Time

What to people seem to find more interesting; the time they actually spent playing a game, or how much time has passed for the character in the game ("Slept for 6 hours" for example)?

I'm working on an RPG and want to add this feature. Personally I prefer the actual time, but a lot of people I've talked to like the other better.

I'd like to hear the opinions of game players as well as game makers.

Thanks!

Time playing the game. It shows you how much time you've actually been doing it for. I really don't see the point of the other option TBH :o)

Like I said, personally I don't either.

So would I have to log that by counting millisecs, then convert it to hours and minutes? CurrentTime only returns a string, so I can't use that to add or subtract...

Perhaps I could do both times? I just don't want to waste time that could be spent doing other things.

People don't want to be reminded how much time they've wasted playing a game. Also, if time is character-based it's more immersive, it creates the feeling of a world rather than just a game.

There are no opinions here - it is either right or wrong, depending on the game.

Many games use game world time as the game does not play in real-time - ie some games pass an hour in the space of 10 minutes, etc. For many RPG games, the game world time is vital.

Most RPG i've played have a counter generally hidden away on the save screen or what not.

You can take apart the string returned from current time and store it in variables. Suppose Millisecs() is just as good. Watch for the roll over though, as it flips to minus. I think your computer needs to be on constantly for 28 odd days for this to happen, but if someone starts playing your game on the 27th day, then it could roll over. Just a warning if you do use this.

I think both sides have valid points... could I just list both next to each other to achieve both purposes? Or would that just defeat the purpose of the other?

Well then you're reminding one side how much time they've wasted and the other side how much time they've been having fun for. Neither really need to know.

Why not both?

Picked me up Baldur's Gate2 recently ($5 in the bargain bin, couldn't resist regardless that it's an ancient game), and it shows both time spent playing the game, and the time the character has been living in it.

Actually I would have how much time taken playing so when they decide to play it again they can try and do it quicker, maybe with a reward for doing it in the fastest time or collecting/exploring 100% :)

Does Baldur's Gate 2 have both? My friend is always complaining that he can't find out how much time he's actually played it. I have the original, so I wouldn't know.

Anyway, it seems like people almost want to know how much time they've wasted, if the game is worthwhile and fun... for example, some people have logged 30+ days on Call of Duty 4 and are not ashamed of it and it doesn't cause them to stop playing even though they've spent every minute of their free time rotting their brains out.

Now I'm thinking that I should just not bother putting any time in, because I don't want to turn off either audience (as markcw stated.)

And then there's the "if you enjoy it, they'll enjoy it" mentality... And EdzUp has a point...

Ugggg....

Like you and Ross C, I don't see a point in having the character time. I personally think you should have the time played, as I really don't think this will turn anyone off.

You can always buy a clock cheaply nowadays.

Well character/game-based time is meaningless to some people and meaningful to others. Some people like to know how much time they have played for, some don't. So you might as well cater for the people who want to know and forget about the people who don't.

markcw, Are you talking about both types of time or just how much time has passed for the character?

Both types.

Stats freaks like me want to see everything about everything. Nice one would be like, how many times you've died (as player character that is) playing this game.

Yeah I recieved a tip from a friend, he said this:

He also made many more good points, so I've decided to do neither and instead focus on character development (which I feel is more beneficial to the overall feel of the game).

I really like the point made by Jasu... if I have stats, I'll definitely go that rounte.