The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Books, Films, Music and Games.
What do they all have in common?
Well for a start they are all types of Entertainment, probably the four biggest ones which make the most profit. I think I'm right in saying that nearly everyone likes AT LEAST one of these types of Entertainment, if not all of them. But what makes them appeal to us so much? What have they all got in common?
Let's take a look:
Books - Well, these ARE story’s.
Films - They rely on a storyline.
Music - The lyrical content contains a 'story' of some sort.
Games - Many games rely on a storyline to immerse you into the game and to they make the Single Player mode work.
So there we have it. One thing all types of Entertainment needs is a storyline of some sort. If anything Games bring in the best of all types of Entertainment, they put you into the role of a character much like a Book does, they have the action and intense moments of Films and they have Music. But saying that, out of all the types of Entertainment, Music is probably the weakest link on the storyline side.
So it's looking all good for Games. But is it?
Here's the bit where you get questions.
How important do you think Storylines are in Games?
I can think of many Games which don't rely on a story but instead it's gameplay. In some ways it depends on the genre of the game which decides whether or not a story is essential to make the game an enjoyable title.
Tetris - Where's the story in that? What, you drop a few bricks down and when you get a line they collapse. It hasn't got a storyline, it's got a aim. Puzzle game.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater - You are given a task to do and so you do it. No real story to it all, you just go around skating, getting points trying to get a Hi-score.
FIFA Games - It's Football, you are given a ball and the aim is to get as many goals as possible. You can compete in leagues and you must try and finish as high as possible. It's a Sports game.
None of these games rely on a storyline. In some ways they have storylines of their own but never a specific, deep storyline like the ones you see in Films or Books. These games rely on Gameplay to do them justice.
Then you have games like Mario, loads of RPG type games and tons of other stuff which are mostly single player games. They rely on a storyline ALOT more then the games listed above. But at times I find myself skipping part of a story to get on with the game not knowing what I'm missing. A storyline is an essential part of the game. I've seen some reviews out there which mark games down for having a good story yet some just haved seemed to forgot about it.
Then you have games like Grand Theft Auto, which worked surprisingly well, which see you either taking part in a story when you choose or just doing what the hell you like in a massive city.
So when I hear the classic debate of "Graphics or Gameplay?" or "Gameplay or Graphics?" I scrub out the graphics bit and stick in 'Storyline', because that's why people read Books and that's why people watch Films. I see Games as the type of Entertainment which can do storylines the best. They stick you as the character in the Book virtually without you having to imagine, they then give you the looks, sounds and drama of a Film and then they top it all off with Music and Gameplay to boot. But are some developers not using this great form of entertainment to it's full potential?
How important is a storyline to you when playing Games?
Whatever the case we must remember the word 'Game', but who's to say it doesn't need a story to make it successful? Is the word 'Story' becoming less and less of a essential in Games and their players today?
What do they all have in common?
Well for a start they are all types of Entertainment, probably the four biggest ones which make the most profit. I think I'm right in saying that nearly everyone likes AT LEAST one of these types of Entertainment, if not all of them. But what makes them appeal to us so much? What have they all got in common?
Let's take a look:
Books - Well, these ARE story’s.
Films - They rely on a storyline.
Music - The lyrical content contains a 'story' of some sort.
Games - Many games rely on a storyline to immerse you into the game and to they make the Single Player mode work.
So there we have it. One thing all types of Entertainment needs is a storyline of some sort. If anything Games bring in the best of all types of Entertainment, they put you into the role of a character much like a Book does, they have the action and intense moments of Films and they have Music. But saying that, out of all the types of Entertainment, Music is probably the weakest link on the storyline side.
So it's looking all good for Games. But is it?
Here's the bit where you get questions.
How important do you think Storylines are in Games?
I can think of many Games which don't rely on a story but instead it's gameplay. In some ways it depends on the genre of the game which decides whether or not a story is essential to make the game an enjoyable title.
Tetris - Where's the story in that? What, you drop a few bricks down and when you get a line they collapse. It hasn't got a storyline, it's got a aim. Puzzle game.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater - You are given a task to do and so you do it. No real story to it all, you just go around skating, getting points trying to get a Hi-score.
FIFA Games - It's Football, you are given a ball and the aim is to get as many goals as possible. You can compete in leagues and you must try and finish as high as possible. It's a Sports game.
None of these games rely on a storyline. In some ways they have storylines of their own but never a specific, deep storyline like the ones you see in Films or Books. These games rely on Gameplay to do them justice.
Then you have games like Mario, loads of RPG type games and tons of other stuff which are mostly single player games. They rely on a storyline ALOT more then the games listed above. But at times I find myself skipping part of a story to get on with the game not knowing what I'm missing. A storyline is an essential part of the game. I've seen some reviews out there which mark games down for having a good story yet some just haved seemed to forgot about it.
Then you have games like Grand Theft Auto, which worked surprisingly well, which see you either taking part in a story when you choose or just doing what the hell you like in a massive city.
So when I hear the classic debate of "Graphics or Gameplay?" or "Gameplay or Graphics?" I scrub out the graphics bit and stick in 'Storyline', because that's why people read Books and that's why people watch Films. I see Games as the type of Entertainment which can do storylines the best. They stick you as the character in the Book virtually without you having to imagine, they then give you the looks, sounds and drama of a Film and then they top it all off with Music and Gameplay to boot. But are some developers not using this great form of entertainment to it's full potential?
How important is a storyline to you when playing Games?
Whatever the case we must remember the word 'Game', but who's to say it doesn't need a story to make it successful? Is the word 'Story' becoming less and less of a essential in Games and their players today?
idlewild wrote:
> I was being stupid - I failed to point out what a great post was made
> and failed to mention that I was, indeed talking about the minority
Ok...
In a way I am an 'Action hungary fool'. But a storyline to boot, and a great one at that, is needed for me to enjoy the game. Otherwise, meaningless.
> I was being stupid - I failed to point out what a great post was made
> and failed to mention that I was, indeed talking about the minority
Ok...
In a way I am an 'Action hungary fool'. But a storyline to boot, and a great one at that, is needed for me to enjoy the game. Otherwise, meaningless.
Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
> You have pointed out the minority.
>
> The majority Books, Films and Music all contain a story of some sort.
I was being stupid - I failed to point out what a great post was made and failed to mention that I was, indeed talking about the minority
> You have pointed out the minority.
>
> The majority Books, Films and Music all contain a story of some sort.
I was being stupid - I failed to point out what a great post was made and failed to mention that I was, indeed talking about the minority
Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
> Is the word 'Story' becoming less and less of a essential in Games and their players today?
In a word, yes, because the majority of gamers nowadays are action hungry fools.
> Is the word 'Story' becoming less and less of a essential in Games and their players today?
In a word, yes, because the majority of gamers nowadays are action hungry fools.
You have pointed out the minority.
The majority Books, Films and Music all contain a story of some sort.
The majority Books, Films and Music all contain a story of some sort.
Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
> Let's take a look:
>
> Books - Well, these ARE story’s.
Novels etc. are, but comics aren't
> Films - They rely on a storyline.
I haven't seen it, but from what I can tell, Jackass the movie doesn't.
> Music - The lyrical content contains a 'story' of some sort.
Beethoven? Bach? these are all just peices of music with no meaning, other than to sound great.
> Let's take a look:
>
> Books - Well, these ARE story’s.
Novels etc. are, but comics aren't
> Films - They rely on a storyline.
I haven't seen it, but from what I can tell, Jackass the movie doesn't.
> Music - The lyrical content contains a 'story' of some sort.
Beethoven? Bach? these are all just peices of music with no meaning, other than to sound great.
Books, Films, Music and Games.
What do they all have in common?
Well for a start they are all types of Entertainment, probably the four biggest ones which make the most profit. I think I'm right in saying that nearly everyone likes AT LEAST one of these types of Entertainment, if not all of them. But what makes them appeal to us so much? What have they all got in common?
Let's take a look:
Books - Well, these ARE story’s.
Films - They rely on a storyline.
Music - The lyrical content contains a 'story' of some sort.
Games - Many games rely on a storyline to immerse you into the game and to they make the Single Player mode work.
So there we have it. One thing all types of Entertainment needs is a storyline of some sort. If anything Games bring in the best of all types of Entertainment, they put you into the role of a character much like a Book does, they have the action and intense moments of Films and they have Music. But saying that, out of all the types of Entertainment, Music is probably the weakest link on the storyline side.
So it's looking all good for Games. But is it?
Here's the bit where you get questions.
How important do you think Storylines are in Games?
I can think of many Games which don't rely on a story but instead it's gameplay. In some ways it depends on the genre of the game which decides whether or not a story is essential to make the game an enjoyable title.
Tetris - Where's the story in that? What, you drop a few bricks down and when you get a line they collapse. It hasn't got a storyline, it's got a aim. Puzzle game.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater - You are given a task to do and so you do it. No real story to it all, you just go around skating, getting points trying to get a Hi-score.
FIFA Games - It's Football, you are given a ball and the aim is to get as many goals as possible. You can compete in leagues and you must try and finish as high as possible. It's a Sports game.
None of these games rely on a storyline. In some ways they have storylines of their own but never a specific, deep storyline like the ones you see in Films or Books. These games rely on Gameplay to do them justice.
Then you have games like Mario, loads of RPG type games and tons of other stuff which are mostly single player games. They rely on a storyline ALOT more then the games listed above. But at times I find myself skipping part of a story to get on with the game not knowing what I'm missing. A storyline is an essential part of the game. I've seen some reviews out there which mark games down for having a good story yet some just haved seemed to forgot about it.
Then you have games like Grand Theft Auto, which worked surprisingly well, which see you either taking part in a story when you choose or just doing what the hell you like in a massive city.
So when I hear the classic debate of "Graphics or Gameplay?" or "Gameplay or Graphics?" I scrub out the graphics bit and stick in 'Storyline', because that's why people read Books and that's why people watch Films. I see Games as the type of Entertainment which can do storylines the best. They stick you as the character in the Book virtually without you having to imagine, they then give you the looks, sounds and drama of a Film and then they top it all off with Music and Gameplay to boot. But are some developers not using this great form of entertainment to it's full potential?
How important is a storyline to you when playing Games?
Whatever the case we must remember the word 'Game', but who's to say it doesn't need a story to make it successful? Is the word 'Story' becoming less and less of a essential in Games and their players today?
What do they all have in common?
Well for a start they are all types of Entertainment, probably the four biggest ones which make the most profit. I think I'm right in saying that nearly everyone likes AT LEAST one of these types of Entertainment, if not all of them. But what makes them appeal to us so much? What have they all got in common?
Let's take a look:
Books - Well, these ARE story’s.
Films - They rely on a storyline.
Music - The lyrical content contains a 'story' of some sort.
Games - Many games rely on a storyline to immerse you into the game and to they make the Single Player mode work.
So there we have it. One thing all types of Entertainment needs is a storyline of some sort. If anything Games bring in the best of all types of Entertainment, they put you into the role of a character much like a Book does, they have the action and intense moments of Films and they have Music. But saying that, out of all the types of Entertainment, Music is probably the weakest link on the storyline side.
So it's looking all good for Games. But is it?
Here's the bit where you get questions.
How important do you think Storylines are in Games?
I can think of many Games which don't rely on a story but instead it's gameplay. In some ways it depends on the genre of the game which decides whether or not a story is essential to make the game an enjoyable title.
Tetris - Where's the story in that? What, you drop a few bricks down and when you get a line they collapse. It hasn't got a storyline, it's got a aim. Puzzle game.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater - You are given a task to do and so you do it. No real story to it all, you just go around skating, getting points trying to get a Hi-score.
FIFA Games - It's Football, you are given a ball and the aim is to get as many goals as possible. You can compete in leagues and you must try and finish as high as possible. It's a Sports game.
None of these games rely on a storyline. In some ways they have storylines of their own but never a specific, deep storyline like the ones you see in Films or Books. These games rely on Gameplay to do them justice.
Then you have games like Mario, loads of RPG type games and tons of other stuff which are mostly single player games. They rely on a storyline ALOT more then the games listed above. But at times I find myself skipping part of a story to get on with the game not knowing what I'm missing. A storyline is an essential part of the game. I've seen some reviews out there which mark games down for having a good story yet some just haved seemed to forgot about it.
Then you have games like Grand Theft Auto, which worked surprisingly well, which see you either taking part in a story when you choose or just doing what the hell you like in a massive city.
So when I hear the classic debate of "Graphics or Gameplay?" or "Gameplay or Graphics?" I scrub out the graphics bit and stick in 'Storyline', because that's why people read Books and that's why people watch Films. I see Games as the type of Entertainment which can do storylines the best. They stick you as the character in the Book virtually without you having to imagine, they then give you the looks, sounds and drama of a Film and then they top it all off with Music and Gameplay to boot. But are some developers not using this great form of entertainment to it's full potential?
How important is a storyline to you when playing Games?
Whatever the case we must remember the word 'Game', but who's to say it doesn't need a story to make it successful? Is the word 'Story' becoming less and less of a essential in Games and their players today?