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Ahhh, does anybody remember those books? You know the ones, 'if you turn left, go to page 15, if you turn right, go to page 69'. Well, I certainly remember them, and it was with great interest that I went back to those fighting fantasy books. They were great fun, like an RPG in a book. Those were the days (plus, the guy who wrote them, Steve Jackson, founded Eidos!). Sounds fun, hey. Anyway, back to the topic...
Plot is a big word in gaming. There are games which should have them and games which shouldn't, games which do and games which don't. To be honest, storyline shouldn't be part of a game. I know what you're saying, and I know stories have merit, but don't we play games to play, rather than read or listen to what other characters have to say.
I find videogames to be very similar to choose your own adventure books. You do get to choose your own way, and like Fighting Fantasy books, you have to juggle attributes such as health and magic (in some games). In game-books like these, plot takes a back seat. Sure, there are long term tasks, such as killing a dragon or magician, but the way the books are written focuses on now, the present, such as which shop to visit or which orc to kill first. Games should do so also. Too often, I see plot crop up in games in places where it just shouldn't be. Whether this be getting a message in the heat of a battle, or finding a scientist who tells you some kind of myth. Plot shouldn't be like this - it gets in the way.
Remember what I said - we play games for fun, not for the story. Honestly, if you want a good story go watch a film or read a book, you'll get much more enjoyment. Games are based around the action, the button bashing and trigger happy nature of games don't allow for stories. There are some instances where story takes a more direct role, such in Role Playing Games. Even then (I'm thinking Final Fantasy 10), during cutscenes, the characters and story is all based around short term tasks and conquests. I mean, what would it be like for the game to stop during a Blitzball match to tell you about the ancient Spira mytholigical discoveries. Doesn't work, you see.
So what exactly am I saying? Well, I'm trying to get at the fact that you shouldn't expect stories in games. I'm sure many hardened developers will understand that when it gets down to basics, games are not about telling a story. So why people expect an epic of Lord of the Rings proportion, I do not understand. Even the LOTR game is action packed, rather than a long, drawling quest involving trekking through mountains and talking about Hobbits and Orcs.
It all boils down to cross-breeding. Video games are playable things, rather than story telling. And movies consist of watching rather than interacting. Interactive movies didn't work, they were good for a short period, but the fact remains that if you focus a game around the story, it'll be much more boring. So next time you decide to go play Halo, or GTA3, or Mario, remember that you're doing exactly that - playing. You aren't listening, reading or thinking - just playing a game. Which is what the developers want, and what we should all be grateful for.
Plot is a big word in gaming. There are games which should have them and games which shouldn't, games which do and games which don't. To be honest, storyline shouldn't be part of a game. I know what you're saying, and I know stories have merit, but don't we play games to play, rather than read or listen to what other characters have to say.
I find videogames to be very similar to choose your own adventure books. You do get to choose your own way, and like Fighting Fantasy books, you have to juggle attributes such as health and magic (in some games). In game-books like these, plot takes a back seat. Sure, there are long term tasks, such as killing a dragon or magician, but the way the books are written focuses on now, the present, such as which shop to visit or which orc to kill first. Games should do so also. Too often, I see plot crop up in games in places where it just shouldn't be. Whether this be getting a message in the heat of a battle, or finding a scientist who tells you some kind of myth. Plot shouldn't be like this - it gets in the way.
Remember what I said - we play games for fun, not for the story. Honestly, if you want a good story go watch a film or read a book, you'll get much more enjoyment. Games are based around the action, the button bashing and trigger happy nature of games don't allow for stories. There are some instances where story takes a more direct role, such in Role Playing Games. Even then (I'm thinking Final Fantasy 10), during cutscenes, the characters and story is all based around short term tasks and conquests. I mean, what would it be like for the game to stop during a Blitzball match to tell you about the ancient Spira mytholigical discoveries. Doesn't work, you see.
So what exactly am I saying? Well, I'm trying to get at the fact that you shouldn't expect stories in games. I'm sure many hardened developers will understand that when it gets down to basics, games are not about telling a story. So why people expect an epic of Lord of the Rings proportion, I do not understand. Even the LOTR game is action packed, rather than a long, drawling quest involving trekking through mountains and talking about Hobbits and Orcs.
It all boils down to cross-breeding. Video games are playable things, rather than story telling. And movies consist of watching rather than interacting. Interactive movies didn't work, they were good for a short period, but the fact remains that if you focus a game around the story, it'll be much more boring. So next time you decide to go play Halo, or GTA3, or Mario, remember that you're doing exactly that - playing. You aren't listening, reading or thinking - just playing a game. Which is what the developers want, and what we should all be grateful for.
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Ahhh, does anybody remember those books? You know the ones, 'if you turn left, go to page 15, if you turn right, go to page 69'. Well, I certainly remember them, and it was with great interest that I went back to those fighting fantasy books. They were great fun, like an RPG in a book. Those were the days (plus, the guy who wrote them, Steve Jackson, founded Eidos!). Sounds fun, hey. Anyway, back to the topic...
Plot is a big word in gaming. There are games which should have them and games which shouldn't, games which do and games which don't. To be honest, storyline shouldn't be part of a game. I know what you're saying, and I know stories have merit, but don't we play games to play, rather than read or listen to what other characters have to say.
I find videogames to be very similar to choose your own adventure books. You do get to choose your own way, and like Fighting Fantasy books, you have to juggle attributes such as health and magic (in some games). In game-books like these, plot takes a back seat. Sure, there are long term tasks, such as killing a dragon or magician, but the way the books are written focuses on now, the present, such as which shop to visit or which orc to kill first. Games should do so also. Too often, I see plot crop up in games in places where it just shouldn't be. Whether this be getting a message in the heat of a battle, or finding a scientist who tells you some kind of myth. Plot shouldn't be like this - it gets in the way.
Remember what I said - we play games for fun, not for the story. Honestly, if you want a good story go watch a film or read a book, you'll get much more enjoyment. Games are based around the action, the button bashing and trigger happy nature of games don't allow for stories. There are some instances where story takes a more direct role, such in Role Playing Games. Even then (I'm thinking Final Fantasy 10), during cutscenes, the characters and story is all based around short term tasks and conquests. I mean, what would it be like for the game to stop during a Blitzball match to tell you about the ancient Spira mytholigical discoveries. Doesn't work, you see.
So what exactly am I saying? Well, I'm trying to get at the fact that you shouldn't expect stories in games. I'm sure many hardened developers will understand that when it gets down to basics, games are not about telling a story. So why people expect an epic of Lord of the Rings proportion, I do not understand. Even the LOTR game is action packed, rather than a long, drawling quest involving trekking through mountains and talking about Hobbits and Orcs.
It all boils down to cross-breeding. Video games are playable things, rather than story telling. And movies consist of watching rather than interacting. Interactive movies didn't work, they were good for a short period, but the fact remains that if you focus a game around the story, it'll be much more boring. So next time you decide to go play Halo, or GTA3, or Mario, remember that you're doing exactly that - playing. You aren't listening, reading or thinking - just playing a game. Which is what the developers want, and what we should all be grateful for.
Plot is a big word in gaming. There are games which should have them and games which shouldn't, games which do and games which don't. To be honest, storyline shouldn't be part of a game. I know what you're saying, and I know stories have merit, but don't we play games to play, rather than read or listen to what other characters have to say.
I find videogames to be very similar to choose your own adventure books. You do get to choose your own way, and like Fighting Fantasy books, you have to juggle attributes such as health and magic (in some games). In game-books like these, plot takes a back seat. Sure, there are long term tasks, such as killing a dragon or magician, but the way the books are written focuses on now, the present, such as which shop to visit or which orc to kill first. Games should do so also. Too often, I see plot crop up in games in places where it just shouldn't be. Whether this be getting a message in the heat of a battle, or finding a scientist who tells you some kind of myth. Plot shouldn't be like this - it gets in the way.
Remember what I said - we play games for fun, not for the story. Honestly, if you want a good story go watch a film or read a book, you'll get much more enjoyment. Games are based around the action, the button bashing and trigger happy nature of games don't allow for stories. There are some instances where story takes a more direct role, such in Role Playing Games. Even then (I'm thinking Final Fantasy 10), during cutscenes, the characters and story is all based around short term tasks and conquests. I mean, what would it be like for the game to stop during a Blitzball match to tell you about the ancient Spira mytholigical discoveries. Doesn't work, you see.
So what exactly am I saying? Well, I'm trying to get at the fact that you shouldn't expect stories in games. I'm sure many hardened developers will understand that when it gets down to basics, games are not about telling a story. So why people expect an epic of Lord of the Rings proportion, I do not understand. Even the LOTR game is action packed, rather than a long, drawling quest involving trekking through mountains and talking about Hobbits and Orcs.
It all boils down to cross-breeding. Video games are playable things, rather than story telling. And movies consist of watching rather than interacting. Interactive movies didn't work, they were good for a short period, but the fact remains that if you focus a game around the story, it'll be much more boring. So next time you decide to go play Halo, or GTA3, or Mario, remember that you're doing exactly that - playing. You aren't listening, reading or thinking - just playing a game. Which is what the developers want, and what we should all be grateful for.