Why games are bad at storytelling (and in general)

[Deleted]

1)Most games are "gamey" - they are contrived.
2)They are pale shadows of actual story-telling in books and films
3)Most games are for hyper-active teenage boys, with no substance and are filled with flashy graphics
4)Promotes sitting around on one's arse the entire day.

The very fundamental aspect of games, their mechanics, are just a chore. Story telling is laughably bad in games and when games try to be like films or books they end up just being comprised of terrible cutscenes and are less of a game as a result. 99.9% of games are for immature little kiddies who want to beat up monsters and collect meaningless loot. It's all pointless. Seriously, don't give me this crap about games being a more meaningful experience because you can experience the character first hand. No. Games because of their mechanics are essentially just a hurdle to get over. Combat, loot, character development through levels, all of it is just unnecessary.

Go read a book, watch a film or a tv show. Games (specifically their mechanics) will never be anything more than contrived, clunky chores used to unlock the next part of the story, the bit that actually matters.

Edit: I'm talking about all games, from the smallest time wasters like Angry Birds to the largest time wasters like Witcher 3.

[Kickbuttmario]

Disagree. FF9 and FF10told wonderful stories.

[Calfredd]

Thought this was going to be about an article from someone on his/her high horse or something.

[crakerjack]

Thatslikeyouropinionman.jpg

[Aeluron Lightsong]

This sounds like a modern version of "Comic books can't tell stories." So on and so forth.

[Deleted]

Disagree. FF9 and FF10told wonderful stories.

Sure, if you like androgynous freaks wielding massive swords. Anime is pure nonsense, but okay. Anime + video games= everything wrong with the media world.

[Rixis]

Games promote sitting on your arse, then you suggest watching TV shows (which require a lot of episodes to get through the story typically) or reading a book?

Games are for hyper active teens, but you say watch movies, because movies aren't the same of course

99.9% are smash and grabs?

Title says why games are bad at story telling, second point on your list basically says "because they are, so ner".

[klogaroth]

Posts on internet forum about things that aren't necessary and waste time.

patches o'houlihan necessary.jpg

[Unionoob]

1)Most games are "gamey" - they are contrived.
2)They are pale shadows of actual story-telling in books and films
3)Most games are for hyper-active teenage boys, with no substance and are filled with flashy graphics
4)Promotes sitting around on one's arse the entire day.

The very fundamental aspect of games, their mechanics, are just a chore. Story telling is laughably bad in games and when games try to be like films or books they end up just being comprised of terrible cutscenes and are less of a game as a result. 99.9% of games are for immature little kiddies who want to beat up monsters and collect meaningless loot. It's all pointless. Seriously, don't give me this crap about games being a more meaningful experience because you can experience the character first hand. No. Games because of their mechanics are essentially just a hurdle to get over. Combat, loot, character development through levels, all of it is just unnecessary.

Go read a book, watch a film or a tv show. Games (specifically their mechanics) will never be anything more than contrived, clunky chores used to unlock the next part of the story, the bit that actually matters.

Edit: I'm talking about all games, from the smallest time wasters like Angry Birds to the largest time wasters like Witcher 3.

Movies and Books usually show story from more then point man perspective and most games are too short to mix decent story telling with decent gameplay. If you would put as much story as in movies then your games would either be 20-30 hours long or each mission will be 5 mins max. Some games are trying to give same feeling like movies and I am talking about CoD. But 3-4 hour gameplay time is way too short to show decent story with decent gameplay. For that we would need each CoD game to be like 30 hours long to show story from Good guy and bad guy perspective.

[Shige]

Sure, if you like androgynous freaks wielding massive swords. Anime is pure nonsense, but okay. Anime + video games= everything wrong with the media world.

Tell me.. friend... When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?

[Deleted]

Some people are just incapable of understanding and enjoying certain things. That's why they're so bitter all the time.

[Schmeebs]

10/10 would read again.

[Deleted]

Games promote sitting on your arse, then you suggest watching TV shows (which require a lot of episodes to get through the story typically) or reading a book?

Games are for hyper active teens, but you say watch movies, because movies aren't the same of course

99.9% are smash and grabs?

Title says why games are bad at story telling, second point on your list basically says "because they are, so ner".

Yes, but 99.9% of games are for teenage boys who want to blow shit up and kill stuff. However this isn't the case for film and tv. I'm not denying there are crap tv shows and films, but at least a good proportion are for, you know, adults with decent sensibilities. Unlike games whose sole purpose is to destroy stuff and loot.

[Valech]

Sure, if you like androgynous freaks wielding massive swords. Anime is pure nonsense, but okay. Anime + video games= everything wrong with the media world.

You mean like the freaks in the lotr saga, Saruman? Or glowy swords instead of massive ones? Yeah.

OT: OP has a bad case of a personal opinion. Nothing to see here.

[Realsykes]

From what Bait shack do you get your stuff?

[apples]

arguing that an entire medium doesnt work at a single aspect without offering any proof is gonna make you sound stupid

just sayn

[Deleted]

Even the "best" games which promote heavy story telling focuses are bad because they will have some element of gameplay mechanics which, again, are pretty much just unnecessary hurdles to jump to get to the main plot point. Mechanics are pure shit. I couldn't care less for combat, loot, and all that. Heck, I don't even care for simple mechanics like dialogue boxes. Who cares what I as a player choose to do? Tell me a damn story properly without all this crap getting in the way.

[klogaroth]

From what Bait shack do you get your stuff?

My guess from the avatar and name is that he knows a cave troll from the mines of Moria.

[Rixis]

Yes, but 99.9% of games are for teenage boys who want to blow shit up and kill stuff. However this isn't the case for film and tv. I'm not denying there are crap tv shows and films, but at least a good proportion are for, you know, adults with decent sensibilities. Unlike games whose sole purpose is to destroy stuff and loot.

So you're allowed to pluck a number out of thin air but I'm not?

[Deleted]

Even the "best" games which promote heavy story telling focuses are bad because they will have some element of gameplay mechanics

You shouldn't feel so bad about not being good at game mechanics. You don't have to be. Watching TV, a movie, or reading a book don't require any mechanics, other than lying on a couch, so you've got nothing to worry about. However, you shouldn't take your frustrations out on all gaming, because you see, there are plenty of people out there who are actually very good at game mechanics, and enjoy them very much.

It'll get better. Just you wait.