Basically, it's like tabletop. If a DM has people search a room in tabletop, they roll Perception. Success means they find stuff. Fail means they don't. If you do a Perception roll for traps, story items, hidden buttons and levers, important books, keys, jewelry, etc., you never know what the failed roll was for. Is there a trap? Is there an important item you missed?
In video games, like you say, if they know they failed they'll keep searching. Fine. Keep searching if you like, or risk not continuing to search. Your choice. If you really want to make sure you find everything, search every nook and cranny. That's your choice.
I still think either way, give players more gold and less crap to sell with less ability to carry tons of stuff. In actual tabletop D&D, you just don't carry around all that stuff while trying to fight goblins and such. The rule is 5 times strength. My rogue has 10 strength, she carries 50 lbs. Then she's slowed down. At most, that's 5 suits of leather armor at best. Ring mail is 40 lbs. My Half orc has 17 strength. He can carry 2 Ring mails before encumbered.
I'm not asking for more than what D&D usually gives in rules. I say cut out the video game need to pick up tons and tons of useless craps to sell, give us what we need to buy better gear, let us find cooler gear while exploring, and limit our ability to lig around craps. If you limit my carrying capacity, is wont drag forks and knives and spoons. I'll save my space for good stuff.
