Size matters?

It's not just Blur who thought Modern Life is Rubbish. Shigeru Miyamoto - creator of Mario and Zelda - is a bit peeved too. Modern games, he said last week, are too long. "Of course, there are games, such as 'Halo' or 'Grand Theft Auto,' that are big and expansive. But if you're not interested in spending that time with them, you're not going to play." He has a point especially when it comes to handheld games. And there is no doubt that the ten or so hours of something like Ico is a perfect length. But I'm slightly concerned here. By all means design fantastic games that match inspiration with brevity, but don't underestimate the appeal of an epic. Zelda: Ocarina of Time is seen as a seminal classic partly because of this - Wind Waker, which suffered from a cynical time-sink towards the end of the game, is not. Shorter, and more focussed, titles are welcome, but a great game is a great game whatever the length.