In Defense of Longevity

 I've seen some lists of short RPGs that are best for busy adults, in which many of those adults comment that they no longer have the time for 100-hour RPGs. Their feelings are understandable, since long RPGs can be large time investments, but I have to wonder if they're thinking about them the right way.

Let's start by looking at video games as challenges that are meant to be completed, with the goal being to experience as many as possible within one's limited leisure time. From that point of view, if someone could only play two hours a day, a 100-hour RPG would take that person over seven weeks to complete, while a 20-hour RPG would be much more manageable, and could be finished in ten days.

But what if we thought of it differently? As fun as completing a game is, it's also the end of your enjoyment of that game, unless you find it engaging enough to play again. As such, the 100-hour RPG would last the aforementioned person seven weeks, while they would get through the 20-hour RPG in only ten days. There's also the question of "bang for your buck," since if both games are $60, the 100-hour RPG would technically cost 60 cents per hour, while the 20-hour RPG would cost $3 per hour. Granted, replay value is a factor, but that's mainly a product of how enjoyable the game is and how much incentive for multiple playthroughs it offers (e.g. different routes, multiple endings, etc.).

In the end, video games are meant to be enjoyed. As such, I believe that any game that keeps me playing for a long time is a good one as long as it manages to keep my interest the whole time.

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