PocketMatrix

Hi!

We're secretly working on an Action-RPG (I know its not a secret anymore now that I've mentioned it) and we'd just like to find out what are your thoughts on having a "save point" compared to a "save anywhere" feature. I noticed that most Action-RPG games use save points to save games but there are others that lets you save anywhere, anytime. May we know what are your thoughts on this topic? Your answers can help us make the game better. What are the advantages/disadvantages of both for you as a player?

Thanks in advance!

- Erick

It will mainly affect the difficulty level. So you should decide how much of a challenge you want the game to be first.

I would go with save points. I constantly save when you can save anywhere and progress way too quick.

Ah - The ol' "save vs. save" dilemma! ‘Tis a problem faced by many a (wo)man throughout the ages

Um – yes. Enough of that!

I’d opt for a “point” – Which is completely against my normally way of thinking as I like the FPS style of saving anywhere… I opt for a save-point as if done correctly (Final Fantasy) it can add to the game!

As above – It depends on how hard the game is going to be! There’s nothing worse knowing that there’s a save point just round the corner, but never being able to get to it (Tomb Raider had this problem!)!

However - Please note that if you have your save-points far apart, this will kill it off for some games - Mainly those who, for example, might play at a bus-stop... If the bus comes and you turn off the PPC, then bang goes that last xx minutes worth of playing!

How about a hybrid save system? "Points" to actually save the state of play where you can go back to if you make a complete arse of it... But autosaves from area/building/whatever to help with being able to turn off whenever! When you turn on again, you can either start from the last place you were (Or close to) or the last point.

>> If you think about it, the autosave won't be like saving just about anywhere... Say, eg, you fought your way to "The Door" but found you need "The Key" to open it, and the key was probably xx saves ago: you'd just go back to that save and find the key first... The hybrid system would only allow you to go back to either the start of the "level/room/etc" or last save-point... Thus you'd HAVE to keep playing and retrace your steps and get "the key" if the last save point was too far back. <<

Please keep us posted on the progress of this game, as I know many will be very interested! (I, for one!) It’d be great having a good RPG on the ol’ PPC! (Not that I’m saying the one’s that have come out already are naff, just not that good when compared to games like AOE and SimCity 2000 that have also come out on the PPC!)

Definitely save anywhere.

I've played a few games with savepoints, level saves and limited number of saves [Hitman 2 comes to mind] and I think it totally sucks. If you're stuck somewhere, you have to play over like a zillion times before getting past it, and it totally ruins the game experience IMHO. As a result, I don't play anything that has save points instead of save anywhere these days.

good point about the fact that pocket pc requires quick pick up put down.

however I don't think this type of game is one that I would play in spurts. I would be more likely to sit down and play this like I would for a console game.


maybe there could be a "continue game" feature....so you can exit the game and return to one in progress but if you die in the continue game you have to return to your save. A few ppc games use this method I think this will solve the pick up/put down problem.