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[Ghost of Caelid]

A short summary: You are a character dealing with the realities of war, violence and oppression, you look in the eye of someone who wronged you with a gun to their head. Taking their life will be retribution for all the perceived wrong they did you but you know that if you take this persons life you will lose that last of your humanity. You decide to let them live to salvage the last of your humanity...the problem, to get to the person you killed 200 foot soldiers on the low-side but ignore that...201 is a bridge too far.

The problem with some games is that developers have to include fun segments regardless of its impact on the story. Using TLOU2 as an example naughty dog wanted to make a story about the downsides of violence and revenge while making the violence and revenge as fun and entertaining as possible. Another game, plagues tale goes into how Amelia is traumatized by murder before she proceeds to cartoonishly kill dozens of enemies at a time. All for the sake of fun for the player. I think games yearn to pursue fun can be a negative to experiences that would be far more impactful if that gameplay supported the message being conveyed. Maybe in a game where instead of killing dozens of enemies you had one or two murders for the game that were massively impactful to convey the point. Games can be fun, the vast majority of them should be fun, but games often sacrifice their deeper meaning/purpose at times to make sure it is fun for the player. As gaming continue to improve as a medium its fine for games to pursue other avenues of being impactful. All films don't try to be rollercoaster rides to be impactful but a game like the last of us 2 lets you use exploding arrows to kill dozens of people at a time while having a strict anti violence message.

courtesy of DJ peach cobbler

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

I mean, they're called video games...I come in with the expectation that games should be fun.

Interactive software that's not meant to be fun should be called something else

 

[synchronicity]

Games need to be compelling. That sense of engagement can come through pure gameplay mechanics, atmosphere, narrative, strategy and systems, etc. Compelling experiences come in a variety of packages imho.

Edit: But compelling games *are* ultimately fun, however that sensation is experienced. So...yes and no.

 

[deriks]

Are you Robotnik or something?

Spoiler: for those who didn't get it

 

[Magic Carpet]

Death Stranding is popular, so it seems the answer is NO.

I however deleted that game and washed my controller with soap and water to get the stink off.

 

[Aenima]

No. They need to be entertaining. But its all subjective cuz whats entertaining and fun to one person might not be to another.

 

[ChiefDada]

I mean, they're called video games...I come in with the expectation that games should be fun.

Interactive software that's not meant to be fun should be called something else

Over the past few years, I've been thinking over how appropriate it is to call titles such as TLOU2 "video games" because the label just doesn't seem to fit the content. "Interactive media" seems more fitting, although it's a mouthful.

 

[rodrigolfp]

More yes than no.

 

[Whitecrow]

More like... entertainment. And each 'player' gets entertained with different things. Fun is a part of it.

 

[AV]

No. Just like movies don't need to be fun.

 

[01011001]

pretentious developers who failed to get into film making will tell you otherwise tho

 

[hinch7]

I can play VN type games that are more serious it just depends on how entertaining something is. A video game for me doesn't have include fun gameplay for me to enjoy. Something like Telltales TWD, I can thoroughly enjoy playing through for the story and interactivity and the fun is found in progressing through the chapters. And can be equally as entertaining for me well as a Metroid, GTA or whatever.

I do generally prefer games that are focused more on gameplay first and mechanics. Though are exceptions to this though like ones that have it all, story, drama etc and still have excellent and fun gameplay.

 

[Kataploom]

As long as you're entertained in a way you like to be entertained by an experience it's ok... I hate jump scares and some people enjoy then, I also live getting overpowered in games by my own merit, that to me is the game per se... To some people, the game is playing underpowered in order to have higher challenge and hate feeling overpowered... I think the word isn't "fun" but "entertainment" because many can feel stressed for s while in a game and still think it's a masterpiece considering the whole package

 

[skyfall]

It must be depressing to play aaa/exlusive plyatsation games only. Everything is gritty/dark/voilent/depressing, probably not good for the psyche

 

[winjer]

I think it helps.

 

[SSfox]

Not every game need to have the same purpose, goals ect. It would be too boring if it's wasn't the case.

 

[Captain Toad]

Not necessarily. Just like a sad movie about war, slavery, etc, isn't fun. There are other emotions gaming can evoke other than "fun".

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

I mean, they're called video games...I come in with the expectation that games should be fun.

Interactive software that's not meant to be fun should be called something else

Chess is a game and is not necessarily fun...so I don't think the word game just means fun.

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Death Stranding is popular, so it seems the answer is NO.

Good point...that is one of my favorite games. It is tedious but rewarding...most definitely not fun.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Chess is a game and is not necessarily fun...so I don't think the word game just means fun.

Chess isn't fun? I personally like chess XD

 

[StreetsofBeige]

As some others said, entertainment is a better term.

To me, "fun" is something you spend time on because it makes you happy. "Entertainment" can be that too. But it can also be a time sink for something more low key or cerebral.

Watching Kindergarten Cop is fun. Watching Schindler's List is entertainment. I dont think too many people are watching Schindler's with a big smile on their face.

Ive done my share of those puzzle games like 2048 (or variations of those sliding squares puzzlers). I dont find them the same as playing COD.

 

[IWasInSeinfeld]

You define your own "fun" in video games, imo.

 

[Three]

Is a horror movie fun? Sometimes people want to feel different things or be challenged when consuming entertainment.

 

[Soodanim]

Games need to be enjoyable in some way, otherwise it's not entertainment.

Personally, my enjoyment comes primarily from the gameplay loop(s). I'm there to enjoy the core gameplay, and story is there to give me a reason to carry on playing. If it's more engaging than that, great. But I need to have fun during the interactive part of it or it's not doing anything for me.

 

[TheSHEEEP]

No.
I hate fun.

 

[Belthazar]

Not really, but it needs to fulfill a need, interest or just move the player in some way. Like say... No one would claim watching Schindler's List was a fun time, but it moved the audience and even somewhat enlightened them on events they might not have been exposed to otherwise.

Not every piece of media, interactive or not, exists to entertain the audience

 

[Banjo64]

Do blow jobs have to be fun? No. I personally love it when my GF breaks down in tears during a blowie and starts recanting the life of a peasant during world war 1. It’s the only way I can finish.

 

[LazyParrot]

Ultimately, yes. But they don't need to be fun every single second you're playing them.

 

[Azelover]

No..

It does to me, personally. But universally, not really.

 

[Bartski]

no such thing

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Engaging

 

[Fuz]

Didn't we have the very same thread a few months ago?

 

[Fuz]

Engaging

 

[SmokedMeat]

Maybe not fun, but it has to be interesting, and presented well enough that I’m compelled to keep playing.

What Remains if Edith Finch was one of those games for me.

But I’d say 9 times out of 10 I want fun.

 

[remember_spinal]

Fire emblem ENGAGE

They are straight up telling you

 

[brian0057]

Yes.
It's that pesky "game" part of "videogames" that makes the medium what it is.
If it's fun to just play at a bare minimum, everything else is a bonus.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Coming off MGS5 I got to say I think gaming is better than ever right now we have graphics, cutscenes and all the pieces in place for AAA gaming.

 

[deeptech]

It's the damn point of a game, it's why games exist, ask children why do they play all kinds of games. The dissonant nature of modern game where it wants a pretentious "serious" story with gameplay that doesn't reflect it is a design failure. Can't remember this being so in the past, but point is they can be both fun and have good story, it's not fucking one or the other.

 

[Fbh]

I'd say "engaging" more than fun. Like movies.

 

[Dr_Salt]

We have reached a new low in gaming if we are asking ourselves and debating if games need to be fun.

 

[The_Mike]

Is this a survey from Ubisoft?

Edit - just edited it, how the hell can 14 people say the games shouldn't be fun?

I can only accept if they think its related to being funny humor to be fun and enjoys me.

 

[Punished Miku]

No. As long as we have plenty of fun games, some of them can be different and go for other things.

 

[Damigos]

No, they dont.
Its not fun watching a horror film or reading a murder mustery book. Same with games.
SOME are fun, not all

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Not necessarily. Just like a sad movie about war, slavery, etc, isn't fun. There are other emotions gaming can evoke other than "fun".

I think my point is that even when games tackle serious topics such as war, slavery, poverty etc in order to sell it as fun/entertaining developers will sacrafice their message to hit the concept of "this is fun to play". In the photo posted I was showing how you have games that are fun, games that sacrifice fun to tell a story, but most will try to have their cake and eat it too. Hence a game like Pluages tale having the protagonist throwing up and crying cause she murdered a man to then proceed to kill dozens with little mental repercussions. The game could still have a message if it sacrificed the murdering entertainment to continue to fit the story.

 

[radewagon]

Playing Plague Tale: Requiem right now. I can't say I'm having "fun," but I'm certainly enjoying the hell out of the experience.

 

[Drizzlehell]

Not necessarily but I personally would like them to be engaging. I can play something that tackles a heavy subject matter as long as it has something to hook me in because if it's just gonna be some artsy fartsy and barely playable thought experiment that's only interested in beating me over the head with its story and themes then yeah, fuck outta here mate.

It's kinda like watching quality drama movies vs watching misery porn. The former won't make you feel warm inside but you will get something meaningful out of it, while the latter will just make you feel like taking a shower. I don't wanna watch that shit.

This made me think about that movie Martyrs, which wasn't about nothing, but I thought that you could bring the same point across without making the movie such a hauntingly miserable experience to sit through. That's why I generally avoid movies that push things to such an extreme that only a sick fuck would actually enjoy watching them. And similarly, I wouldn't want to play a game that will only make me feel like shit or frustrate me with shoddy gameplay.

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

We have reached a new low in gaming if we are asking ourselves and debating if games need to be fun.

All mediums evolve to the point where we ask whats the purpose/possibilities with it. I think people resistant to that aren't helpful to the medium at all. Imagine if all music was made to make you happy, or all movies were rollercoaster rides of adrenaline...gaming expanding beyond just "this is a fun experience" is important to ask. How can it evolve.

 

[akimbo009]

Drudgery, or bust. (Yes, they are games and should have some fun elements - but as an artistic medium that can be subjective but generally I'd except it to be enjoyable)

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Not necessarily but I personally would like them to be engaging. I can play something that tackles a heavy subject matter as long as it has something to hook me in because if it's just gonna be some artsy fartsy and barely playable thought experiment that's only interested in beating me over the head with its story and themes then yeah, fuck outta here mate.

It's kinda like watching quality drama movies vs watching misery porn. The former won't make you feel warm inside but you will get something meaningful out of it, while the latter will just make you feel like taking a shower. I don't wanna watch that shit.

This made me think about that movie Martyrs, which wasn't about nothing, but I thought that you could bring the same point across without making the movie such a hauntingly miserable experience to sit through. That's why I generally avoid movies that push things to such an extreme that only a sick fuck would actually enjoy watching them. And similarly, I wouldn't want to play a game that will only make me feel like shit or frustrate me with shoddy gameplay.

One of my favorite films ever Eraserhead is such a miserable experience to watch but extremely impactful...fun fact kojimas baby design in PT is heavily inspired by eraserhead.

 

[anthony2690]

If I'm not having fun playing the game then what is the point?

Good/fun gameplay is most important part of a game for me.