being evil in games with moral choice

[Blueruler182]

It's weird, I recently found out that being immoral in games isn't an option for me... I got a character killed in Deus Ex during a hostage situation early on and I actually felt bad about it...

Of course, I never gave a shit about the guys I killed in Prototype by picking up a car and running down the sidewalk, but this seems different somehow. Also, that ar thing is hilarious.

Also, if fire's involved, all bets are off. I'll carpet bomb the place if possible.

 

[moose49408]

I'd happily play an "evil" character if "evil" was more nuanced in these games than the mustache twirling, Snidely Whiplash dialogue options we're given. The only "evil" I ever get offered is the old-lady slapping, foaming at the mouth maniac evil. Evil for evil's sake. Just random dickishness. That can be funny, I guess, in small doses, but it makes for pretty worthless characterization. Why can't I be a more subtle evil? Why can't I just be greedy, or sly, or cowardly? Why can't I be passionate, and have those passions lead me to immoral ends? Why can't I be a complex or conflicted "evil" character, like Daniel Plainview from "There Will Be Blood"? Why must I ALWAYS get the dialogue for some remorseless, baby-kicking monster?

I couldn't agree more. I'd really enjoy a game where I found the "evil" version of the player character somewhat compelling and justifiable. To add to your point, what it really comes down to is this: there needs to be a reason for someone to be "evil." When being "good" can result in generally the same benefits and results as being evil, then there's no point to it. If developers want a moral choice system to truly be compelling, then choosing to be evil needs to allow the players to do or get something that they otherwise wouldn't be able to do or get, nor would the be able to get an "equal but opposite" good version. If there isn't a justifiable reason to choose the evil option, then it's not really an evil option, it's just a "jerk" option.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I couldn't agree more. I'd really enjoy a game where I found the "evil" version of the player character somewhat compelling and justifiable. To add to your point, what it really comes down to is this: there needs to be a reason for someone to be "evil." When being "good" can result in generally the same benefits and results as being evil, then there's no point to it. If developers want a moral choice system to truly be compelling, then choosing to be evil needs to allow the players to do or get something that they otherwise wouldn't be able to do or get, nor would the be able to get an "equal but opposite" good version. If there isn't a justifiable reason to choose the evil option, then it's not really an evil option, it's just a "jerk" option.

A very good point. It's not really any choice at all if the only difference between good and evil is everyone likes you and tells you what a swell guy you are. A trade off for power would be much more interesting. Especially if it wasn't just power for power's sake, but power to do something you felt was really important. Because another element of evil that never gets explored is the tyranny that can come from conviction. From truly believing you're in the right, and damn the consequences. This could come by offering the player more complex motivations than "save the universe". I can count the number of wrenching moral choices I've had to make in games on the fingers of one hand.

 

[yuval152]

I always do evil,it's much more fun than being good .

 

[Smertnik]

I find being evil far more fun. Even when the the "bad" route is exaggerated (a la kicking kittens and eating babies for no reason) it's still more interesting than being the goody good guy, codename Jesus. That role just makes me sick.

 

[DasDestroyer]

On my first replay, when I delve more into the RP part of the game, I can only go for good. But when I replay the game, mostly focusing on maxing out skills, collecting items etc. I try out evil.

 

[Iron Mal]

Some people just enjoy the notion of doing evil stuff for giggles, some people are just misanthropes, some people feel that being good makes them stupid and boring, some people are compensating for hassle that they get in the real world, some people are just bored of being good all the time, some people do it just because fuck you.

I tend towards being Lawful Good most of the time when I play a game so I tend to only be evil when there's an achievement for an evil playthrough or if I come to a choice where I genuinely think the 'evil' choice does more good than the 'good' choice (implimenting my own morals there).

 

[TheKramers]

In games like fable,fallout and dragon age they have a moral choice system I have played multiple of these games and in online co-op with some friends in fable 2 and alot of my friends always play evil and I wonder why its not just my friends alot of people like to take the evil role in moral choice games. I for one play as the good guy no matter what but it just boggels my mind in why people like to be a evil person killing innocents and such.

I understand why people like to play Evil; I always want to myself because I feel like doing the things we can't in our society. However, I always end up being the good guy anyway. I always care about those little virtual people even though I have no reason to =/

 

[TheKramers]

they're... not real innocents... hell, come to think of it, in fable they're probably not real innocents either... and who can resist the urge to test out a new weapon on something that ISN'T a goblin... so what if they get carried away with it when the guards come knocking

besides, the horns look cool

Not in Fable 3. Where's my goddamn horns?

 

[DanielBrown]

Always start with a nice guy, then on my second run I become the essence of evil.
The evil choices feel slightly uncomfortable though. I don't want to feel guilt when I play games, but I need those damn achievements!

 

[ReservoirAngel]

I have a rule if I play evil in games, this particularly applies to the Fable series: I will be a thieving, evil bastard all I want, but I will not kill indiscriminately.

Mostly because in the Fable games one murder and everyone you meet has all their dialogue replaced with screams of terror, which is so annoying it quickly becomes a major deterrent, but also because I don't know... I just don't like murdering random strangers. They're more useful to me alive most of the time, at the very least. Like, if I massacre an entire town in Fable then their houses lose owners so I don't get my damn rent money.

 

[DEAD34345]

That and games like KOTOR have trained me not to go the evil path because they make your guy look horrible to the point I have to hide his face with a mask or something.

Really? One of the (many) reasons I take the evil path is that it makes my person look cool, and KOTOR is a prime example of this.

Mainly though, I'm evil in games because it's funner that way, and you don't even always get the chance, so it makes a nice change when a game allows it.

Also I tend to find that I like evil or antagonistic characters far, far more than the good guys. In any given game, movie, book or TV series, chances are I'm rooting for the bad guys to succeed (sadly, they never do...). I'm not sure what it is exactly I like about them, as I'm fairly certain I'm not evil in real life, but I just do.

 

[LilRock1976]

The only game with moral choices that I have played is Fallout3. I murdered everybody I came across if I didn't enslave them, my home was in Tenpenny Tower, I stole whatever I wanted, blew up Megaton, and the best for last I lured a kid out of Little Lamplight to go on an "adventure" then my buddy stuck a slave collar on her. I enjoyed every bit of it with no remorse or guilt.

 

[AlternatePFG]

The only game where I found playing evil fulfilling was Mask of the Betrayer. (Yes, I will not shut up about this game.) Some of the options are just so deliciously evil.

 

[Shirokurou]

I always play good.
Cause the evil part usually includes eating kittens and acting like you have a stick up your ass.
There isn't a game which had a good/bad choice, which was hard to make for me... It's always "the sensible, logical way" or "the unnecessarily cruel one"

 

[theonecookie]

Why would you be evil anyway its kinda stupid most the time its short term gain long term loss which again is stupid: example you have a town in front of you its run down and its people are unhappy what do you do

Evil:burn the town kill everybody and take their stuff

good:Spend a bit off cash help fix up the village run for mayor and make money through taxes plus if you do a good job people will love you and you get loyal minions

over all the good option pays more in the long run thus unless your gona be creative with the whole evil thing good is more profitable

 

[whtkid6969]

I trie to do the evil playthrough... I couldn't :,( those achievements are beyond me. I just cannot bring myself to do some of those horrible things.