Games and Dissatisfaction

[TBSN]

I love video games.

I mostly play PC games, but if I owned any consoles (besides my aging Playstation 2) I would be into that as well.

However, for a long time now I have been disappointed, or simply not fully satisfied, by what kind of games are available. There are great games out there. There are great new games coming out as well. But no one seems to have the balls to push the envelope in terms of gameplay and the issues that the storyline present.

I just played the demo for F.E.A.R.: Project Origin. I love gory FPS's as much as any, and I'm sure it has some merit. Ignoring the many faults, the game has a stylized environment, the gameplay is fun and the effects are somewhat unique. I can go on and name all types of other games that have some great things going for it. But the possibilities that the computer or console allow aren't being taken advantage of in the least, to my opinion.

Think about it; you can create an entire world in a game. You can create life-like people and objects, you can fully interact with all of them. Most games involve shooting, killing and eviscerating most of the people or creatures you meet in the game. I'm not at all against that. I love FPS shooters as much as anyone. And it's true that in some games you interact with NPC's in more friendly ways, like trading, exchanging or extracting information, etc. But I'm tired of the systems that are already established which most games fall into.

I want to see more games like Myst. Probably half of the people who read this will think, "ugh, I hate 'puzzle games'." I only mention Myst because when it came out it showed how an interactive environment could drive a game differently.

There's a reason games are called games. I want to play a game where I don't have to kill anyone. There has to be a story driven device that could make for some unique gameplay, but I don't really think I've seen anything really unique in gaming since the first FPS 3D games, which were before my time anyway.

Most of the "Indie" games I've seen, and I've not seen many, have been some kind of 2D side-scrolling game with cool physics or different takes on retro games. That's cool, but I'm really into more immersive games.

For me the Myst games were cool because they put you in such an interesting landscape and required you to figure out how to continue, while uncovering the storyline at the same time. The problem is that there are hardly any people to interact with, and it is so hard that it can kill the fun.

I really don't know what this elusive element is that I feel is lacking in video games. The gameplay is just getting so repetitive, as are the themes. If anyone disagrees, or can think of a game that I should check out, definitely let me know.

I think it would be cool to hear some people's ideas for games and types of gameplay. Even if you're totally satisfied by the games available now, there must be some things that haven't been done that you that you can imagine. Let's hear it.

 

[Kromis]

I think the main problem with putting people's imagination to work in a game is budget. Money makes the world go 'round, no?

Killzone 2 had a budget of over 28 million USD and look what it brought us.

Blizzard doesn't have to worry about budget and can take as long as they damn well please because of the millions they're making from WoW.

It's hard to climb to the top without money.


And also, I think games have to be *somewhat* repetitive otherwise the game has an identity crisis (I'm looking at you, Dawn of War 2).

 

[skace]

The reason most games relate around shooting and killing people is because if you are going to make an action in a game, for the code to be worth it, that action has to be repeated often. IE: If I'm going to code it so that Mario can leap on monsters heads, I need to make that something that happens more than once. I cannot code every scenario in the game.

On the other side of things, the reason most developers don't make games like Myst is because it's difficult to make a game where the developer basically has to be smarter than everyone else. It's a thin line to walk between extremely cheap/cheesy puzzle and well thought out master piece.

URU Live showed that style of gameplay can be absolutely amazing, however, it also showed how quickly people will turn to cheating when they don't have the answer.

 

[tk149]

You're right that most games follow the same formula (FPS, RTS, RPG, etc) , with minor innovations sometimes. The games industry follows these formulas because they are tried and true, and pretty much guaranteed to make money. Taking risks can lead to massive financial failure.

Off the top of my head, I can name only a few games that tried to be different:

Black & White
Galapagos: Mendel's Escape
Pikmin (for Gamecube)
Portal (sort of)
Sim City
The Sims

I don't remember the name of this game, but there was one RPG where it kind of took place in "the real world." I think the premise was that someone was trying to frame you for a crime, or kill you, and the game company would send you faxes, emails, and text messages in real life, and you had to figure out the mystery. You paid a monthly fee for the game. It failed miserably IIRC.

BTW, I liked Myst. For its time, it was evolutionary, and the first time I ever saw full motion video in a game.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: tk149
I don't remember the name of this game, but there was one RPG where it kind of took place in "the real world." I think the premise was that someone was trying to frame you for a crime, or kill you, and the game company would send you faxes, emails, and text messages in real life, and you had to figure out the mystery. You paid a monthly fee for the game. It failed miserably IIRC.

I could see something like that working okay but it would have to be done just right. And it has been done (perhaps to a lesser extent) by several games. I remember playing the first little bit of Shenmue II on my Xbox and it goes pretty far in terms of trying to immerse you in every aspect of your character's life. You have to get a job, make money, eat, and so on. Unfortunately I didn't get very far in the game so I don't know how it played out in the end. But I do like immersive RPGs.

Wait, isn't that basically Second Life? Of course, SL isn't even an RPG, and there's no point to it. But I do really enjoy it when RPGs are open-ended and allow you to play the game at your own pace and give you a well-populated world to explore and play around in.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

It just sounds like the OP wants a new Myst.

Sorry, but those games went the way of the dodo. And for good reason too. Once you knew how to solve the puzzles, the game literally provided no challenge and had no replay value.

Go back and play Shadowgate and Deja Vu without any FAQs.

 

[Alex C]

It's way old, but Beyond Atlantis is pretty Myst-like and has a good number of NPCs.

 

[evident]

how about a new maniac mansion or monkey island? didn't involve too much killing in those.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Originally posted by: tk149
I don't remember the name of this game, but there was one RPG where it kind of took place in "the real world." I think the premise was that someone was trying to frame you for a crime, or kill you, and the game company would send you faxes, emails, and text messages in real life, and you had to figure out the mystery. You paid a monthly fee for the game. It failed miserably IIRC.

BTW, I liked Myst. For its time, it was evolutionary, and the first time I ever saw full motion video in a game.

.hack?

 

[QuantumPion]

I'm completely burnt out on FPS's, have been since HL2 and Doom 3. They are all the same to me now, and all boring. CoD4 was an exception I guess, but only because it was nice and short. I'm sure everyone has their own tastes, but here is what I would love to see:

* More RPG's with stories as fantastic as MotB/PS:T

* Remakes/Sequels of classics like MoM, X-Com, Homeworld, Dungeon Keeper, etc, done correctly

Hmm that's all I guess. My tastes in games have really narrowed lately

 

[way2fast91]

There have only been a few games I would invest 250-300+ hours in and ES:IV Oblivion was one of them, now if they would just make an MMORPG based on it. Love the 1st or 3rd person aspect, fairly immersive, good physics, great graphics and most of all real time fighting!! Great user designed mods available too! Man if you could add the ability to jump around, use the force, and hack things with a lightsaber, that would be the pinnacle for me!

Obviously this is not revolutionary in gaming terms, but no game can be all things to all people, so devs are stuck working for their master, the almighty $. If and only if they can hit the rare homerun with a game, then the publisher will give them creative license to use their imagination and try something new.

 

[JoshGuru7]

It's true that there aren't as many adventure games being pumped out these days, but I've played quite a few imaginative games over the last couple of years.

Check out some of these if you missed them:
1701 A.D.
Overlord
PA series
World of Goo
Sam and Max series
Portal
Penumbra BP
Fahrenheit
Dreamfall series
Gal Civ II
Europa Universalis III
Audiosurf

I'd love sequels to some of the great adventure games of the past as well, but I have had no problem finding enjoyable games these days. I've been too busy traveling and playing Empire at War to even try Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment, or NWN2: Storm of Zehir yet. And there are plenty of upcoming titles that look intriguing to me (Dragon Age, Trine, Overlord 2, Kotor MMO, Chronicles of Riddick 2).

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: JoshGuru7
It's true that there aren't as many adventure games being pumped out these days, but I've played quite a few imaginative games over the last couple of years.

Check out some of these if you missed them:
1701 A.D.
Overlord
PA series
World of Goo
Sam and Max series
Portal
Penumbra BP
Fahrenheit
Dreamfall series
Gal Civ II
Europa Universalis III
Audiosurf

I'd love sequels to some of the great adventure games of the past as well, but I have had no problem finding enjoyable games these days. I've been too busy traveling and playing Empire at War to even try Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment, or NWN2: Storm of Zehir yet. And there are plenty of upcoming titles that look intriguing to me (Dragon Age, Trine, Overlord 2, Kotor MMO, Chronicles of Riddick 2).

I fucking LOVE EAW. Sad its so underplayed/rated

 

[TBSN]

Originally posted by: JoshGuru7
It's true that there aren't as many adventure games being pumped out these days, but I've played quite a few imaginative games over the last couple of years.

Check out some of these if you missed them:
1701 A.D.
Overlord
PA series
World of Goo
Sam and Max series
Portal
Penumbra BP
Fahrenheit
Dreamfall series
Gal Civ II
Europa Universalis III
Audiosurf

I'd love sequels to some of the great adventure games of the past as well, but I have had no problem finding enjoyable games these days. I've been too busy traveling and playing Empire at War to even try Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment, or NWN2: Storm of Zehir yet. And there are plenty of upcoming titles that look intriguing to me (Dragon Age, Trine, Overlord 2, Kotor MMO, Chronicles of Riddick 2).

Wow, I definitely DID miss most of these. I'm getting some of the demos now...

 

[Regs]

Interaction and engagement by setting player achievable goals.

FPS fall under the trap of story telling instead of goal setting. That's why HL2 was so successful for a example, even though I like FEARs fun shooting style and gore. Games like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Parasite eve are also great examples of setting goals, solving mystery progressively by achieving those goals, and setting a fluid atmosphere and timeline.

Turn based strategies seem like a much more easier genera to make games for, but the demand for engagement and interaction are much higher. Empire Total War for instance, despite for all of its early release bugs, is extremely engaging and imaginative. Take a nation from the 16th century and make your own history by tactile warfare, strategic positioning and goals, and some limited economic and political management.

 

[theAnimal]

You have a PS2, so if you haven't already played Ico then you need to.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: theAnimal
You have a PS2, so if you haven't already played Ico then you need to.

Best advice I've heard in a long time!

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: tk149
I don't remember the name of this game, but there was one RPG where it kind of took place in "the real world." I think the premise was that someone was trying to frame you for a crime, or kill you, and the game company would send you faxes, emails, and text messages in real life, and you had to figure out the mystery. You paid a monthly fee for the game. It failed miserably IIRC.

I could see something like that working okay but it would have to be done just right. And it has been done (perhaps to a lesser extent) by several games. I remember playing the first little bit of Shenmue II on my Xbox and it goes pretty far in terms of trying to immerse you in every aspect of your character's life. You have to get a job, make money, eat, and so on. Unfortunately I didn't get very far in the game so I don't know how it played out in the end. But I do like immersive RPGs.

Wait, isn't that basically Second Life? Of course, SL isn't even an RPG, and there's no point to it. But I do really enjoy it when RPGs are open-ended and allow you to play the game at your own pace and give you a well-populated world to explore and play around in.

but the problem with that is that I already have a job, make money, eat, and so on. i don't want to play a game that is a 2nd job...games are supposed to be fun and take you away from the drudgery that is daily life.

 

[TBSN]

I agree with that ^^^^^

I think a really good game should be very focused and well designed for it to be fun. That's not to say there aren't great open-ended games that take ages to explore, but those aren't for everyone.