The silliness of "hardcore"?

[staticneuron]

steven787 said:
I am not saying they are not hardcore, I am saying that hardcore games are silly because of the themes and that they are taken too seriously among hardcore gamers.

Maybe it is my frustration with the whole industry right now, on one hand you have Nintendo who is making a major push to sell games mostly on gameplay. Why'll MS is pushing an online agenda, and Sony is pushing Bluray. All three are decent strategies, but don't help a more mature and sophisticated direction for the art of storytelling through games.

I have no idea what you are trying to get at here because you seem to put a stereotype on gamers. I personally think that you are wrong and all three companies try to push storytelling in their own way. Heavenly sword, MGS, metroid, bioshock, halo, lair. All these games seem to have many elements and you seem to accost them for what you can percieve.

 

Take for instance Halo, you may see it as silly hardcore gamers concerned about this green armored dude saving the earth. I honestly am looking forward to seeing if Cortana has gone rampant or not. If you do not understand what I mean then you must admit to missing something.

Lair seems to have a story that trys to play out a morality tale between religion, duty and ethics. Bioshock seems to play out a morality tale as well but more about concepts and human nature. MGS stories ( albeit mostly over the top) tells a very complex story about (surprise) morality and ethics. MGS3 and portable ops should have you rooting for big boss and has the gamer take another look at liquid and solid snake.

Metroid and heavenly sword do not seem to try to provoke deep thought from gamers but more to provide a cinematic experience. Metroid does it in a way that you can choose your level of immersion yet if you try to run and gun the majority of the story will be laid at your feet. HS try's to push the envelope on cinematics and ninja theory is very clear on their intent as they continuosly show behind the scenes that amaze me.

 

Video games can be taken seriously but it really depends on the frame of mind that the player has. You may think a game has failed in providing a serious story because they offer unrealistic advantages for the sake of fun. But a serious story is not going to keep you playing a game that is amazingly hard. Most games if they decided to be realistic would be tough. Imagine FPS's without maps, HUD, ammo count and one life if you die there is no continue. Or a game like acecombat with a realistic amount of missiles and damage. It wont work.

EDIT: And on MGS and skipping cutscenes, this is one example of why it is up to the player how they address the story. Without a question those who have skipped cutscenes vs thoughs who got caught up in them most likely have s different point of view on the story and the overall message of each game. Chances are those who skip the cutscenes might like the game less as well. I recently spoke to someone who claimed that MGS was anti war. I said I didn't see it that way and that led to an interesting conversation that shows exactly what typ of information is taken away from the game. there are things in the cutscenes that cannot be done in game because in game you have the ability to divert your atttention.