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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Games don't need stories.

Son1x on 21 December 2009

I'm not sure about without stories, but a game doesn't need a complex and/or amazing one to be a great game.

Like Kirby or Mario.



"And yet, I've realized that maybe living a "decent" life means you won't ever have a "good" life."

 

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theprof00 on 21 December 2009

ok fine, games don't need a story. Next time you find yourself in a thread dedicated to a story driven game, do yourself a favor and stay out of the conversation.



richardhutnik on 21 December 2009
disolitude said:
richardhutnik said:
disolitude said:
richardhutnik said:
disolitude said:
I agree with you 100%. Best games are the ones that are pure gameplay goodness.

Most videogame stories are horrible and just a waste of time.

Your average videogame story may entertain a 13 year old, 17 year old...hell even 21 year olds... But there comes a point in a persons life where there is not a lot of time available for entertainent due to kids, family, work, obligations... when that happens, the game that becomes fun to play within 30 seconds of pushing the start button is the better game.

I am at that point in my life and to me this game - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQPEbHQZm68

is better than this game - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql4g2LHSGEs

The second game is great as well but it wastes way too much time on story which is too dumb to appear on a Wrestling show.

Wow, I am impressed with "The Impossible Game".  I am a bit intimidated though by it.


I couldn't beat it...Died over 200 times.

Is it even beatable?  I have the impression it probably goes on forever, procedurally generating the level as you go on.  Maybe that is what makes it impossible.

There is the "practise mode" which changes that awesome music and lets you set flags...which allow you to continue from that point. however the game doesnt let you finish it like that. It just says stops and says "play the real game now". Best 1 dollar you will ever spend on a game...game is at least 1 hour of fun guaranteed before you snap and break your controller.

I will need to keep it in mind.  There are some obscure gems out there.  I am a fan of Miner: Dig Deep.  I consider this one of the best games of this year.  It is 200 credits, and ends up being addictive.  It is a miner version of Harvest Moon, with more action in it.  No monsters, just brave the mine, including mine shafts, falling rocks, and cave ins. 



richardhutnik on 21 December 2009
theprof00 said:
ok fine, games don't need a story. Next time you find yourself in a thread dedicated to a story driven game, do yourself a favor and stay out of the conversation.

Did I once say I didn't like games that had stories?  I am just saying that gameplay matters, and not all games need stories.  I was also commenting on how maybe what we considered "games" may not be games.



theprof00 on 21 December 2009
richardhutnik said:
theprof00 said:
ok fine, games don't need a story. Next time you find yourself in a thread dedicated to a story driven game, do yourself a favor and stay out of the conversation.

Did I once say I didn't like games that had stories?  I am just saying that gameplay matters, and not all games need stories.  I was also commenting on how maybe what we considered "games" may not be games.

You're getting into a gray area, because it opens up debate for whether or not a game has gameplay enough. From the tone of the thread I've seen thus far, games that have great gameplay do not have stories. I'm not sure what games may not be games either.

 



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disolitude on 21 December 2009
richardhutnik said:

 

I will need to keep it in mind.  There are some obscure gems out there.  I am a fan of Miner: Dig Deep.  I consider this one of the best games of this year.  It is 200 credits, and ends up being addictive.  It is a miner version of Harvest Moon, with more action in it.  No monsters, just brave the mine, including mine shafts, falling rocks, and cave ins. 


Just checked it out...looks pretty sweet. Will try it one of htese days.

Im waiting for 1up to be released... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWFP6kj0RwY

 

 

See people...these are all fun games with no stories :)



libellule on 21 December 2009

great thread

if you like this Miner: Dig Deep (I watched it on youtube, didnt know this gale before)

then, go take an Amiga emulator and try to find "PP Hammer"

It is just a great oldschool gem ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsOzmPx-ehs

dont watch, play it ;)

(good atmosphere and music too)

EDIT : yeah first level are easy but this will not last



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Mr. sickVisionz on 21 December 2009

It's comparable to a song without lyrics. You have to really hit it out of the park to make that work. A game with no story needs to be like old school mario or sonic: by design, you will never be bored at any one part and the the stages are pretty short (10 minutes or less).

With no story, it's 100% gameplay that motivates the player to keep playing. If that gameplay ever falters, you have nothing to fall back on to keep the player moving forward.



disolitude on 21 December 2009
libellule said:

great thread

if you like this Miner: Dig Deep (I watched it on youtube, didnt know this gale before)

then, go take an Amiga emulator and try to find "PP Hammer"

It is just a great oldschool gem ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsOzmPx-ehs

dont watch, play it ;)

(good atmosphere and music too)

EDIT : yeah first level are easy but this will not last

Yeah, I can tell this is fun just by watching the video.



Riachu on 21 December 2009
loves2splooge said:

Single-player video games do not need a story to be fun. In fact I especially hate it when story is used to compensate poor gameplay. I like a lot of story-oriented games (ie. visual novels) but I also like a lot of games with little to no story at all.

 

This blogger's blog post goes waaaay out of line insulting jrpgs (http://www.haterade-gaming.com/editorials/44-game-design/53-why-jrpgs-suck-dick) but he makes some great points: video game stories just aren't that good (and this can be readily apparent if gamers actually read more... and watched more movies, tv and anime for that matter) and story shouldn't be a crutch to salvage poor game design.

To me, I think of video game stories mainly as guilty pleasures. I consider Phoenix Wright, Hotel Dusk and Tsukihime as guilty pleasures. They ARE low-brow, they are not high art, but they are fun. Just like a low-brow tv show, movie or anime. Video game designers that try to pass off their stories as high art literature are pretentious.

I watch movies, read books(not as much as I should), watch TV, and even watch anime(not as much as I used to though).  



 

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