Guild Wars 2

cutscenes are really only necessary the first time you run an instance.

since you have to grind for gear / tokens, you really should be able to disable them for an instance after you’ve run story mode.

it gets in the way and can cause deaths, since adds are still present when cutscenes begin.

even offering a way to quickly cancel them would be great, although preventing them altogether would be preferable.

Regarding the argument of a level playing field…

If everyone has access to the same mods, or everyone has the ability to modify the UI in the same way, then it’s still fair.

Someone with one selection of skills / traits may have an advantage over another person with different skills / traits. This might give them an advantage in PvP, so should those varying selections be allowed? Of course.

Customization is a core element of any RPG based game. There’s no reason the UI shouldn’t be an element in this if it contributes to the enjoyment of the UI and game experience. It’s just a matter of personal preference to show information which is relevant to what one’s doing. I think most game companies are more concerned about things like automation.

The design choices for the average player vs. someone who is a hard-core / end-content raider will typically oppose each other. A product manager wants to make the UI slick and beautiful so people are attracted to the game, which is great…. I love beautiful UIs and pictures of my pets… but they contribute nothing to encounters where i want to focus on the fight). When I raid I want the option to eliminate elements which don’t add value. I also want to rearrange elements on the screen in a way which allows me to focus more on the encounter and less on the HUD. For example by removing xp bar / achievements / pet pictures, while placing my buffs / conditions exactly where i want them so i’m not constantly looking at different parts of the screen just to get everything i need from the HUD. More time looking at the HUD is less time enjoying the encounter.

In this way, WoW’s UI configurability might be unparalleled. It’s certainly a feature that I miss.

I want a game that’s challenging, but not because I’m struggling with character controls or UI elements.