59PM
@-39
The point is that most people don't like to read so why would they want to watch a non-interactive form of story?
patrick @ Oct 8th 2006 9:59PM
i, for one, do not take my video game playing too seriously.
that being said, i find watching cutscenes in videogames very erotic.
Rob X. @ Oct 8th 2006 10:00PM
"If people want games to be treated like an art form, don't turn around and treat them like work."
Cut-scenes are a part of the art of motion pictures and thus contribute in no way the artistry of video-games. Wired blogger Lore Sjöberg put it like this: "If a video game contains cut scenes or canned dialogue that is of literary merit, does that mean the video game is of literary merit? If so, the task of elevating games to literature is pretty simple; just write a standard first-person shooter, but between every level you have to read a chapter of Anna Karenina."
David @ Oct 8th 2006 10:11PM
I watch them, they make the game really interesting, but I don't think they are super neccecary to have. I could live without them. If they are introducting something REALLY REALLY big, then yes, a cutscene would be helpful so the user can see it better.
J-Myk13 @ Oct 8th 2006 10:48PM
I'm not a fan of cutscenes. They have pretty much stop playing most rpgs. I still try and get into a few but usually the cutscene is way to long and I don't pay attention then I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. That's why I suck at Trauma Center. I played thru FFX and I hated it. I still don't know what that game is about. The cutscenes were long and boring and I fell asleep.
LordMinogue @ Oct 8th 2006 10:26PM
Cinematics make games feel a little more epic.
Good cutscenes:
-the introduction of the flood in Halo
-the opening of the sands of time in Prince of Persia
Bad cutscenes:
-anything in-game from Full Spectrum Warrior
-anything in-game from Ranbow 6 III
Sometimes I like a little break in the action, it gives you a chance to stop playing without leaving you lost the next time you play.
Jonn @ Oct 8th 2006 10:51PM
I second #9. Heck, I missed who "Mike" was twice in RE4 because I skipped the cutscene where he was introduced. So I tried to kill him.