Dragon Age 2

[Slowtrain]

I remember people suggesting that PST would be a better game if someone took out its combat.

 

It would. Or at least reduce the combat to very specific gameplay bits. The combat was nto well-integrated into the game regardless.

 

But PS:T is a bit of a rare gem, no?

 

Anyway, there's plenty of room for combat free games. If BWare wants to go that way, it would probably suit them well.

 

They seem mighty infatuated with the singular brilliance of their writing.

[Monte Carlo]

But what awesome thing would happen every time you pushed a button?

[Monte Carlo]

The biggest problem with writing for video games is that it's only been a few years since stories became a requirement for every game and there is no clear idea of how to implement it. Writing for theater transfer well into film, screenplay-wise but games are an interactive medium that requires an altogether different touch. Gameplay is the center of games, if some writer wants to make their bones because video games are popular they are getting the worst possible idea of what the medium is.

 

What he said.

[Amentep]

The biggest problem with writing for video games is that it's only been a few years since stories became a requirement for every game and there is no clear idea of how to implement it. Writing for theater transfer well into film, screenplay-wise but games are an interactive medium that requires an altogether different touch. Gameplay is the center of games, if some writer wants to make their bones because video games are popular they are getting the worst possible idea of what the medium is.

 

To be fair, her response was in regards to getting more women into gaming; while I disagree with her, her point as I see it was that for women who'd like to play an interactive story like a RPG, the combat mechanics will keep them from connecting with the game/medium.

 

Point and click games used to have an audience.

Ahem

 

Perhaps I should have said "don't have a legion of game developers busting their door down with new Point and Click games to satisfy the demand of gamers who'd buy/play point and click games"?

 

I remember people suggesting that PST would be a better game if someone took out its combat.

 

It would. Or at least reduce the combat to very specific gameplay bits. The combat was nto well-integrated into the game regardless.

 

But PS:T is a bit of a rare gem, no?

 

Anyway, there's plenty of room for combat free games. If BWare wants to go that way, it would probably suit them well.

 

They seem mighty infatuated with the singular brilliance of their writing.

 

I think PS:T is a great game. But then I enjoyed the combat in PS:T; hell I played BG and IWD at that point so I knew what I was getting into. Then again I enjoyed the combat in DA2 as well. I'm a simple man of simple pleasures.

[Monte Carlo]

To be fair, her response was in regards to getting more women into gaming; while I disagree with her, her point as I see it was that for women who'd like to play an interactive story like a RPG, the combat mechanics will keep them from connecting with the game/medium.

 

Y'see, this is where I get all controversial... it's like saying men would dig chick flicks more if you made all the garbage about dating, kissing and dancing optional and threw in a few more zombies / car chases / explosions. That is to say, stop it being a chick flick. Cue lots of angry chick flick fans who want to see Bridget Jones Diary, not Bridget Jones Zombie Apocalypse (which naturally would be cooler).

 

You can't appeal to everybody. You just freaking well can't. Bio want a game for story fans for action fans for women for men for CRPG addicts for casual console gamers for.... everybody. They are seeking some sort of mythical alchemy of game development, the ambrosia that is the unigame that appeals to everybody.

 

And this race to the lowest common denominator is what is killing their games and, by a process of mimicry and osmosis, the genre.

[Slowtrain]

You can't appeal to everybody. You just freaking well can't.

 

 

But that is the single biggest problem with the game industry right now. FOr the most part they ALL try to appeal to everybody. Bware is just being a little more obsequious about it then say Bethesda.

 

And this whole mass appeal thing won't end well. FOr anyone.

[Azure79]

Bioware should make an adventure game. I like adventure games.

 

I didn't read the entire interview, but she said she likes Deus Ex so she can't be all bad.

[Monte Carlo]

^ Indeed, and to be fair to her she's certainly got her pen and paper writing spurs too. I just found myself in a whole world of WTF reading the interview and it explained a lot about the direction of travel Bio are in.

[Amentep]

To be fair, her response was in regards to getting more women into gaming; while I disagree with her, her point as I see it was that for women who'd like to play an interactive story like a RPG, the combat mechanics will keep them from connecting with the game/medium.

 

Y'see, this is where I get all controversial... it's like saying men would dig chick flicks more if you made all the garbage about dating, kissing and dancing optional and threw in a few more zombies / car chases / explosions. That is to say, stop it being a chick flick. Cue lots of angry chick flick fans who want to see Bridget Jones Diary, not Bridget Jones Zombie Apocalypse (which naturally would be cooler).

 

You can't appeal to everybody. You just freaking well can't. Bio want a game for story fans for action fans for women for men for CRPG addicts for casual console gamers for.... everybody. They are seeking some sort of mythical alchemy of game development, the ambrosia that is the unigame that appeals to everybody.

 

And this race to the lowest common denominator is what is killing their games and, by a process of mimicry and osmosis, the genre.

 

*shrug* I may be plebian, but I still enjoy Bioware's games.

 

But then again I'd probably enjoy a Role Playing Game where there was no combat (instead all the attribute/skills were in other types of skills and experience would be from - say navigating a tricky political situation) if done right.

 

And I also have to point out that I did disagree with her, ultimately. I think the problem she's trying to address is actually built from a false premise; specifically that every woman who isn't playing games is an untapped game player as well as that every game player - male or female - plays games for the same reasons.

[Morgoth]

There's more gameplay in DA2 than in all IE games put together.

[Gfted1]

^Duck and cover everyone! Hes deployed the Volo defence!

[Monte Carlo]

Indeed. 'tis from the Volornian playbook. Is there such a thing as a treble face-palm? If not, I've just invented it.

[Pidesco]

Closed for length.