The 10 Sins of game development. pt 2

#8 Bad cameras

The problem: 3D cameras that revolve around the main character lack flexibility, functionality, and complicate the perception of geometry within the game world.

Major culprits: Drake of the 99 Dragons, The Simpson's Game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Avoidance:  If the camera can't rotate 360 degrees around the playable character, then it's not finished.  At any point in time a 3D cam should be able to revolve around the users character within the game world.  Anything less is well...unacceptable.  To complete time trials, countdowns, or find collectibles you need a functional 3D camera; and to expect a player to accomplish any of the these areas of the game without a working cam is foolhardy.

#9 Time Trials and Countdowns

The problem: Countdowns and time trials are essentially a way of increasing a game's intensity and drama.  However, it is often done in a way which either destroys the illusion of the game world or exposes major flaws within the game itself.  It's never fun to replay a level where the goal is to complete a mission as fast as possible, and doing so to obtain an achievement is just flat out annoying.  Very few Dev's have managed to do this well and those looking to incorporate this mechanic into their game should look to the Bungie's example at the end of Halo: Combat Evolved.

Major culprits: Tomb Raider Legend, Saints Row, TLOZ: Ocarina of Time (yeah I said it).

Avoidance:  More care should be taken to develop the environment so that the countdown or time trial is both entertaining and moderately difficult.  Additionally Dev's should restrict the implementation of this mechanic until the last act of the game where characters have been fleshed out.  You know those hack and slash movies where they start killing the kids off early before you even know any form of a back story or premise, and you could really care less?  Well that's bad writing and translating that into game development is as equally ignorant.  Lastly, the game's progress should not rely on any of the aforementioned, to expect players to play the same segment of a game to progress the story smacks of a lack of imagination and foresight.