BioShock big daddy Ken Levine has declared the importance of dumbing down videogame plotlines in order for people to get the picture. We're such thickies.
"If you want people to follow your plot, it has to be really f****** stupid", Levine says in the latest issue of PC Zone.
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT
"What are you doing in Bioshock?", he continues. "Act 1: Find the submarine and get out. But, the sub goes down. So, Act 2: You go find and kill Ryan".
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT ENDS
Speaking further about the storyline of last year's smash hit, he explains that originally it was spread over 70 years during which three civil wars occurred. But this would eventually be made simpler to understand.
The advantage of videogame storyline over movies, Levine goes on, is that developers "have the opportunity not to push information at people but to let them pull it to them".
He praises Valve for being a real pioneer in this area with Half-Life, but admits the potential pitfall of this method of plot delivery is that gamers may miss content studios place in games.
In recent times plot has been highlighted as an area in which games fall short, but do we really want to be caught up dissecting a story for hidden messages and meaning. Or, do we just want to sit back and be entertained?
PC Zone's full article can be read in issue, #193, on sale now.
In recent times plot has been highlighted as an area in which games fall short, but do we really want to be caught up dissecting a story for hidden messages and meaning.
I for one do. Entertaining is fine, but its the experience & story that will raise it above & make it more memorable.
How to develop plot in games has always been a problem and I think there has been real progress recently.
I love that developers are putting in a high level plot for everyone and a very deep plot for people that go searching for it. It really plays to the strengths of the format.
Story arch is what makes me go for certain game in the first place. Sure it's fun to blast things to bloody pieces and smash up cars, but placing a story around i think you get a better gaming experience.
One game that sticks out in my mind for good Story Telling are Silent Hill 2, whejn i first played this game i became to immersed i could hear pyramid heads knife being dragged outside my bedroom door. Also look at the Final Fantasy games, not a fan of them, but i can appreicate the story telling that goes on within those games.
So in all, story telling game is essential, don't dumb it down for players who play games for the immersion factor.
I think anything with a well structured plot is the same. Even HL2, it can be as simple as 'alien invasion, here are some friends to help you win', or you can soak up the back story and character relationships.
Personally I think a good way of judging an extremely high quality game is the way that the story is understood and taken in by the player, or not. The reason that games like Bioshock and the Half Life series are so popular is because they cater to both casual gamers - that like to shoot stuff (but still be entertained) while at the same time appeal to gamers that like a more intricate plot - if they - choose to find it. In both games you could quite easily play through the entire thing and not pay any attention to the story-line at all ( not my preference, but still).
Simple if you want it to be. Complex if you want it to be.
I think games should be made as the developer see fit, im glad Hideo hasn't listen to everyone talking about MGS games being all cut scene & no action (which is bollox anyway) but that's what MGS games are all about!?, thats what you buy it for, that experience. Games like Bioshock, Mass Effect & MGS are games with a storyline & MAY require some intelligence, if you just like run & gun get the THE CLUB! (on your head be it) but don't dumb games down?
I think games should be made as the developer see fit, im glad Hideo hasn't listen to everyone talking about MGS games being all cut scene & no action (which is bollox anyway) but that's what MGS games are all about!?, thats what you buy it for, that experience. Games like Bioshock, Mass Effect & MGS are games with a storyline & MAY require some intelligence, if you just like run & gun get the THE CLUB! (on your head be it) but don't dumb games down?
I personally buy games for gameplay. A great story can enhance this gameplay infinately but if the gameplay is not there in the first place then the game fails. I think you are wrong about the MGS series. The first game was a perfect example of how adding a story line to great gameplay can enhance the game, but ever since the series has gone down the route of all story no gameplay. If I want this then I just go to the cinema. There is also the point that great gameplay does not always need a good story to go along with it. If the game is supposed to pull you in to believing you are in the game (eg Final Fantasy VII) then you need a great storyline but if it is just meant to be fun (eg Super Mario World) then the storyline is unimportant (thankfully...).
I personally buy games for gameplay. A great story can enhance this gameplay infinately but if the gameplay is not there in the first place then the game fails. I think you are wrong about the MGS series. The first game was a perfect example of how adding a story line to great gameplay can enhance the game, but ever since the series has gone down the route of all story no gameplay. If I want this then I just go to the cinema. There is also the point that great gameplay does not always need a good story to go along with it. If the game is supposed to pull you in to believing you are in the game (eg Final Fantasy VII) then you need a great storyline but if it is just meant to be fun (eg Super Mario World) then the storyline is unimportant (thankfully...).
i think valve do it well with half life as the story is in effect the gameplay, what you do is the story.
I personally buy games for gameplay. A great story can enhance this gameplay infinately but if the gameplay is not there in the first place then the game fails. I think you are wrong about the MGS series. The first game was a perfect example of how adding a story line to great gameplay can enhance the game, but ever since the series has gone down the route of all story no gameplay. If I want this then I just go to the cinema. There is also the point that great gameplay does not always need a good story to go along with it. If the game is supposed to pull you in to believing you are in the game (eg Final Fantasy VII) then you need a great storyline but if it is just meant to be fun (eg Super Mario World) then the storyline is unimportant (thankfully...).
i think valve do it well with half life as the story is in effect the gameplay, what you do is the story.
Exactly. But you could remove the story and HL2 would still play well. The story just enhances the experience. In HL2's case it Enhances it to the point of greatness.
A fine example of story telling in games is Deus Ex. You can play through the game with a fairly simple plot with a few big twists every now and then. OR you can go explore. read datecubes, hack computers etc to uncover a the background to everything going on in the game and more info on major characters.
I'll always remember being staggered by my flat mate at uni. On the day Halo 2 came out we all ran out, bought a copy each, a LAN and then held regular death matches each evening before going out.
During the day we would play single player. I remember watching my mate play the first level as the Arbiter. First thing he does is kill every single one of his Covenant-buddies.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Killing the bad guys"
"What do you mean, they're your mates, they're supposed to help you"
It was at this point he told me to shut up and continued playing.
...about 5 minutes pass "hang on, are my hands different, and why can i go invisible now".
Turns out he played the whole game skipping through the cut-scenes, so he thought he was Master Chief still. The k**b.
He did this with every game he owned... and I think he is probably a perfect example of your average casual gamer.
If gamers are ******* stupid and that`s the reason for dumbing them down then that makes him a money-grabbing b****** for catering to the lowest common denominator. Having said that, loved Bioshock and quivering in anticipation over Bioshock 2 too despite it inevitably being dumbed down (please don`t dumb it down Mr Levine, sir).
do we really want to be caught up dissecting a story for hidden messages and meaning. Or, do we just want to sit back and be entertained?
I think it depends on context. I mean, does it add anything to the actual content and feel of the game?
I enjoyed Devil May Cry 4 even though the story was pretty naff to say the least, but it was still a kick ass game. I'm not sure a cracking story would've made killing demons any more fun.
On the other hand Bioshocks' plot and story twists were a key part of the game environments, the mechanics of combat and the mood of the game.
So regardless of how basic a plot is, it is surely more important to consider whether it offers anything to the game? If the point is missed, will that effect the quality of the experience for the player? If the answer is yes, then the story needs tightening up. If the answer is no, then you'll have a game that offers a story for those who wish to find it, but a game that still entertains those that don't care either way.
Pretty pointless statement really, most games, movies and books boil down to a basic premis for example Planescape Torment was a masterpiece of writing. But if i were just to say its about some undead dude trying to regain his memories then it sounds dumb as f**k. Plots always boil down to very little but its what happens in between that makes them so great.
I think games should be made as the developer see fit, im glad Hideo hasn't listen to everyone talking about MGS games being all cut scene & no action (which is bollox anyway) but that's what MGS games are all about!?, thats what you buy it for, that experience. Games like Bioshock, Mass Effect & MGS are games with a storyline & MAY require some intelligence, if you just like run & gun get the THE CLUB! (on your head be it) but don't dumb games down?
I personally buy games for gameplay. A great story can enhance this gameplay infinately but if the gameplay is not there in the first place then the game fails. I think you are wrong about the MGS series. The first game was a perfect example of how adding a story line to great gameplay can enhance the game, but ever since the series has gone down the route of all story no gameplay. If I want this then I just go to the cinema. There is also the point that great gameplay does not always need a good story to go along with it. If the game is supposed to pull you in to believing you are in the game (eg Final Fantasy VII) then you need a great storyline but if it is just meant to be fun (eg Super Mario World) then the storyline is unimportant (thankfully...).
Yer but if MGS didn't have its cutscenes & complex story it wouldn't be MGS!?, The MGS games have changed since MGS1, Hideo isn't gonna keep making the same game he likes to push different boundaries, some work, some dont, but i prefer that to knowing exactly what im gonna be getting. Games like films are different, some people like horror, blood n gore & others mindless Rom coms. Every game shouldn't aim to please every gamer, because if that happens we'll just end up with a bunch of mindless mainstream, middle of the road boring s**t. If you don't like games that have a storyline & depth, then dont buy them?, its like you've bought sleepless in Seattle & your p**sed off it hasn't got a car chase!?...
I think games should be made as the developer see fit, im glad Hideo hasn't listen to everyone talking about MGS games being all cut scene & no action (which is bollox anyway) but that's what MGS games are all about!?, thats what you buy it for, that experience. Games like Bioshock, Mass Effect & MGS are games with a storyline & MAY require some intelligence, if you just like run & gun get the THE CLUB! (on your head be it) but don't dumb games down?
I personally buy games for gameplay. A great story can enhance this gameplay infinately but if the gameplay is not there in the first place then the game fails. I think you are wrong about the MGS series. The first game was a perfect example of how adding a story line to great gameplay can enhance the game, but ever since the series has gone down the route of all story no gameplay. If I want this then I just go to the cinema. There is also the point that great gameplay does not always need a good story to go along with it. If the game is supposed to pull you in to believing you are in the game (eg Final Fantasy VII) then you need a great storyline but if it is just meant to be fun (eg Super Mario World) then the storyline is unimportant (thankfully...).
Yer but if MGS didn't have its cutscenes & complex story it wouldn't be MGS!?, The MGS games have changed since MGS1, Hideo isn't gonna keep making the same game he likes to push different boundaries, some work, some dont, but i prefer that to knowing exactly what im gonna be getting. Games like films are different, some people like horror, blood n gore & others mindless Rom coms. Every game shouldn't aim to please every gamer, because if that happens we'll just end up with a bunch of mindless mainstream, middle of the road boring s**t. If you don't like games that have a storyline & depth, then dont buy them?, its like you've bought sleepless in Seattle & your p**sed off it hasn't got a car chase!?...
It is more like I bought MGS2 expecting the same amazing gameplay and intelligent puzzle design as MGS but got Crossroads by Britney Spears!
MGS is one of the best games I have played, so I have every right to be dissapointed by the ridiculous path that the series has taken. I love games with storylines as long as the way the story is told enhances the gameplay instead of contraining it (Final fantasy, MGS, Legend of Zelda - OOT, and ICO are all in my top games of all time list). I also love games that are just mindless fun. After all gameplay is king as a game just isn't a good game without it.
I love a good storyline, but using the medium of PC games to tell a story is something that the industry is just starting to get to grips with.
Long, unskippable cutscenes are a nightmare.
I believe story is best conveyed by reading ingame 'emails', documents, posters on walls, conversations with characters, but possibly most importantly giving the player the opportunity to step out of it for a while and sort things out in their own way.
Deus Ex was an excellent example: a David Icke plot which had lots of datacubes to read and conversation branches...
"He praises Valve for being a real pioneer in this area with Half-Life, but admits the potential pitfall of this method of plot delivery is that gamers may miss content studios place in games."
True. Like when I missed that important flashback in Final Fantasy VII. The one that explained who the hell this Zack person was. You could only see it by going back to the mansion at a certain point. >_>
Although, speaking of gamers finding the plot for themselves...Crystal Chronicles (Gamecube one) is a really good example of that. You can easily go through the game without caring about the plot but there is a lot you can try to work out about the backstory and the miasma by talking to different people and paying attention in the scenes where you met other caravaneers. And there are some nice plot twists too. Like the whole Hurdy Gurdy, black knight thing.
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