so many games on the market would be completely different if they didnt have the story that they do. i loved ffx because it was so passionate. so yes story does matter.

The seven games I've played (by far) the most of in the last decade are, in no particular order:

Chess
Starcraft
WoW
Natural Selection
Team Fortress Classic
Unreal Tournament 2k3
Go

No other game comes even remotely close to the number of hours I have /played with these seven, and the only one of the bunch that even attempts to have a story is WoW, but it clearly isnt't he driving force behind the game and I know nothing about it.

So, no. Story is largely a single player thing (RPGs, for example) and I rarely play single player games.

Stories in games are usually nothing special... I'm perfectly fine with games which use story as filler to glue levels together. In this category there's notably Super Mario games and Ninja Gaiden games.

Cut-scenes are often cool to look at, but I don't think I'd stand something like MGS4... I'd probably fall asleep and wake up an hour later dripping saliva on the controller. In moderation, yeah.

PS: When I see someone saying a game sucks because the story isn't good or is non-existing, I tend to assume that person doesn't like the genre and/or the gameplay in the game. If you need a story to enjoy a game maybe you shouldn't be playing the game anyway (unless the story is what attracts you the most).

I thought Starcraft had an awesome story.

Personally, it depends on the game.  In MGS4 or Heavenly Sword or Odin Sphere, yes I payed attention to the story.

In Gears of War, R6: Ravenshield, and GRAW, I didn't.

I guess it just depends on the game. Games like DMC4 have me playing through quickly to the next over the top but badass cutscene. And i don't even wanna go into MGS4 and it's cutscenes. My ass was sore but man Kojima can write a story. On the other hand, I didn't really care that Gears didn't have a story because the gameplay overshadowed any point to having one.  Oh and I loved the Starcraft cutscenes and in-between mission dialogue!

yeah, it does, it makes me want to continue the game..

I love a game with a good story. A good story can make you forget about lackluster game mechanics. TBH, if RPG's had no stories, and all I did was go through the battles, they would suck. But they're my favorite genre, and their stories are the reason why.

yes story is always important.

Yes, if they are very intriguing not simply:kids decide t save the world from x monster or aliens take over humanity and such tired cliches. For games like that that I still play, I really love their gameplay!

MGS4 has a very interesting story if you are willing to sit through long cutscenes.  Some games do use 'real writers' already.  Kojima rights the stories for his games because he is an artist.