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Answer
Fast Travel vs. Riding — Which I Prefer
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I prefer actually riding/walking to my destination. It yields richer experiences: discovery of unexpected encounters, environmental storytelling, skill/practice (navigation, attention), and a stronger sense of place and accomplishment. Fast travel is useful when time is scarce or the route is repetitive, but it trades away immersion and serendipity.
References:
- Game design discussion on exploration vs. convenience: Marc Laidlaw, “Why Traversal Matters” (various essays); see also academic work on player motivation and exploration (e.g., Przybylski et al., 2010 on autonomy and engagement).
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Con / Counterpoint
In Defense of the Journey — Against Fast Travel
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Fast travel may be convenient, but choosing to ride or walk preserves what makes virtual worlds meaningful. First, slower traversal fosters discovery: unplanned encounters and environmental details create narrative depth and reward curiosity (Laidlaw’s essays on traversal highlight how movement can convey story). Second, the act of traveling trains attention and skill—navigation, situational awareness, and tactical decision-making—that deepen engagement and player competence (research on autonomy and engagement, e.g. Przybylski et al., 2010, links active choice to sustained motivation). Third, moving through space builds a stronger sense of place and accomplishment: reaching a distant destination on foot produces memorable experiences and personal narratives that a teleportation shortcut cannot replicate.
Fast travel has a role when repetition or time constraints make traversal tedious, but it is a trade-off: convenience for immersion and serendipity. If designers care about exploration, presence, and meaningful play, they should make the journey worth taking rather than give players a constant excuse to skip it.
References:
- Marc Laidlaw, essays on traversal and level design (e.g., “Why Traversal Matters” discussions)
- Przybylski, A. K., Rigby, C. S., & Ryan, R. M. (2010). A motivational model of video game engagement (on autonomy and engagement).
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Why Traversal Matters — A Short Explanation
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Marc Laidlaw’s essays and discussions on traversal and level design argue that how players move through a game world is not merely functional—it shapes meaning, emotion, and engagement. Traversal exposes players to environmental storytelling (clues, atmosphere, incidental characters) and supports emergent play: unplanned encounters, small discoveries, and personal narratives that arise from the journey itself. Moving through space also cultivates player skills (navigation, situational awareness) and reinforces a sense of place and accomplishment when a route is learned or overcome.
Fast travel trades these benefits for convenience. It reduces tedium and saves time, but at the cost of serendipity, exploration-driven motivation, and the layered storytelling that emerges from being physically present in the world. Laidlaw’s point is that level and world design should take traversal seriously—making the journey worth taking—so that players who choose to walk or ride gain meaningful experiences rather than mere travel time.
Relevant sources:
- Marc Laidlaw, various essays/interviews on level design and traversal (see “Why Traversal Matters” discussions).
- Przybylski, Rigby, & Ryan (2010), research on autonomy and engagement in games.
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