In 10 levels, I know enough to decide whether or not I want to see the 11th.

I voted yes. While the first ten levels don't tell me how enjoyable the game's progression and end/long-term gameplay is, I can still get a good idea if I enjoy the combat, presentation and UI, and these are the 3 factors which I will generally have to deal with from the first level until my 10,000th hour.

I think it depends if you look at (the game) negatively or positively.  If you're finding what you expected to see, ya, it won't take long.

Not really. I need to see the endgame.

Depends really. In general, I don't think ten levels is enough but if I've spent those ten levels running from one end of a huge zone to the other over and over and over at a snails pace I probably won't stick around.

    I can usually tell if I like a game in the first couple of hours......If I dont like the way a game feels or plays, then more time or levels isnt going to change that....In fact, I dont remember any games where I hated the first few levels and loved the rest of the game.....It also might be a "leveling vs end game" question as I enjoy leveling more than end game......Some players are willing to put up with lackluster gameplay at the lower levels to reach end game......

it's more about time spent for me.  if im still playing after 8 hours and can't wait til i can play again i probably like it.

There's no set point for me.

I stop when i get bored or annoyed.

This could be within ten minutes fumbling with the UI or basic functions, during the leveling process or at endgame.

It's different depending on the game.

Originally posted by FredomSekerZ

I can't, and shouldn't judge mmo's, video games, books, movies, etc, only from the first 10%. You can never know this for sure. Not hating on Funcom here, but just look at AOC. If you used that same example, the same would be amazing at launch. What i always do is wait for any video game to launch first and then read impressions and reviews (taking them always with a grain of salt) from people who have actually played most of the content (looking at you IGN). Making a "final verdict" on an mmorpg of all genres based on the first few moments of a game is just not right IMHO.

If one doesn't like what he has seen, cool, walk away, but don't walk away thinking "well that sucked now so it will suck all the way until the end"

I meet a chick and in the first minute I discover shot had shotup drugs in the past.  In one minute, I have judged her and passed. 

If the game has annoying features that I can't stand to play with, it's the same as shooting drugs.  bye bye.

 A different chick might lead to something different.  We might hang out or go on a date.  we might go on many dates. We might enter a relationship.  We might get married.  We might get divorced.  We might get remarried.  At various points it could end.

MMORPGs might be the same way in some respects.  You might love tortage but when you leave you find a different game and quit.  You might make it to level 40 before the game gets annoying.  Or hitting endgame.  or  too much grind.

The point is there are many places where a game will be not a good match with a player.  Be it the first 10 minutes (which is valid for those too stupid to understand) or five years and anywhere in between.

Originally posted by Emrendil

Not really. I need to see the endgame.

After SWTOR, I think some consumers are going to need to see significant details about long term (or endgame) in a game.

By definition I sadly can not.

The whole leveling process is often perfectly designed to draw you in; progress and rewards around every corner, a new fresh world to explore, long term incentives galore, combat gameplay to master ...

But you don't play mmorpgs just to get to max level and stop playing them because there's nothing left except for generic battleground grinds and instanced pve. Rite?

This is why I think this whole beta weekend trend is sucky at giving people a true impression of what a game holds in store for them and a pretty lousy alternative for getting useful player feedback compared to extensive, long term, open beta testing.

Not saying that EVERYONE should be able to "endgame beta" for months, but I'd love to at least have some people who did being able to speak their minds without being gagged by nda's.

This also prevents falling for "polished starter content - buggy & incomplete high level content" traps like AoC was at launch and arguably Swtor as well (untested Ilum which was added too late and all).

Originally posted by DarkPony

The whole leveling process is often perfectly designed to draw you in; progress and rewards around every corner, a new fresh world to explore, long term incentives galore, combat gameplay to master ...

But you don't play mmorpgs just to get to max level and stop playing them because there's nothing left except for generic battleground grinds and instanced pve. Rite?

Honestly that's how the last 5 years of my MMO gameplay has gone...

Level, hit endgame, level another class, hit endgame... uninstall.

Video game gods, if you are reading this please help us.

While I understand the point that is trying to be made, I find the question of levels to be irrelevant. Time spent might be the better qestion. " Can I decide whether or not I enjoy the game in the first 30 minutes?" would better apply to MMOs as they are not all level based and levels vary. If an MMO takes 10 hours to get to level 10 or 10 minutes makes a very large difference.

I did answer "No" though. Games like Age of Conan were very enjoyable to 1-20, but did not accurately represent the rest of the game.

First 10 levels decide if I want to try the next 10 levels. I think that's rinse and repeat all the way through to end game. Most games are great for the first 10-20 levels. These have been completely and thorougly beta-tested. It's the levels after that that usually flop.

First impressions count alot, if I walk into a game that has poor translations, I rarely play any longer.  I don't care about the graphics as long as the game play is great. I care alot about story, so quests that are poorly written are usually a symptom of a larger issue. 

My biggest issue is being forced to level. There had BETTER be more to do than JUST level.  Tera is a great example of this, I loved the combat, but when I was not out leveling there was absolutely nothing else to do of any value.

I can normally tell within 20 minutes or so if I DON'T like a game. Something has to hook you in and if it's missing I can tell very quickly. As to whether I'll keep playing, that takes a bit longer.

I tend to use the first 30 days to try out a few classes, see how far I can level up. If the levelling is too fast I'll probably pass on it. Unfortunately this is becoming more and more common these days. People hitting the level cap in under a week is poor MMO design in my book. Endgame my ass, what about the journey?

So, 20 minutes to decide if it's a pile of donkey turds, a few hours to a week to know if it's worth paying a sub.

I normally am pretty wary of the first 10 levels, mostly because time and time again it has not been a key indicator about what I can expect from the rest of the game. Too many games shove their best, and most complete work up front to give you the oohh and ahhs when you first begin playing, then quickly drop off and fall into a generic mess as the game progresses on. 

Originally posted by waynejr2

Originally posted by Emrendil

Not really. I need to see the endgame.

After SWTOR, I think some consumers are going to need to see significant details about long term (or endgame) in a game.

 I don't know. Seemed relatively clear how SWTOR was going to be from what one could experience in the beta if one had the opportunity or received a buddy key from someone. Only thing that would certainly have been unclear is how disastrous end game PvP would be. Anyone that wanted to focus on that I'll agree no real way to know it was going to be that bad.

I suppose for those that simply went off of the awards and the overly inflated reviews by sites may feel a little burned if that is what they used. Honestly though unless the game is an utter fiasco all around like FFXIV these sites always pull this nonsense. I mean there are several mmos as of late you could say that about.

That depends on how long 10 level takes.  Usually within the first couple hours I know whether I'm staying or not.  My tolerance for clones has really diminished over the years so that might even shorten my decision making process further.

I chose No.  I guess it would depend on how much can happen within those 10 levels, and how many total levels there are.  With 10 levels I can tell if I MIGHT like a game.  I'd be more happy with 15-20, and hopefully a decent amount of what the game has to offer in later levels.  

I can decide in just a few levels if I'm not going to like an MMO.  I've never seen one get better if the first few levels are bad.  Certainly, a good MMO can get worse.  Since I don't give a damn about endgame, that's entirely irrelevant to my enjoyment of any game.