AMFP Member Review Thread

[Thief1337]

A Machine For Pigs was criticised for its removal of mechanics but very little thought was given to the question of whether or why this made it a less successful experience.

Jessica, the people you worked with (yeah, Frictional Games, "DUHHHHH" ) elaborated on and gave so much thought about that question for years. The Dark Descent's success wasn't a fluke and you should've known that by now. I'm sure we all can easily relate to AAMFP as being observers more than participants. Here's what FG said about mechanics making a successful experience :

First, players must feel as though they are an active part of the story and not just an observer. If none of the important story moments include agency from the player, they become passive participants. If the gameplay is all about matching gems then it does not matter if players spends 99% of their time interacting; they are not part of any important happenings and their actions are thus irrelevant. Gameplay must be foundational to the narrative, not just a side activity while waiting for the next cutscene.

Perhaps, Jessica, you and your team should've given yourselves a favor and read Thomas Grip's "Self Presence and Storytelling". Having both of your arms extended to a keyboard and a mouse while interacting with objects does send information to the brain as if you were present inside the universe of the game. But you guys took it all off. I could have played only with the keyboard for much of the game. It was like a movie, and the story had flaws in it. So the immersion was broke very much easily. Oh, and having easy as fuck puzzles didn't help with interaction or immersion either.

Frictional Games is the shit. The new game they are developing since a while, I'm sure, will be filled with everything we missed on AAMFP (unfortunately for that). AAMFP truly wasn't worth the wait, and so TCR you have to deal with it wether you like it or not, "Duhhhhh".