I think...Tell me if you've had a similar change...but I think I'm maturing.

[A.A.K]

With gaming.
For the last decade of my gaming life I have not once ever played for the story. I'll pay attention to the story if it's really thrown in my face and I can't skip the cinematic, but I have ONLY and I repeat this - ONLY played for the violence. Even games that were exclusive for the story - I only played for the violence.

Now, for once, I decided to play Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 for the story. Every piece of dialogue and every cinematic went untouched and listened too, every codex read and every journal entry studied and it was done with as little breaks as possible to avoid the jarring of the tale. Between the 2 games (1 playthrough per game - character carried over) I spent 75 hours....aaaaaaaaaad I LOVED IT.

Every little moment of it I honestly loved, it was that amazing.
Only now that I've done this, I really have no interest in touching my xbox again unless I'm guaranteed a tale of equal badassery.

What I'm trying to say is...I think I'm maturing...it's a terrifying prospect haha

Tell me what you think or if you've had a similar experience because I AM indeed curious.

 

[Christopher Bryer]

The way you enjoy a gaming experience has changed. And your standards appeared to have risen, which may prove abit of a minus in future. Of all the games to fall in love with...You'll have to wait until March to get that "high" again.

And yes, it is maturing in a way

When I started gaming it was Mario and Sonic. Took a break through most of my teen years, then I met my then boyfriend now husband who introduced me back in to gaming with RPG's. So now I'm kinda stuck with the games that provide me with a story. So careful now, you may become a game snob.





EDIT crap I'm in my brother profile...fucker can't sign out.

 

[Raddra]

I'm the opposite, a game without a good solid story loses my interest in no time flat and I put it down.

 

[Dandark]

I do like a good story, but it is utterly shameful to think that is the only thing that can make a game good. In an industry where interactivity is the biggest selling point, where has all of the best interactivity gone!?

Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country, Prince of Persia Sands of Time, Jak and Daxter, Super Mario 64, Half-Life, DOOM, Duke Nukem 3D, Halo CE, Saints Row 2, Gears of War 1-3. Those games didn't succeed because they had great stories, although in at least two of those cases the story was interesting. They succeeded because they were great fun to play.

I will not argue against story in games. I'll argue for it, because a game with a good story is a rare thing that helps the industry look better. And if all you want from games is story, then fine, but I have to ask why books aren't more your thing. But ultimately, the most I can ask about is great gameplay. I sometimes feel like we've lost that, or are starting to lose that.

I agree, I love me some good story and I think most games need at least some kind of story to justify everything but great gameplay is also brilliant. And if the gameplay is good enough then the story can be nothing more than "Oh those orks are evil and crap, now take that claymore the size of a car and rip into them!!!".

 

[VulakAerr]

OP: I'm totally with you. When I was younger, at Uni etc, I played nothing but FPS games. Quake 1-3 etc. Story or no, I played them to death. Recently I've been more and more into RPGs. And although I love Skyrim a lot, my preference is the directed RPGs where I'm told a story rather than telling my own. I find this sort of gaming far more interesting and relaxing than Halo/CoD etc. That said, I still love BF3 for the experiences.

As far as "believer258" says, I quite agree that a story won't make a game successful. But in the case of some of the examples there, it will make a good game resonate with you so that you might actually love it.

Looking at the game mechanics to Mass Effect, I have no right to fall in love with a game like that. Third-person cover-based shooting? Meh. The story, and the experiences in that game is why people love it. Not surprised it hooked the OP.

 

[Kupo]

For me, I group "story" in with actual plot, characterization, atmosphere and setting, etc. That's my most important category when I look at games, because that's what leaves a lasting impression on me. Whether it's the character interaction and plot of Persona 4 or the incredibly realized and atmospheric world of Demon's Souls, that's what I take from games.

I rarely play multiplayer anymore, and shooters/sports/racing/fighting games have just lost any interest to me. Sure there are exceptions, but I also think my tastes have changed as I've matured. I really don't think you're alone in that regard.

 

[Nalbis]

I love a good story in a game, nothing I enjoy more and I'm with OP about Mass Effect. After I played ME 1 and 2 I then played Dead Space and was very "meh" with the whole game and I put it half down to playing through the ME games just before it and also the fact its just not a very good game.

Sometimes exceptional combat and/or scenery in a well made game can be just as impressive as a brilliant story though, I quite enjoyed Bulletstorm recently just because it was frantic, fast pace and had some rather pretty environments. I also enjoyed the whole point system thing, I'm such a sucker for those.

I'll give any game a chance now though really, unless it seriously doesn't spark the slightest bit of interest, oh... or unless its a RTS, after all these years I still don't like RTS...

 

[Miles000]

I jump from one side to the other, depending on the game.
If the game has a decent story, I will get invested in it. If not, then it ceases to exist for me.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Sounds like somebody has matured somewhat! Very good. My first game I played for the story was Metal Gear Solid so if you don't mind horrible graphics (or if you get Twin Snakes on the GC) give that one a go.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

I think its the immersion and story that are changing you! I had a similar experience, and I started getting really into the stories of Bioshock and Alan Wake... But then I went back and played some of the old final fantasy games, and some of the older RPGs, and didn't give a damn again! O well!

 

[thespyisdead]

i generally play games for the story, and i welcome violence if it comes 'round (yes, even the terribly written games). to me, a game without a solid story, is like a flat coke

 

[MassiveGeek]

I'm the opposite, a game without a good solid story loses my interest in no time flat and I put it down.

This.
For me, in any media, be it movies, games, books etc, I have to like either the story and/or the characters. If one aspect of this is shit, then the other better fucking make up for it or the game is thrown out the window.
I think that is why I don't enjoy Prototype, sure it's fun bouncing around on buildings like a twat and all, but I just don't enjoy the characters or the story, neither peaks my interest and the beautiful, beautiful violence is therefor not enjoyable.
Now, in say... Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines. Now there is a game with a story and definitely characters I fucking love. I know it's an RPG, but the introduction to vampire society, and Jack, just made me immediatly sold on the game and I've poured countless hours into it.

I've never played for the violence, I wouldn't call myself automatically mature because of it, it's just how I work.

 

[Cogwheel]

I had the opposite. It was story or nothing for me from age 6. In the past three or four years, I learned to enjoy pure-gameplay games, such as roguelikes.

In any case, good to hear! Would you like some recommendations for "story games", now that you like playing them?

 

[Jandau]

Yeah, it happens. It's a good thing, though. You might find that the market isn't very oriented toward such tastes at the moment, but as more people mature and come to demand such content, more and more games in various genres will start to focus more on the story and the game world. If this can be achieved while still maintaining a high level of gameplay quality, then the medium will be enriched and take significant steps towards that "Games as Art" thing people are always clamouring about...

 

[TehCookie]

I pretty much had the exact opposite. I always played for the story. Then again I had little sister syndrome so most of my childhood was watching my bro play games. It wasn't until I played a game I enjoyed so much I wanted to master the mechanics and attempt it on higher difficulties that I started to get games just for the gameplay.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Yes your hype slowly turns down and the attention span is prolonged so with age you start to appreciate craftsmanship, sadly this also results in an increasingly critical nature because most things aren't done that well.

I know it wasn't a direct split for me but I did gradually become ever so dependent on story, sure I'll still kick a UT match or two but I wont pull all nighters with that rinse and repeat formula anymore, a good story however will keep me awake indefinitely.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I've found video games have spoiled me, desensitized me, and made me socially awkward.

Socially awkward because my first major friendships were online. Imagine saying some of the things you heard in ventrillo to everyday people. I have had to force myself to relearn certain normal aspects so I don't come off too inappropriate in societies eyes. Which is harder than you'd think since its compounded with the fact that I have aspergers.

I have played some great video games and that makes games that are just ok seem rather terrible. I have killed millions of NPCs in various ways and its made my whole concept of what hurts people slightly skewed. As in what would make a normal person cringe I show no such emotion.

Now I've never blown anything up, never threaten to kill anyone, or any of that other stuff that is in the media. Overall video games have just made me a pure gamer in both online and offline. The problem is that not everyone appreciates that and it can get me in trouble.

 

[Lawnmooer]

I used to only play games for the gameplay and skipped such trivial matters as cutscenes and most dialogue (Luckily games do tend to like using giant luminecent arrows for such people)

But then I started to get into some Bioware games and the stories and dialogue in those started to engage me (Mainly due to the choice of dialogue giving me a reason to pay attention) and since then I've gone through all games looking at the story and anything I can pick up and read.

Though I still get impatient sometimes and just want to blow some stuff up to relieve frustration and stress... Which means I do keep some games with little/skippable story.

Hurrah for RPG's! (And all other genres since I play them all...)