Games With Stories Better Than Bestselling Books

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="inoperativeRS"][QUOTE="Kantroce"]

It's nearly impossible to beat books as far as story is concerned. It's just a better medium to convey a story, characters, and subliminal meanings.

But, I'd go with the Fallout series and the Baldur's Gate series as well. Quite well done as far as games are concerned. By the way, to anyone says the Halo series: You. Are. A. Moron.

inoperativeRS

Depends on how you define best selling books. Halo easily beats anything Rowling or Brown ever have produced IMO. Heck, I'd argue Staten is a much better writer than both of them combined.

But there's no real comparison if we compare games to actually good books like Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson. We're still a long way from a game that would be able to somehow convey emotions and thoughts close to as well as a good book IMO.

Halo's story (and backstory) is laughable, and saying Halo has a better story than Dan Brown is like a midget boasting he's taller than Gary Coleman. And yes, I've actually played Halo, and I understand the backstory. No respectable speculative fiction writer would ever come up with a story as fundamentally unworkable as Halo.

Funny, that's exactly how I feel about Brown's "investigated" back stories. Regarding Halo, I'm quite sure people would say the same about Slaughterhouse-Five it it would've been a game and not a book.

Not trying to draw a parallel between them, just saying knowing what happens isn't everything.

Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.

Not sure what you mean by "knowing what happens isn't everything."

Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
mjarantilla

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

Books stories >>>>> Game stories

Book stories >>>>> Movies stories

I realize that this is a gaming site so people will claim otherwise but anyone who truely reads books for enjoyment reguarly knows that there is simply no compairson at all.

On the other side of this questionI think that the actual enjoyment is about the same between a good book and a good video game. I go on spirts of both where I will read nonstop for months and then play games nonstop for months. In general though I enjoy them about the same amount.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]
Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
RobbieH1234

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

I enjoyed his books the only problem I have with them is that they all seem to end the same. Every book he writes tends to have the same plot twist at the end. In general though he is a really good writer mostly due to the research he does before he writes.

Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.

Not sure what you mean by "knowing what happens isn't everything."

mjarantilla

Sorry, that was unnecessarily cryptic. My main point is that a plot can sound extremely stupid on paper but still work very well given the right circumstances. Playing Halo I felt more compelled by the universe around me than in most other games, and even if some of the things that happen in it are a bit ridiculous when looked at objectively they still were interesting IMO.

It's not a Planescape or Marathon but I still like it.

[QUOTE="RobbieH1234"]

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]
Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
Firelore29

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

I enjoyed his books the only problem I have with them is that they all seem to end the same. Every book he writes tends to have the same plot twist at the end. In general though he is a really good writer mostly due to the research he does before he writes.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]
Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
RobbieH1234

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

Annoying but understandable. Books that are supposed to be "realistic" but still are more reminiscent of some crazy conspiracy theorist's wildest dreams sell better than fantasy simply because fantasy is "geeky" while the other one is seen as "political criticism".

[QUOTE="UandalUideo"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="UandalUideo"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="UandalUideo"][QUOTE="ChartTopper93"][QUOTE="rcignoni"]

Ever play a game that gave you an experience unlike any other? I'm not talking about gameplay here, I mean the depth, the symbolic meaning of everything you encountered. Doesn't necessarily have to be the LONGEST game either, something short can still be pretty deep, if you look at it carefully. Just look back on your gaming past, and dig out the most immersive involvement you've ever had with a game's story.

EDIT: This isn't asking if games have better stories than books, it's asking which game's story have you enjoyed the most.

For me, it's Killer7. Everything in the game has an encoded meaning to it, and you have to force yourself to pay attention, or you'll miss something BIG. Just when you think you have the story figured out, it throws an entire twist at you, and you have to crack everything all over again. I don't think I'd ever fully understand the meaning of the story if it wasn't for the GameFAQs Plot Anlysis.

mjarantilla

movies, games, and TV shows can't compare to a book in anykind of way. you can a much better feel for a story reading it than playing a game or watching a movie. every movie i've seen the book was better.

read a book lad

Not if you only have 90 minutes to kill.If you have 9 hours to kill then books > movies. If you only have 90 minutes to spare then movies > books.

No, if you have only 90 minutes to spare, then books STILL > movies.

False. So 90 minutes of a book (a few chapters) is not as good as an entire story with a good plot.

Yes, because in a good book, every chapter not only tells its own story, but also leaves you wanting for more

A book is a road trip with a new and interesting destination every day, getting better and better the further you move along. A movie/game is just a rollercoaster ride that, at the end of the day, leaves you in the exact same place where you started.

basically, i mean when have you finished a game and knew a character completely. even the the little things like why he made a certain face at certain time. just the little things, the tiny details that make the story and situation whole. with video games and movies they just shoot out there lines while you watch. but you don't really get to know the characters...even in the games that have deep stories to them. it's not the same with reading.

even if you just look at it in a mental standpoint. when ur watching tv or a movie ur not really thinking at all. just reacting to what you see. no real thought takes place. some might fight that but it's true. your mind isn't working when ur just watching something.

but when ur reading...every word, paragraph, and phrase...all in ur head. it makes it more real and solid. every damn thing in this world we register through our mind...eyes see, ears hear it, fingers feel it, but it all goes to our head. so how can a movie or video game be deeper than reading a book when it's totally your mind playing the story out in your head with the minor use of your eyes. your mind makes everything real. there can be no substitution.

to prove the point even more. go watch the movie The Shining, then read the book. get back and tell me that BS movie is any comparison to the book. scary movies don't scare me, but that damn book had me scared for week when i read it as a kid.

even more, lol, go read the halo book and tell me it's not better than the game.

False. So 90 minutes of a book (a few chapters) is not as good as an entire story with a good plot.

UandalUideo

Book can tell more of the story during 90 minutes of reading than movie can though. Plus really..you can read about 200 pages during the typical lenght of one movie (100-120 minutes), a lot of books aren't much longer than that.

MGS would make a great bookRagashahs

The comic books are ok

[QUOTE="RobbieH1234"]

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]
Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
Firelore29

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

I enjoyed his books the only problem I have with them is that they all seem to end the same. Every book he writes tends to have the same plot twist at the end. In general though he is a really good writer mostly due to the research he does before he writes.

Except he doesn't do any research. Hell, in Angel's & Demons, the map he gives of Rome is intentionally skewed and distorted in various ways to fit his plot. His characters give endless lectures on incorrect facts or fringe science, and a lot of the scientific justification he comes up with is generally only used in the real world by quacks or proven frauds.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]
Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
RobbieH1234

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

R. Scott Bakker is GODLY. I just got Thousandfold Thought, and I'm re-reading The Darkness That Comes Before and The Warrior-Prophet before I finish the trilogy. I cannot wait for the other books in his Second Apocalypse saga!

Storytelling in gaming is still in it's infancy, and this doesn't seem like it's going to change soon.

Though people who say that games have absolutely no artistic merit are wrong.
Baldur's Gate 2 and Planescape Torment are some good examples. Wether or not they're better then books is up for debate, but it comes down to taste as well.
ShotGunBunny

The problem isn't that storytelling in games is in its infancy, it's that games simply are not well-suited to telling stories. Stories follow a dramatic arc, and a lot of the punch in a story comes from the storyteller's metering of pacing, and also from fully fleshing out the main characters' motivations to the point where the audience can fully sympathize with him/her/them.

With games, the storyteller surrenders a LOT of that control and puts the onus of motivating the main character(s) on the player himself. As a result, only a very few types of stories can work in the gaming medium. The most successful ones are little more than interactive movies themselves, like JRPGs with almost no freedom or linear corridor shooters. The more open-ended the game, the less powerful its story becomes compared to if it had been told in a different medium.

I have been reading since age three (no joke, it is the main reason i was skipped two grades back in the day) and there have been no game stories better than (great) novel experiances. the only games i can think of that came close for me were, chrono cross and killer 7. those are the only two games where i did not really expect what happened to happen.

I agree with most you, if you look at the basic storytelling books are a lot more in depth compared to games. However games have a much higher immersion factor. So even though most games have a rather weak story compared to most books I still manage to enjoy them.

I myself love sci fi stories, among my favorite authors are asimov (this man is godly), reynolds, baxter and simmons. These people can write books that'll make your head explode.

[QUOTE="FrozenLiquid"][QUOTE="Tylendal"][QUOTE="UandalUideo"][QUOTE="ChartTopper93"][QUOTE="rcignoni"]

Ever play a game that gave you an experience unlike any other? I'm not talking about gameplay here, I mean the depth, the symbolic meaning of everything you encountered. Doesn't necessarily have to be the LONGEST game either, something short can still be pretty deep, if you look at it carefully. Just look back on your gaming past, and dig out the most immersive involvement you've ever had with a game's story.

EDIT: This isn't asking if games have better stories than books, it's asking which game's story have you enjoyed the most.

For me, it's Killer7. Everything in the game has an encoded meaning to it, and you have to force yourself to pay attention, or you'll miss something BIG. Just when you think you have the story figured out, it throws an entire twist at you, and you have to crack everything all over again. I don't think I'd ever fully understand the meaning of the story if it wasn't for the GameFAQs Plot Anlysis.

Mordred19

movies, games, and TV shows can't compare to a book in anykind of way. you can a much better feel for a story reading it than playing a game or watching a movie. every movie i've seen the book was better.

read a book lad

:lol: The only people who say that are the ones who are poor readers. Not an insult, an observation. I read Deathly Hallows in eight hours. I'm assuming ChartTopper is also a fast reader. How fast do you read? About how many books do you go through each week? When I'm bored, and cut off from other sources of entertainment, I can go through about two a day.

Also, proof. Look at a movie like Goblet of Fire of Order of the Pheonix. The movies were an astounding length, but despite that, they had only the few major high-points of the books, and left people who'd never read the book feeling confused.

(I know I'm mentioning a lot of Harry Potter books, but it's because they're books that most people are familiar with).

Do you read Stephen King? :D

[QUOTE="RobbieH1234"]

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]
Well, I consider Dan Brown to be one of the worst living writers who has actually gotten something published, so I'm with you there.
mjarantilla

I cannot agree more with this statement. I've read his 4 books and at the end of each I've thought "And this is so acclaimed...because?", especially The Da Vinci Code. It's also annoying that authors such as him receive so much attention when worthy authors such as R. Scott Bakker are virtually unknown.

R. Scott Bakker is GODLY. I just got Thousandfold Thought, and I'm re-reading The Darkness That Comes Before and The Warrior-Prophet before I finish the trilogy. I cannot wait for the other books in his Second Apocalypse saga!

He's very nice, the reason picked his books was because Steven Erikson was praising the hell out of them, I'm glad i did.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="UandalUideo"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"]Yes, because in a good book, every chapter not only tells its own story, but also leaves you wanting for more

A book is a road trip with a new and interesting destination every day, getting better and better the further you move along. A movie/game is just a rollercoaster ride that, at the end of the day, leaves you in the exact same place where you started.

FrozenLiquid

Wow....so you never read a bad book? To me I watch a bunch of bad movies to get a few gems. Books I read a bunch of bad ones to get a a couple good ones.

Out of the books I read each year I can truly, honestly say that I haven't read more than one bad novel in the last three or four years (the bad book I'm referring to is Da Vinci Code), and no more than two in the last six years (the other bad book is Angels & Demons). I've read some mediocre ones, a lot of good ones, and a lot of great ones.

Movies, however....... in one year, I'd watch a dozen or so boring ones, a dozen or so stupid ones, a crapload of mediocre ones, and maybe two or three good ones I would buy to watch again on DVD. In terms of quality and selection, there is just no competition from my perspective.

AMEN Best movie ever? IDK but Stalingrad (it's german) is a REAL good movie.