157

Video game plots must evolve!

videolamer | July 01, 2008 | Blog | Playstation 3 Wii 
Each generation of games brings us awesome innovation but game stories still mostly suck. By continually buying and praising games with stupid plots we send the signal to developers that they really don't need to try any harder.
I marvel at the advancements this medium has made in my lifetime. From photo realistic graphics to complex game mechanics to real world physics we are seeing video games mature and match sophistication with the other, older mediums in a relatively short period of time. However, I feel that in one particular area video games are stagnating, shockingly and perplexingly so.

Not nearly enough games tell us stories worth paying attention to.
25 comments | go to source (videolamer.com) | Add to favorites! favourite this article | send to friend | add alt source
Related Articles
225 Some Of The Best Video-Game Cosplay You Will Ever See (18)comments August 1, 2008
119 Do you want to be a video game artist? (15)comments July 3, 2008
132 New Clear In-Game XMB Video (13)comments June 7, 2008
63 Old-Wizard: Top 5 Video Game Developers (1)comments June 30, 2008
78 Beatles-themed video game may be coming (6)comments June 23, 2008
Register as a member to subscribe comments.

Comments with -10 or lower "thumbs" are removed from display.

  • 1 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    BlackLabel | July 01, 2008 | reply
    I agree, most games just tell a story to give the gamer a purpose to reach the end, there are rarely any games that have a story players genuinly care about.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    Drogo Baggins | July 01, 2008 | reply
    Developers should just swallow their pride and say, "alright, everyone! If you would, please get in a single file line and follow Metal Gear Solid."

    • 2 thumbs!
      Rate it up!
      RabidChinaGirl | July 01, 2008 | reply
      The MGS plot is a little too evolved. The plot should be strong, but the overall story that ties everything together should also be easy to access. MGS just shuts out newcomers to the franchise; I understand their existing fan base is enormous, but it seems unfair to those who did not follow from the beginning.
      • 1 thumbs!
        Rate it up!
        Fatal Error | July 01, 2008 | reply
        That's because the Metal Gear series consists of many games. Developers can still learn a thing or two by simply focusing on plot and character development in 1 game and get the job done.
        • 1 thumbs!
          Rate it up!
          RabidChinaGirl | July 01, 2008
          Agreed, but most successful games do wind up as an entire series. If one game does well, there's a good chance the developer/publisher is going to want to milk that success until it's dead dry. If that is the case, I believe it's their obligation to make the game interesting DESPITE being an ongoing franchise.
        • 0 thumbs!
          Rate it up!
          Fatal Error | July 01, 2008
          You're absolutely right. I was actually going to counter with a comment about a game like FFVII, but of course then I remembered that there's probably six derivatives of the game and storyline out there now so that kinda got tossed out the window.

          Still, it's possible to create a good story within a single game but I think that it would actually require that all subsequent games in the series be like those in the FF series and actually not be connected. That, of course, isn't that great of an idea except in RPGs.
    • 1 thumbs!
      Rate it up!
      Deadman Rules | July 03, 2008 | reply
      No thanks I'd rather play the game then watch it.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    Drogo Baggins | July 01, 2008 | reply
    Yeah, I see what you mean, Rabid. There are even a lot of hardcore MGS fans who don't fully understand the storyline.

    By the way, just so I don't get flamed by anyone, I just want to say I was joking with my comment. I'm sure that it would probably piss a few people off if they thought I was serious.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    BlackLabel | July 01, 2008 | reply
    But you were right, perhaps maybe not to the extremes as Metal Gear Solid but Kojima hit the right path, if stories were thought about as carefully as he thinks about them then every game will be stunning.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    PangTong_Blademaster | July 01, 2008 | reply
    I'm now fed up of playing games with no plots or very poor ones. I mean the only exception of good games without plots are sport/racing games and Monster Hunter. Also silent protagonists are getting on my tits.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    Drogo Baggins | July 01, 2008 | reply
    I hate it when a fun game(Gears of War) has a shitty storyline(Gears of War).

    Gears of War's storyline sucks balls, IMO. No wait, not IMO, it's actually a literal fact.

    But I can't wait for GoW2, because I think it will be much better
    • 0 thumbs!
      Rate it up!
      slumpy monkey | July 01, 2008 | reply
      GoWs story was actually pretty good IMO, Not the story of the game itself, But the story of the characters and the locust is pretty good.
      • -1 thumbs!
        Rate it up!
        Seeker X | July 02, 2008 | reply
        Uh...no it isn't. They could've added some more details about Fenix's past but instead he's branded as a traitor and you're left scratching your head wondering just what the hell really happened.
        • 0 thumbs!
          Rate it up!
          slumpy monkey | July 03, 2008
          Yes it is, If you actually find out about the story he was court marshalled for leaving his post when he went back to his father's house to find him.
        • 0 thumbs!
          Rate it up!
          Seeker X | July 03, 2008
          Having conversations between gunfights doesn't really engage anybody into any storyline. They actually made an effort but to no avail...looking forward to see if they actually manage to succeed with Dom's past.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    mb 1 | July 01, 2008 | reply
    I think it's because of gamers today.. All they want is awesome graphics and online play so thats what they focus on.
    I especially hate games that try to be too realistic. That's not what video games are suppost to be about imo
  • 1 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    Ameer | July 01, 2008 | reply
    Show Metal Gear Solid to any non-gaming movie watching adult and they will laugh in your face if you claim one of it's defining features as it's 'great' storyline. Game stories have a long way to go before they have stories which are comparable to good movies. This is part of the reason why game-to-movie adaptations suck so much. The storylines are quite frankly, shit.
    • 0 thumbs!
      Rate it up!
      Storm | July 01, 2008 | reply
      That's true. I don't think it's a matter of comparing game stories to decent films out now, though. They are two different things after all. With games, there are more possibilities, unlike live-action films. They can go nuts and do the whole 'nanomachine' bit that MGS4 kicked in, as well as the history with the Patriots.

      Games seem to draw people in more with it's 'flashyness,' something that movies are getting more and more into, as well. As far as game-to-movie adaptations go, it's because they never truly follow the storylines. Either the crew just can't do it with their budget, technology, etc., wanted to put their own spin on it, whatever the case, movie-to-game and game-to-movie adaptations should be avoided.

      But for sure, a game's story is different from that of a movie's. We take control (or get a closer experience) of the adventure in some form or another with games, whilst with movies we can sit back and enjoy. A film's storyline can stand out more, as there are more people into films than games, and a huge crew working on it's story, etc., perhaps trying to work them in the 'real world.'
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    BlackLabel | July 02, 2008 | reply
    Game stories and Movie stories can't really be compared for one reason and that is time, movies last 3 hours tops 4-5 hours if it is one of those arthouse films that has this deep and meaningful plot that no one gets but everyone pretends to get as to not feel left out. On the other hand games can flesh that story out over 50 hours multiplied by 4 games thats 200 hours to tell a story. Sure not every game is like that but they can be if the developer wanted to and the gamers wanted it.

    Movies and Games are two different beasts, movies are short and fun entertainment while games are closer to playable books than anything and thats why i feel they need a better story, currently 98% of all current games in the book world would be the equivelant of childrens books, something short and fun to tide them over before bedtime, the story needs to be like a novel and have multiple plots, twists and turns a proper mature adult story that adults would expect in this kind of medium, they just don't get that right now.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    Murray3 | July 02, 2008 | reply
    Wario Land shake actually seems to have the best plot of any Mario game to date, if they could just add Wario and DK to regular Mario games that have Bowser as the major villain, by adding multiple antagonists that aren't (always) on the same team is good, especially if one bad-guy plans to betray another.

    If Nintendo could learn a thing or two from SMBZ that'd be great.
  • -1 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    Big A2 | July 02, 2008 | reply
    If someone had a great idea for a storyline, they would make a movie not a game. Storylines need to be simple to keep the game fun.
  • 2 thumbs!
    Rate it up!
    bbb7002004 | July 02, 2008 | reply
    The problem is, what makes a good video game and what makes good literature/art are two completely different things. Video games are based on immersion and control, while novels are based on a finely crafted narrative. The best games have stories that revolve around you and your choices in the game. In essence, a game is your story, constantly evolving with each and every step you take, often in ways inconstant with the game director's image. Even in "story-driven" games like RPG's, the order of exploration, choices you make, etc., create a living story that changes with each and every person who plays the game. However, actually looking at the narrative itself as a piece of literature, this living element is removed.

    On the other hand, literature requires the author to craft each and every sentence into the grand scheme of the novel. The novel never changes, and while some may interpret it differently, the source material is always the same, and stationary. However, if this same ideal was put in video games, their would be no room to move in the game, meaning you basically are just watching a movie while pressing buttons every once in a while. These two occupy very separate worlds, with only a few unique cases overlapping. However, just because their is a difference, doesn't necessarily mean that one or the other is bad. Video games just tell a story in a different, harder to compare way than other art forms.

    There several other fundamental flaws with this argument, and the prevalent views it represents. One such flaw is a comparison between video games and other mediums, such as art movies or novels. While there are certain common elements when judging any art, each form must be judged by its own rules. You don't comment on how balanced the worlds look on a page, just as you don't argue whether a piece of music's notes have another meaning in context with the piece. As I said above, video games have a different mode of storytelling, and must be judged on its own criteria.
    Also, the author is far too quick to dismiss the importance of the youth of video games as a story telling medium truly is. Video games have reached the point of being able to tell a story in the last decade or so. This is far too short a time to gain competent writers in the industry, meaning the vast majority of the high profile developers/directors still come from a programing background. This is also too short a time for such games, when they exist, to gain acceptance or an audience. Art is only meaningful to those who seek it out. If no one was willing to listen to Mozart's symphonies, symphonies would not exist. There are few video game connoisseurs, just avid gamers. No classes are offered in video game literature, no video game exhibits in museums, etc. Without a venue for such games, their is no reason for their existence. Even if games are ready to be art, they have no where to be art aside from the collections right beside every other game.
    • 0 thumbs!
      Rate it up!
      Fatal Error | July 02, 2008 | reply
      I find it interesting that, although you say that games are all about immersion, you ignore the fact that the stories are driven by their respective plots. There's really no excuse for in depth games to have weak stories, and no reason for a developer or scenario writer to not take some hints from novelists. Yes, immersion is a key component in games, but the events are all ultimately decided by the plot and the writer. No matter how many different ways to play Mario, he's always going to save the princess in the end. No matter how many times Snake gets caught, the events of MGS will continue to unfold in the way they were intended.
      • 1 thumbs!
        Rate it up!
        bbb7002004 | July 02, 2008 | reply
        You missed a major point of my argument though. The story in video games is not told through the game, but by your own experience. Instead of the author crafting a story, you craft a story with the tools given you you by the game. On paper, this story doesn't look particularly impressive, but that's because it is missing this critical, living element games possess.
        • 0 thumbs!
          Rate it up!
          Fatal Error | July 02, 2008
          There's really nothing to be lost by that. The story is absolutely told by the author in most games today. No matter what you do, things will occur in the way they were determined. In that respect, it is no different than a story. I didn't miss any "major point", I'm just pointing out that it's nothing really major at all.

          The writer of the story determines what you do and where you go. While you can do things outside of this story, they don't ultimately change the path that is taken at all. You don't get immersed into a game by simply running around blindly, you get drawn in by the story elements and character and plot development. In this regard, it is no different than any book. Look at the way the entire Metal Gear series was written. It is fundamentally no different from a novel or television series. Same thing can be said for most all games, really. Yes, you control the pace that the story unfolds, but how is that different than a person controlling the pace at which they read a book?

          While the fundamental difference is creating user control, it should have almost no effect on construction of the story. Any point in the story can be substituted for gameplay, as long as you ultimately start at point A and end at point B.

You must register and be logged in to post comments. Register | Login
Submit Newshelp

Top Contributors

This Month
chautemoc 1605 pts
Akira_EX 1553 pts
Tyranitar24 1437 pts
Gothic Girl 1433 pts
Deathsythe 728 pts
Silver Mir.. 716 pts
Cruxis Mana 674 pts
Linkin Par.. 653 pts
Krunal 573 pts
tidus04 526 pts
All-Time
Gothic Girl 18126 pts
Krunal 12211 pts
Linkin Par.. 10183 pts
chautemoc 9410 pts
Final Blade 9136 pts
Silver Mir.. 8748 pts
xsynergyx 7909 pts
mistermostyn 7668 pts
Akira_EX 7610 pts
Tyranitar24 6674 pts

Stats

Today
Published News: 1
Comments: 11
Points Given: 14
Users Registered: 0
This Month
Published News: 628
Comments: 4524
Points Given: 10367
Users Registered: 49
All Time
Published News: 10976
Comments: 75071
Points Given: 177577
Users Registered: 569

Conventions / Trade Shows

(0.1675/d/aeon)