Why are Comedy Games so Rubbish?

[Katana314]

I'm trying to think of examples where rather than dialog / one-liners, the gameplay itself is amusing.

Just Cause 2 - the weird physics resulting in amusing occurrences, like a car spinning around in the air 10-12 times after a tire pops.
Mount and Blade - In sword combat, clotheslining an opposing rider with your sword as you ride past
Call of Duty - Killing an opponent with an undetonated grenade

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

There are many problems in my mind. The inability to control timing or to ensure you have the player's attention at the right time is part of it. Poor writing is another part. Last Friday's Weekend Update (A shacknews podcast) actually covered this topic and is probably worth a listen if you're interested in the discussion, mostly because they had a professional comedian (who I've never heard of) present.

 

[bassdrum]

There are two main problems with comedy: so much of it is terrible, and so much of it is topical. The chances of finding good humor that will still be funny in a few years is hard enough, but then trying to build a game around it will only compound the issue.

However, that's not to say that all humorous games are bad. Portal, for example, is a clever and humorous game (that just happens to be the unfortunate victim of nerds and internet memes). Also, Modern Warfare 2's story is laugh-out-loud funny... wait, that wasn't on purpose?

 

[Tomany2]

The Majority of comedy games are "rubbish" because comedy is usually a lack of story, with random clips thrown in as "comic relief".

Look at it this way. Family Guy - No plot each episode, and have random clips in almost every episode to make you laugh, and stop you from realizing there is no plot from the beginning of each episode to the end. (don't get me wrong though, I love family guy.)

 

[Daveman]

Portal, Monkey Island, Timesplitters: Future Perfect, Conkers Bad Fur Day, Worms, Armed and Dangerous, Psychonauts, Futurama (the game), The Penny Arcade games, the radio shows in GTA games, The Simpsons: Hit and Run.

There are plenty of funny games. Even Morrowind had that guy who randomly fell out of the sky, that was hilarious.

(Yeah, I'm adding to this list as I remember more.)

 

[Iron Lightning]

What do you mean by "comedy games" - can you give some examples?

The Futurama game, Postal, the Family Guy game, Leisure Suit Larry, (actually kinda decent until his recent misadventures) The Secret of Monkey Island, etc...

I've noticed that a few old-school comedy adventure games can be alright due to their focus on story above all else. Modern comedy games still remain rubbish, however.

Postal and Family Guy are parody games. The Futurama game wasn't so bad honestly, and kept the shows concept of humor, so you can't like the show and dislike the game, that makes no sense. You're looking in the wrong place for them honestly. Most of the Telltale games are pretty good, in particular the Strong Bad games were amazing. (No, I'm dead serious, they're hilarious) Or play most of the classic LucasArts games, Grim Fandango, Sam and Max, Day of the Tentacle, etc.

Also, how the hell can you not like Monkey Island games? Do you mean the less than great new ones, or have you no funny bone? (The one batch of Telltale games that aren't terribly great)

I rather like a few of those games, I never said that I didn't. The games aforementioned are merely the first few examples I can think of. A few of them are alright, the exceptions that prove the rule.

 

[Phoenix1213]

*checks page 2*
ctrl f: NOLF, Ctrl f: No one, ctrl f: anach

*does same for page 1*

No One Lives Forever(1&2), and Anachronox anyone?

The only other good comedy oriented game I've ever played was The Nameless Mod... Which is technically a mod

 

[Eleima]

You know what game is kinda funny? Torin's Passage.

Wow, someone else played that game! My favorite part was manuvering around the center of the world with the bagpipes and your shapeshifting cat...thing...and...
_>
Oh right, no one cares.

I care! I played that lo so many years ago, and it was great! And the purple cat-like creature was called Boogle!! I loved Boogle!!!

*Ehrm*... Yes, um, comedy games! I think that saying that all comedy games are rubbish is a generalization. There are some very good comedy games out there, they're just not that recent, I guess. Those that come to mind are mostly those in HyenaThePirate's post [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.195555-Why-are-Comedy-Games-so-Rubbish#6270536]: Sam & Max, Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango and the Monkey Island's are the games that come to mind. Especially the Monkey Island's. When my sister and I call each other, the one picking up sometimes answers with a "Flooring Inspector!". Never gets old.