Comments on: Back to School

By: Ben Borthwick

Ben Borthwick — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:15:19 +0000

That’s fascinating. I think goes into what I was saying about mutliplayer’s RTFM argument – no one ever seems to unless explicitly told by other players whom are getting peeved at the new player. Multiplayer tutorials are seemingly incredibly hard to do. Intergrate them and you risk boring/patronising veterans (as they may have to see them every time they play too) or make them seperate entities and risk them never being seen or used.

The whole subject about tutorials and teaching within games is really interesting, I could easily manage an print magazine length feature and may still do in the future.

By: Ging

Ging — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:27:45 +0000

We included tutorials for the Hidden… only to realise that about 4 people have ever actually tried them!

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:08:50 +0000

This has got me thinking now. Every time there is a tutorial it’s “use w to walk forward” or “left click and drag to select your units” for the first 10 minutes. I think for tutorials to progress they need to be intrinsic to the actual game and exclude what it is apparent that you know what to do.

For example I don’t need telling how to run and shoot in a shooter, but I will need introducing into any new mechanics specific to that game – but then if I have played it before I might just need a refresher. Basically, the first mission should be simple enough that an expert could do it in 2 minutes, but complex enough that it teaches you everything you will need to know.

Another thing is that it’s a shame instruction books have died. They used to be really cool things to read – they were often even funny. Now, for the most part, they are just bland emptyness only included because the publishers feel it’s mandatory. In fact, the only instruction books that I have seen to be any good of late was GTA IV’s and Blood Money.

By: Seniath

Seniath — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:45:01 +0000

I think the best kind are the ones you don’t even realise *are* tutorials. Of course, I can’t think of any examples of such tutorials. But then, that’s the beauty of them!

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:18:40 +0000

Lovely article. I think tutorials are ridiculously difficult to get right. Splinter cell 3 springs to mind in that it just makes you watch a load of videos, which was a backward step from 2 which had you running an (optional) assault course that I think explained all the intracities that you would need perfectly.

I have to give a nod to Oblivion for simultaneously showing you how the game works and picking up how you play at the same time to recommend your class. It was a stroke of genius and worked as a tutorial.

On the flip side though, Morrowind barely had any kind of tutorial (a few pop up boxes but nothing much of substance) and I really liked that; you literally went into Vvardenfell as an inexperienced and overwhelmed wreck – just like your character.

Tricky.