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[poodaddy]

Video games are a medium. Like every medium, we all come to it for different things, and that's fine. Mediums are big and contain multitudes. There's plenty of room for every kind of game, and every kind of story within the medium, and none of them are right and none of them are wrong.

You may not like games with minimal gameplay. Someone else may not likes games with minimal story. You're both right, because it's nothing but a personal preference.

Play the games you like, don't play the ones you don't, and quit trying to shrink the medium to fit your preferences.

"What a wonderful world this could be."

I'm singing now. I'm singing because of this post.

 

[Jangowuzhere]

It's why my general long ass post, was more about it's fine that these games exist, but like anything else I think the critics in this medium could stand to be more critical of these type of games. Because they should answer questions like "how does the gameplay tell the story?" or "Is the story told effectively through its interactive elements" , because that's where I'm non negotiable. That's the unique thing about this medium, why ever should it be the after thought? Fun isn't the end all be all to this medium, but interactivity is. And any game that makes me feel that I would have been better off watching this, than playing it is a pretty significant short coming to me.

too long; didn't read - You are right in saying all games don't need to be fun, but I do think all games need the interactive aspect to be an important aspect of what makes the game work. If that makes sense.

Pretty much,

These days, I've come to respect games that allow players to sort of create their own story. Such experiences most of the time are far more fascinating than whatever overly scripted and cutscene ridden plot that the developers shoved around the core game and mechanics. Hideo Kojima made a bunch of crazy nonsense about language parasites, naked sniper ladies, and fire ghosts for MGSV. That's all well and good, but the more interesting narrative running in the background of all the craziness is how the player builds their motherbase and how they interact with the actual gameworld. The player's journey of going from a small ragtag merc group to a fully legitimate PMC is all a result of the player's actions and choices. The emotional bond that Snake builds with his buddies comes from the player's constant cooperation with them in the field. This type of storytelling is what video games should be double downing on more frequently.

Instead, the game and story portions in most games are largely separated most of the time. The stories that developers spoon feed players can be interesting from time to time, but it doesn't play to the strengths of the medium most of the time, if at all.

 

[LightofRohan]

I feel like this discussion always arises every 25 years when Nintendo releases a big exclusive. And everyone goes, "See it's 100% about the gameplay and making your own story!", eventually people realize again that is only because it works for Zelda and there is already an initial commitment/investment in the series and a knowledge about how it presents itself.

If you took Horizon and made it entirely like Zelda, it'd been dismissed and ridiculed for being unfocused.

Games are like porn. Some people are just there to see the thrusting action, some like some narrative to make the banging more interesting, some prefer it more emotional and situational. But when it comes down to it, you need to see some flappy bits. How much you want depends on the person... (if any of that made sense).

 

[lvl99 Pixel]

This post deserves to be...

the context of that gif would imply that the post isnt that good
most misused gif of all time perhaps

 

[Moon_frogger]

I get what he's saying. The medium won't evolve by trying to emulate movies. Gameplay needs to move forward.