Right from the get go, In my game Rico happens to be Immortal (like Superman I suppose) besides the way I see it there is very little differance in god mode and loading from a save anyway because eventually you must survive the encounter so why not on the first try? The agency supplies all the Money and Weapon/Vehicle/Armor parts I need (but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to collect more, it just means I don't have to if I don't want to).
I find it fun and in rationalizing my in game cheats I don't break my immersion, i in fact have more fun with cheats that I do with out and that is why I play single player games, I have my Modern Warfare 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 if I want a challenge and some tough game play but single player games allow me to just have fun.
[Edited by HellFireXS, 3/24/2010 1:32:29 AM]
Very interesting view point, I actually think the same way, however lately I have been having a problem, lol. I found myself actually starting to get bored of my games. I asked myself why? And I realized that some of the cheats I have been using, although fun at first, essentially breaks the " LONG TERM FUN", I have come to face the reality that pleasure can only go as deep as the hole of pain is ( wow i should copyright that, that came straight out the head lol )
Therefore, if there is never any boredom, or challenge within the game, the pleasure will die out. The intensity of the long term joy of the game, and I repeat LONG TERM enjoyment, can only be had after having some challenge.
This is why I try to have my cheat codes acutely selected, balancing the fun factor of cheats, while not breaking the story/structure of the game. For example, giving yourself infinite money in game like elder scroll oblivion destroys the ECONOMY aspect of the game.
It all comes down to I guess, HOW LONG do you want to enjoy the game for? If you want to enjoy the game for a long time, use cheats rarely, however if you want to have INTENSE FUN
(unlocking all the black market vehicles for example from begining ) then use cheats, but since the cheats UNLOCK "END GAME CONTENT) you will get accustomed and "USED TO" the game waaaay too fast, hence lowering the length of enjoyment.
If someone were to play a game and die often, or just farm and grind for items, gold, money, magical treasure boxes, chaos points, whatever/etc..... the the act of doing that would create boredom, and frustration ( monotonous routine action)but would be met soon just before you pull your hair out, with a upgrade or change in pace from a new weapon.............so the scenario psychologically is i think goes like this...
1. WITHOUT CHEATS = (A-) Amazed when starting game, and learning curve (B-) gets a small item or upgrade which tempts you for more (C-) You grind or farm long periods of time to get deeper into story, or for more upgrades/items/gear/skills etc (D-) Right before total frustration you finally get what you wanted, and oh boy are you happy you got that item (E-) you play with item while growing more bored of it, until you seek for another aspect of the game (F-) Step C repeats itself through step E. (G-) The game climaxes into END GAME CONTENT, which is the most pleasurable part of the game (leaving lasting good impressions and yearning for a sequel.
2. WITH CHEATS = STEP C is essentially eliminated, thus greatly shortening game value length. Less length, less replay value. LOW REPLAY value = spending more money to buy new games too soon = getting broke too fast = game companies profit ( which they are too dumb to realize, lol )