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They say “laughter is the food of life”, or “laughter feeds the soul”, or “laughter cures all ills” (except diarrhoea, no amount of laughing will ever cure that ill), but when looking at the games industry, there just aren’t enough funny games. Sure, gaming is fun, but not often funny. Are games in danger of becoming just too serious for their own good? If you take a look at the release schedules for all the consoles, you’ll notice many great looking games, but will any of them be funny? No, they’re all too serious!! As developers aim for ever more realistic graphics and storylines, I wonder if we’ll ever see some more funny games in the future?
In the past we’ve had a few funny games, though the unintentionally funny Superman 64 shouldn’t really count, but I crack up whenever I think about that comedy gaming gem. It is perhaps The Monkey Island series, Grim Fandango and Broken Sword 1 & 2 that are the funniest games ever, as all feature funny characters, hilarious dialogue and great situations that not only provide great gaming experiences, but are really amusing as well.
The Oddworld games always have characters who display a high amount of flatulent energy, which is always a good laugh, and GTA3 has some extremely funny adverts on the radio stations such as “Pogo the Monkey” and all the chatterbox discussions are great, and if you attack a granny in the street, then they may attack you back and chase you until they catch you.
Although it doesn’t actually contain proper humour, one of the funniest game for the last few years I think has been Monkey Ball, although I didn’t really crack up with laughter (unlike my little 6-year old sister who laughed lots), it was still amusing to see those little simians encased in their plastic balls.
So what funny games could be made to bring a smile back onto the faces of all you gamers?....
Bob Monkhouse and the Search for a Funny Joke: A platform adventure game where you must control the orange comedian as he tries to recover the pages of his lost joke book. When you successfully find a page, Bob will recite the funny joke you have found, and mundo merriment will be had by all. The varied levels contain many obstacles such as staircases that Bob finds difficult to climb due to extreme old age, and enemies include cynical TV executives who think Bob is past it and are trying to get rid of him. Find those pages and prove them wrong!!
You also meet a number of other comedians on your travels, including Les Dennis, Bernard Manning and the ghost of Tommy Cooper.
Perhaps the option in a football game to have Alan Partridge doing the commentary instead of the usual boring commentators would add a bit of humour to the usual football game drudgery?
Alan would comment on the tightness of the players shorts, some of the long girly haircuts some players have and just generally amuse with his vain attempts at commentary.
Metal Gear Solid secret costume: the emu suit!! Yes, when found after finishing the game in several different ways and finding a certain amount of those pesky dog tags, this wonderful extra will be yours. As some of you may know, the emu suit is that comedy disguise that many ‘end-of-the-pier comedians’ use on stage to make them appear that they are riding Rod Hull’s best friend, when in fact, it is only their legs in emu leg tights. You could laugh for hours as Solid Snake tries to infiltrate enemy installations whilst wearing the comedy costume.
Trading Places: A very funny film which could make a very funny game, perhaps in the style of Spy vs Spy, where one player assumes the role of Eddie Murphys character Billy Ray Valentine the tramp, and the other player controls Dan Aykroyds Louis Winthorpe III the businessman, and they get up to lots of hijinks when their roles are reversed. Add all the funny dialogue and situations out of the film and you’re on to a winner.
Beverly Hills Cop: A 3rd person action game including levels taken straight from the film, with Axel Foley sticks virtual bananas up tailpipes without being discovered, cruises the streets of Beverly Hills in his “crappy blue Chevy Nova”, hangs on for dear life in the cigarette truck chase, causes trouble in the Harrow Club, meets camp art gallery attendant Serge and the final battle at Victor Maitland’s mansion is an epic shoot out between good and evil.
How about a hotel sim based on Fawlty Towers?? With Basil being crazy/ rude to guests, Manuel being an inept waiter, Sybil constantly chatting on the phone and loads of mad cap action you must put up with as you try to create the finest hotel in all of Torquay.
All the famous guests would be there including the Germans, hotel inspectors, Mrs. Richards, the psychiatrists, etc and the Major would be ever present, shuffling about saying “papers arrived yet Fawlty?”.
You would have to deal with the many crazy situations that occur whilst trying to run the hotel as smooth as possible.
An Only Fools and Horses game where you must race around Peckham in the Reliant Robin, picking up merchandise and taking it to other locations. I suppose it would be a cross between Minder on the Spectrum (a brilliant ‘trade ‘em up’) and Crazy Taxi.
Although I’m not a fan, what about games based on the ‘Carry On’ series? Sid James doing his unique laugh, Kenneth Williams going “Ooh Matron” etc. It’s bound to appeal to older gamers.
Come on developers, lets see some funny games for a change, or gamers will grow up with no sense of humour and be addicted to seriousness like Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Silent Hill etc.
In the past we’ve had a few funny games, though the unintentionally funny Superman 64 shouldn’t really count, but I crack up whenever I think about that comedy gaming gem. It is perhaps The Monkey Island series, Grim Fandango and Broken Sword 1 & 2 that are the funniest games ever, as all feature funny characters, hilarious dialogue and great situations that not only provide great gaming experiences, but are really amusing as well.
The Oddworld games always have characters who display a high amount of flatulent energy, which is always a good laugh, and GTA3 has some extremely funny adverts on the radio stations such as “Pogo the Monkey” and all the chatterbox discussions are great, and if you attack a granny in the street, then they may attack you back and chase you until they catch you.
Although it doesn’t actually contain proper humour, one of the funniest game for the last few years I think has been Monkey Ball, although I didn’t really crack up with laughter (unlike my little 6-year old sister who laughed lots), it was still amusing to see those little simians encased in their plastic balls.
So what funny games could be made to bring a smile back onto the faces of all you gamers?....
Bob Monkhouse and the Search for a Funny Joke: A platform adventure game where you must control the orange comedian as he tries to recover the pages of his lost joke book. When you successfully find a page, Bob will recite the funny joke you have found, and mundo merriment will be had by all. The varied levels contain many obstacles such as staircases that Bob finds difficult to climb due to extreme old age, and enemies include cynical TV executives who think Bob is past it and are trying to get rid of him. Find those pages and prove them wrong!!
You also meet a number of other comedians on your travels, including Les Dennis, Bernard Manning and the ghost of Tommy Cooper.
Perhaps the option in a football game to have Alan Partridge doing the commentary instead of the usual boring commentators would add a bit of humour to the usual football game drudgery?
Alan would comment on the tightness of the players shorts, some of the long girly haircuts some players have and just generally amuse with his vain attempts at commentary.
Metal Gear Solid secret costume: the emu suit!! Yes, when found after finishing the game in several different ways and finding a certain amount of those pesky dog tags, this wonderful extra will be yours. As some of you may know, the emu suit is that comedy disguise that many ‘end-of-the-pier comedians’ use on stage to make them appear that they are riding Rod Hull’s best friend, when in fact, it is only their legs in emu leg tights. You could laugh for hours as Solid Snake tries to infiltrate enemy installations whilst wearing the comedy costume.
Trading Places: A very funny film which could make a very funny game, perhaps in the style of Spy vs Spy, where one player assumes the role of Eddie Murphys character Billy Ray Valentine the tramp, and the other player controls Dan Aykroyds Louis Winthorpe III the businessman, and they get up to lots of hijinks when their roles are reversed. Add all the funny dialogue and situations out of the film and you’re on to a winner.
Beverly Hills Cop: A 3rd person action game including levels taken straight from the film, with Axel Foley sticks virtual bananas up tailpipes without being discovered, cruises the streets of Beverly Hills in his “crappy blue Chevy Nova”, hangs on for dear life in the cigarette truck chase, causes trouble in the Harrow Club, meets camp art gallery attendant Serge and the final battle at Victor Maitland’s mansion is an epic shoot out between good and evil.
How about a hotel sim based on Fawlty Towers?? With Basil being crazy/ rude to guests, Manuel being an inept waiter, Sybil constantly chatting on the phone and loads of mad cap action you must put up with as you try to create the finest hotel in all of Torquay.
All the famous guests would be there including the Germans, hotel inspectors, Mrs. Richards, the psychiatrists, etc and the Major would be ever present, shuffling about saying “papers arrived yet Fawlty?”.
You would have to deal with the many crazy situations that occur whilst trying to run the hotel as smooth as possible.
An Only Fools and Horses game where you must race around Peckham in the Reliant Robin, picking up merchandise and taking it to other locations. I suppose it would be a cross between Minder on the Spectrum (a brilliant ‘trade ‘em up’) and Crazy Taxi.
Although I’m not a fan, what about games based on the ‘Carry On’ series? Sid James doing his unique laugh, Kenneth Williams going “Ooh Matron” etc. It’s bound to appeal to older gamers.
Come on developers, lets see some funny games for a change, or gamers will grow up with no sense of humour and be addicted to seriousness like Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Silent Hill etc.
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blahpro wrote:
> If laughter is the food of life, how come the fat people don't laugh
> much?
Because inside, they're already dead. *sob*
> If laughter is the food of life, how come the fat people don't laugh
> much?
Because inside, they're already dead. *sob*
What about GTA3? Not only do you get the great Radio Stations and the adverts dotted about the 3 islands, you get to make your own hilarity too, by going on comedy high-speed chases with the rozzers. It's the game that's made me laugh the most, that I can remember.
If laughter is the food of life, how come the fat people don't laugh much?
Thing is, usually any attempt at direct comedy will get pretty tired and repetetive quite fast, because playing a game, you might go through it several times.
Attempts to make the game light-hearted, with a lack of realism seem, i think, to get criticised as 'kiddy' *cough*nintendo*cough*, or are just very, very lame (like the infinite 'big head' cheats).
Still, yeah, some games pull it off, but it's not easy.
Attempts to make the game light-hearted, with a lack of realism seem, i think, to get criticised as 'kiddy' *cough*nintendo*cough*, or are just very, very lame (like the infinite 'big head' cheats).
Still, yeah, some games pull it off, but it's not easy.
The Dung Beetles on Conker are funning hillarious,
"it was me and the lads and we having a copy a tea and I saw Johnny, I said alright mate and something came out of the sh!te and grabbed him"
"it was me and the lads and we having a copy a tea and I saw Johnny, I said alright mate and something came out of the sh!te and grabbed him"
I like some of the things that those Scouse Wasps say - there's even one that you slingshot who sounds like Jim Royle.
I was playing Conker yesterday and I heard them arguing about where they're from - one said he's from Brighton. lol
I was playing Conker yesterday and I heard them arguing about where they're from - one said he's from Brighton. lol
Anyone play a point and click game called Toonstruck?
That was pretty funny, one clasic moment involved some cows, a wheel of fortune wheel and some bondage outfits. Sadomasachistic cows ha ha.
That was pretty funny, one clasic moment involved some cows, a wheel of fortune wheel and some bondage outfits. Sadomasachistic cows ha ha.
Dr Gonzo wrote:
>pitty point and clicks are all but dead :(
I agree with you there, my favs are Broken Sword 1 & 2, but i'm not so sure about Broken Sword 3, it doesn't look like the fans want it to be (i.e looks too action based & 3D, when it should be old skool 2D point & click)
>pitty point and clicks are all but dead :(
I agree with you there, my favs are Broken Sword 1 & 2, but i'm not so sure about Broken Sword 3, it doesn't look like the fans want it to be (i.e looks too action based & 3D, when it should be old skool 2D point & click)
The old point and clicks were often crammed with humour of varying tastes - from the family fun of Day of the Tenticle to the more adult Leisure Suit Larry.
Day of the Tenticle was bloody fantastic, pitty point and clicks are all but dead :(
Day of the Tenticle was bloody fantastic, pitty point and clicks are all but dead :(
Yes, how could I forget Conker! It was more an outright comedy game than a platformer, featuring brilliant spoofs, jokes, lots of toilet humour, great voice acting etc definitely one of the funniest ever games.
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