Poll: Most important part of a game
- Thread starter sharkinz
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Good story.
I've forgiven plenty of games with lackluster gameplay if they have a story I love.
So long as gameplay itself isn't completely terrible, or the graphics don't make my eyes bleed, then I'll probably like it if it has a good story.
However, there are lots of games where the story aspect ruins it for me completely along with gameplay. It just depends on how bad a certain aspect is, or how good other ones are.
I've forgiven plenty of games with lackluster gameplay if they have a story I love.
So long as gameplay itself isn't completely terrible, or the graphics don't make my eyes bleed, then I'll probably like it if it has a good story.
However, there are lots of games where the story aspect ruins it for me completely along with gameplay. It just depends on how bad a certain aspect is, or how good other ones are.
I'm the only one who chose multiplayer, sad. My whole reason for having video games is to connect with friends that have left my state. So to me, that is by far the most important. Second is gameplay. Everyone loved doom, and it had nothing in the way of plot.
Depends (a bit) on the game.
For a 100% gameplay oriented game; Tetris, Plants Vs Zombies, Snake, etc. Gameplay is the only thing that matters. Gameplay can carry games through bad graphics etc too.
If the game presents itself as anything more than a puzzler/gameplaygame...story is most important.
Example: I recently started playing Crysis 2. Its awful. The graphics are fantastic, the set-pieces are very good. But the story is just horrible, and the game COMPLETELY fails to draw me in. It is so bad that I have simply put it away for the time being. And that is saying a lot considering FPSes are the most effortless games to pick up, and it is one of my favorite types of games.
Story: Usually the most important aspect of a game.
For a 100% gameplay oriented game; Tetris, Plants Vs Zombies, Snake, etc. Gameplay is the only thing that matters. Gameplay can carry games through bad graphics etc too.
If the game presents itself as anything more than a puzzler/gameplaygame...story is most important.
Example: I recently started playing Crysis 2. Its awful. The graphics are fantastic, the set-pieces are very good. But the story is just horrible, and the game COMPLETELY fails to draw me in. It is so bad that I have simply put it away for the time being. And that is saying a lot considering FPSes are the most effortless games to pick up, and it is one of my favorite types of games.
Story: Usually the most important aspect of a game.
Well, from personal experience I can honestly say... none of the above.
Story? Did Shadow of the Colossus have a great story... or even a story at all? I never cared for the story in Halo CE, but I had an absolute blast playing coop and multiplayer. So Multiplayer? Nope, the majority of games I play have no multiplayer whatsoever. Gameplay then? HA! I fucking loved Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines and the gameplay was atrocious, and Psychonauts was pretty iffy as well but I sure loved it to death. Deus Ex AI was laughable, and the gameplay felt clunky. Mass Effect AI was no better, and nobody will remember it for its stellar gameplay. Graphics? Don't make me laugh. Genre... Sims, Painkiller, Mario Kart, Goldeneye, Starfox 64, Banjo kazooie, Thief, Zelda, Amnesia, FFVII, Mass Effect 2, Katamari Damacy, System Shock 2, Fallout 3, Neverwinter Nights, Wii Sports, etc... not much these games share in common, but I sure liked them all for various reasons.
I think the most important part of a game is that it is an enjoyable experience for the player, and at least in my case, there seems to be many ways for a developer to achieve just that.
Story? Did Shadow of the Colossus have a great story... or even a story at all? I never cared for the story in Halo CE, but I had an absolute blast playing coop and multiplayer. So Multiplayer? Nope, the majority of games I play have no multiplayer whatsoever. Gameplay then? HA! I fucking loved Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines and the gameplay was atrocious, and Psychonauts was pretty iffy as well but I sure loved it to death. Deus Ex AI was laughable, and the gameplay felt clunky. Mass Effect AI was no better, and nobody will remember it for its stellar gameplay. Graphics? Don't make me laugh. Genre... Sims, Painkiller, Mario Kart, Goldeneye, Starfox 64, Banjo kazooie, Thief, Zelda, Amnesia, FFVII, Mass Effect 2, Katamari Damacy, System Shock 2, Fallout 3, Neverwinter Nights, Wii Sports, etc... not much these games share in common, but I sure liked them all for various reasons.
I think the most important part of a game is that it is an enjoyable experience for the player, and at least in my case, there seems to be many ways for a developer to achieve just that.
Gameplay.
Gameplay can make up for a weak story, just look at Painkiller. The retro situation can exist i.e. Heavy Rain, but the result is just far less entertaining than a game where the gameplay is fine tuned.
Remember, this is a game. A form of entertainment. My primary goal is to be entertained not to be moved by the story (although if that happens, then brilliant).
Gameplay can make up for a weak story, just look at Painkiller. The retro situation can exist i.e. Heavy Rain, but the result is just far less entertaining than a game where the gameplay is fine tuned.
Remember, this is a game. A form of entertainment. My primary goal is to be entertained not to be moved by the story (although if that happens, then brilliant).
Story, any developer has ten great game play ideas at any one time, The reason story is generally so bad in games is because its an afterthought.
This could be remedied by a shift in the work spectrum, look at the film industry, you think of an idea, you write the script, you make the film. that's how it should be done, not make a bunch of levels and glue them together with audio logs.
of course at the end of the day it depends on the game. I have TONS of indie titles with no story. I love both equally, but Story will always be my biggest selling point.
This could be remedied by a shift in the work spectrum, look at the film industry, you think of an idea, you write the script, you make the film. that's how it should be done, not make a bunch of levels and glue them together with audio logs.
of course at the end of the day it depends on the game. I have TONS of indie titles with no story. I love both equally, but Story will always be my biggest selling point.
Bioshock was a perfect example of excellent design and an incredible story. But no one category holds a game together. Amnesia was a jaw dropping design game and its horror genre was chiseled into every block in that game. Graphics help the design, but it doesn't take graphics to make a good game, its just an aid.
Design. You can have a good story but not put it together well. You need good acting, good pacing, good setting and good objectives (so it's not boring). Design pretty much covers the entire spectrum of a game, so it's a stupid poll and everyone should be voting design.
That they are still called games is the equivalent of movies not being allowed dialogue because they're still called movies rather than talkies. They don't need to have a focus on fun gameplay, they can be more diverse than any other medium and have an interactive element in setting and narrative rather than combat.
-Gameplay. What is it we are playing here, what does the game want us to do?
-Graphics. I?m talking about graphics on a functional level. Do the visuals communicate the game to the player well?
-Story/ graphical style/ sound. I think these three things are about on the same level. They work off of each other, the style and the sound build atmosphere that add towards the over all narrative. Sound in itself has also another important role that goes towards communicating what is happening in the environment.
- The finer technical point that may add towards the graphics and sound quality. Things that alow for smoother objects, higher frame rates and more complicated real time lighting effects. Basically icing on the cake type stuff.
-Graphics. I?m talking about graphics on a functional level. Do the visuals communicate the game to the player well?
-Story/ graphical style/ sound. I think these three things are about on the same level. They work off of each other, the style and the sound build atmosphere that add towards the over all narrative. Sound in itself has also another important role that goes towards communicating what is happening in the environment.
- The finer technical point that may add towards the graphics and sound quality. Things that alow for smoother objects, higher frame rates and more complicated real time lighting effects. Basically icing on the cake type stuff.
Other: Gameplay.
Other elements like graphics are a nice plus but not essential - take Minecraft. Story is an added bonus but far from needed - look at Doom. Co-Op can add or subtract value from a game - ongoing discussion in this thread: [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109181-Elder-Scrolls-Multiplayer-Possible-But-Unlikely-Says-Bethesda-Marketing-Boss[/link].
But if a game doesn't play well then it's failed at the whole point of being a game.
Other elements like graphics are a nice plus but not essential - take Minecraft. Story is an added bonus but far from needed - look at Doom. Co-Op can add or subtract value from a game - ongoing discussion in this thread: [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109181-Elder-Scrolls-Multiplayer-Possible-But-Unlikely-Says-Bethesda-Marketing-Boss[/link].
But if a game doesn't play well then it's failed at the whole point of being a game.
