20 Things Developers Didn't Think YOU WOULD TRY

TL;DR

Analyzing 20 game exploits that developers didn't anticipate.

Transcript

(techno music) - [Falcon] Game developers have to think of everything before you do. The thing about that is they can't. There's always gonna be something you come up with that they didn't. Hi folks, it's Falcon. It's a day on Game Ranks, 20 things developers didn't think anyone would try part two. Starting off with number 20, it's Hitman 2's homin... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Unexpected player creativity often leads to the discovery of exploits in games, as seen with the briefcase in Hitman 2.
• 👾 Speedrunning communities thrive on glitches, highlighting the relationship between game mechanics and player skill.
• 👾 Game-breaking mechanics, whether humorous or advantageous, are often left unpatched, showing developers' limitations in anticipating player actions.
• ❓ The uniqueness of glitches can significantly enhance player experience, transforming originally serious challenges into lighthearted escapades.
• 👾 Exploits across different game genres demonstrate a consistent unpredictability in player behavior within structured game environments.
• 👾 Many classic games still harbor these unexpected mechanics, showing how the gaming community has evolved to embrace them.
• 👾 Analyzing these exploits offers insight into game design, as they can inform developers of potential oversights in future projects.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the homing briefcase exploit in Hitman 2, and how did it impact gameplay?

The homing briefcase exploit in Hitman 2 arose from the physics of the briefcase behaving unexpectedly, allowing players to throw it and have it home in on enemies. This led to amusing gameplay moments that the developers ultimately patched, but they later incorporated a joke version of the briefcase for players to enjoy.

Q: Can you describe the mechanics behind the fall control quit out glitch in Dark Souls?

The fall control quit out glitch utilizes a spell that slows the player's descent allowing them to survive falls that would normally result in death. By timing the menu quit precisely when hitting the ground, players can trick the game into believing they are still alive, enabling skips through game sections and facilitating speedrunning efforts.

Q: How does the flying sword trick work in Halo 2, and why was it overlooked by developers?

The flying sword trick involves the player entering a vehicle while wielding a sword and swinging it at a teammate. This action causes the player to be launched toward the teammate regardless of the distance. Its simplicity likely led to it being overlooked by developers during testing, though it is no longer functional in modern Halo versions.

Q: Explain the frog jump glitch in Days Gone and its amusing outcomes.

The frog jump exploit in Days Gone allows players to achieve absurd heights by combining crouching, naming a weapon, and using focus in specific locations with odd hitboxes. Successful execution can launch players hundreds of feet into the air, usually resulting in instant death but occasionally enabling survival with a well-timed roll, showcasing a humorous unintended consequence.

Q: What makes the paintbrush staircase trick in Oblivion particularly unique?

The paintbrush staircase trick in Oblivion utilizes the peculiar lack of physics on paintbrushes, allowing players to place them in such a way that they hover in the air. This lets players create floating staircases that enable access to otherwise unreachable areas or expedite game completion, showing how glitches can lead to novel gameplay experiences.

Q: How does the infinitely powerful items glitch in Skyrim function?

The infinitely powerful items glitch in Skyrim involves creating equipment that enhances alchemy, leading to the creation of fortify restoration potions. By continually stacking these effects through a careful process, players can create overwhelmingly powerful enchanted items capable of defeating any foe with little effort, illustrating the depth of exploiting the game’s mechanics.

Q: What are the implications of the infamous reverse speed trick in Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing?

In Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing, players can achieve infinitely increasing speeds by reversing without any top limit or collision detection. This absurd exploit highlights the game's numerous flaws and provides a bizarre playable experience, exposing the developers’ apparent negligence in testing their product.

Q: Why is the hoverboard race exploit in Ratchet & Clank considered an oversight?

The hoverboard race exploit in Ratchet & Clank allows players to bypass rules by using a late-game item that enables them to freely walk around the racetrack. This exploit is likely a developer oversight, as it allows players to grind for resources without limits, revealing how certain mechanics can unintentionally disrupt intended gameplay balance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Game developers often overlook potential player exploits, leading to unintended gameplay mechanics, such as the Hitman 2 briefcase and Dark Souls fall control glitch, which players have used creatively.

• From Speedrunning tricks to physics-based glitches, players exploit these oversights, sometimes defeating tough bosses effortlessly or accessing areas not intended for exploration within the game.

• Several popular games, including Halo 2 and Skyrim, contain mechanics that players have used to create humorous or advantageous situations, reflecting the unpredictability of player creativity in gaming experiences.