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.
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Most recently commented on by on Jul 3, 2008
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  • 1
    BlackLabel Jul 1, 08
    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
    Drogo Baggins Jul 1, 08
    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
      RabidChinaGirl Jul 1, 08
      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
        Fatal Error Jul 1, 08
        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
          RabidChinaGirl Jul 1, 08
          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
          Fatal Error Jul 1, 08
          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
      Deadman Rules Jul 3, 08
      No thanks I'd rather play the game then watch it.
  • 0
    Drogo Baggins Jul 1, 08
    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
    BlackLabel Jul 1, 08
    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
    PangTong_Blademaster Jul 1, 08
    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
    Drogo Baggins Jul 1, 08
    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
      Slumpy monkey Jul 2, 08
      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
        Seeker X Jul 2, 08
        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
          Slumpy monkey Jul 3, 08
          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
          Seeker X Jul 3, 08
          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
    mb 1 Jul 1, 08
    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
    Ameer Jul 2, 08
    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
      Storm* Jul 2, 08
      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
    BlackLabel Jul 2, 08
    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
    Murray3 Jul 2, 08
    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
    Big A2 Jul 2, 08
    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
    bbb7002004* Jul 2, 08
    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
      Fatal Error Jul 2, 08
      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
        bbb7002004* Jul 2, 08
        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
          Fatal Error Jul 2, 08
          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.

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