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""Natural" games"

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Sat 19/10/02 at 15:40
Regular
Posts: 787
Have you ever noticed that, even if a game is designed to be realistic, a lot of "natural" events don't happen, or natural things aren't there? Now, before you get any strange ideas, just think. How many games have you played where someone sneezes, or stares at you because you are wearing strange clothes, or where buildings and walls actually explode and whatever it was supporting drops? Yes, I know, there are some, but not many. And why is this?

Mainly, it is because developers are more concerned about making a good, enjoyable game that people will buy and play again and again, and maybe sometimes it is because there isn't enough space on the disc for it. And if it needs realism somewhere, they don't actually copy what IS actually real, and/or natural. As long as the explosions sound vaguely like explosions, or the guns sound vaguely like guns, people are happy.

I mean, lets take some genres in more detail, shall we?

Shoot 'em up: As I mentioned above, as long as things look and sound vaguely right, then everyone's happy. But then, consider some of the facts. Suppose you're in the desert on a game. You nearly always see a train track in the desert. Why? I mean, who in there right mind would build a train track through the desert? I feel so sorry for the people who did! And also, take Quake for instance, how the hell would a monster like the Vore on Quake (the spidery shaped one that screeches) be able to excrete bombs from its groin and launch them at you. Also, how the hell would something like that be able to home in on you? Just ridiculous, isn't it? Also, referring to Quake, who on Earth built those levels? Notice, they aren't in natural settings, like the woods or in an open patch of land, where you would normally find creatures like that.

And, still on the theme of Shoot 'em ups, take Goldeneye on the n64 for example. The sentry guns you get on some levels. In real life, they'd have to be remotely controlled by a bloke in a safe room. If they were automatic, how the hell would they know who you were and know that they had to shoot at you?

And in many shoot 'em ups, you often find a kitchen, but the cupboards are often empty, and there usually isn't a store room or something like that. The guards must be really hungry at times! Which reminds me, there aren't many games with urinals and toilets. Where exactly do the guards go, when nature calls? And if there is a toilet, why is there never any bog roll?! Sheesh! Unhygienic or what?! And how come you never find a guard going to the bog? And if you do, like you do in some games, they just stand by the bog, or sit on it without pulling their trousers down! I mean, it's a good thing they don't, for reasons you can probably guess, but do they really do it in their boxers?! Oh my god!

Racing games: Every car sounds the same, and usually this doesn't matter. It just gives the impression that they've all got the same engine in them! Listen to a Ford Transit whilst a Volkswagen Golf is running at the same time. Hear the difference? Now do the same on a game. Play a two player game, one player use a car like a Golf and the other use a van like a Transit. Notice how similar they sound?! And when you crash into things, how come it is only the car the gets the dent? Huh?

All these weird things happen in games, so when someone tells you that games are becoming more realistic, they are partly right, but overall, just tell them that they are wrong!

Thanks for reading

Happy days
Twain
Wed 23/10/02 at 19:19
Regular
"tinycurve.gif"
Posts: 5,857
Yeah! I noticed that with Zelda on the N64, and GTA3 and loads of other PS2 games! They should make a game where you have to complete a mission like the one in MGS2, but at the same time, stay alive by eating and drinking, and when nature calls, find a bog or the nearest bush!
Wed 23/10/02 at 19:15
Regular
Posts: 5,630
Good post. Worst example of all is Shenmue. Billed as one of the most realistic games ever, you could buy drinks and drink them, but as you went through your daily routine you didn't eat, wash or use the toilet. Wassupwidat?
Sat 19/10/02 at 18:44
Regular
"tinycurve.gif"
Posts: 5,857
Microchips wrote:
> Heh, it always cracks me up.

They probably have only one loo as well!
Sat 19/10/02 at 18:42
Regular
"tinycurve.gif"
Posts: 5,857
Yeah, but I mean come on! What would some people with a filthy mind think?!
Sat 19/10/02 at 18:26
Posts: 0
good post but the quake bit i mean come on lol its not really meant to be realistic is it? good all the same though
Sat 19/10/02 at 18:17
Regular
"Jog on, sunshine"
Posts: 8,979
Good post Twain. :)

I was thinking something similar a few weeks ago, during Golden Sun. It's an RPG, and despite how many people there are in a one bedroomed house, there's only one bed, big enough for one person. Does that mean the other people huddle in the corner on the floor or they get in the same small bed.

Heh, it always cracks me up.

:)
Sat 19/10/02 at 15:40
Regular
"tinycurve.gif"
Posts: 5,857
Have you ever noticed that, even if a game is designed to be realistic, a lot of "natural" events don't happen, or natural things aren't there? Now, before you get any strange ideas, just think. How many games have you played where someone sneezes, or stares at you because you are wearing strange clothes, or where buildings and walls actually explode and whatever it was supporting drops? Yes, I know, there are some, but not many. And why is this?

Mainly, it is because developers are more concerned about making a good, enjoyable game that people will buy and play again and again, and maybe sometimes it is because there isn't enough space on the disc for it. And if it needs realism somewhere, they don't actually copy what IS actually real, and/or natural. As long as the explosions sound vaguely like explosions, or the guns sound vaguely like guns, people are happy.

I mean, lets take some genres in more detail, shall we?

Shoot 'em up: As I mentioned above, as long as things look and sound vaguely right, then everyone's happy. But then, consider some of the facts. Suppose you're in the desert on a game. You nearly always see a train track in the desert. Why? I mean, who in there right mind would build a train track through the desert? I feel so sorry for the people who did! And also, take Quake for instance, how the hell would a monster like the Vore on Quake (the spidery shaped one that screeches) be able to excrete bombs from its groin and launch them at you. Also, how the hell would something like that be able to home in on you? Just ridiculous, isn't it? Also, referring to Quake, who on Earth built those levels? Notice, they aren't in natural settings, like the woods or in an open patch of land, where you would normally find creatures like that.

And, still on the theme of Shoot 'em ups, take Goldeneye on the n64 for example. The sentry guns you get on some levels. In real life, they'd have to be remotely controlled by a bloke in a safe room. If they were automatic, how the hell would they know who you were and know that they had to shoot at you?

And in many shoot 'em ups, you often find a kitchen, but the cupboards are often empty, and there usually isn't a store room or something like that. The guards must be really hungry at times! Which reminds me, there aren't many games with urinals and toilets. Where exactly do the guards go, when nature calls? And if there is a toilet, why is there never any bog roll?! Sheesh! Unhygienic or what?! And how come you never find a guard going to the bog? And if you do, like you do in some games, they just stand by the bog, or sit on it without pulling their trousers down! I mean, it's a good thing they don't, for reasons you can probably guess, but do they really do it in their boxers?! Oh my god!

Racing games: Every car sounds the same, and usually this doesn't matter. It just gives the impression that they've all got the same engine in them! Listen to a Ford Transit whilst a Volkswagen Golf is running at the same time. Hear the difference? Now do the same on a game. Play a two player game, one player use a car like a Golf and the other use a van like a Transit. Notice how similar they sound?! And when you crash into things, how come it is only the car the gets the dent? Huh?

All these weird things happen in games, so when someone tells you that games are becoming more realistic, they are partly right, but overall, just tell them that they are wrong!

Thanks for reading

Happy days
Twain

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