I refuse to believe that you can't have both, though I will agree that Gameplay > Storyline. If the gameplay is crap, then why bother playing for the story?
But I will say that Gameplay > Storyline > Multiplayer. I'm not one for mindless Halo death matches repeated over and over. I played for the story, not the prepubescent kids screaming at me over their mic.
I played Alan Wake last weekend. I think that's an excellent example of a new(ish) game with great story, gameplay, even graphics!
I don't think it sold very well though, which is a shame. I'm hoping to have some time to play the dlc this weekend.
This is all subjective and far too specific anyway. Gaming in general isn't about story, just certain games. And the subjectivity is whether a given person plays those games or even cares.
If you play primarily games such as RPGs or action/adventure, then sure story is more important. But I wouldn't argue story telling has ever really gotten much better than 10-20 years ago. Does MGS4 tell a story better than the first one? Does GTAIV do better than GTAIII? Twilight Princess versus Link to the Past? Does any RPG now do better than FF7?
Not to mention that most games don't need or aren't about story. Does anyone really care about the story in Mario Galaxy or New Mario? Racing or sports games?
Some people may like the story in games like Battlefield or Call of Duty but the reality is those games are successful because of the online, not the 4 hour campaign. Even with games like Gears of War it's the art direction and action that's most important.
I worked closely with EA when they developed C&C 3, KW, RA3, and C&C 4. You know why those games are quickly forgotten? It isn't because of their storyline, it's because of their poor gameplay.
Storyline is not why people still play Starcraft or DoTA. It's because of gameplay.
Why are so many of the so-called "hard core" game developers obsessed with "story", more so than gameplay (and focusing on the fun factor of video games)? Frankly, it sounds like they want to make movies, but are "stuck" in the game industry.
Minecraft: no story required.
Developers just need to keep focusing on making games addictive and fun; not modeling their product after the film industry.
There are just too many cliches. The following comes to mind:
1) The boss/colleague directing you turns out to be the mastermind of an over-elaborate scheme.
2) There's a bigger picture that won't be resolved till the sequel.
3) Government/corporations are evil and you are just their pawn.
4) The hero is infected with something and the main antagonist will be infected with the same thing and they have to duke it out in the end.
It's not just the stories. The gameplay itself has to improve. Games these days are far too easy, and short. I don't want to rely on online play in order to increase the longevity of the game.
half-life, half-life:opposing force, half-life: blue shift, half-life 2, Half-life 2 day one, Portal, Half-life 2 day two, and soon to be Half-life 2 day three, Portal 2. all with the same storyline and always improving game mechanics.
As many have noted, the usefulness or appropriateness of a good storyline is highly dependent upon the genre and intent of the game. Not all games need storylines, but when a game is story-driven it certainly requires an excellent one. Especially considering the calibre of stories we've experienced as of late.
That said, I think game developers are getting better at this. I played Fable 2, in which there is a dog. The dog is with you almost the entirety of the game, and he only exists to be your companion. He fetches, helps you find things, and generally acts like a dog. At a point towards the climax, your dog is murdered, and it actually upset me a little. Despite the dog obviously being a dumb little AI figurine, I had grown accustomed to him being with me on my game-playing journey. The unwarranted removal of him was slightly jarring. In retrospect, it worked out great from the POV of the storyteller.
Yep. I'd rather play Metal Gear Solid than any of the current offerings. It blended gaming and cinema perfectly. Gaming with story. That is what gaming needs!!
sneaker98Oct 29, 2010Buried
I refuse to believe that you can't have both, though I will agree that Gameplay > Storyline. If the gameplay is crap, then why bother playing for the story?
But I will say that Gameplay > Storyline > Multiplayer. I'm not one for mindless Halo death matches repeated over and over. I played for the story, not the prepubescent kids screaming at me over their mic.
stonedgeekOct 30, 2010Buried
I played Alan Wake last weekend. I think that's an excellent example of a new(ish) game with great story, gameplay, even graphics!
I don't think it sold very well though, which is a shame. I'm hoping to have some time to play the dlc this weekend.
seroevoOct 29, 2010Buried
This is all subjective and far too specific anyway. Gaming in general isn't about story, just certain games. And the subjectivity is whether a given person plays those games or even cares.
If you play primarily games such as RPGs or action/adventure, then sure story is more important. But I wouldn't argue story telling has ever really gotten much better than 10-20 years ago. Does MGS4 tell a story better than the first one? Does GTAIV do better than GTAIII? Twilight Princess versus Link to the Past? Does any RPG now do better than FF7?
Not to mention that most games don't need or aren't about story. Does anyone really care about the story in Mario Galaxy or New Mario? Racing or sports games?
Some people may like the story in games like Battlefield or Call of Duty but the reality is those games are successful because of the online, not the 4 hour campaign. Even with games like Gears of War it's the art direction and action that's most important.
agmlauncherOct 29, 2010Buried
Ah yes, 20 hours of story telling is DEFINITELY a good reason to drop $60 on a game....
Maybe developers should stop worrying about storyline and focus on GAMEPLAY (you know, that thing that makes games what they are??) instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7VAhzPcZ-s
I worked closely with EA when they developed C&C 3, KW, RA3, and C&C 4. You know why those games are quickly forgotten? It isn't because of their storyline, it's because of their poor gameplay.
Storyline is not why people still play Starcraft or DoTA. It's because of gameplay.
Gameplay > storyline.
thewriteguyOct 30, 2010Buried
Why are so many of the so-called "hard core" game developers obsessed with "story", more so than gameplay (and focusing on the fun factor of video games)? Frankly, it sounds like they want to make movies, but are "stuck" in the game industry.
drleephdOct 30, 2010Buried
Minecraft: no story required.
Developers just need to keep focusing on making games addictive and fun; not modeling their product after the film industry.
aronnycOct 30, 2010Buried
There are just too many cliches. The following comes to mind:
1) The boss/colleague directing you turns out to be the mastermind of an over-elaborate scheme.
2) There's a bigger picture that won't be resolved till the sequel.
3) Government/corporations are evil and you are just their pawn.
4) The hero is infected with something and the main antagonist will be infected with the same thing and they have to duke it out in the end.
m3g4tr0nOct 29, 2010Buried
It's not just the stories. The gameplay itself has to improve. Games these days are far too easy, and short. I don't want to rely on online play in order to increase the longevity of the game.
jerroldsOct 29, 2010Buried
There are some great games being cranked out with good not so formulaic stories - Drakes Fortune, Batman Arkham Asylum, Heavy Rain
Then there are games that are light on story but excel in gameplay - Bayonetta for example
My problem is that i dont have enough time to put into all these great games
slappybag9Oct 30, 2010Buried
Stories are your problem? Play Half-Life, you wont be disappointed
valkyriesOct 30, 2010Buried
half-life, half-life:opposing force, half-life: blue shift, half-life 2, Half-life 2 day one, Portal, Half-life 2 day two, and soon to be Half-life 2 day three, Portal 2. all with the same storyline and always improving game mechanics.
kestrelOct 30, 2010Buried
Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. I could live without the mini-games (scanning for minerals, etc.) but the story and gameplay are great.
arkielOct 29, 2010Buried
Final Fantasy 13. Enslaved. These are examples of games that concentrated on story, and ended up having inferior gameplay as a result.
Just hire a professional writer to tie together the s**t your designers create. Don't let the writer get too close to the technology, or vice versa.
liquisoftOct 29, 2010Buried
This is an interesting subject.
As many have noted, the usefulness or appropriateness of a good storyline is highly dependent upon the genre and intent of the game. Not all games need storylines, but when a game is story-driven it certainly requires an excellent one. Especially considering the calibre of stories we've experienced as of late.
That said, I think game developers are getting better at this. I played Fable 2, in which there is a dog. The dog is with you almost the entirety of the game, and he only exists to be your companion. He fetches, helps you find things, and generally acts like a dog. At a point towards the climax, your dog is murdered, and it actually upset me a little. Despite the dog obviously being a dumb little AI figurine, I had grown accustomed to him being with me on my game-playing journey. The unwarranted removal of him was slightly jarring. In retrospect, it worked out great from the POV of the storyteller.
notevencloseOct 30, 2010Buried
Yep. I'd rather play Metal Gear Solid than any of the current offerings. It blended gaming and cinema perfectly. Gaming with story. That is what gaming needs!!