Goals and Storytelling

[the dark side]

Sorry if i am overstepping any lines here, but i have GOT to say this.

Now, normally i am very supportive of Frictional, because they actually have the cajones to make something that isn't yet another open world illegal street racing game or modern military shooter, but, i have got to disagree with this blog at a fundamental level, perhaps its my age and my inner NES player is revolting again, but, i am afraid that storyline, just, isnt really all that important, do not get me wrong, it IS important, i like a game to tell me a really good story, i like a reason for WHY i am doing things, otherwise the game is just....Mindless, and thats something i really cannot stand, but it must, never, NEVER take precendence over the gameplay, in my opinion if all you want to do is tell a story, and are willing to make the game so easy and so...well, challengless, to ensure everyone can experience it... then perhaps you should consider, and No offence intended at all here, writing a Novel Instead.

Seriously, In My Personal, NES eductated Mindset, a game without challenge, is NOT a game, (hence my hatred of modern casual games, no challenge, no game). ive always stated that, without great gameplay, the games story, even if its the best story ever made, is worth diddly squat. this blog espouses a view to the opposite, that storyline is all important and gameplay is little more than an outdated hindrance to telling a story. That just doesnt sit well with me. I think its why i found Metal Gear Solid 2 and 4 to be very weak compared to MGS1 and 3, both games told a LOT of Story, yes, but they balance it out by having a lot of really great gameplay as well, were as 2 and 4 often let gameplay fall to detriment in exchange for story, especially 4 (in the 5 hour praque level, id say a good 3 hours of it is cutscene, 2 of them are ONE SOLID Cutscene.) wich meant that they came across to me as Interactive movies, again, not a genre i have a lot of appreciation for.

so sorry, got to disagree on this blog, they are called Games, not movies, not novels, and games need Gameplay above all other things in my opinion. my personal take on game development is "core gameplay mechanics" first, "storyline" second, "gimmicks" third, multiplayer gets laughed out of the offfice. also, "violence" isnt there as a core mechnic because they cant come up with a better one, its there because, if its done WELL (PD64 as an example for this post as i was playing it this morning, my 25th run through) it is hugely entertaining. its when its not done well, and is just an excuse to make things go kabooom (cough, any modern military shooter cough) that it becomes a hindrance. Good gameplay is not a Hindrance to a story, it is BAD gameplay that is a hindrance to a story.

Having a Great Story alone will not be enough to make me play the game more than once (MGS4). were as a game with great gameplay will keep me coming back time and time again even if the story is absolute Hokum (PD64, alien worlds my foot!), however, if the gameplay is bad, i wont come back no matter what the story is, sometimes, i wont even bother to finish the game.

so sorry, putting story before gameplay is just wrong to me i am afraid, i normally agree with you Thomas, but, not this time.

Storyline is Very Important, as it shows you, if written well, WHY you are, say, blowing up half of russia and why russia blew new york of the face of the map, But Gameplay is More Important, because, if the game isnt fun, challenging, and interesting... well, whats the point in playing it?

TDS.