Game Length

[Jake♫]

Pokémon games tend to be of about medium length, taking an average player about 20 hours to play through it at a normal pace. Do you like the length the games have? Would you like them to be longer or shorter? If shorter, what would you want them to take out so the games could be completed faster? If longer, what would you add to make it longer?

I would love for more lengthy side quests to be added into the games. I feel like it's always beat the gyms, fight Team <insert name>, beat the Elite 4, then move on to post-game material. I'd love more side quests spread throughout the main story arc to extend the length of the game and give me more to do.

[Elendil]

Pokemon games usually take 40-50 hours for a normal run plus the sidequests, I dunno how you got 20-30. And I'm fine with it for now, considering how I have 300 hours racked up on B2 with minimal online trading and battling.

[Scarecr0wFixatioN]

For sure, I want more to do between gyms (storyline or not story related doesn't matter, hopefully both)
and while I already find there's more to do post game, maybe more wouldn't hurt. Having the story continue after the E4 is something I've been hearing people talk about a lot recently, and I'd love that to happen.

[Jake♫]

Originally Posted by Elendil

Pokemon games usually take 40-50 hours for a normal run plus the sidequests, I dunno how you got 20-30. And I'm fine with it for now, considering how I have 300 hours racked up on B2 with minimal online trading and battling.

Honestly I find 40-50 to be a large overshoot. Unless you're spending A LOT of time grinding, it honestly takes like 20-30 hours to complete the main story line of the Pokémon games (Which is all I'm referring to). Sidequests included it would certainly take longer than that, but I'd love to see the actual storyline of the game be extended and more involved than it is currently.

[Miss Doronjo]

Originally Posted by Jake♫

Honestly I find 40-50 to be a large overshoot. Unless you're spending A LOT of time grinding, it honestly takes like 20-30 hours to complete the main story line of the Pokémon games (Which is all I'm referring to). Sidequests included it would certainly take longer than that, but I'd love to see the actual storyline of the game be extended and more involved than it is currently.

Well, it depends on the player's gameplay. Yeah, it'd probably take about 2-5 days to complete the main story line, with another day or so to complete the post game content. But yeah, I'd like the actual story line to be extended myself.

[Twilight Sky]

The Game Length doesn't really matter to me. I remember taking at least a good week or so to beat HG/SS, and those games were relatively long, due to having two regions and whatnot. x_X; So yeah, it won't make a huge difference to me whtasoever, preferably I like having things to do in a Pokemon game, so something around 35-40 hours would be ideal, but that's just me, personally.

[Elendil]

Originally Posted by Jake♫

Honestly I find 40-50 to be a large overshoot. Unless you're spending A LOT of time grinding, it honestly takes like 20-30 hours to complete the main story line of the Pokémon games (Which is all I'm referring to). Sidequests included it would certainly take longer than that, but I'd love to see the actual storyline of the game be extended and more involved than it is currently.

Oh then yeah, storyline alone should be 50, without grinding. I feel however that unless a major change comes, the gym and evil team balance will never allow for such a lengthy game.

[Killjoy]

I think it's unfair to say that side quests shouldn't count toward this hypothetical 'exportable game play length', seeing as adding length and depth to an otherwise very simplistic game is what they're there for.

Also, 50 hours without grinding? That's what Pokémon is, is it not? You expect them to have 50 hours of nothing but scrolling text, 50 second trainer battles, and walking short distances from town to town.

I think people underestimate how much time 50 hours actually amounts to. 50 hours out of any game is excellent, expecially a game such as this

[Jake♫]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

I think it's unfair to say that side quests shouldn't count toward this hypothetical 'exportable game play length', seeing as adding length and depth to an otherwise very simplistic game is what they're there for.

Also, 50 hours without grinding? That's what Pokémon is, is it not? You expect them to have 50 hours of nothing but scrolling text, 50 second trainer battles, and walking short distances from town to town.

I think people underestimate how much time 50 hours actually amounts to. 50 hours out of any game is excellent, expecially a game such as this

I agree with that statement, but I'm not saying that 50 hours overall for the game total is an undershoot, I just mean to complete the main story line. For an average player playing at a normal pace grinding an average amount, from my experience it doesn't take anyone that long to play through the main story line of the game (gyms, evil team, and E4). I would just like to see that story line extended further to get more out of the game, whether it be be more storytelling or side quests that are actually able to completed during the main run-through of the game.

[jellicentfan1]

I would love for the main storyline length to be extended a bit. I tend to complete my games pretty quickly because I avoid all sidequest until postgame, but still complete them. It usually takes me about 3 days to playthrough most of the games.

[Captain Fabio]

The longer the game, the better imo. I don't like games that I can complete in a couple of hours, as I don't feel like I have got my moneys worth.

Anything that the developers can do to prolong the life of the game is good in my eyes, including more side quests, added features and so on!

[glitchguy]

I would definitely like for sidequests to be lengthier and the main story itself.

[Magmaruby and Aquasapphire]

Originally Posted by Captain Fabio

The longer the game, the better imo. I don't like games that I can complete in a couple of hours, as I don't feel like I have got my moneys worth.

Anything that the developers can do to prolong the life of the game is good in my eyes, including more side quests, added features and so on!

This is how I feel. If it take only a day or two it wasn't worth the 40 dollars (thankfully I haven't had such an experience thus far). Hopefully they can make the region bigger, and have quests, only that they're connected to the plot such as in Sinnoh when we had to travel to the lakes.

[Munchlax11]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

walking short distances from town to town.

Maybe they could make the routes longer? Just an idea. I think routes should be more than just connectors to cities. Sure there are wild pokemon and trainers along the way, but maybe they could add a little more to the routes? I'm not sure how, but routes need to be a little more significant than they have been in the past. If they added more to the routes the game time would increase.

[Forever]

I'd want a long story but it has to be awesome. Black and White was somewhat long and I loved it whereas b2w2's was longish and I just didn't feel as motivated for it :( So long but it has to be as amazing as BW!

[Magmaruby and Aquasapphire]

You got a point there, it has to be good, if not it'll just feel like it's dragging. Please let there be an amazing story like EPtBW.

Hopefully I won't have to let it drag on purpose for a week. I much perfer it's that long on it's own.

[Elendil]

Originally Posted by Munchlax11

Maybe they could make the routes longer? Just an idea. I think routes should be more than just connectors to cities. Sure there are wild pokemon and trainers along the way, but maybe they could add a little more to the routes? I'm not sure how, but routes need to be a little more significant than they have been in the past. If they added more to the routes the game time would increase.

If we take routes into account, like I said in the technology thread, we should have more paved routes with giant playground environments when you go off the beaten path. Routes 4 and 23 would be prime examples of that, and perhaps bigger versions of Undella Cave.

[giradialkia]

If the fifth generation is anything to go by (and I like to think that it is), then I think we can expect the main game of X/Y to be reasonably long. We know there's going to be an enemy team, we know there's going to be 8 gyms and a League (not that it's been confirmed, but... well, why wouldn't there be?). The only thing I worry about is the postgame, if I'm honest. In the initial games of a generation- since Generation 3- the gameplay after the League just comes to a disappointing halt. RBY set the bar, GSC blew that outta the water, and then RS.. Sadface. Just a battle Tower, no Tohjo. I know, I know, it was a lot to expect, but still.
Same with Diamond and Pearl- although at least there was a BIT more to the Battle Tower, and the Survival area, etc.
Same with BW- while there were a good few areas to explore afterwards, it just didn't feel all that special. Whereas B2W2...
Well, there just seems to be so much awesomeness that it was great. Problem is, I don't think they'll get away with sticking the World Tournament in X/Y, so I'm finding it hard to think of what they COULD include to make the postgame decent. Because of this, I'm going to try to not expect too much, and just see how it goes.

[Darkrai Lv.1000]

I'd like them to add something like alternate optional Routes and towns/cities away from the main paths, which would have other sidequests and different things to collect, such as Pokemon that only show up in that area, or exclusive outfits (provided customizable trainers actually becomes a feature).

As for the postgame stuff, I'd like there to be a lot of it. Gold and Silver added Kanto, a whole region to explore, almost effectively doubling the gameplay. After those, there hasn't been much in the postgame department, so I'm not expecting much.

[FrostPheonix]

Sidequests! I would love more sidequests. I loved W2 precisely because it took so long to complete. More time of actual gameplay where you aren't just grinding and training for pokedex and boredom would be nice, as a sidequest gives you goals. Incorporating a wifi even would be cool, where you could connect to wifi and a specific person's sidequest would change depending on the event, and give you items for it etc.

[Jake♫]

Originally Posted by Forever

I'd want a long story but it has to be awesome. Black and White was somewhat long and I loved it whereas b2w2's was longish and I just didn't feel as motivated for it So long but it has to be as amazing as BW!

That's part of what I'm hoping what will happen for Gen 6. A story that is captivating (which as much as Unova wasn't my favorite, both BW and B2W2 had good stories), with the a length longer than those two. I think part of it is that there was only usually around 3 BIG interactions with the evil teams (Like GSC was the well, Mahogany, and the Radio Tower), whereas there could easily be some more events along the way that could enhance the story and make it longer.

[Handsome Samurott]

I want to see a geographically larger region with longer routes between cities and towns; routes that have more and better things to do; a captivating storyline that ties together the main part of the game; a transposition of that storyline in the post-game quest; and a couple different paths to choose for your storyline rather than just setting out to become an elite champion who defeats the Gyms and the Elite Four. That is, allow the storyline to evolve and change depending on the choices you make in-game.

[Jake♫]

Originally Posted by Handsome Samurott

I want to see a geographically larger region with longer routes between cities and towns; routes that have more and better things to do; a captivating storyline that ties together the main part of the game; a transposition of that storyline in the post-game quest; and a couple different paths to choose for your storyline rather than just setting out to become an elite champion who defeats the Gyms and the Elite Four. That is, allow the storyline to evolve and change depending on the choices you make in-game.

I agree with your first two points, but I severely doubt the last one would ever happen. Pokémon is just a linear game and I don't see that changing any time soon. The story that Game Freak and Nintendo have always wanted to tell and will continue to want to tell is the one of the hero stopping the evil team as they gather badges to gain entrance to the Pokémon League. Giving ways to branch off from that just doesn't really work.

[demonta4]

I think they could make the game longer by adding more side/post game quests. Maybe Nintendo will release DLC for bigger maps or more quests.

[C Payne]

Going along with what someone said about the expansion of routes, that is one of the things I LOVED about Hoenn and its water routes; They were so expansive and maze-like at the time that it added a lot more to the exploration side of the games. Take a concept like that(make routes less straightforward), along with adding in more side quests and expanding gameplay in general, etc. and you've got yourself a great game in my eyes.

I speak for myself but I do not like walking in practically a straight line to the next town. That is one of the things I truly disliked about Unova(more so with BW, B2W2 somewhat fixed it), it was just a little too linear. I like having to go all over the place.