Why you should play "Gone Home"

[DEAD34345]

Spare yourself the money that could buy an actual game and play the short Freeware version of it: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28073528/GoHo/GoHo.html

I laughed. I cried. 10/10.

Gone Home was alright, I guess, though honestly it didn't get that much of a reaction out of me. The most emotional part made me go "Aw, that's nice." Really I'd say the time and money would be much better spent playing the above game.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Without a doubt in my mind, the best game released this year, and a solid contender for the best game ever made, it is a crime that Gone Home is still so widly unknown.

This game is a magnificent example of what can be done with the medium, when creative people have a story to tell and a passion for telling it. Though not exactly a "game", but an interactive storytelling experience (a bit of a douchey way to put it, but whatever)...

Shaky claims, to say the least. They're almost directly contradictory at the conceptual level.

If the experience isn't being conveyed through gameplay, then it isn't really a game no matter how amazing the story is.
Logically, I define "gameplay" in this context as the player having significant agency in the experience (and significant consequence as a result), because that is the biggest element that sets it apart from every other creative medium. (yes, there's interactive "art" in those mediums, but it is by far the exception and not the rule)

Calling it an "interactive storytelling experience" isn't "douchey" or "bad"; it's accurate.

And really, such things only carry any stigma due to some people trying to define them as "games". And why? Because they borrow elements from games? By that logic, games are also films, literature, and music, because games use elements from those mediums as well.

I must emphasize that don't even care about the quality of the work here. It could be the fucking Shawshank Redemption of its day and I'd still be making this argument.

 

[Vale]

Here's a better game for you, then:
1. Learn French (or Hungarian, the translations are proper professional and very authentic)
2. Read Robert Merle's books, particularly Death is My Trade.
3. Feel really bad and a whole mess of other feelings too.

I refuse to accept "Gone Home" as a game, and as such as something you play.
And I would not classify it as an especially great story in any sense.
But each to his own. Even though everybody who has a different opinion from me is wrong.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

"I take insult to someone saying that this game, somehow is better than those just because it it deals with a hot topic issue in it." Because no great work of fiction ever did that.

I take insult in you taking insult in my taste of stories. Okay, I might have been a bit quick on the gun declaring it one of the best games ever made, though it is how I honestly feel.

I don't recall saying I took insult to your taste in games. I took insult to you saying a game with a story that's been done six billion times before across all other mediums is somehow the "best game ever made". I took insult to someone saying that all the great and interesting stories that have been done in video-games pale in comparison to something so bland and over done.

If this had been a movie then it could potentially be great, because then there would likely be flashbacks to the moments you hear when you pick up some items, perhaps instead have it so Samantha left her diary at the front door with a note telling Kaitlin to read it so she'd understand why she's doing what she's doing and we'd take breaks in between with Kaitlin looking around the house. They would have actually had to develop Kaitlin's as a person and make it so you have a connection to the family at this house because you're seeing how much they matter to the person in front of you. If it was a movie then they'd likely make it so stuff actually happens besides just looking around and finding stuff so that it's not just finding all the pieces.

But as a movie, it would be nothing special aside from the hot topic issue it deals with. It would be just another movie about teenage romance and tension between parents. The only reason it's of any note as a story is because it's a game.

You are free to have an interest in stories about families. But this is not something special. And I'm not saying that what is considered "normal" games don't have things that are generic, I have games in my collection that are very well trodden that I enjoy. I have a PS2 platformer called Malice that has very little that trully separates itself from other platformers, but I still take joy in it because I have a weakness for platform games. But I recognize that it isn't special and don't try to pass it off as such.

Did you play the game? It's in no way trying to be "cheap attention getting game" or a preachy story on how

Spoiler

"there's nothing wrong with being gay". It's a love stroy that just happens to be about two young women, there's nothing ham-handed or forced about it. I actually feel it's more about teenage insecurity, confusion and naiveté than it is about homosexuality.

No, I did not spend 20$ on it, because I'm a college student trying to pay tuition ever month and have no desire to put down money on something so short and about a story I have little interest in. I have however watched an LP of it from someone I watch on Youtube, and trust me, he's probably one of the best people to watch to see someone that enjoys it because he loves games that put in lots of little details or allow you to do mundane things. (LP in question. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzDeS-SWRIMMzgcQ5GbLjT-4-WXkbSSxd ) Trust me, I got the full experience.

Spoiler

And look to what I said above for my thoughts on that. The only thing that makes this at all unique is the homosexual angle to it. It is a story that has been done a thousand times before in books and that is why I take insult, one of the most common and easiest of stories you can find in literature being hailed as the best that video-games have ever done is an insult to me.

 

[wulf3n]

What I've always found interesting with the discussion surrounding games like this or Dear Esther or The Stanley Parable is how many people seem to get offended by the classification game. As if calling this a game somehow diminishes "games" in general. That the mere association with Gone Home is damaging to the industry.


OT:

Best game ever made? not a chance.
Game of the year material. No!

What it is is a somewhat unique attempt at exploring narrative within games, but it has some serious flaws.

The most glaring is how easy the information is dished out. There's no challenge to it, if you're attentive. As such the story is played it in a very linear fashion to the point where the interactive nature of the medium it's being presented in is rendered moot. This could have been done in a movie or book and would have felt exactly the same.

As has been said before the story itself comes off as an attempt to capitalize on the diversity in games issues that have been so prevalent lately. Maybe I'm just jaded. Maybe the developers really did want to tell this story, but it didn't come across that way to me.

 

[Raikas]

As has been said before the story itself comes off as an attempt to capitalize on the diversity in games issues that have been so prevalent lately. Maybe I'm just jaded. Maybe the developers really did want to tell this story, but it didn't come across that way to me.

What's funny to me is that there seems to be quite a disconnect about the overall importance of that element. Because while I've read this comment from plenty of people here (and on other gaming sites), the people who recommended it to me IRL and on a non-related board both talked glowingly about the atmosphere and said zero about that "diversity" piece that apparently so many people think is central to it.

 

[wulf3n]

What's funny to me is that there seems to be quite a disconnect about the overall importance of that element. Because while I've read this comment from plenty of people here (and on other gaming sites), the people who recommended it to me IRL and on a non-related board both talked glowingly about the atmosphere and said zero about that "diversity" piece that apparently so many people think is central to it.

I would assume they didn't talk about it much because it's supposed to be a reveal. Though I'm just guessing.

There's also how one would define "central" to the story. To me central is anything that affects how the story plays out.

 

[Crash486]

What's funny to me is that there seems to be quite a disconnect about the overall importance of that element. Because while I've read this comment from plenty of people here (and on other gaming sites), the people who recommended it to me IRL and on a non-related board both talked glowingly about the atmosphere and said zero about that "diversity" piece that apparently so many people think is central to it.

I would assume they didn't talk about it much because it's supposed to be a reveal. Though I'm just guessing.

There's also how one would define "central" to the story. To me central is anything that affects how the story plays out.

That's because said diversity piece is controversial to be critical about lest people start labeling you this way or that. I'll say this, they did a good job of capturing the atmosphere of the 90's. I'd nearly forgotten about recording VHS tapes of my favorite TV series, and it was a nice bite of nostalgia to see those things strewn about in much the same manner they are at my parents house. That being said, those "easter eggs" don't account for much substance.

The meat and potatoes behind the game is the main storyline, everything else is just gravy. Honestly, if you remove the fact that

Spoiler

your sister is a lesbian

from the equation, the story becomes a rather cliche reiteration of the same tale of teenage angst that's been told 1000 times before, through sitcoms and after school specials. Im pretty sure even this particular scenario has been told at least 100 times before.

 

[SKBPinkie]

Spare yourself the money that could buy an actual game and play the short Freeware version of it: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28073528/GoHo/GoHo.html

Oh man, I'm going to hell for laughing at this. Seriously, thanks for making my day.

OT: Nope, not gonna buy the game. Saw a playthrough on YouTube, and honestly don't feel like I'm missing out by not "playing" it. It's barely interactive. It's like you're listening to an audio book, but need to press w every 30-40 seconds. That's exactly the sort of thing that YouTube is good for.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Okay, wow.
I'm sorry for saying that the game could be one finest games ever made, claiming absolutes apprently doesn't turn out that well, heh. It was (and is) my opinion, and I honestly thought people would see eye to eye with me, but a lot of good points have been raised about the game, and I'd like to elaborate.

I don't think so. I just read the entire plot of the game on the Wikipedia article. sooo....

Ok, well you just missed the entire point.

HOWEVER, the game isn't worth buying. Not at the original $20 that Steam wants.

I agree with this. I only picked it up on steam when it was on discount. I was aware of the game before, but didn't feel like coughing up 20? for it. They should definitely cut the price in half.

I've played tons and tons of games with depth that comes about through effort and style. I take insult to someone saying that this game, somehow is better than those just because it deals with a hot topic issue in it. Gone Home at least got a bunch of media buzz, the games that do so much more usually never even sniff that much. It's something destined to generate that buzz, be hailed as amazing, and then be forgotten.

"I take insult to someone saying that this game, somehow is better than those just because it it deals with a hot topic issue in it." Because no great work of fiction ever did that.

I take insult in you taking insult in my taste of stories. Okay, I might have been a bit quick on the gun decalring it one of the best games ever made, though it is how I honestly feel.

Did you play the game? It's in no way trying to be "cheap attention getting game" or a preachy story on how [SPOILERS] "there's nothing wrong with being gay". It's a love stroy that just happens to be about two young women, there's nothing ham-handed or forced about it. I actually feel it's more about teenage insecurity, confusion and naiveté than it is about homosexuality. [SPOILERS]

And I say no to that. Games are already in many ways seen as an artform by some people, but in order for even more to do so, it doesn't need cheap attention getting games like Gone Home. I prefer games that are like The Beatles or Queen, ones that are seen as classics. Gone Home is the equivalent of a boy band.

I in no way meant that every game from now on should be like Gone Home. What I'm trying to say is: There are a lot of people who would greatly enjoy games like gone home, but are drawn away from games by the current image that video games have in the general public. Games are mostly known for war and murder and not for intricate storytelling.

On the flip side, if the player can't relate to the setting and story personally, I'm not sure Gone Home does enough in terms of raw narrative structure and play mechanics to warrant the excessive merit. It's essentially a big ball of references that either matter to you or don't. If it's the former, you probably enjoyed the hell out of the experience and gave it a 9 or a 10. If it's the latter, you probably feel like you're taking crazy pills because you don't understand why the hell people are talking about this game.

Well, I'm a 20 year old straight male from Finland and don't listen to Punk. I didn't grow up in America in the 90's, so there's absolutely nothing nostalgic to me about the game. The only thing I could relate to was that I've also been in love, and I believe alot of other people have been too. Of course I could be just a small minority of "outsiders" being drawn to a story that doesn't really concern me, but I honestly feel like Gone Home is a universal tale of love.

Edit: just realized OP invoked Edward Scissorhands in a Gone Home thread. We are now sworn enemies.

But I love you... D:

If I can get EVERYTHING out of a game just through reading the Wikipedia plot and not actually playing it? It shouldn't be a game.

Hotline Miami is a game. This is merely reading, then tossing the book across the room until you decide to walk over and pick it up again. That does not a game make.

 

[Eve Charm]

Eh I still haven't played it, maybe I will at 5 bucks but since it came out the main push of this game has been "It's got LGBT stuff!" makes it as compelling to play as playing a game cause "It's got boobs!"

Being said playing a game like this is more playing and not watching it, But come on this game looks like root through your parents junk drawers and sister's diary and make up a story >.>

 

[T_ConX]

Dear Esther is so deep. It has such a moving story and the environments are so beautiful! It's totally worth a buy!

Fuck no. I walked around an empty island for an hour, listening to some guy whine about his dead wife. Emphasis on walked. The one thing I remember most about this game is the player characters glacial walking speed. The graphics were pretty good, but you're never given the chance to interact with the environments. 'Look, but don't touch' seems to be the design mantra here, and that's what lost me. Good thing I only paid $3 for it...

Gone Home is so deep. It has such a moving story and the environments are so beautiful! Definate GotY. It's totally worth a buy!

Fuck no. I walked around an empty house for an hour (and on my second play, two full minutes), listing to some girl whine about typical teenage bullshit. Also, the graphics weren't anywhere near as good as Dear Esther. Oh, but I can pick up nearly every object in the house and look at it before either putting it down or chucking across the room. I'd love to get that $20 back.

And Katie walks too slow. Is that a going to be a regular theme for these games? It's like the developers reach the end of production and realize that their game is only half an hour long, so they shoot the main character in the foot to slow him or her down.

The Stanley Parable is so dee...

NO! STOP! I am not falling for this bullshit again! I am not getting suckered into buying another shitty 2deep4u walking simulator! This is the laziest form of game design there is. They just make environments, write and record some shitty monologues, set up some triggers and slap a price tag on it. Next thing you know every gaming website feels the need to shower this turd with praise, because failing to do so would suggest that they don't understand the game; that they're not smart enough to appreciate it's finer nuances.

There's just one problem. The Emperor is naked.

 

[Eve Charm]

The Stanley Parable is so dee...

NO! STOP! I am not falling for this bullshit again! I am not getting suckered into buying another shitty 2deep4u walking simulator! This is the laziest form of game design there is. They just make environments, write and record some shitty monologues, set up some triggers and slap a price tag on it. Next thing you know every gaming website feels the need to shower this turd with praise, because failing to do so would suggest that they don't understand the game; that they're not smart enough to appreciate it's finer nuances.

There's just one problem. The Emperor is naked.

Nah really play the free demo or the old stanley parable mod.

 

[Crash486]

I really don't think anyone who said "I read the synopsis" or "watched a playthrough" really should not be commenting on whether or not it's a good game.

The experience was looking through the environment and finding the narrative through exploration. It sort of wasn't about the core story than it was how it told its story.

To those that say "its just boring, I don't get it." Then you need to wake the fuck up and accept that people want to do other things with the medium rather than shoot shit at other shit.

You mean... walking around on a linear path through an empty house, visiting waypoints on a map for the next audio cue? I'm sorry, but there wasn't much of an experience to that. Though only thing that made the story telling unique were the 90's pop-culture easter eggs scattered throughout the house.

At least the Stanley Parable lets you customize the narrative by giving you the freedom to choose your own path. It also helps that it's accompanied with a heavy dose of British wit, instead of 90's after school special.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

I thoroughly enjoyed Gone Home and I'm very glad I experienced it. However I will not start professing it to be the best game this year. It was a touching interactive experience but if you're as through as me on first playthroughs you'll soon realise that there's little to no replay value as there's nothing left to explore or discover.

I've actually played Dear Esther more times over because I feel it generates an amazing sense of atmosphere and there's some variation which can lead to multiple interpretations.

I'm happy these games exist but there needs to be a suitable barrier between them and longer, more interactive mediums which arguably deserve more praise within the category of "video game."

 

[Erttheking]

With all the masterpieces that this medium has spawned taken into consideration, I frankly find the notion that Gone Home is even CLOSE to being "a solid contender for the best game ever made" to be downright fucking offensive.

Not to speak of the fact that the devs should frankly be fucking ashamed of charging 20 fucking dollars for a 1½ hour game, for that amount of money I could get HUNDREDS of ours of quality entertainment on Steam or GoG.

Hell, you can get some of the best games EVER made for a dime these days, there is no excuse for wasting money on and encouraging trash like Gone Home.

The only thing about the game that could possibly be considered a merit is the subject matter, and that has been done INFINITELY better in a dozen movies.

If you want a recent piece of entertainment that deals with LGBT issues, you could try watching Blue is the Warmest Colour, a french movie that was released not too long ago, hell Moviebob even did a column about it. That movie handles the subject matter INFINTELY better, and you won't get a cramp in your find from holding down the W button.

I don't mean to insult anyone, but if you actually found Gone Home to be in any way insightful, provocative or original, then you BADLY need to expand your cultural horizons and watch some movies. Gone Home's hamfisted and bumbling approach would maybe have raised an eye-brow in fucking 1990, but that isn't where we are and it doesn't get a free card for being "progressive" just because it's (barely) a video game.

Gone Home is not just a bad game, it doesn't even have a reason to exists.

It really shouldn't. Seriously, why? If people like it more than they liked other things that came out this year, then why should that matter?

You know, quantity =/= quality. I think demanding that they should be ashamed is going a little far.

Ignoring the hyperbole, even classics like System Shock 2 and the original Fallouts still go for around ten bucks each. Gone Home is twenty bucks, not that much more than a game that's been out for two decades. Not to mention your argument seems kind of loaded with the whole "wasting money" segment. Just because you didn't like it doesn't mean that other people are throwing their money away.

Fair enough, maybe those movies did an infinitely better job at addressing the troubles at coming out of the closet. That doesn't change at the fact that Gone Home may not be the best thing in the world, but I found it to be a pretty cute story that while I'm probably not gonna replay for awhile if ever, I'm still glad that I played it. That kind of argument is kind of like saying that that Babalyon 5 shouldn't exist because Star Trek is infinitely better.

Saying that you don't mean to insult anyone doesn't mean much when you proceed to do just that. I enjoyed the game, I wouldn't put it on my top five list of the year, maybe top ten at the very bottom, maybe not, but I did enjoy it. Personally I feel no need to expand my horizons and find myself to be rather insulted that you view my enjoyment of the game with such spite.

It doesn't have a reason to exist? Yes it does. Because someone out there wanted to tell a story, spent hours upon hours of their time putting together this game, and finally released it. If that isn't reason enough for something to exist, I don't know what is.

In summary? It's ok to not like something, but hating it to the level you do when it hasn't really done anything is just going too far. Not to mention anger directed at someone for liking something you don't like just isn't fair