Rainbird said:
Reasonable said:
I also wish when a developer wants to try something people wouldn't argue with the same boring all generalities. They aren't trying to make every game story lead nor is that their goal. They want their game to be that way and they want to offer better than the medium has historically in that regard. Is it really necessary to start panicing for all other genres every time there is a focus by a single developer in a single area?
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I'd say it's a natural reaction though. People see something they percieve as being overall damaging to the field, and they push against it. More rationality would certainly be welcome, but it's a polarizing subject, so opinions are bound to clash. On top of that, there is actually a small trend of moving towards more... what to call it... focused experiences? Games that restrict the player in favor of either storytelling, spectacle, cinematic flair or some combination of these basically.
And it's very much a trend I am not happy with. I personally believe gaming and storytelling can make for amazing combinations, because of the way the player can be engaged in the experience. That's what I'm hoping Naughty Dog will try to improve on with The Last Of Us, because the Uncharted games really hasn't done much in the way of this for me. A game like Heavy Rain is incredibly cinematic, but manages to engage the player in the story like few games have managed in my opinion, including Naughty Dog's previous efforts.
Which is why, when Naughty Dog say they want to set a new standard in storytelling, I'm hoping they will try do storytelling that allows the player to better connect to the game than they have previously done. I mean, even MGS4, one of the first really big so-called "interactive movie" games this generation allows the player some freedom in how they can play the game.
So my prayer to Naughty Dog is simply that they try to explore storytelling in a way that involves the player more.
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TBH I'd say the trend to online is far stronger than the trend to focused storytelling. In fact I'd say the trend to open world is stronger than that. Right now I think for a lot of devs, if you look at sales/success of other games, the view would be:
a) best choice for success is hugely successful online game (you know who)
b) second best choice for success is hugely successful open world game (GTA, RDR, Assassin's Creed, Skyrim, etc)
c) third best choice for success is focused narrative (maybe with some online if we can get it)
After than it seems like a bit of a crapshoot depending on IP.
But I hear you and agree on the polarising side. I mean for me, unless it's really, really good or the IP suits it I don't want any sequels, be it films or games. I want new stuff more than proven - but I know I'm more in the minority in being true to that. Most people say they want new stuff but what they really mean is they want the same but different - hence the huge focus on sequels when the basic formula seems to connect, be it films (well movies really) or games.
I guess the whole notion of what are game genres and what is a "game" is also changing a lot causing a lot of the attitude you mention.
Not sure I have a point here :) but I'm just thinking ithe more variety of games and genres the better for me personally, so if ND believe they can take a fairly familair concept - survival in an apocalyptic situation - and insert far better and deeper characterisation (which strictly speaking has zero to do with gameplay in the purest sense) then I'm interested.
