There’s nothing quite like buying a new PC game, especially when it’s a highly anticipated release or a discovery that you’ve made during a sale. Starting the game should mark the beginning of a great experience.
However, that isn’t always the case, and before reaching the main game, you might have to install various updates, adjust the graphics settings, sign into different accounts, grant various permissions, and watch a lengthy intro.
The first hour has never been more important though – because it often determines whether you’ll continue playing the game or switch to something else.
First Impressions Can Be Made in a Split Second
People make decisions incredibly quickly. When a game feels confusing, annoying, or slow from the start, players might stop, decide not to give it a chance at all, and try something else.
It doesn’t mean that the game is terrible, but some truly good games take time to get used to their mechanics or story and reveal themselves fully. The problem is that modern players have a ton of choice and aren’t always willing to give slow burn games enough time.
Digital libraries, subscription services, and frequent sales make it easy to move on from a game that fails to impress during its first hour.
Getting Into a Game Takes More Time Than Before
Years ago, installing a game was quite a quick process. Now there are several steps that players need to complete before they start the actual adventure.
Downloading a large update, installing additional software, signing into or creating an account, adjusting the graphics settings, and waiting for shader compilation or other processes is pretty common. All those steps don’t take much time individually, but altogether they could make certain players feel bored before even starting the game itself.
That’s why developers try their best to make this process comfortable for gamers. Spending less unnecessary time preparing helps keep players interested and enthusiastic about the game instead of getting bored during “prep” time.
Comfort Is Very Important Nowadays
These days, players all game in different places. Some prefer their desktop at home, while others play on gaming laptops or handheld gaming PCs when traveling, visiting relatives, or staying in hotels.
A little preparation can help avoid problems later on. Updating game launchers, using cloud saves, and securing your accounts before leaving home may save time later. If you’re gaming – especially on public Wi-Fi –, some players use a VPN for Windows to protect their connection.
The above suggestions won’t make the game itself more interesting, but they can remove distractions that can interrupt the game during those precious first hours.
Tutorials Must Respect the Player’s Time
Almost every game requires a player to learn some things. New controls, abilities, menus, and systems all need to be introduced to the player.
The challenge is finding the right balance between tutorials and actual gameplay. Long tutorials make players feel as though they’re sitting in a classroom instead of playing the game.
Not giving enough information about the game mechanics can lead to confusion and could spoil the first hour of gameplay. That’s why some tutorials make it hard for players to have a good first impression.
Most popular games nowadays teach players in a more natural way – without stopping the gameplay, they introduce new mechanics that players learn on the go, so that learning becomes a part of the adventure, which helps players stay motivated and interested in the game.
Success Makes Players Continue Playing the Game
The first hour of the game should make the player feel confident.
It doesn’t mean that everything has to be easy. Even challenging games can provide players with small victories along the way that make them feel like they’re winning.
Beating a boss, solving a puzzle, unlocking a useful ability, or discovering something new encourages players to keep playing. These small victories motivate and intrigue players and make them interested in the game to see what happens next.
If the game is full of frustrating moments, failures, and confusing objectives, some players might choose to close the game after the first hour, even if it becomes better later. And once they move on to another title, they might not come back at all…
A Good Beginning Helps Both Developers and Players
Developers invest years creating the games they want players to experience. The best way for them to share all of that work is to give players enough motivation to continue.
With more games available than ever before, the beginning of a game often becomes the determining factor in whether a particular title becomes a new favourite or remains unnoticed.
A good beginning benefits both developers and players, making the first hour of a game more important than ever.
