Post: Storytelling in video games
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04-27-2013, 12:03 PM
#1
ResistTheSun
In Flames Much?
Over the past couple months something has been on my mind. Something which has been bugging me loads that is what makes a good story in games.
Meaty subjects with loads of relevant things to that question, picked out a couple if you can think of any more post some.
Pacing
Important of story
Charge development
Atmosphere
The first thing people are thinking “oh god why did you make this boring thread”
Answer to get an understanding of what people think makes a good story, if depends on the genre along with anything else.
Pacing marathon or sprint
Pacing is important and often is getting wrong when it comes to story certain games get the pacing wrong far cry 2 is a good example. A strong pace at the start, the story disappears until the end of the game. Fallout 3 is a good example of good pace the story is always around with hints, you can get into more detail if you want.
Shooters are a good example of bad story telling due to the genre standards, has been improvements but they are still following a model set up by half life. That is hand holding by cut scenes to tell the story, as a result the story takes a backseat until the next cut scene.
Gentric often it holds up the game, annoying to gamers. What should happen is a merging of thinking from RPG games in which as you move around the story is told not just from a cut scene. It would be far more interesting compared to how it is done right now. Time to start thinking outside of the genre box throw in ideas from other genres.
Another example which uses cut scenes still is fighting games like street fighter, should it follow the same idea ?
Street fighter shows us that the story can't be a one size fit all method of thinking, depends on your vision and the point of the game.
One of the best examples of storytelling in a shorter form even if has puzzle elements is the portal series. Carries across humor as you complete the puzzles with some important themes on top. Like being alone and scared.
Importance of story in a genre
So what genres can skip having a good story ? For me is racing games or fighting games. Fighting games are about the gameplay over a story it adds little to nothing to the overall game. Racing is another example I want to speed over the track I rather have more tracks, over a story. That said racing games still need some sort of story to move you up the ranks. Need for speed games you're alone racer who must race his way to the top. The story is very loose but still around with each race.
Shooters which are online only need a story too or else they must have a deep combat system to keep players playing. I would like to see dynamic stories for games changing on what you do, always updated with new stuff. Story is important but what about its overall atmosphere.
Atmosphere that climate change right ?
One of the key strengths of many games is how the story and atmosphere go together. You can have a weak story if you have a strong sense of atmosphere which keeps people playing. Good example has mirrored edge a weak story in many ways but over great pacing with atmosphere. The end result pleasure to play it adds to the story.
Another good example of atmosphere is dead space series scaring you with some story but not very strong say to an RPG.
Bioshock 1 is a great example of good pacing, great story and great atmosphere. Bioshock 2nd outing focused on the story but lacked the same sense of atmosphere.
The atmosphere is often overall looked it can be created not just from the voice acting but lighting to art design. Character development can also add to the atmosphere of a game.
Character development building you or somebody else vision
Video games have a window of opportunity for gamers to create their own character, meaning the development team can allow you full free or limited freedom going forward. RPGs are good example of allowing the player freedom to create their own character with the game having character developments set pieces to pick from.
Character development is something that most shooters fail on, with limited focus on the player but overall characters moving it forward. It can help build the atmosphere of the game but is genetic often boring in how it's done in most modern shooters. Is that important does it ruin the single player yes.
Character development is often a make or break if people want to play your game again.
You can find more on this subject at Extra credits YouTube. Extra credits Video Games and Storytelling or Bad writing worth watching. Worth watching they cover a range of subjects on video games.
Got bored was thinking it a good thread idea.
04-27-2013, 05:19 PM
#2
Rogue_Diamond
⚔ Troooophies ⚔
Originally posted by ResistTheSun
Hello NextGenUpdate
Over the past couple months something has been on my mind. Something which has been bugging me loads that is what makes a good story in games.
Meaty subjects with loads of relevant things to that question, picked out a couple if you can think of any more post some.
Pacing
Important of story
Charge development
Atmosphere
The first thing people are thinking “oh god why did you make this boring thread”
Answer to get an understanding of what people think makes a good story, if depends on the genre along with anything else.
Pacing marathon or sprint
Pacing is important and often is getting wrong when it comes to story certain games get the pacing wrong far cry 2 is a good example. A strong pace at the start, the story disappears until the end of the game. Fallout 3 is a good example of good pace the story is always around with hints, you can get into more detail if you want.
Shooters are a good example of bad story telling due to the genre standards, has been improvements but they are still following a model set up by half life. That is hand holding by cut scenes to tell the story, as a result the story takes a backseat until the next cut scene.
Gentric often it holds up the game, annoying to gamers. What should happen is a merging of thinking from RPG games in which as you move around the story is told not just from a cut scene. It would be far more interesting compared to how it is done right now. Time to start thinking outside of the genre box throw in ideas from other genres.
Another example which uses cut scenes still is fighting games like street fighter, should it follow the same idea ?
Street fighter shows us that the story can't be a one size fit all method of thinking, depends on your vision and the point of the game.
One of the best examples of storytelling in a shorter form even if has puzzle elements is the portal series. Carries across humor as you complete the puzzles with some important themes on top. Like being alone and scared.
Importance of story in a genre
So what genres can skip having a good story ? For me is racing games or fighting games. Fighting games are about the gameplay over a story it adds little to nothing to the overall game. Racing is another example I want to speed over the track I rather have more tracks, over a story. That said racing games still need some sort of story to move you up the ranks. Need for speed games you're alone racer who must race his way to the top. The story is very loose but still around with each race.
Shooters which are online only need a story too or else they must have a deep combat system to keep players playing. I would like to see dynamic stories for games changing on what you do, always updated with new stuff. Story is important but what about its overall atmosphere.
Atmosphere that climate change right ?
One of the key strengths of many games is how the story and atmosphere go together. You can have a weak story if you have a strong sense of atmosphere which keeps people playing. Good example has mirrored edge a weak story in many ways but over great pacing with atmosphere. The end result pleasure to play it adds to the story.
Another good example of atmosphere is dead space series scaring you with some story but not very strong say to an RPG.
Bioshock 1 is a great example of good pacing, great story and great atmosphere. Bioshock 2nd outing focused on the story but lacked the same sense of atmosphere.
The atmosphere is often overall looked it can be created not just from the voice acting but lighting to art design. Character development can also add to the atmosphere of a game.
Character development building you or somebody else vision
Video games have a window of opportunity for gamers to create their own character, meaning the development team can allow you full free or limited freedom going forward. RPGs are good example of allowing the player freedom to create their own character with the game having character developments set pieces to pick from.
Character development is something that most shooters fail on, with limited focus on the player but overall characters moving it forward. It can help build the atmosphere of the game but is genetic often boring in how it's done in most modern shooters. Is that important does it ruin the single player yes.
Character development is often a make or break if people want to play your game again.
You can find more on this subject at Extra credits YouTube. Extra credits Video Games and Storytelling or Bad writing worth watching. Worth watching they cover a range of subjects on video games.
Got bored was thinking it a good thread idea.
Over the past couple months something has been on my mind. Something which has been bugging me loads that is what makes a good story in games.
Meaty subjects with loads of relevant things to that question, picked out a couple if you can think of any more post some.
Pacing
Important of story
Charge development
Atmosphere
The first thing people are thinking “oh god why did you make this boring thread”
Answer to get an understanding of what people think makes a good story, if depends on the genre along with anything else.
Pacing marathon or sprint
Pacing is important and often is getting wrong when it comes to story certain games get the pacing wrong far cry 2 is a good example. A strong pace at the start, the story disappears until the end of the game. Fallout 3 is a good example of good pace the story is always around with hints, you can get into more detail if you want.
Shooters are a good example of bad story telling due to the genre standards, has been improvements but they are still following a model set up by half life. That is hand holding by cut scenes to tell the story, as a result the story takes a backseat until the next cut scene.
Gentric often it holds up the game, annoying to gamers. What should happen is a merging of thinking from RPG games in which as you move around the story is told not just from a cut scene. It would be far more interesting compared to how it is done right now. Time to start thinking outside of the genre box throw in ideas from other genres.
Another example which uses cut scenes still is fighting games like street fighter, should it follow the same idea ?
Street fighter shows us that the story can't be a one size fit all method of thinking, depends on your vision and the point of the game.
One of the best examples of storytelling in a shorter form even if has puzzle elements is the portal series. Carries across humor as you complete the puzzles with some important themes on top. Like being alone and scared.
Importance of story in a genre
So what genres can skip having a good story ? For me is racing games or fighting games. Fighting games are about the gameplay over a story it adds little to nothing to the overall game. Racing is another example I want to speed over the track I rather have more tracks, over a story. That said racing games still need some sort of story to move you up the ranks. Need for speed games you're alone racer who must race his way to the top. The story is very loose but still around with each race.
Shooters which are online only need a story too or else they must have a deep combat system to keep players playing. I would like to see dynamic stories for games changing on what you do, always updated with new stuff. Story is important but what about its overall atmosphere.
Atmosphere that climate change right ?
One of the key strengths of many games is how the story and atmosphere go together. You can have a weak story if you have a strong sense of atmosphere which keeps people playing. Good example has mirrored edge a weak story in many ways but over great pacing with atmosphere. The end result pleasure to play it adds to the story.
Another good example of atmosphere is dead space series scaring you with some story but not very strong say to an RPG.
Bioshock 1 is a great example of good pacing, great story and great atmosphere. Bioshock 2nd outing focused on the story but lacked the same sense of atmosphere.
The atmosphere is often overall looked it can be created not just from the voice acting but lighting to art design. Character development can also add to the atmosphere of a game.
Character development building you or somebody else vision
Video games have a window of opportunity for gamers to create their own character, meaning the development team can allow you full free or limited freedom going forward. RPGs are good example of allowing the player freedom to create their own character with the game having character developments set pieces to pick from.
Character development is something that most shooters fail on, with limited focus on the player but overall characters moving it forward. It can help build the atmosphere of the game but is genetic often boring in how it's done in most modern shooters. Is that important does it ruin the single player yes.
Character development is often a make or break if people want to play your game again.
You can find more on this subject at Extra credits YouTube. Extra credits Video Games and Storytelling or Bad writing worth watching. Worth watching they cover a range of subjects on video games.
Got bored was thinking it a good thread idea.
If the story isnt about ten minuits long and actually captures your interest then it makes it worth watching but in most cases game stories continue to go on and on and you just skip it which makes it a waste of time for who ever makes them sad but true.
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