How important is good storytelling for game sales, popularity & longevity?

[Johann]

richardhutnik said:

Johann said:

Why do you people (some of you, anyway) still believe that games should all be the same?

Games with focus on story have existed for a while now. It doesn't look like they're going away anytime soon. As long as there's an audience for them, they will still exist.

Also, a game doesn't need to sell 10m to be successful. And just because a game (or a group of games) have sold 10m , it doesn't mean that every other game developer must make their game like that.

Diversity is good.

 

The concept of games is being look at here, and how important storytelling is to the success of a game (sales, popularity, longevity), so it is asked.  It is assumed that we are talking games here, because they all need to have something in common, if we are discussing games.  So, I asked that.  This is not to say games can't have stories, just asking how important they are to the success of a game as a game.  If it isn't that critical, then maybe focus of doing a game project needs to be on what makes it a success.

The focus of a game needs to be whatever the developer wants it to be. That's like saying that hard rock bands needs to focus on trying to be more like hip hop, because it's popular right now.

And to answer your question, no. It probably doesn't influence sales all that much.