Stories in videogames

[MedeaWakoski]

Do you think stories in videogames are important?

We've recently had great games that focused on story, like The Last of Us and Heavy Rain. Upcoming Beyond Two Souls looks like it will be a massive hit and the story is the game's biggest focus.

I think the PS4 will see games that have stronger stories. In the past, it was just there, but now it seems they are caring more. The Witcher 3, Dragon Age Inquisition, Evil Within, Mirror's Edge 2, The Division. I'm sure I'm missing some, but already many games have been announced, including new IPs, that focus on building a story.

Do you care if a game has a good story or not? What other upcoming games intrigue you and focus on story?

 

[wowtgp]

Yes, to certain extent. For games like GTA V, I don't think story matters all that much. It would do great as MMO. But for something like The Last of Us or Bioshock series, the story has to be there.

 

[amazingone]

I think the stories are somewhat important. I really enjoyed the Heavy Rain story, Suikoden's story, Red Faction and a few others. But the gameplay and graphics matter just as much. Most gamers will overlook a bad story for good graphics and the fun factor.

 

[lindbergh]

Do you think stories in videogames are important?

We've recently had great games that focused on story, like The Last of Us and Heavy Rain. Upcoming Beyond Two Souls looks like it will be a massive hit and the story is the game's biggest focus.

I think the PS4 will see games that have stronger stories. In the past, it was just there, but now it seems they are caring more. The Witcher 3, Dragon Age Inquisition, Evil Within, Mirror's Edge 2, The Division. I'm sure I'm missing some, but already many games have been announced, including new IPs, that focus on building a story.

Do you care if a game has a good story or not? What other upcoming games intrigue you and focus on story?

Stories have long been an integral part in games. I think story based games started to get more attention in the SNES/Sega Genesis days. It continued towards the PS1 era with games like Xenogears, Metal Gear Solid, and Final Fantasy and has never left since. Stories give you meaning to finish games. No longer are we content to beat our high score every time we play. We need a deeper reason than high scores. And a story provides that reason.

 

[amazingone]

I guess it kind of depends on the genre too. RPG players want a good story while sports gamers and action gamers do not require a good story or sometimes don't even need a story at all. It gets tricky with hybrid style games that are action/rpg because you have to cater to both types of gamers. So, there's usually a story to those types of games but one without much depth to it.

 

[MedeaWakoski]

Yes, to certain extent. For games like GTA V, I don't think story matters all that much. It would do great as MMO. But for something like The Last of Us or Bioshock series, the story has to be there.

Actually, even for GTA V, although the story isn't masterpiece material, it's still great. It's funny and witty, and you can tell the writers didn't just write crap.

I guess it kind of depends on the genre too. RPG players want a good story while sports gamers and action gamers do not require a good story or sometimes don't even need a story at all. It gets tricky with hybrid style games that are action/rpg because you have to cater to both types of gamers. So, there's usually a story to those types of games but one without much depth to it.

Yeah, definitely. In RPGs we spend so much time in compared to action games, so a good story is essential.

 

[jstep7262]

I'm definitely a story driven gamer. Nothing beats a good story that I can immerse myself in. I don't expect good stories from CoD and some of the games that I KNOW I'll pretty much be playing multiplayer on, but for my RPGs, a solid story is a MUST.

 

[MedeaWakoski]

Same with me. I hate it when the story gets in the way of the game though, like when there are non-stop cutscenes and control is taken away from you.

 

[corporatenoun]

A great story is often what separates average games from fantastic ones. It feels like something is at stake; it feels like there is a real reason for playing, and that you have to take extra care to ensure the safety of the main character (even if dying just means a checkpoint respawn). If you want your work in video games to be recognized as art, then you better damn well have a good story.

 

[lindbergh]

I guess it kind of depends on the genre too. RPG players want a good story while sports gamers and action gamers do not require a good story or sometimes don't even need a story at all. It gets tricky with hybrid style games that are action/rpg because you have to cater to both types of gamers. So, there's usually a story to those types of games but one without much depth to it.

Agreed. Genres that need a good story are the following:
- all RPGs
-action games
-adventure games
-fighting/vs games
-text based games
-survival horror games
-platform games
-strategy games

Games that don't need stories:
-puzzle games (normally)
-racing games

 

[MedeaWakoski]

Pretty much all games then, huh? I agree!

 

[DrRipley]

I grew up with Mario, Contra, and Streets of Rage which only ever consisted of getting from point A to point B regardless of the story, and I've grown accustomed to that type of gaming, so no, I don't particularly care about the story in between. Granted, I've only ever finished one of the three games I mentioned, so I don't think my opinion counts that much to the gaming industry and community.

 

[MedeaWakoski]

I grew up with Mario, Contra, and Streets of Rage which only ever consisted of getting from point A to point B regardless of the story, and I've grown accustomed to that type of gaming, so no, I don't particularly care about the story in between. Granted, I've only ever finished one of the three games I mentioned, so I don't think my opinion counts that much to the gaming industry and community.

I grew up with those too, but aimlessly going from A to B, or always having the same goal of "saving the princess" every time, gets boring fast. I probably wouldn't stick around for gaming if I didn't get a sense that the character I am playing as has some kind of purpose.

 

[Dame6089]

I think stories can be important, but aren't necessary. Gameplay is what is most important. If the game sin't fun to play, nobody is going to get to the end to complete the story. Games like Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon prove this point. These games basically regurgitate a similar story ever time, but are still extremely successful because they are fun.

 

[GetFresh]

I think the storyline is pretty important in a game. It's what keeps you motivated to keep playing the game. The better the plot the more I will be hooked onto the game. Nothing turns me off more than a terrible story.

 

[BlackSolaris]

Agreed. Genres that need a good story are the following:
- all RPGs
-action games
-adventure games
-fighting/vs games
-text based games
-survival horror games
-platform games
-strategy games

Games that don't need stories:
-puzzle games (normally)
-racing games

Puzzle games tend to have one of the best stories out there. Professor's Layton, Phoenix Wright, 90% of the point and click puzzle adventure PC games, all those come to mind when i think about good story.
Still, there is no need for a story in all the games, some are better without it.

 

[The Unlosing Ranger]

Yes, stories are important. More for some game than others, though. I mean, when I play a fighting game I couldn't care less about the story. I just wanna hit training mode, learn my character's tools and combos and then hit competitive multiplayer. But there's adventure games like The Wolf Among Us which wouldn't work at all if the story wasn't good.

 

[mareebaybay]

I think videogames should have great plots and stories. I hate playing a video game that is sweet in terms of gameplay, but it has a less than average story. There are also those games that are good but they fall apart towards the end of the game. Having a great storyline is a vital part in creating a great videogame, that will sell well too.

 

[kniera]

If you don't have great gameplay you got to have something that will make people buy your game. But I pesonally don't think that I will change much more compared to the previous gen.

 

[Alex324]

Stories are important part for gameplay,but most important part is that game is artistic.When game has art inside it it just feels better.Corporate games only have good advertising,nothing more!!