Cameron Williams, a former designer for GTA 6 and Red Dead Online, shared some fascinating insights at GDC about why players don’t explore open worlds as much as developers might hope.

Key points from the article:

1. Players don’t explore—This is apparently a common problem in open-world games, whether due to the game’s action focus or players simply not feeling compelled to explore.
2. Time investment concerns—With free-to-play and live-service games competing for attention, players are less willing to spend time exploring.
3. “Exploration anxiety” occurs when players see map markers but hesitate to visit them, wondering if the journey is worth the reward.
4. Landmark challenges – While visible landmarks can guide players, too many create “analysis paralysis” (similar to how people are more likely to buy jam when given 6 options instead of 24).
5. Player manipulation – Williams cited Red Dead Redemption 2’s fishing minigame as an example of how developers can create positive experiences along the main path to encourage optional activities later.
6. “Beeliners” – Some players ignore optional content and rush through the main quest, making them difficult to engage with the broader world.

The author of the article humorously admits to recognizing themselves in these player behaviours – groaning at distant markers, wanting to know rewards in advance, and sometimes rushing through the critical path.

Red Dead Redemption 2: A Detailed Review

Red Dead Redemption 2, released by Rockstar Games in October 2018, stands as one of the most ambitious and meticulously crafted open-world experiences in gaming history. As a prequel to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption, it tells the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang during the twilight of the American frontier. Here’s a comprehensive review of this landmark title:

Story & Narrative

Red Dead Redemption 2’s narrative is exceptionally layered and mature. Set in 1899, it chronicles the gradual dissolution of Dutch Van der Linde’s outlaw gang as they flee from lawmen across a fictionalized version of the American West. The story is fundamentally about the death of an era and ideology, with the Dutch philosophy of freedom gradually corrupting under pressure.

Arthur Morgan, the protagonist, is arguably Rockstar’s most complex and fully realized character to date. His journey from a loyal enforcer to a man questioning his life choices forms the emotional core of the story. His relationship with Dutch, the gang’s charismatic leader, and John Marston (protagonist of the first game) creates a compelling dramatic triangle.

The writing is exceptional, avoiding the satirical tone of GTA in favor of a more somber, reflective approach. Themes of loyalty, redemption, and the cost of progress are explored with surprising nuance for the medium.

Gameplay

The gameplay is divided between combat, exploration, and survival elements:

Combat

The gunplay feels appropriately weighty and deliberate for the era. The Dead Eye targeting system returns, allowing for slow-motion precision shots. Combat scenarios range from tense standoffs to massive gang battles, though the cover-shooting mechanics occasionally feel dated compared to dedicated shooters. 

World Interaction

The game introduces unprecedented levels of interaction with NPCs and the environment. The “greet/antagonize” system allows for organic conversations with any character. Activities like hunting, fishing, gambling, and bounty hunting provide substantial diversions from the main story.

Survival Elements

Arthur must eat, sleep, bathe, and maintain appropriate clothing for different weather conditions. His horse requires similar care and bonding to reach peak performance. While some found these systems tedious, they contribute significantly to immersion.

Open World

The game’s environment is perhaps its greatest achievement. Spanning diverse ecosystems from snowy mountains to swampy bayous, the attention to detail is staggering:

• Wildlife behaves realistically with complex ecosystems
• Towns feel genuinely lived in with distinctive local economies and cultures
• Weather and time-of-day changes dramatically affect visibility and gameplay
• Environmental storytelling through abandoned homesteads and mysterious locations rewards exploration

The world progression is carefully controlled in the early chapters, gradually opening up to provide a sense of westward expansion that mirrors the historical period.

Technical Achievement

Graphically, RDR2 pushed the boundaries of the PS4/Xbox One generation:

• Character models and facial animations set new standards for realism
• Environmental effects like fog, rain, and snow create atmospheric conditions that affect gameplay
• Lighting, especially during dawn and dusk, creates breathtaking vistas
• Sound design makes environments feel alive with ambient sounds

The technical prowess extends to animation. Arthur’s movements change depending on his health, weight, and circumstances. Horses move convincingly across different terrains. These details create an unparalleled sense of physical presence.

Criticisms

Despite its achievements, RDR2 has notable flaws:

• Control scheme can feel cumbersome and dated
• Mission design is often restrictive, contrasting with the open-world freedom
• The game’s pace is deliberately slow, particularly in the opening hours
• Some survival mechanics can feel like busywork rather than meaningful gameplay

Online Component

Red Dead Online launched after the single-player experience but never achieved the same success as GTA Online. While it offers cooperative missions, competitive modes, and a frontier economy to participate in, it suffered from less frequent updates and eventually diminished support from Rockstar.

Cultural Impact

RDR2 raised the bar for narrative sophistication in open-world games and demonstrated the artistic potential of the medium. It sold over 50 million copies and received numerous Game of the Year awards, cementing its place as one of the defining games of its generation.

Conclusion

Red Dead Redemption 2 represents gaming at its most ambitious and artistically accomplished. Despite occasional frustrations with its deliberately methodical pace and some dated design choices, the depth of its world, the complexity of its characters, and the emotional impact of its story make it an essential experience. It’s not just one of the best games of its generation but a landmark achievement in interactive storytelling that will influence game design for years to come.