Why Is Sniping So Entertaining?

[Prince Planet]

Lots of games these days seem to include a sniping component, and I find myself enjoying it more than just about any other aspect of the game -- "Closer...closer...BOOM!" Oh so satisfying. I think it's the thrill of being hidden, combined the sense of power you feel you have over the enemy -- that you can snuff him out at will, and he has no clue what's about to happen.

Anyone out there find themselves reveling in sniping?

p.s. - A related subject is the "stealth kill" that seems mandatory in adventure games these days. Equally fun for similar reasons, perhaps?

[Master]

From the title I thought this thread was going to be about ebay...

[Grasso]

like you said, it just feels good to cap someone knowing they have no clue whats about to happen to them. i feel more powerful when i when i win close range gunfight with someone than i do sniping though.

[Johnny]

Oh man I cherish the tenth level in MDK2 for it's sniping. Blowing a hole in some alien's head and watching the gas emminate is hilarious fun.

[EvilMog]

Try SOCOM. Crawling along on the ground then sniping some terroist asshole in the head is so damn cool. FINALLY! I can make my character lay down on the damn ground! HURRAH! Cant wait for the final version to come out!

[Rhydant]

and SOCOM is gonna be multi-player friendly. i think thisll be the Counter-strike for the console.

[gameoverDude]

Same here, Master.

It's fun to snipe, especially in Soldier of Fortune II. Turn on the scope and zoom in a bit if you have to, then pop the bastard in the back of the head and watch him drop minus a chunk of his noggin. It's then time to gloat. The bastard hasn't a clue what hit him.

Originally posted by Master
From the title I thought this thread was going to be about ebay...

[napalm]

...actually i think counter strike on xbox will be the next counter strike

[GameHED]

It's fun because it's an assasination type killing method more than a combatative one. You have power over the when, how and where the shot goes instead of having a tiny window of opportunity when playing with normal guns and having to run around alot. It's also because there's something voyeuristic about it. Things you can see that wouldn't ordinarily be able to notice (because if you get too close the enemy will react differently, or because it is too dangerous to see the details without dying) at such a far distance. You might catch someone sneeze or get a close up of the person in thier non-alert mode of behaviour. You can just sit there and observe: "Hmm what's in his pocket?" and "why is he picking his nose and coughing.?" or worry more about the planning you attack in a certain order and set a chain of events before going in. (my fave is the old, "shoot the explosive stuff and send groups of them to 1 spot to draw the others out" and then watch them all scratch thier heads in wonder at what the fuck just happened.

I find that the power of the sniper gun is also self rewarding because you get rewarded for accuracy big time. Other guns spread thier bulets all over the place (that machine gun in the ps1 medal of honor) and each bullet may not do that much damage which wastes so much time. Normally the sniper gun is powerful enough to make the hit really count so you don't have to keep hitting and hitting the buttons like a maniac. Assasins with sniper guns are cool, calm and in control, so when you finally get the weapon it's like a new role to play within the gameplay. (no more running in blindly without thought and getting hit from behind or above.)

[Tain]

I enjoy sniping, but it can get tedious. Popping those Godlike bots in Unreal Tournament isn't as fun as it used to be...