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Games aren't novels, if that is what you want. It's interactive storytelling. The interaction of story, gameplay, world building, relationships, choices, and im
by nightski 6y ago
Games aren't novels, if that is what you want. It's interactive storytelling. The interaction of story, gameplay, world building, relationships, choices, and immersion. Each individual element might not be extremely satisfying in isolation. But when combined into a cohesive experience it's something unique altogether. Mass Effect is likely revered because of how well it does that. Not because it is a good novel.
- antepodius 6y agoMass effect is a CYOA novel. The moment-to-moment gameplay doesn't matter to the story; the only way in which the story is interactive is in the CYOA choices and the passive storytelling (unlocking codex info, environmental storytelling)
- nightski 6y agoMaybe the game-play doesn't matter to the story (I'd argue it does because of immersion), but it definitely affects the experience. The experience is a collection of it's parts. You can't look at one in isolation (aka the story) and say that' its inadequate compared to an experience where that is the only part (a novel). Because a game offers more than just the story and if you ignore those other parts then you aren't appreciating a game for what it is. They all work together.
- antepodius 6y agoSure, but a game would generally be improved by being less disjointed, right?