So much for my Happy Ending

[WestMountain]

I thought that this was was going to be a thread about OPs failed Thaimassage

OnT: A sad ending doesnt mean that it was a bad ending, I often get more moved by movies and the like if it doesnt go to well for the main character then movies with happy endings, and the game/movie directors probably know this.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Its all about story telling, sometimes its boring, cliche and predictable when every hero wins in the end. Some times its good to let the bad guy win for once all for the sake of narrative. Sad endings in games can be beautiful if done right, regardless of the 10 hours or so you just spent to get to the end.

Unless its a story about the reformation of the Nazi party, never do that, thats a bad idea, dont let the bad guy win in that game.

 

[MasterStratus]

Apparently developers think they're being "edgy" by making the main character die/lose.

 

[Cabisco]

Depends on the game.
Mass effect has happy endings, if you play it right.....

Thats totally dependant on how much of a paragon you are

Well it's not, but it was for me. I miss miranda, I hate jack. Why did I think the crazy would be funny

I liked Jack she made me larf.
Miranda was ok but I didn't really like Cerberus.

I miss her, it also slowly dawned on me that jack is just a crazy hormonal bag of insane (the baldness and tatoos somehow didn't tip me off).

I can't wait for Mass Effect3 to find out what happens to everyone.

God-dam you Bioware why do you have to make such a great game!

I know, in a way i'm so happy they made characters who I really cared about (garrus ftw forever and always) but it's a damn shame because I don't want to see the ones I like die. Moreover the fact I just can't be bothered to play it all through again just to let one person live, not worth it. I was much more invested in the story, characters than the actual game part so I really don't want to revisit it.

 

[Mr. McFuzzers]

Forgive me for my crude methods, but: why have a happy ending? Why not have a more lasting impact through sorrow than a shallow through "joy"?

Why have a sad ending? It doesn't automatically make the make the ending better.

I remember when Tali died in one of my ME2 playthroughs.
It was one of the most memorable moments im my gaming history and it was a very sad ending.
I'm not saying that having a sad ending makes the ending better but it does make it much more memorable.

 

[Hurray Forums]

Variety is a good thing, happy endings, sad endings, and bittersweet endings can all be the "right" way to go if done well. Just go with whatever fits the themes/structure of the story and best communicates the ideas you want your story to tell. Don't have a sad ending just because it's "dark and edgy", but don't have a happy ending just because that's the "formulaic" way to go.

 

[Ckeesy]

Prototype had a happy ending, right? I'm a bit fuzzy on the details of the ending, but I seem to remember distinctly not dying.

Regardless, that game still makes me feel good when I play it, something I should probably bring up to a therapist at some point.

 

[Freshman]

I would say because everybody started expecting the happy ending. Its the same reason not everybody lives in every episode of doctor who. if they all lived all the time, that show would suck.

EDIT: just thought of a perfect ending (no spoilers no worries) that explains what I'm talking about. RDR. that ending was Not I want to go kill myself sad or i want to go ride unicorns and give everybody a hug happy.

 

[The Austin]

I think that games really fuck up when they do that.

It's almost like the game developer says "Hey, lets end the game on a sour note that will leave a permanent bad taste in the players mouth!"


It's pretty stupid if you ask me.

 

[GrinningManiac]

Evil Genius ends with you sucessfully launching the rocket and taking over the world, with the UN buidling being remade into your personal thoneroom

Also, if you capture him before the rocket is launched, you get to strap John Steele (the game's James Bond) to the rocket and launch him into the vacum of space. Such a cathartic ending to such an annoying, indefeatable b*stard!

 

[Loonerinoes]

Must...strangle OP...for Avril Lavigne lyrics thread title GNYAAAAAAAAAARRRRRG!

Anywho...sometimes a good ending is appropriate but sometimes ending on a downer can be good too. It depends on the target audience and not all who love a sad ending are emos who cut themselves regularly either.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

Variety is a good thing, happy endings, sad endings, and bittersweet endings can all be the "right" way to go if done well. Just go with whatever fits the themes/structure of the story and best communicates the ideas you want your story to tell. Don't have a sad ending just because it's "dark and edgy", but don't have a happy ending just because that's the "formulaic" way to go.

This person has the right idea. Also, I hate a lot of protagonists these days, often because they're cocksure smug bastards that never get taken down a peg or five. Or they're played by Shia Labeouf

 

[Ironic Pirate]

What pisses me off is how that's viewed as more intelligent/meaningful.

A true cynic would admit that it's much more difficult to realistically portray a happy ending. Because too many people think cynicism = "intelligence" and total non conformist rebel! But if you're so cynical, then you'll know it's easy to be a cynic, and is harder to be optimistic at an intelligent level.

 

[LiquidGrape]

Best-thread-title-ever.
I have no idea whether it was deliberate, but nothing beats a good double entendre.

Oh, and OT.
I'm not sure it's as big a trend as you may believe, but I'll grant you that recent tendencies in the medium have been leaning towards the bleak.
What really matters is the execution.
Though I won't hide that I demand the possibility of skipping through a field of daffodil with Jack at the end of Mass Effect 3.

 

[Kajin]

Forgive me for my crude methods, but: why have a happy ending? Why not have a more lasting impact through sorrow than a shallow through "joy"?

Why does a happy ending automatically make the ending shallow? And why does a sad ending automatically make the ending have more impact? The trick to having a good ending isn't in what emotions are conveyed, but instead it is in how they are conveyed.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Quite a catchy song...

OT: I don't know. I suppose a "happy ending" just isn't good enough for today's stuck-up, snobby gamers. They want an actual emotional experience... or just an online FPS where they can shoot down every living thing and get a nice score.

 

[Kajin]

Best-thread-title-ever.
I have no idea whether it was deliberate, but nothing beats a good double entendre.

Same here. The thread I got wasn't anywhere near the thread I thought this was about.

 

[UBERfionn]

Depends on the game.
Mass effect has happy endings, if you play it right.....

Thats totally dependant on how much of a paragon you are

Well it's not, but it was for me. I miss miranda, I hate jack. Why did I think the crazy would be funny

I liked Jack she made me larf.
Miranda was ok but I didn't really like Cerberus.

I miss her, it also slowly dawned on me that jack is just a crazy hormonal bag of insane (the baldness and tatoos somehow didn't tip me off).

I can't wait for Mass Effect3 to find out what happens to everyone.

God-dam you Bioware why do you have to make such a great game!

I saved them all first go. i was soo relieved.

I know, in a way i'm so happy they made characters who I really cared about (garrus ftw forever and always) but it's a damn shame because I don't want to see the ones I like die. Moreover the fact I just can't be bothered to play it all through again just to let one person live, not worth it. I was much more invested in the story, characters than the actual game part so I really don't want to revisit it.