realism, whats the bloody point

[micky]

i dont get why people love realistic games. i play games to escape real life not be reminded of it, for example jamming guns like in far cry 2 is a horrible and aggravating idea, and why does the color grey suddenly become a realistic color? am i just blind or missing the point, you tell me

The guns in that game jam far more often than any competently constructed gun.

OT: I like some realism in fantasy games like jrpgs because they still present colorful fantastic locations, sights, and creatures. I don't like the realism of fps games, that show "the real world" because I find them boring and not aesthetically pleasing.

right all the colors of the DIRT spectrum, haha

Hey don't knock dirt, it's awesome too! I mean it does all kinds of stuff like sit there, and get blown in the wind, make mud, and... Ok fine, dirt is rubbish.

it even sounds boring DIRT it sounds like the sound of someone getting punched in the stomach, oh diiiirt

 

[micky]

It's like the Arms Race. It's the race to see what studio can create the most "futuristic" and "realistic" game to gain popularity. The most realistic game gets the best score.

i wish games went back to being the quirkier, the better the game, kinda thing.

 

[Ghost1800]

It's like the Arms Race. It's the race to see what studio can create the most "futuristic" and "realistic" game to gain popularity. The most realistic game gets the best score.

Ok, here we go again. In what way are you using the words 'realistic' (I can kind of, in a way, agree with the 'futuristic' assesment)? From what I'm seeing in games, we've gone from having rainbow six represent the epitome of a realistic squad based shooter (original) to being nothing more then a hopped up Gears of War with more lethal weapons (Vegas). This change over time I think most can see as largely negative. Improvements made to graphics cannot be considered a bad thing if judged solely against graphics of previous games... it's usually when a game seems to have sacrificed something vital to achieve those graphics that we run into complaints.

If you're referring to the focus on superior graphics over game play, I think that has affected games across all genres. Realism in games in my definition is how complexities, frailty, and other 'realities of the real world' are brought into the game to complement game play. If you can manage to achieve better graphics, then good for you, but I think the overall atmosphere of a game (audio, voice acting, story writing, and generally the ability to make a scenario seem grounded in a set universe instead of a Hollywood set) is much more important to the game's success then a bunch of fancy shader effects and anti-aliasing or what have you.

So here you have realistic effects and graphics, but also realistic game play and setting... which are you referring to.

 

[L-J-F]

It's like the Arms Race. It's the race to see what studio can create the most "futuristic" and "realistic" game to gain popularity. The most realistic game gets the best score.

Ok, here we go again. In what way are you using the words 'realistic' (I can kind of, in a way, agree with the 'futuristic' assesment)? From what I'm seeing in games, we've gone from having rainbow six represent the epitome of a realistic squad based shooter (original) to being nothing more then a hopped up Gears of War with more lethal weapons (Vegas). This change over time I think most can see as largely negative. Improvements made to graphics cannot be considered a bad thing if judged solely against graphics of previous games... it's usually when a game seems to have sacrificed something vital to achieve those graphics that we run into complaints.

If you're referring to the focus on superior graphics over game play, I think that has affected games across all genres. Realism in games in my definition is how complexities, frailty, and other 'realities of the real world' are brought into the game to complement game play. If you can manage to achieve better graphics, then good for you, but I think the overall atmosphere of a game (audio, voice acting, story writing, and generally the ability to make a scenario seem grounded in a set universe instead of a Hollywood set) is much more important to the game's success then a bunch of fancy shader effects and anti-aliasing or what have you.

So here you have realistic effects and graphics, but also realistic game play and setting... which are you referring to.

I think people have a terribly simplistic idea of what "realistic" is tbh. Most probably haven't even played a realistic game in the first place, let alone play it "how it was meant to be played". Most would hop into a [proper] realistic game, get completely annihilated for their mistakes and "tactics" brought over from games like COD or Starcraft and then blame the game for being "stupid".

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

I like it because I can do things I will never do in real life, which is the point of many games. I like it. It depends on the degree it is applied to the game.

 

[Limzz]

Immersion. That's not to say it works in all situations.

 

[photog212]

Damn, I came in here hoping to argue the pros and cons of realism vs such movements as modernism and impressionism. That's what I get for expecting high brow.

Anyhoo, videgames, tv, movies, etc. are meant to be entertainment as a means of escaping reality. Dancing on the line between fantasy and realty is ok to some extent, but eventually the progression towards reality will have to stop. If not we will all end up playing games based on meaningless day to day stuff.

 

[L-J-F]

Damn, I came in here hoping to argue the pros and cons of realism vs such movements as modernism and impressionism. That's what I get for expecting high brow.

Anyhoo, videgames, tv, movies, etc. are meant to be entertainment as a means of escaping reality. Dancing on the line between fantasy and realty is ok to some extent, but eventually the progression towards reality will have to stop. If not we will all end up playing games based on meaningless day to day stuff.

Just to stop you there, that would be "authenticity". I like to play realistic games, but a lot of the time I like to do incredibly stupid things, things that wouldn't happen in real life. For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE98tlStvgg - ArmA2 - military simulation

 

[ZephrC]

Am I the only person that finds "realistic" games are harder to get immersed in? Seriously, everything's always just a little bit off, I'm always thinking "Wait, that shouldn't work!"

Games that build their own separate world that doesn't follow the same rules are far better for immersion, because they don't break the rules nearly as much. At least when they're well written.

 

[Ghost1800]

Am I the only person that finds "realistic" games are harder to get immersed in? Seriously, everything's always just a little bit off, I'm always thinking "Wait, that shouldn't work!"

Games that build their own separate world that doesn't follow the same rules are far better for immersion, because they don't break the rules nearly as much. At least when they're well written.

Eh, that's really up to the person playing it. A game that builds it's own universe definitely can suck you in pretty well (assuming it's done right of course), but this requires a certain willingness to suspend disbelief in the first place. So it can be harder up-front for some people to become immersed in those sorts of games.

Basically, it depends on the person.

 

[L-J-F]

Am I the only person that finds "realistic" games are harder to get immersed in? Seriously, everything's always just a little bit off, I'm always thinking "Wait, that shouldn't work!"

Games that build their own separate world that doesn't follow the same rules are far better for immersion, because they don't break the rules nearly as much. At least when they're well written.

You should probably update to RL version 1.00 (sounds like you're on a pre-release, everyone makes games based on 1.00 now), there are some pretty strange bugs in the beta release, to say nothing of the alpha, probably what you're experiencing.

 

[Joe Casson]

Thanks for the welcome. Im just saying that really its possible to get into any game, as long as you try. I grew up on Rayman, Sonic 3, the tales series etc. And I really get engrossed, but there are so many gritty, mud coloured war games that try to be 'realistic' with the same guns, game engines and swearing etc that they all seem so similar its hard to pick one that shines out. I find a few every now and again I get into, but its kinda like trying to keep buying remakes to a point. The core of it is so similar.

For me, Serious Sam was my fave FPS, but the CoD series. I've played most of them, but I only enjoyed two of them, because most of them feel like the same game to me. While that applies to most series to (Sonic will always be running, jumping etc) Part of it is the levels all follow the trend of gritty, dark, or a house with enemies etc.


Game devs need new ideas

 

[Jezzascmezza]

I like a balance of realistic and non-realistic games to play.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I suppose it's for the enthusiasts. You know, army nuts, aeroplane fans and the like. Arma and those period flight sims and so on.

That, and the new fad is to make atrophied 14 year-olds feel like real men by releasing shooty games that make them feel badass or whatever.

 

[Alon Shechter]

i can be immersed in unrealistic games quite easily

I agree, I don't think realism equates immersion by a long-shot.

Making games realistic puts less stress on the developers to be creative ... why think up some new and interesting premise when you can just make another WW2 game?

That is nonsense...
Building a VIDEO GAME which simulates REAL MODERN WARFARE is not something easy.
I find the challenge and teamwork to be a lot of fun.
Not L4D teamwork where once in a while you save someone from a fat smoker , true teamwork where one watching a specific location can mean life or death to others.
EDIT: By the way , there are no realistic WW2 games. Not as an infantry soldier anyways.

 

[Captain Pancake]

It's an attempt to match what cannot be matched. A goal that we keep striving in excellence towards, yet currently unable to achieve. It keeps us fresh, inspired, and invigorated.

that sounds like a description on a Gatorade bottle

Maybe I should send that to them. That's a 100% original JohnnyAllStar.

you even have th right name for it! johnnyallstar!

Damn now I really want some Gatorade...