Why do people watch movies when books exist? They’re different mediums for delivering a story.
I saw this thread and assumed you were talking about actual walking simulators like Firewatch or Gone Home, ones that don’t really have any gameplay mechanics besides walking and interacting with objects. But from your comments you seem to be taking issue with games like God of War, The Last of Us and The Witcher which makes me think you’re a little misguided as to what those games really are. Those games have a story but that’s not the sole reason they’re popular. They’re all groundbreaking titles in their own right from a technical perspective, they just happen to have good stories because that makes them resonate with players even more.
It’s like how a movie with a bunch great fight scenes and no story isn’t going to resonate with audiences in the same way as a movie with great fight scenes and a story to tie it all together. It’s an important part of the immersive experience for a lot of people.
This is an honest question, not a troll: what makes The Last of Us groundbreaking from a technical perspective? I played it and loved the story, but the gameplay was utterly boring to me. I got through the game entirely because I wanted to see the conclusion of the story and when the HBO show came out I was thrilled because it meant I wouldn’t have to play a game I hated to see the story of TLoU 2.
It’s been years, but my recollection is the game was entirely on rails, mostly walking and talking with infrequent bursts of quicktime events and clunky shooting. What was groundbreaking about it?
What was groundbreaking was the character and world building. Joel and Ellie feel like real people, with interesting backstories and relatable emotions. In the PS3 era, it felt ahead of its time.
… which are not technical elements, but writing, thus the question stands.
Well, a movie and a book are quite different. I think OP’s point, right or wrong, is that a story-based game with minimal or no gameplay is very close to exactly what a movie is.
This is the weirdest comments section I’ve ever seen. Stories are why I play every single one of my favourite games. I just finished Control and it’s absolutely phenomenal. Yes it plays and looks great, but the story and lore is why it’s so good.
< The Board thanks/precipitates you for your contribution/factotum >
Well it is a game/story from Sam lake, for me that means good. I hope he has a few more games in him.
Please take this as a genuine question and not an insult or challenge: do you read books? I’m curious if games are just the way you consume stories in your life, or if you also read stories but game stories are different in some way that matters to you.
I listen to an audiobook every day, watch TV and movies regularly.
“Why do people have preferences?”
As I scroll this thread I’m really wondering how much people still read books. When people say they like story games, is that because that’s the only source of stories in their lives, and they’re saying “of course I like stories?” Do they have any great stories to compare with, from books?
The responses make a great deal more sense to me if I assume no one reads anymore. I speak as an avid reader and gamer.
an interactive medium offers unique avenues for storytelling not available to something more static like a film or a novel.
think things like environmental storytelling or branching narratives.
For me personally, video games are interactive stories. I love movies and TV shows, and being able to have some level of control over the action is an amazing experience for me!
I’m also not competitive and don’t care so much about scores, rankings, or online multiplayer vs. games. Just give me an intriguing plot and let me be the protagonist in it. I’ll play that game for hours on end.
I don’t like games that are essentially movies with a few interactive scenes between clips, though. It has to be really interesting if I’m going to sit through a game like that. I’m here to play, not to watch. The only series that’s been interesting enough for me to deal with hundreds of cutscenes dispersed every few minutes throughout is the Metal Gear Solid series.
I realize I don’t speak for the whole gaming community, but this is my personal view.
In a game, you’re the protagonist. In a movie, someone else is. Two different experiences.
On PC - Steam alone, 12000 games were released in 2023.
OP, your statement is vague and generic. Please show the math.
Because all you name below are AAA games where everyone wants to flex their budget. It’s like asking “why do big budget movies focus so often on explosions and action, instead of stories? What happened to things like Shawshank Redemption?”
As soon as you step away from big AAA games that lean heavily on cinematic influence, you get much more gameplay-focused content. I could name a million of them.
But it’s a spectrum, not an on/off switch. There’s a huge array of different types of games with different combinations of action, cinematics, dialog, quick-time events, racing, flying, rhythm-matching, puzzles, and on and on and on
Tell us what you’re actually looking for and we could give suggestions :)
Don’t tell us what you don’t want. Tell us what interests you
Even if a game technically has great gameplay, it can start to feel pointless if the story is trash.
Almost everything in this world stresses me out.
I want to feel involved in something while going at my own pace. Video games give me to power to finally be in control. That’s why I like them so much. Movies force you along.
Involvement. Because no matter how perfect the gameplay is, if you use your brain occaisonally, you should ask yourself WHY? Why am i doing it.
If you play since the 80‘s, you hit, flew, drove, shot, build and puzzled almost everything.
Stories consist of motivations. Otherwise there is nothing of consequence going on. But cheer up. There are many more people like you, Stanley. Push the button. Keep pushing it.
I would argue that all games have a story. Some have a scripted narrative–which, in the medium of video games, gives the player their own immersive role in the story–while other games give you the tools to create your own story as you play. You face conflicts and use your abilities and the resources around you to overcome them, ideally resulting in a satisfying progression throughout your playtime.
Both are cool for different reasons.
Tetris has story?
It’s a terrible tale of oppression if you read between the blocks.
I asked ChatGPT to give me a narrative backstory of Tetris relating to oppression. You’re welcome:
In the realm of Tetris, each distinctive piece represents a fighter in a symbolic battle against oppression, embodying resilience and unity:
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L-Block (Lenny): Lenny is the ingenious rebel, always finding clever ways to subvert the oppressor’s plans. His ability to fit into tight spots and support others symbolizes the fight against constraints and the power of innovative thinking.
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J-Block (Jolene): Jolene represents the underestimated resistance. Often overlooked, her strength lies in her subtle yet impactful actions. She symbolizes the quiet but fierce fight against oppression, proving that every action, no matter how small, counts.
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I-Block (Ivan): Ivan stands tall as the beacon of hope and solidarity. He represents the unwavering spirit of the oppressed, a reminder that standing firm and united can disrupt the oppressor’s designs.
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O-Block (Olivia): Olivia embodies unity and cooperation. Her simple form represents the power of solidarity, showing how coming together can create an unbreakable force against tyranny.
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S-Block (Sam): Sam is the symbol of unconventional resistance. His unique approach represents the innovative strategies used to outmaneuver oppressors, celebrating the creativity and adaptability of those fighting for freedom.
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Z-Block (Zara): Zara, like Sam, challenges the status quo. She embodies the courage to be different and the strength found in diversity, essential in the struggle against a monolithic oppressor.
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T-Block (Theo): Theo is the mastermind of the resistance, his versatile nature representing the strategic planning needed to overcome oppression. He signifies the importance of adaptability and foresight in the fight for liberation.
In this narrative of Tetris, the game becomes a metaphor for resistance against oppression. Each piece, with its unique qualities, plays a crucial role in the larger strategy of defying and dismantling oppressive structures. Their world is a constantly shifting battlefield where unity, creativity, and resilience are key to surviving and triumphing over tyranny.
Ivan 100% Tetrises himself to save the others that have yet to fall. It’s just the kind of block he is.
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Sure. The premise is that blocks are falling and can’t be allowed to reach a certain height. There is drama in knowing that, no matter what, it will eventually reach that height. You’re given the tools to fend off the inevitable for as long as you can. There’s conflict, resolution, and the plot details are determined both by the decisions you make and the order in which the game delivers the blocks to you. You are the protagonist, the computer is the antagonist. There’s a beginning, middle, and end to every game. It’s as reductive as stories get, but it’s a story.
I, I like the way you think.
I stand corrected. :)
The story of Tetris is the story of the entire history of Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8
Enjoy :)
I think I disagree that all games have a story because there are a lot of games that are closer to sports than interactive stories. Mostly multiplayer games like fps’s and rocket League, but also a lot of single player driving games like mudrunner or any of the rally games.
Most analogue games fall in the sports category too imo. There’s no story to poker, and you really shouldn’t overthink the lore of chess.
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For visual novels with no input besides the occasional choice, I personally like to enjoy the music and story without having to worry about skill issues or in some cases, it being hard to get past a certain section that prevents me from progressing. And a couple things most visual novels have that movies don’t would be the ability to go at your own pace and choices that alter the dialogue and the overall ending.
Though, that’s just my take on it from my perspective from someone who likes both no-input visual novel games and normal games.
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There’s lots of kinds of games.
You want chess? There’s chess. Like, no other game has better software than chess. Lichess is maybe the cleanest goddamn game experience that anyone’s ever written in code. There’s no bullshit whatsoever. You can just run it and play chess, with the computer or with a human. It’s just a game.
The best Go game I can point you to is KGS and it’s not as good as Lichess. Which is sad, because Go is awesome.
You want to play a run-around-and-whack-stuff-with-a-sword game? Yeah, buy yourself a Nintendo and play the latest Zelda game. They’re good at that. Especially if you have a strong stomach and don’t get all pukey when your guy goes flying in the air.
Or you want to play a Dungeons & Dragons game with factions and fights and gnolls and hot drow ladies? Yeah, you go install Steam and play Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s okay if you didn’t play Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2. Nobody else did either.
