Why do FPS are not very good at telling a Good Story?

ah well.. it is hard to come up with an immersive and engaging story after all. But that is no reason to for game devs. to come up with a near storyless game. FPS games mainly focus on the combat and action more then story. And it is easier to tell a story in an RPG since it is much slower and there is more emphasis on cutscenes.savetehhaloz

True. But i am not saying that they should just focus solely on story..i mean isn't a good story an important part of a video game? If devs only focus on comabt then we wouldn't had games like Half Life, Halo and Brothers of Arms etc. I mean i'm pretty sure that many People remember Halo for its engaging storyline.. well now its more about how good its multiplayer is.

...Have you ever played a Metroid Prime game?Erebyssial

No. Sorry I never played one. But i never said about it having a bad storyline. I know how good Metroid Prime games are.

Well, some won't agree with me, but I think that The Darkness had an excellent story. Hell, I even cared for the characters,

Condemned Criminal Origens had a good story too. If you have a 360 or a good computer, check both of them out.

Why are so many RPGs and RTSs and other games not very good at telling a good story?

Solid writing is not usually the focus of games these days since it is so easy for publishers to make so much money off of mediocrity. Good stories in any type of game are a rare thing to see.

I don't think it's fair to say that the entire FPS genre is lacking in the story department when it doesn't sound like you have much experience with FPS games. Try the Chronicles of Riddick, Deus Ex, System Shock and The Darkness.Sroek

Well like i said..not every FPS sucks at telling a good story. All those games you mentioned are really great.But you will also notice that none of these games have a very good multiplayer. I can't sayanything about DeusEx or System Shock.Its just i am seeing that trend of lackluster single player campaign with a good storylineto be growing. I mean can anybody say that games like UT 3 or COD 4 has a good storyline. But then again its a shooter right?what can we expect from a game whose single player campaign length is like 5 hours long. I mean the guys who developed Bioshock didn't they focused on telling a good story rather than a good multiplayer? My point is that developers can tell a good story if they want but in my opinion nowadays everybody is making gamnes with a good multiplayer in mind. not that its a bad thing but well it would be cool if FPS devs start focusing on telling good stories in their games with a solid multiplayer.

Since the day i bought my PS2 and after playing Red Faction 2 i've been a big fan of FPS games but due to the lack of FPS on PS2 i bought Xbox as well. There i encountered a little game called Halo and i was completely blown away by it. I mean it had one of the best stories i have ever witnessed in a video game format. (Face it people the story of the Halo franchise is way better than some B-rate Sci-Fi movies). But as i played more FPs games i noticed that they never really focused on a decent story. I mean sure Half-Life 2 was a phenominal game story wise but still it was like 1 game in 100. So my question is that Why do developers doesn't focus on creating a good story for the game. I mean every single FPS i have played is kinda light of story and big on action. Now i know peopple like to play more multiplayer than single player. But what's so bad about telling a good story huh? Mcgnnis1

I think most FPS developers believe their audience is similar to an action movie audience. Both are there for action, explosions, etc., while the narrative can take a back seat. I tend to agree with their belief, but also wish there were better stories out there.

Have you tried Bioshock yet? I loved that story.

Not anymore, especially with the new "Perseus Mandate" that game is horrible.

I guess the main reason is the goal that a FPS game has. Its goal is to deliver you either massive shootouts that will give you an epic feeling, or making you feel part of a very small squad (COD4 does this) that tries to handle the elite badguys.

In these scenario's you only need to know the name of the character you play, the faction it fights for and the reason it fights against others. To make you want to kill the enemies it is needed to only get one side of the story, your side. Otherwise you would be able to feel some symphatie and will not get that epic good vs bad feeling. Making a bigger and or longer story means more dialogue and more thinking while most of the FPS-players just pick up the game because they want to frag some evil looking enemies and perform just impossible actions.

RPG players on the other hand prefer getting to know all about the characters and the universe. Therefore you get to know more about your enemies and get to make decisions/ role play / think while gaming. These games have a better story because it is the gamers that buy this games expect them to have a top notch story that grabs you.

Some games try to make combinations between RPGS and FPS like mass effect for example but then again its probably more of an RPG imo.

A fact is that great shooters with boring storys will sell pretty good aswell, aslong as the shootouts give you an intense feeling. Having said this, there are alot of shooters that add a fun story aswell, not enough tho.

You have an Xbox and think Halo has a great story? Well, I guess its time you get The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. The most highly under-appreciated title of last gen. Easily one of the greatest FPS/Stealth/Action games ever made.foxhound_fox

Actually i do own Chronicles of Riddick and has finished it multiple times. And yes it has one of the best stories told in a FPS medium.

I guess the main reason is the goal that a FPS game has. Its goal is to deliver you either massive shootouts that will give you an epic feeling, or making you feel part of a very small squad (COD4 does this) that tries to handle the elite badguys.

In these scenario's you only need to know the name of the character you play, the faction it fights for and the reason it fights against others. To make you want to kill the enemies it is needed to only get one side of the story, your side. Otherwise you would be able to feel some symphatie and will not get that epic good vs bad feeling. Making a bigger and or longer story means more dialogue and more thinking while most of the FPS-players just pick up the game because they want to frag some evil looking enemies and perform just impossible actions.

RPG players on the other hand prefer getting to know all about the characters and the universe. Therefore you get to know more about your enemies and get to make decisions/ role play / think while gaming. These games have a better story because it is the gamers that buy this games expect them to have a top notch story that grabs you.

Some games try to make combinations between RPGS and FPS like mass effect for example but then again its probably more of an RPG imo.

A fact is that great shooters with boring storys will sell pretty good aswell, aslong as the shootouts give you an intense feeling. Having said this, there are alot of shooters that add a fun story aswell, not enough tho.

N0han

Absolutely true. but what i'm trying to say is that its not that big of a deal that a FPS focuses more on action and less on Story..obviously you are playing the game to kill the bad guys right? But you know how sometimes a developer would go to an extra length to create a good story with great gameplay even though they don't have to since they can focus more on the action and multiplayer part. I'm just saying that it would be nice to see a good story with great action.

-System Shock

-Bioshock

-Half-Life

-Deus Ex

Play them.

I know it's not a shooter, but it is an action game. The metal gear solid series have great stories.

And I think Halo has a great story also, even more so after reading the books.

1- bioshock doesnt have a good story. dont confuss intriging atmosphere, and a strong narrative. the story is in the end no different to half the games out there. 2- story doesnt matter, as long as it gets you from point A to point B it does the job, take re4 for example. 3- halo 1 had a good story, 2 and 3 didnt.feel_freetwo

About your second statement... I couldn't dissagree more. Nothing screams "laziness" to me more than a crappy story that only gives you the slightest excuse to kill everything that moves.

[QUOTE="N0han"]

I guess the main reason is the goal that a FPS game has. Its goal is to deliver you either massive shootouts that will give you an epic feeling, or making you feel part of a very small squad (COD4 does this) that tries to handle the elite badguys.

In these scenario's you only need to know the name of the character you play, the faction it fights for and the reason it fights against others. To make you want to kill the enemies it is needed to only get one side of the story, your side. Otherwise you would be able to feel some symphatie and will not get that epic good vs bad feeling. Making a bigger and or longer story means more dialogue and more thinking while most of the FPS-players just pick up the game because they want to frag some evil looking enemies and perform just impossible actions.

RPG players on the other hand prefer getting to know all about the characters and the universe. Therefore you get to know more about your enemies and get to make decisions/ role play / think while gaming. These games have a better story because it is the gamers that buy this games expect them to have a top notch story that grabs you.

Some games try to make combinations between RPGS and FPS like mass effect for example but then again its probably more of an RPG imo.

A fact is that great shooters with boring storys will sell pretty good aswell, aslong as the shootouts give you an intense feeling. Having said this, there are alot of shooters that add a fun story aswell, not enough tho.

Mcgnnis1

Absolutely true. but what i'm trying to say is that its not that big of a deal that a FPS focuses more on action and less on Story..obviously you are playing the game to kill the bad guys right? But you know how sometimes a developer would go to an extra length to create a good story with great gameplay even though they don't have to since they can focus more on the action and multiplayer part. I'm just saying that it would be nice to see a good story with great action.

Your right on that part, and thats why the shooters with good stories and settings end up having a change on the GOTY list, however its not needed, but its great if it does have a story. Thats why I prefer COD4 above HALO 3, although halo 3 is epic, I just prefer the story of cod4.

[QUOTE="feel_freetwo"]1- bioshock doesnt have a good story. dont confuss intriging atmosphere, and a strong narrative. the story is in the end no different to half the games out there. 2- story doesnt matter, as long as it gets you from point A to point B it does the job, take re4 for example. 3- halo 1 had a good story, 2 and 3 didnt.instantdeath999

About your second statement... I couldn't dissagree more. Nothing screams "laziness" to me more than a crappy story that only gives you the slightest excuse to kill everything that moves.

[QUOTE="instantdeath999"]

[QUOTE="feel_freetwo"]1- bioshock doesnt have a good story. dont confuss intriging atmosphere, and a strong narrative. the story is in the end no different to half the games out there. 2- story doesnt matter, as long as it gets you from point A to point B it does the job, take re4 for example. 3- halo 1 had a good story, 2 and 3 didnt.feel_freetwo

About your second statement... I couldn't dissagree more. Nothing screams "laziness" to me more than a crappy story that only gives you the slightest excuse to kill everything that moves.

The reason FPS don't include good stories is tofitwith feel_freetwo capacity :P kidding a joke!

Use gs PM yahoo doesn't work btw!

1- bioshock doesnt have a good story. dont confuss intriging atmosphere, and a strong narrative. the story is in the end no different to half the games out there. 2- story doesnt matter, as long as it gets you from point A to point B it does the job, take re4 for example. 3- halo 1 had a good story, 2 and 3 didnt.feel_freetwo

Nah, I disagree about Bioshock. Those diaries told a heck of a good story. Granted, not incredibly original, but more interesting than most things out there.