Nocmin Curator Posts: 163 Registered: 11/6/2016
# 1 - Posted on 12/17/2016 23:37:12

I've been using N/A as a catchall, but in some cases it may catch too much.

The ones I want to focus on are Incompletable and Completed On Other Platform statuses.

I don't doubt this has been discussed elsewhere, but for the life of me I couldn't find it, so sorry if I'm doubling-up on a previous discussion.

There are games that don't end. Even in MMO's, for the most part you can complete a main campaign, or "feel" complete by reaching max level or something. But certain games just go to infinite, like some apps, or like variations of card games or Minesweeper-esque puzzle games. It'd be nice to have a status indicating such a game. Something like "Doesn't End" or the like.

Then, there is the case of when we own a game on multiple platforms or from different providers on the same platform. Say, I've beaten it on Playstation but also own it, unplayed, on PC. The status of my Playstation entry would be Finished. While I've finished the game, I've never played it on PC, so part of me would want a different status there. Something along the lines of "See Other Version" or "Played Different Platform"; this one is harder for me to put into one or two words.

I originally put the statuses I was focusing on in this post's title, but then I figured we might as well keep the discussion open.

dhobo Curator Backer Posts: 1965 Registered: 1/5/2015
darwinsocialism
# 2 - Posted on 12/18/2016 3:01:16

I think having an "Ongoing"/"Unending" status could be a good call for a lot of games lacking a definite end point like the examples you've mentioned.

As for games on multiple platforms, as an argument against adding another status, you could also make it work within the existing statuses as well. The way I've looked at it in the case of multi-plat games I own it boils down to either:

a) I've finished it on one platform and might play it again on the other(s) - leave the status on the other platforms as incomplete
b) I've finished it on one platform and have no intention of playing it on the other(s) - update the status on each platform to match the one I finished it on

Now depending on how particular you are about tracking the exactness of your collection status, you might not be satisfied with using a white lie like that, but I've found thus far that it works for me.

jwcooley Curator Posts: 983 Registered: 2/28/2014
jwcooley
# 3 - Posted on 12/18/2016 5:55:44

I have actually wondered if there are certain games that shouldn't allow for completion times to be entered based on this discussion. Meaning, if a game is really never ending or it just constantly produces new content, is there a way to enforce that? I like flexibility, but I also question completion times if a game can actually be categorized as never ending. Not saying I want more work to be put on a curator, but I wonder if there should be a way to specify that a game can't have completions.

With that being said, I also like the ability to specify that as a status on your particular game. Some people may see a game as actually being able to be completed.

I will allow to @Moho to give his opinion when he finally returns from his hiatus as a result of his move to a new house! :)

Post Edited on 12/18/2016 6:00:12
Nocmin Curator Posts: 163 Registered: 11/6/2016
# 4 - Posted on 12/18/2016 7:40:59

@dhobo
I can live with the multiple platforms thing as is. Essentially, removing it from the backlog means "I don't have to play this one", and personally I set it to N/A instead of incomplete; it works. Buuut, I'm not opposed to a status for it either. :D

@jwcooley
It would be difficult for you guys to determine if something is completable as you're adding it, but leaving it to users has its own uncertainty too. It would be nice, but tricky to upkeep. Maybe it could be something that can be corrected gradually as enough cases of it get reported somewhere like the Add Games thread; with one boolean value that if you guys set it, the completion times no longer get counted toward the average, or even get displayed.