So who needs a good Story ? Do we need a Story at all ?

A good story is important but not necessary . Gameplay , challenge and fun factor is more important . I prefer story driven games but that doesn't mean I believe that it's the most important thing in a game .

Gameplay>story.
But wouldn't you get pissed if the story is so bad or bad written or ...lacking? I myself care about stories in games. It's one of the factors that can make the game great. How about a Half Life game without a story, that would be great and unnoticeable, right? or a Mass effect game / Witcher game / StarCraft game without story? won't ruin the experience right? won't feel like you're just playing a multiplayer game with people ''just for plain crazy fun'' ?
Luckily most of the times, when you find a great game, you find the story great as well. :)

my bad, i forgot morons take everything literally.

keep confusing me as a girl. I love this feeling.

well then i speak for myself only that i mostly do not care about the story so i aint pissed if the story is bad cause i dont even follow it that closely

talking about HALF-LIFE, whenever i think back to that game i dont even remember much of the story but i think back and clearly remember the great fun i had playing the game and certain gameplay elements and scenes i havent expierienced in a game until that moment, like the great AI which was smart enough to throw their grenades behind the cover where i was hiding....or the blood splatters on the walls behind shot enemies....THATS what i remember and THATS what was all the fun, not the friggin story

girl....just get your friggin ballerina schoes and go watch some anime cartoons

Threads like this shows how little mod activity goes around in game discussion forums.

funny i dont see you really participating in this thread but only crying like someone cut off your balls

most people in here do great talking about the topic in here, its just a few who have such troubles following the topic and rather focus and concentrate all their willpower on my person......and now we have one who just visits this thread only to complain about the mods

now seriously....if you dont have anything to say regarding this topic, then please leave this thread, you also werent forced to enter this thread or to follow it, so if it causes you so much pain......

....just stay the hell out of it kid

I think stories detract from gameplay. I think elements that make up a good story are counter-productive to good gameplay. That's why all videogames roughly have similar stories to one-another. Let's take TLOU for example. The game tell a story that has already been similarly told before, with similar characters, and situations similar to recent movies and books. But that's not just all - they make the game so that the gameplay is entirely centered around the pacing of the story - which is more often than not boring and unoriginal. It doesn't feel like you're playing a game, as much as a really lame overproduced movie, and it sucks. That's why I'd gave TLOU a lower score and don't consider to be the greatest game.

I think the issue is that people are too easily satisfied with game stories. If they hear a story that has already been told, but slightly different, they think they've just witnessed something really amazing. The truth is that videogame writing is where failed writers of the real variety end up. Nobody wants to be a writer and write for videogames.

well everyone probably already got it that i generally dont care much about stories in games, but once a while theres an exception, like right now!

just yesterday i started the game "lifeless planet", as a scifi-fan i actually dont find the gameplay and graphics in this game pretty amazing, but i am very interested in the story coz i cant wait how it reveals what planet it is i am stranded..maybe earth ? so in this case i play the game..and probably will finish it for the story....but if the gameplay gets too annoying or there comes up any kind of reason i will not continue this game, then i will just read the walkthrough to find out how the story unfolds

so again, i may be interested in the story this time, but the story still isnt a major motivation for me to play or finish the game, if i really want to know more about the story then i just read the walkthrough like i am reading a book and can follow the story as well without playing the game when i find it annoying to play

well sometimes its not only that, if you think about that some games are really huge and take longer to complete...not everyone has the time on his hands to complete those games in a few days, so often it takes even months for me to complete certain games because i often take longer breaks between sessions, and with taking longer breaks in between those sessions i sometimes forgot about certain key-elements of the story already when i get back playing the game after weeks in which i was playing other games

well, too many games and not enough time

pointing out stupidit =/= explaining something xD

I can hear and completely feel this reasoning, because I once totally related to it when I was much younger. I'll just use an anecdotal reference here to get my point across....my own. This is not meant to be insulting, condescending, or a comparison to belittle others' preferences, just a personal observation and reflection of my own experience to try to help enlighten why perhaps so many today seem drawn to stories/narrative/cinematic driven games more (which seems to be the case).

When I was younger, I needed things hands on at all times to get great enjoyment out of it. Whether it was playing with and manipulating toys and getting that immediate feedback by twisting their knees or posing them in whatever position best suited my particular tastes at that time, or my above post's allusion to having solely physical intimacy rather than an emotional connection as well along with it, as I've aged, things have changed. My predilection for playing with toys has grown from one of instant gratification and "gameplay...gameplay.....gameplay!!" into one of appreciation that ultimately manifests into a deeper sense of enjoyment. I don't buy G.I Joe figures off the shelves to manipulate their limbs and switch guns anymore into the coolest positions, and not because I'm so old. If I still enjoyed what that offered, I would. Instead, I now purchase Sideshow Collectible Polystone figures, handcrafted, handpainted, immaculately detailed 2-1/2 ft. tall immobile sculptures of fictional characters from universes such as Star Wars and those I love, because (for some reason I can't articulate) my satisfaction of something has developed into a greater feeling of appreciation and meaning that lies within that piece of craftsmanship (story) than anything to do with tangibility something like G.I Jod would feed back to me (gameplay). I don't play with these, they are display pieces not to be handled, but they are very satisfying to inspect.

I understand gaming by its interactive nature is different here, but the analogy between gameplay and story stands. I'm attempting to show that this is why, IF a game has a great story or some way to convey my above notions explained above while playing, something alongside gameplay that encapsulates meaning and appreciation, why they should not be discounted and can in fact strengthen what so many seem to think will weaken or destroy. This is not to say I don't still desire tangibility, games being games, this obviously still takes the priority straight up. But it (imo) should no longer be insisted upon at all costs to exclude other elements of a game that can help bring in that feeling of appreciation or deeper meanings to a game's experience. I have to wonder, back when movies first hit....they were all silent. Was there an uproar with audiences with the advent of sound and music because it trespassed upon the image's prominence and ability to convey what the absence of sound didn't? Sure, stories can do that in games just as sound in movies if both are poorly executed, but they can also be a huge compliment and strengthen that gameplay by magnitudes competently done.

To speak for myself, I don't want games that will remain gameplay focused at all costs forever. My tastes have changed, and if that happens I will lose interest in gaming very quickly. I've grown, and as such I see in adamant insistence on nothing but gameplay (even great) as almost to be an impediment and disservice to what this medium could truly grow into. Personally, this is why I've lost a lot of interest in Nintendo over the years because of their viewing games as toys and nothing more, and I suspect why so many seem to be losing interest in their offerings also, though that's just speculation on my part.

I also think it's important to remember also that 95% of narratives in gaming presently are either terribly written or executed. Just like some of the first sound with movies was more than likely atrocious attempts in their implementation. But guess what? No one can tell me today that a movie would be better without great sound. Same idea with stories in games here. Give it time, we are in a midst of a period when tech has finally reached the point that's afforded developers to begin to truly explore interjecting gameplay with more meaning that just hand-eye coordination and clever level design shown on screen.

And if that's ultimately all you desire from today until your death in your games, Nintendo will always be there for you. That is, unless they come to realize that there's a huge audience out there who desires a bit more.

I can only say.. Half Life 1 :-)

Good story , and does f**king marines :S

yes you are a brilliant mind

...now go and tell me what "sarcasm" actually means to spam this thread even more with non-topic related posts

you gotta be fuckin kiddin me, even those nintendo games got stories, and thats my point, every friggin goddamn game no matter how small, big, short or long, gets served with a friggin story, they even spin stories around those match-3 games

the rest of your huge article looks like youre upset that i dont care for any story, so well, sorry for you pal, i am what i am and you have to live with it...

...and i still dont play nintendo games

ps: not that i dont like your article, but you totally blew it with the nintendo remark :-D

there you go

/throws attention

be happy now.

and thats what i cant follow at all, i mean you think of HALF-LIFE and the first thing what comes to your mind is its story ???

excuse me, this may sound a little provocative but if the story counts more than the game why dont you rather just read books then ? they got more and better stories than games and you dont have to waste time with gameplay and the needed configuration/rigs to handle the graphics, not to mention all the bugs and crashes and well...books are far cheaper as well

The "just read books" argument doesn't make any sense to me. If you like good stories/storytelling...why limit yourself to only reading books (or watching films, or playing games)? You'd be missing out on a lot of good stuff if you choose to completely exclude entire storytelling mediums.

Anyway, all storytelling mediums have their own unique pros and cons. Videogames are no different. They offer interactivity, which you can't really get anywhere else...so if you want to experience a good story with interactivity, you might as well play some games every so often.

if this would be a biker-forum and someone claims he rides his bike just to feel the wind on his face, id seriously ask him why he doesnt take the next train and just hangs his head out of the window then

@sabretooth2066: Cuz with a bike it's you riding it, not just sitting in a train and letting it take you. That's the better analogy.

non of the answers is correct. There are some genres that totally need a story like JRPGs. There are other genres, that do not need a story like strategy or fighters. But even those that do not need a story can profit of having an interessting background.

Personally, I can bear a game if I enjoy the gameplay even if the story is shit (like Tales of Xillia 2). But if the gameplay is horrible, I usually stop playing a game even if the story seems interessting.

so then riding the bike is as well a major factor when it comes to the reason why i ride the bike in the first place ?

well ok, then its bullshit when someone claims he plays games for their story in the first place coz actually PLAYING the game is still important and not just the story factor

this is an opinion i can truly follow,

but not an opinion like this poll shows..."only a good story with a good game a great game"

games can be great without any friggin story, thats my point, but of course there are exceptions, but the majority of games still wouldnt need any story in order make people enjoy the game and find it great

lets pretend they make an assassins creed where they just make a shitload of missions with a short text to explain what your goal is regardless of any story or any relation, the game itself...the fun with playing it with all its mechanics and graphics, wouldnt be less enjoyable than if youd have to follow a story next to those missions

talks about maturity

proceeds to insult with the dumbest 12 yo insult he could come up with

i don't even have to try to make you look like a fool xD

Well I wouldn't call what Nintendo puts int their games stories, I'd define them more as pretenses to give the player incentive the begin playing. Though with Zelda obviously they try a bit harder. I didn't mean to insult Nintendo with that last comment, but they are one of the few developers that are very gameplay focused.

I agree but now Nintendo is also a company that makes games for kids and gaming consoles primarily targeted towards families.

i really hate to be with jacanuk on this case, but thats the point, nintendo was always more focused on kids-games and families, these days more than ever

and i actually never said i dont want any story, i just say i mostly dont care for a story and that most games would work as well without one and that i dont understand how the story of a game could be more important than the actual game/gameplay itself, some here seem to constantly forget about that

It depends on the game. Stories are captivating and get you mentally and emotionally involved.

Stories have been around since mankind stated talking.

thats another point, there already been so many stories told that there just cant be any new kind of story at all, so every kind of story has been told already in more than different ways, when it comes to games then its even worse because the stories in games are often just the same or just borrowed from movies weve already seen

the only stories i fall for are those with a twisted ending (greetings from the twilight zone and outer limits), and those are more rare, so if i sense some story where the end could be twisted (hotline miami for example, because its not sure who or what i really am from the beginning on, or manhunt) then i follow it!

I think John Carmack said it best "A story in video games is like a story in a porn movie. Its not necessary, but its expected to be there."

I think great story certainly helps, but any little scrap of something is better than nothing at all, as long as the rest of the game is awesome.

lol yeah thats a great comparison, havent thought of that one yet

Games don't have to have stories to be good games, but I think most of the all-time best games (or at least my favorites) are ones where I enjoyed the story. A great story just makes the game all the more engaging.

it also depends on what story we are talking about here i mean..seriously...does the 08/15 action/agent/crime stories of splinter cell really move anyone ? does the typical war-stories of COD interest anyone ? well i watch every scene of COD´s sequences to see some cool action, the same for metal gear solid, those series has the best cutscenes.

Wow.... My threads never last this long... :(

Why I rarely create any.

@MirkoS77

Me too.... I made 3 this year....

Thats because you never really say anything of importance. ;)

Also i dont recall ever seeing a thread started by you, your forte is oneliners and strange answers that sometimes dont mean jack

@Jacanuk

Don't forget getting banned once a week.....

Banned? have you ever been banned because i have never seen one single post from you that would warrant that.

@Jacanuk

Yeah dude.... Its the Flagging system..... Been forbidden from posting like 5 times now on the grounds Of "Your content has been flagged too many times."

My best guess is theres not enough mods to determine the "I don't like you post" flags from the "You racist bastard" Flags.... It must be automated, but I have no Idea how many flags it takes to ban someone.

Ahh the infamous Flag system, i know its supposed to make the lives a bit easier for the mods but when you get "banned" for flagging spams they have to rethink that system.

But next time it happens just send a PM to one of the mods or use the "allmodsmsg" to get it removed so you can post again. Because there is no reason for you to be having a real ban imo at least :D

@Jacanuk

Honestly.... I think its for the best..... Too much Lulu is not good for everyone and I can use the free time I have to come up with new ways bash the same things.... ;)

wouldn't you agree ?

However something has to be done about all those "SNIPER CLONES" they are tarnishing the Real SNIPER's reputation.... Which I didn't think was even possible...

you mean they get closed too soon ?

well then youre doing it right ;-)

but its really a miracle to me how this thread still isnt closed and me not banned, gotta try harder hehe