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Forums - Gaming - Why does game storytelling have such low standards? [MGS4, HL2, etc.]

contestgamer on 18 April 2010
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Storytelling >>> Gameplay.

Gameplay is probably more important to children, but when you grow up to being an adult you begin searching for meaning and thoughtful dialogue in the world around you. Playing mindless games just doesn't cut it anymore if you are intellectually minded. Having a deep, involving story and gameplay that conforms TO the story is what will make video games an accepted art form among adults, like literature, film etc is.

Why waste my precious time and intellect on games like Gears when I can play MGS1,2,3,4 or Braid or Xenogears and Planescape torment and really learn about myself and the world and become a more complete, open minded, intelligent and better person for it?

Then watch a movie or read a book? why would somebody who wants story choose Video "GAMES" for telling stories over other forms of media that do it better?... this genuinely honest question that bugs the hell outta me.

The word "video games" is outdated imo, "interactive entertainment" is more accurate today and sounds more respectable as well. That includes interactive film, or any media that is at least slightly interactive like Heavy Rain.



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Lafiel on 18 April 2010

@ Xxain)

everyone has their own way of gaming

I think it's shameful to try to put your own way over other people's, as there is enough room for many different ways to coexist.



thelifatree on 18 April 2010

Also, there is obviously a market for people who want to games heavily story and epic based. And not just the pew pew base

Hence the Sales of Metal Gear, and Final Fantasy, And Mass Effect



Xxain on 18 April 2010
contestgamer said:
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Storytelling >>> Gameplay.

Gameplay is probably more important to children, but when you grow up to being an adult you begin searching for meaning and thoughtful dialogue in the world around you. Playing mindless games just doesn't cut it anymore if you are intellectually minded. Having a deep, involving story and gameplay that conforms TO the story is what will make video games an accepted art form among adults, like literature, film etc is.

Why waste my precious time and intellect on games like Gears when I can play MGS1,2,3,4 or Braid or Xenogears and Planescape torment and really learn about myself and the world and become a more complete, open minded, intelligent and better person for it?

Then watch a movie or read a book? why would somebody who wants story choose Video "GAMES" for telling stories over other forms of media that do it better?... this genuinely honest question that bugs the hell outta me.

The word "video games" is outdated imo, "interactive entertainment" is more accurate today and sounds more respectable as well. That includes interactive film, or any media that is at least slightly interactive like Heavy Rain.


naaah... There still Video Games, your just dressing it up because by your previous post I can possibly assume you feel Video Games kiddy, and your " Interactive entertainment" the grown up Video Games.... and you didnt answer my question, mind you im genuinely interested because the story >>> gameplay crowd is shocking and backwards to me

thelifatree on 18 April 2010
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Storytelling >>> Gameplay.

Gameplay is probably more important to children, but when you grow up to being an adult you begin searching for meaning and thoughtful dialogue in the world around you. Playing mindless games just doesn't cut it anymore if you are intellectually minded. Having a deep, involving story and gameplay that conforms TO the story is what will make video games an accepted art form among adults, like literature, film etc is.

Why waste my precious time and intellect on games like Gears when I can play MGS1,2,3,4 or Braid or Xenogears and Planescape torment and really learn about myself and the world and become a more complete, open minded, intelligent and better person for it?

Then watch a movie or read a book? why would somebody who wants story choose Video "GAMES" for telling stories over other forms of media that do it better?... this genuinely honest question that bugs the hell outta me.

The word "video games" is outdated imo, "interactive entertainment" is more accurate today and sounds more respectable as well. That includes interactive film, or any media that is at least slightly interactive like Heavy Rain.

naaah... There still Video Games, your just dressing it up because by your previous post I can possibly assume you feel Video Games kiddy, and your " Interactive entertainment" the grown up Video Games.... and you didnt answer my question, mind you im genuinely interested because the story >>> gameplay crowd is shocking and backwards to me

Because to me and others. It's more interesting to understand the world and your charcters and their motivations. Because then it makes the gameplay more meaningful. The story and surrounding enhance the gameplay, and if the gameplay is already awesome, then you have a godlike creation. Because theres an illusion of purpose

rather than pew pew the bad guy or whatever



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Xxain on 18 April 2010
Lafiel said:
@ Xxain)

everyone has their own way of gaming

I think it's shameful to try to put your own way over other people's, there is enough room for many different ways to coexist

Im not trying to... Im actually trying to understand it. Its backwards, its like to baseball game for the hotdogs... why?. A game is meant to be played 1st priority, why choose games to tell you stories over media that does it better? Video Games stories are Xxactly as the OP said just the icing.

Xxain on 18 April 2010
thelifatree said:
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Storytelling >>> Gameplay.

Gameplay is probably more important to children, but when you grow up to being an adult you begin searching for meaning and thoughtful dialogue in the world around you. Playing mindless games just doesn't cut it anymore if you are intellectually minded. Having a deep, involving story and gameplay that conforms TO the story is what will make video games an accepted art form among adults, like literature, film etc is.

Why waste my precious time and intellect on games like Gears when I can play MGS1,2,3,4 or Braid or Xenogears and Planescape torment and really learn about myself and the world and become a more complete, open minded, intelligent and better person for it?

Then watch a movie or read a book? why would somebody who wants story choose Video "GAMES" for telling stories over other forms of media that do it better?... this genuinely honest question that bugs the hell outta me.

The word "video games" is outdated imo, "interactive entertainment" is more accurate today and sounds more respectable as well. That includes interactive film, or any media that is at least slightly interactive like Heavy Rain.

naaah... There still Video Games, your just dressing it up because by your previous post I can possibly assume you feel Video Games kiddy, and your " Interactive entertainment" the grown up Video Games.... and you didnt answer my question, mind you im genuinely interested because the story >>> gameplay crowd is shocking and backwards to me

Because to me and others. It's more interesting to understand the world and your charcters and their motivations. Because then it makes the gameplay more meaningful. The story and surrounding enhance the gameplay, and if the gameplay is already awesome, then you have a godlike creation. Because theres an illusion of purpose

rather than pew pew the bad guy or whatever


Sonic, Mario and Megaman and countless other didnt have overbloated stories or no stories at all anc there some of the most respected and cherished characters of all time. im not saying story isnt important....by why is it getting bigger than the source of gaming...the gameplay?

Lafiel on 18 April 2010
Xxain said:
Lafiel said:
@ Xxain)

everyone has their own way of gaming

I think it's shameful to try to put your own way over other people's, there is enough room for many different ways to coexist

Im not trying to... Im actually trying to understand it. Its backwards, its like to baseball game for the hotdogs... why?. A game is meant to be played 1st priority, why choose games to tell you stories over media that does it better? Video Games stories are Xxactly as the OP said just the icing.

no, to me stories are often the purpose

Of course I have no-story sports games and so on, but in an rpg like Oblivion to me the story is vital, but .. it wasn't there and that's why I quit playing it after 5 hours of excitement and 10 hours of pure boredom. You can "play" in it for hundreds of hours and if you set your own goals like "I want to be leader of that or that guild" and so on I can see people entertaining themselves with it, but I didn't feel any kind of attachment to the world/game after the first excitement over graphics and battle system was gone.



O-D-C on 18 April 2010

when developpes, all developpers set out to make a game, the gameplay SHOULD come 1st, everything else should be secondary, especially story, games arnt meant to be viewed or read, their meant to be PLAYED, if you want a great story read a book.

Im not saying games cant deliver a good story but if the gameplay dosn't compliment it then it's an excersise in futility.

In other words, I agree 100% with the OP



thelifatree on 18 April 2010
Xxain said:
thelifatree said:
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Xxain said:
contestgamer said:
Storytelling >>> Gameplay.

Gameplay is probably more important to children, but when you grow up to being an adult you begin searching for meaning and thoughtful dialogue in the world around you. Playing mindless games just doesn't cut it anymore if you are intellectually minded. Having a deep, involving story and gameplay that conforms TO the story is what will make video games an accepted art form among adults, like literature, film etc is.

Why waste my precious time and intellect on games like Gears when I can play MGS1,2,3,4 or Braid or Xenogears and Planescape torment and really learn about myself and the world and become a more complete, open minded, intelligent and better person for it?

Then watch a movie or read a book? why would somebody who wants story choose Video "GAMES" for telling stories over other forms of media that do it better?... this genuinely honest question that bugs the hell outta me.

The word "video games" is outdated imo, "interactive entertainment" is more accurate today and sounds more respectable as well. That includes interactive film, or any media that is at least slightly interactive like Heavy Rain.

naaah... There still Video Games, your just dressing it up because by your previous post I can possibly assume you feel Video Games kiddy, and your " Interactive entertainment" the grown up Video Games.... and you didnt answer my question, mind you im genuinely interested because the story >>> gameplay crowd is shocking and backwards to me

Because to me and others. It's more interesting to understand the world and your charcters and their motivations. Because then it makes the gameplay more meaningful. The story and surrounding enhance the gameplay, and if the gameplay is already awesome, then you have a godlike creation. Because theres an illusion of purpose

rather than pew pew the bad guy or whatever

Sonic, Mario and Megaman and countless other didnt have overbloated stories or no stories at all anc there some of the most respected and cherished characters of all time. im not saying story isnt important....by why is it getting bigger than the source of gaming...the gameplay?

Solid Snake, And Sepheroth are too.