Our Obsession With Storylines: Do Games Really Need One?

[QUOTE="-The-G-Man-"][QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

I don't see how cutscenes are "wannabe movies", when they're practically the same thing.

Then what if the cutscene is interactive? then you're better immersed in the experience.

theuncharted34

I was talking about something along the lines of Heavy Rain. Which is incredible.

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

[QUOTE="-The-G-Man-"] if they're basically the same thing, then doesn't that mean a video game has to incorporate a movie to accomplish the same things a movie does? defeats the point. and I do not find "press A to not watch the scene that makes you start over" an immersive experience.-The-G-Man-

I was talking about something along the lines of Heavy Rain. Which is incredible.

[QUOTE="-The-G-Man-"][QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

I don't see how cutscenes are "wannabe movies", when they're practically the same thing.

Then what if the cutscene is interactive? then you're better immersed in the experience.

theuncharted34

I was talking about something along the lines of Heavy Rain. Which is incredible.

So Books > Games = movies When it comes to storytelling?

Seems right to me.

theuncharted34

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

So Books > Games = movies When it comes to storytelling?

Seems right to me.

foxhound_fox

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

So Books > Games = movies When it comes to storytelling?

Seems right to me.

foxhound_fox

And that's what I've been saying. If people don't want to accept that, fine by me.

Some games need one and some don't

I'm playing 999 right now and it seems obvious to me that a great story enhances the experience

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

I don't see how cutscenes are "wannabe movies", when they're practically the same thing.

Then what if the cutscene is interactive? then you're better immersed in the experience.

-The-G-Man-

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

So Books > Games = movies When it comes to storytelling?

Seems right to me.

theuncharted34

And that's what I've been saying. If people don't want to accept that, fine by me.

[QUOTE="-The-G-Man-"][QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]
I'm just going to throw this out there...

Movies are just wannabe books. Everything you can say in a movie can be told in a much better, and more descriptive fashion in a book.

Arjdagr8

Tetris wouldnt have been Tetris without the killer story.

Gameplay alone does not keep me playing a game. I need a sense of purpous. A story provides this.

I have very hardtime enjoying open world games due to this lack of purpous.

Yes. It doesn't have to be a great one even. There needs to be something to drive the world. If you rely on gameplay only it becomes an arcade style game.

having strong narrative is what will ultimatly legitimize this form of entertainment as more than just a "game"... some believe it already has.

for me its simple... Story comes first.

I think what a gamer takes away from an experience is a story in its self.

Bad Company 2 online has 'moments' when you play it with friends that creates a sort of repoire you wouldn't get from the single player campaign's arguably shocking story. That online experience can be a story for some people.

Game =/= story

modern definition of video game =/= game (exclusively)

modern defintion of video game = a combination potentially consisting of cinema, game, and simulation (fiction, storyworld, etc)

Video games do not need Simulation or Cinema, but they always need the game part.

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

[QUOTE="-The-G-Man-"]only through cutscenes, which are simply wannabe movies. i seriously doubt you've seen any of the three saying they can be accomplished in games.foxhound_fox

I don't see how cutscenes are "wannabe movies", when they're practically the same thing.

Then what if the cutscene is interactive? then you're better immersed in the experience.

I strongly disagree. Descriptive prose is difficult to do well, and sometimes the simplicity of visual storytelling works much better. There are many messages you can convey in the medium of film that would be impossible in literature without sacrificing some amount of subtlety. (and vice versa, of course)

I'm not sure it depends. I think certain games can get away with a, "get you by story", and still be outstanding. There are some games though that no matter the gameplay a story line has to be there.

Game =/= story

modern definition of video game =/= game (exclusively)

modern defintion of video game = a combination potentially consisting of cinema, game, and simulation (fiction, storyworld, etc)

Video games do not need Simulation or Cinema, but they always need the game part.

FeedOnATreeFrog

if assassin's creed games, gta games, uncharted games, and etc all had "save the princess", "shoot X many bad guys" or just "run around and sometimes jump" until you reach the credits on them, they would suck hard. games need stories these days unless they are racers. very rarely is a game without any story whatsoever good enough. but yes, they do exist.

If games stopped having stories I would stop playing them. It would be a great blow to a medium that has the best potential to tell an interactive story. I see games as the next evolution from movies and books in how a story is told.

It depends completely on the game. That being said, a great storyline always manages to get me more engrossed in a game.

motel art at bestVinegar_Strokes

never played SOTC? or Okami?

I could say the same thing for any other form of media. But it'd be ignorant.

They make or break a game imo

I think a lot of stories in games don't hold up under a microscope, but do just fine in terms of proving some basic motivation and excitement for a game. And yeah lot of them are still just plain bad. :P

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

of course certain games need stories (rpg's for example actually most sp games do) why are we even having this discussion :( havent stories in games gotten bad enough as it is without trying to tell devs that games dont need stories

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

LegatoSkyheart

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

Sports and fighters no.

RPG and shooter types YES!!!

[QUOTE="Cherokee_Jack"][QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

savagetwinkie

while the context of halos story seems great (aliens space etc.) the actual story is pretty useless (the first was good the rest was mainly focused on mp)

I don't really care. The story is usually there just to tie the game together, and it doesn't even have to be good to do that.

I don't really care. The story is usually there just to tie the game together, and it doesn't even have to be good to do that.

Raymundo_Manuel

wow just wow

Some do and some don't. It all depends on the genre or the game itself.

[QUOTE="savagetwinkie"][QUOTE="Cherokee_Jack"] All Halo really has or needs is a plot, it doesn't have much of a story. icyseanfitz

while the context of halos story seems great (aliens space etc.) the actual story is pretty useless (the first was good the rest was mainly focused on mp)

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

LegatoSkyheart

It wouldn't make a difference to me. I played Halo because I loved the gameplay, co-op, and multiplayer. The story was nice, but if the gameplay wasn't there I couldn't care less. I stand by the belief games absolutely do not need stories, because gameplay is the underlying foundation of this medium. If you need a story to push you to finish, then I would say that means the game isn't worth playing.

The basic necessity for a game is good gameplay. But a story, though optional, can add so much more to a game that game-play never could.

[QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

Renegade_Fury

It wouldn't make a difference to me. I played Halo because I loved the gameplay, co-op, and multiplayer. The story was nice, but if the gameplay wasn't there I couldn't care less. I stand by the belief games absolutely do not need stories, because gameplay is the underlying foundation of this medium. If you need a story to push you to finish, then I would say that means the game isn't worth playing.

Just saying, I don't think Uncharted 2 would have won as many Game of the Year Awards that it did if it wasn't for the Story.

[QUOTE="Renegade_Fury"]

[QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

Imagine if Halo didn't have a Story.

You would be asking yourself, Where am I? Why are the Alien's Attacking you? Where am I going?

Not all Games NEED a Story but It's nice to have a Beginning, Middle, and End to a Game.

LegatoSkyheart

It wouldn't make a difference to me. I played Halo because I loved the gameplay, co-op, and multiplayer. The story was nice, but if the gameplay wasn't there I couldn't care less. I stand by the belief games absolutely do not need stories, because gameplay is the underlying foundation of this medium. If you need a story to push you to finish, then I would say that means the game isn't worth playing.

Just saying, I don't think Uncharted 2 would have won as many Game of the Year Awards that it did if it wasn't for the Story.

And if its gameplay wasn't there, it wouldn't have gotten one of those awards. Stories can spice the game up, but they are not the most important factor, nor necessary. They're called video games, because we interact with them. If that wasn't the case, they'd be no different than movies, and that is why I answer the TC's question with a "no."

for most games, I need a story to keep me playing.

that's why I cant get into SMG/2. the design is amazing, but everything I do feels pointless. "yayyy you got another star, which brings us one step closer to saving the princess" x100.. no, I can't do that.

Some games don't need great gameplay, and get by with creating a great fiction/storyworld (Assassin's creed 1. Uncharted 2 to some extent)

Some games don't need a fiction at all and get by with mechanics alone (Tetris, Pac-Man)

it depends what you're looking for.

Personally I think Videogames require a bit more categorization.

People hate on MGS4 for having too many cutscenes, but some people like the Movie/Game 50/50 ratio.

Games are played for gameplay. No story needed.

if it'll shut up all the "games are art" whiners-The-G-Man-

How are games NOT art?

Entertainment is art. Are video games not entertainment?