Most, if not all video games have an ending of some kind. This is especially true in today's world. We're given plot details, and with that comes a conclusion to the time that we've spent throughout the narration. The tale begins to wrap itself up as the good guy (or gal) defeats the end villain. The doors shut as the antihero takes his stand as the replacement ruler in a time of a greater villainy that's submerging. Friendly faces send their farewells. Tears run along the cheeks of a fallen loved one. A portal to another dimension has opened, and you've just submitted your ticket stubs for this ride. However you find that a game may close its lid forever, as you well know, there's a time factor for how this remaining duration of the ending chapter runs its course. What I'd like to ask of you is this: Just what do you think about all of this?

In certain games, not all games, there exists stories that some gamers find to be too stuffed. The kinds of games that are padded to the brim with intricate situational details, such as the Metal Gear Solid saga, may also come packaged with an ending that tends to drag on. Just check out Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. If you've seen the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, check your stop watch to find out which closing is the beefier.

Opposite of this, some games also may be too short on the story fillings. These narratives may give you very little in the way of what you want to know about these characters, and therefore can leave some gamers feeling unsatisfied with what's become of their time that was spent playing as who or whatever. BioShock, for example: is the summation of the story (which is about a two-minute length) too light?

Then take a look at those of us who don't care about an ending either one way or the other. To this person they can take it long, they can take it short, or maybe they can even take it as having nothing at all and can come away grinning.

The point is that people either like having things their way or don't. Some prefer receiving a larger piece of the pie, which is smothered in whipped cream. Some want it cut small, either plain or only a little topping. To others it just doesn't matter; for them they'll take a sliver or they'll engulf half of the entire dessert. But to you, what do you say? Do you think that games are better leaving off with a larger chunk of story so that you know everything that there is to know, and you see that there is all there is to see, and you really get the feeling like you've accomplished something? Would you rather have your finale finish up quicker so that you don't have to sit there forever? Or maybe, just maybe, do you take your epilogue any way and every way that it's prepared?

I prefer shorter endings, because i want to play the game for as long as possible. If the ending goes for 20 mintues, then your not really playing those final 20 minutes. Cutscenes in general are used too much. Story telling within the game is much more effective imo. They creat a much better atmosphere and more emersion than cutscenes.

You know what endings really suck?
The ones with uber long credits that you cant skip. Every single time I either reset the console or walk away and do other stuff until it ends.

Depends on the game. For MGS4 i found it's long ending perfect. For infamous it leaves you with wanting more. Halo 3's ending could have been a bit longer though

During the Megadrive days I would feel short changed if the ending was short as I couldn't afford many games and after the amount of effort put in to complete them I wanted a big enough reward for finishing the game.

These days I think endings these days are shorter.
Bioshock is the best example of this but I have to say I wasn't disappointed with it's ending so I guess it comes down to how well the ending is done.

If it is implemented well it doesn't matter how long the ending is so for me it's the quality of the ending not the duration of it.

I also like extra endings or teasers after the credits in games, but that probably stems from waiting to see what appears after the credits in the cinema or on a dvd.

I HATE short endings.

Ditto, I'm also not a fan of open ended conclusions unless its done well, although this also depend on the story itself and the type of game I'm playing.

Modern Warfare for example, had a short but perfectly executed ending in both length and conclusion yet at the same time manange to tie in a teaser that leaves a tantilizing view of what's to come.

Depending on what game it is. There are certain titles like GTA that don't really require too long of an ending. The same could be said about inFamous. I was quite satisfied with the 5 minute ending. But then there are games that have a much more in-depth storyline and require much more clarification. If the ending to ANY Final Fantasy game is shorter than 15-20 minutes at this point I'd be disappointed.

To me, MGS4's ending was ideal :)

While I am sure some great games have great long endings. In general long endings tend to be anticlimactic. There is a sweet spot of between three to four minutes, and developers should make it a goal to be within that time frame. Less and you feel cheated, more and you feel it is getting preachy.

I usually see the difference between Western and Japanese games. Western games seemingly want to end the games powerfully and be profound. Japanese games want to engage in fan service. In other words tell you how everyone's story ends rather then just how the story itself ends.

Anyway give me short and powerful, over long and bogged down in minutia. This is irrelevant of the games quality. The best game ending I have seen in the past year was for Fallout 3 bar none. Emotionally powerful, poignant, and it was indeed under four minutes.

i love long endings and especially the cut scenes

I prefer long endings, I want the effort I put into the game to be rewarded with a good long ending.