Summary
MindsEye, the upcoming futuristic action-adventure game from developer Build A Rocket Boy, will have a main story that lasts just about 20 hours, and the game’s director doesn’t think that’s a bad thing. Rather, Leslie Benzies saysMindsEye’s relatively short length in comparison to some similar titles is intentional, and he believes players will be satisfied with the experience.
Fans who have been following the game’s development sinceMindsEye’s first trailer showcased its storyand gameplay back in February have made comparisons between it and modernGrand Theft Autogames, and that’s no coincidence. Benzies began his career in 1995 at DMA Design, a studio that would later be rebranded as RockStar North. He eventually rose to the position of studio president before leaving the company in early 2016. He has also served as producer for 10 different Grand Theft Auto games, starting withGrand Theft Auto 3.
In a recent interview withGamesIndustry.biz, Benzies addressed the main campaign’s length, saying he wanted to make a game with a story that people would actually be able to finish. With the wide availability of entertainment media now available, including streaming television platforms and other games, he indicated that holding players' attention can be a problem amidst all the distractions. WhileMindsEyeplayers should expectto see plenty of side content fleshing out the game, the relatively shorter length of the main story makes the game more easily digestible in an era in which many players never see the endings of games they enjoy. “I think people want the meat, and they want the potatoes,” he explained. “We’ve tried to make as much meat as we can, if that makes sense.”
MindsEye’s Director Doesn’t Think Its Length is a Problem
Benzies also fielded a question about the short amount of time between the game’s reveal and its launch.MindsEye’s release dateis fast approaching, set for July 24, 2025. He noted that Build a Rocket Boy is a start-up developer, and lengthy marketing campaigns for video games can be extremely expensive. But more so than that, he cycled back to the variety of entertainment options that potential players have access to, expressing his opinion that drawing out a game’s release schedule over several months is likely to result in fans losing interest and looking elsewhere.
In addition to Benzies' comments in the interview about utilizing side content, fans can also look forward toMindsEye’s post-launch plans. A recent trailer indicated that the game will come packed with creation tools that will allow players to utilize the game’s assets to create and share their own custom in-game content. In addition, players should expect to see Build a Rocket Boy adding new assets, missions, challenges, and more in periodic post-launch releases.
