Why games fail at storytelling

[SmokedHostage]

zexen_lowe said:
It's funny how they criticize Metal Gear Solid's story and arfter the article there's a link to "15 Best Game Stories Ever" in the same site and MGS is the first game.
Other than that, I disagree completely with the article, even though I love Portal's story, I also love a complex, even if it's uninteractive story (that's why I play a lot of JRPGs), just the way that I love reading books (and I'm not comparing them, both are different).
I have the belief that to create complex , rich, detailed stories, the ammount of influence the character can make can't be high, because if the story is too branched, it loses its focus and complexity. I'd rather have a Xenosaga-like game (zero interactivity with the story, but it features an amazing, complex, engaging story) that a Fable-like game (a lot of freedom of choices, but the story sucks). At least that's my take

That's the problem right there.  The article says that JRPG's , for the most part, have poor stories and detach yourself often from the character by use of cutscenes, narration bubbles and other devices.  You're playing a game yet a character can make decisions you don't necessarily agree with and you realize you're just 'the pilot of a flight.'