Why is the story so important?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKTrix

Timely.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152417

That is one of the best game design articles I have EVER read. Thank you. Have my babies. .... please..

I think it all depends on the game.

Would Max Payne still have been a good game without the story? Probably, because the game mechanics were well done. Did the story make it an overall better game? You bet it did.

Was Serious Sam good because it had a story? No, it was good because of the absolute mayhem on your screen and the HUGE weapons at your disposal. And co-op! Awesome.

Even so, I do like to have some sort of story, a driving reason for doing what I am doing. Maybe it's because the King of Cosmos knocked all the stars out of the universe, maybe it's because I have to avert a terrorist from releasing some biotoxin on the unsuspecting populace, or maybe I have to once more go back into the dungeon to save the poor village of Tristram. Whatever the reason, it's nice to know I am attempting to achieve a goal, there's a driving reason behind what I am doing.

For me, the importance of story depends on what type of game I am playing and how the gameplay fares.

Example: I could care less about the story in a fighting game, odd stuff like Katamari Damacy/Rez, and puzzle games (if a story mode is available, of course). I am just playing to have fun.

Example 2: If the gameplay is really fun but the story is lacking (see: FFX-2), then I can still enjoy myself. However, if the gameplay sucks but the story is awesome (see: 24 the game), then I can also enjoy myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aradae

When I play a game, I play it because it's fun, I play it because the game mechanics are enjoyable. However i see alot of people claiming a game is better because it has a better story. while story does motivate people to play the game and continue it, it alone does not make the game great.

Let's compare Diablo and final Fantasy. Diablo has interesting lore but it's story isn't on the level of Final Fantasy.

Diablo's combat is played out in real time and you have freedom to move around during a battle. In final fantasy you are stuck taking turns attacking without any freedom to move.

Each of diablo's spells are unique. You have spells that raise the dead, create have flames sprout where you walk, sacrifice your life for an atack bonus, etc. Final fantasy has spells that do different types of damage.

Diablo has the thrill and unpredictability of Multiplayer while Final fantasy has the continuous tedium of fighting against the AI.

How is it that most people would consider Final Fantasy superior to diablo when gameplay wise the opposite is true?

I don't think you are thinking about this well enough. No one plays a game solely for storyline. No matter how compelling the plot, or how deep the characters, people won't play it if it isn't fun. Without good gameplay, a game will be ruined.

Your examples are ridiculous, IMHO. I personally found Diablo's gameplay far more tedious than that of most Final Fantasy games. But that is a personal preference. That's the entire reason different genres exist. Not everyone likes the same type of games. I've met die hard Tetris fans who would think that both Diablo and FF are boring and tedious. That doesn't mean that Tetris is better than either Diablo or FF (or, for that matter, that either Diablo or FF are better than Tetris). Different people enjoy different things. Some people enjoy puzzles, others enjoy mindless hack and slash, others enjoy side scrollers, others enjoy RPGs...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duncan

Even so, I do like to have some sort of story, a driving reason for doing what I am doing. Maybe it's because the King of Cosmos knocked all the stars out of the universe, maybe it's because I have to avert a terrorist from releasing some biotoxin on the unsuspecting populace, or maybe I have to once more go back into the dungeon to save the poor village of Tristram. Whatever the reason, it's nice to know I am attempting to achieve a goal, there's a driving reason behind what I am doing.

I think Duncan nailed it here. People do want a rationale behind what they are doing. And the number of gamers who want games with good storyline are increasing, as the steady rise in the popularity of RPGs should show you. No one does anything without a reason.

Personally, I think that the rise in RPG popularity (and thus, the importance of storylines in gaming) is related to several things. The first is humanity's desire for a good story. Throughout all the centuries of humanity, stories have been important. Take the word history: his-story. Stories have fascinated us since the dawn of our race. Stories of gods and devils, stories of heroes and monsters. Look as far into the past as you can, but I doubt you will find a time without such tales.

With the arrival of video games, this desire was able to coincide with another obsession of humans that dates back to the beginning of our species: A fascination with power. All humans like power and control, though some to differing degrees. There is nothing wrong or evil with such a fascination with power (provided you do not let it control you, and you do not let it go too far, but that is getting off topic). No one is in control of everything. Every day, countless things happen that we cannot control. Murphy's Law always holds true. But a video game is different. It is a micro-universe. You can do what you want, you can shape your character how you want, and do what you want. And yet, total control can be a curse. If you can do anything, what will you do? So the games have rules. You can't do anything, but you can do a lot. Your decisions will have consequences, but the consequences don't affect you personally. Video games offer freedom, an escape from the tedium of life. A chance to excercise suppressed emotions, to vent anger, all within a controlled enviornment.

And these two pieces make up games. Control and story. Gameplay and plot. Power, and how that power is used. Each person has their own preference as to the perfect combination of these two elements. Some people prefer only gameplay, and play games like pong and tetris. Others find the story to be of supreme importance, and spend their leisure time reading books (and quite a few of those people like both, but hate them in combination). Just because you don't like other games as much, doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with them.

Of course, this is all just my speculation, and it could be completely wrong, but what the hell, I'll toss it out here anyway.