Replay value
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Replay value or replayability is a term usually found in combination with video games, but it may be also used to describe other kinds of games, movies, music, or theater plays. Video and computer game players use the term replay value to describe the entertainment value of playing a game more than once. Although this is obviously a subjective criterion, there are certain factors that consistently enhance or detract from a game's replayability, explained below.
[edit] Factors that effect replay value
For example, a game with a linear plot will typically have a lower value than an otherwise similar game in which the player has some choice in the course the story takes. While some genres, especially adventure games, tend to have low replay value (as a focus on storytelling often conflicts with replay value); and other genres, such as strategy games, roguelikes or simulations, tend to have high replay value, ultimately the quality of the game design decides the playability.
For example, although the plots of role playing games rarely vary much on subsequent playthroughs, they frequently have good replay value due to other aspects, such as the ability to pick completely different characters each time (consider the popular computer game Diablo; many players, having beaten the game once, will go back and try it again with a different character class). In some RPGs, such as Skies of Arcadia, the player controls the leader of a party of characters, and additional members will join the group if the player makes the right decisions. It is unlikely that a player will "collect" every possible member on their first attempt, so they may choose to play through the story again in order to acquire the full cast.
In massively multiplayer online games and other types of online game, the other human-controlled players give the gameplay a greater variety than permitted by the AI of computer-controlled bots, as well as allowing chatting and other interaction between players, thus increasing the length of time the player will spend on the game.
Games where the map and starting position is different every time you play it, in for example strategy games with a random map generator, also tend to have long-lasting appeal. The community-developed mods for many games also contribute to increased replayability and long life for many games. Due to the limits of AI behavior and the appeal and challenge in playing against friends, multiplayer is also often considered to increase the lifespan of a game. For example, Worms Armageddon, a comparable simple and old (1999) game, is still popular online.
It should be noted, however, that variety in gameplay is not essential to replayability. Many arcade games, especially from the golden age of arcade games, are completely linear, yet people continue to play these games, even those that have been around for decades. A clear example can be seen in Tetris. The gameplay is extremely simple compared to more modern games; yet it is arguably one of the most addictive video games ever made.
Generally, games with time attack or time trial modes offer the highest replay values. This is because dedicated players can always aim to improve their times.
