Press and hold input in AAA games. Anything to do with performance?

Alex_J

It seems like every modern AAA game I've played in last few years is obsessed with press and hold input. Even for normal stuff like open a door, it's press and hold.

Is there a trick to this? Some sort of mental trick to manipulate gamer some way? Or maybe allows a couple more milliseconds here and there to help avoid pop-in items/textures?

If it's a game design thing no need to discuss here, but maybe since some of ya'll work in AAA you know that it's actually something performance related?

poopipe

If you do that to support asset streaming your priorities are severely wonky.

It's 100% a game design decision

Also:. I can't say I've played a single game that requires it 

On the other hand I don't play COD or any of the Ubisoft cookie cutter bullshit so could easily have missed it.

jStins

This input method was used quite a bit in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC (probably on console as well, but can't say for sure). I assumed it was used in lieu of a confirmation requiring a pop up and second button press.

pior

It's just a design trend, and it's awful - it's basically the game equivalent to needless animations/transitions in mobile apps. But I guess it looks fancy in video trailers and looks "current".

 The *only* place where I find it somewhat useful is for skipping cinematics - but even there I think I'd rather have a Y/N confirm.

Alex_J

i havent played any new AAA games for a minute, but I think I noticed this with a couple titles from ubisoft, rockstar, and rebellion. Maybe some others as well. 

I figured it was just a design thing for some reason or another, but wondered if there wasn't some trick to it. Like slowing down player for just a half second here and there buys time to do some calculation.

There are times it makes sense as a "are you sure?" thing, but I think at least one game I played had me holding buttons just to open doors. Terribly annoying for those of us who wanna go fast.

Eric Chadwick