3 ms·

They are not playing the right games. RPG games like pillars of eternity, dragon age, baldurs gate, mass-effect, etc have excellent story-lines. Your first pers

They are not playing the right games. RPG games like pillars of eternity, dragon age, baldurs gate, mass-effect, etc have excellent story-lines. Your first person shooter demographic does not care about writing and hence neither will the publisher.

Andrew_nenakhov 3y ago
Shamus had a very extensive 50+ part series on why Mass Effect 2&3 were terrible and didn't live up to the potential of the first game. [0] I was sad when he died. [0]: https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=27792 https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=27792
- Ygg2 3y ago
  > I was sad when he died. I was so happy when I saw update on his YouTube channel after a long, long while. Then I realize it was his funeral. Man the gut punch hurt me physically.
- bluefirebrand 3y ago
  I remember reading this while it was coming out and feeling like Shamus was writing words I had in my heart but could not articulate with my head. This series genuinely changed how I look at videogame writing and while I still enjoy games like Mass Effect 2, I don't think I would ever try and defend their writing.
morelisp 3y ago
I find FPS writing is often a lot better, probably because there is a lot less of it. Yes, RPGs have a more narrative focus so more nuance to characters or whatever but you're asking a committee of 1-5 usually mid-tier writers to pump out 2-10 novels worth of text within a year under often radically changing requirements. The actual writing is usually hot garbage.
- corethree 3y ago
  It depends on the RPG. Pokemon vs. Disco Elysium. Botw vs. Planescape torment. Rpgs do not universally have good/bad writing. And FPSs like BioShock and soma don't all necessarily have less writing..
  - morelisp 3y ago
    Pokémon (most of them) have pretty good writing. Planescape Torment has ok “endcap of the airport bookstore fantasy shelf” writing. You’re making exactly the mistake I’m talking about. (Even narrative-heavy FPSs like Bioshock have an order of magnitude less writing than most RPGs.)
    - corethree 3y ago
      You've got to be joking. Pokemon has better writing then planescape torment or "endcap of airport fantasy shelf" writing? This isn't a mistake I'm making. Less writing isn't better writing and more writing isn't better writing either. I think you're one of those people who just likes things extremely plain. Basic text that's less wordy is usually an example of bad writing imo. This kind of writing is good for research papers but for stories it's not a good thing. Anyway here's an example of the "good writing" you're talking about in pokemon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxeU3WwbaqQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxeU3WwbaqQ Most people would disagree with you and agree with me. All the writing in there is pure garbage. I don't understand how you can call that "good" other then if you have a preference for simple sentences.
      - morelisp 3y ago
        Simple sentences are great for simple ideas. Most video games, including most RPGs, only have simple ideas. You appear to have linked to an anime. We’re discussing video games.
        corethree 3y ago
        >You appear to have linked to an anime. We’re discussing video games. The anime is called Pokemon. This is the source material for which all the Pokemon games are derived from and strive to imitate in style. Any writing in a video game on Pokemon is equivalent (or worse) in quality and style to the original anime which all Pokemon games are based on. >Simple sentences are great for simple ideas. Most video games, including most RPGs, only have simple ideas. Writing isn't only about ideas. That's what research is about. Presenting facts, figures, results and ideas. For stories there needs to more irrational fluff. The writing needs to be immersive, emotive and vivid, eloquent, etc. Most people would agree with me on this matter. I would say you're the one who has a different preference here.
deleted 3y ago
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Andrew_nenakhov 3y ago

Shamus had a very extensive 50+ part series on why Mass Effect 2&3 were terrible and didn't live up to the potential of the first game. [0] I was sad when he died. [0]: https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=27792 https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=27792

Ygg2 3y ago
> I was sad when he died. I was so happy when I saw update on his YouTube channel after a long, long while. Then I realize it was his funeral. Man the gut punch hurt me physically.
bluefirebrand 3y ago
I remember reading this while it was coming out and feeling like Shamus was writing words I had in my heart but could not articulate with my head. This series genuinely changed how I look at videogame writing and while I still enjoy games like Mass Effect 2, I don't think I would ever try and defend their writing.

morelisp 3y ago

I find FPS writing is often a lot better, probably because there is a lot less of it. Yes, RPGs have a more narrative focus so more nuance to characters or whatever but you're asking a committee of 1-5 usually mid-tier writers to pump out 2-10 novels worth of text within a year under often radically changing requirements. The actual writing is usually hot garbage.

corethree 3y ago
It depends on the RPG. Pokemon vs. Disco Elysium. Botw vs. Planescape torment. Rpgs do not universally have good/bad writing. And FPSs like BioShock and soma don't all necessarily have less writing..
- morelisp 3y ago
  Pokémon (most of them) have pretty good writing. Planescape Torment has ok “endcap of the airport bookstore fantasy shelf” writing. You’re making exactly the mistake I’m talking about. (Even narrative-heavy FPSs like Bioshock have an order of magnitude less writing than most RPGs.)
  - corethree 3y ago
    You've got to be joking. Pokemon has better writing then planescape torment or "endcap of airport fantasy shelf" writing? This isn't a mistake I'm making. Less writing isn't better writing and more writing isn't better writing either. I think you're one of those people who just likes things extremely plain. Basic text that's less wordy is usually an example of bad writing imo. This kind of writing is good for research papers but for stories it's not a good thing. Anyway here's an example of the "good writing" you're talking about in pokemon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxeU3WwbaqQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxeU3WwbaqQ Most people would disagree with you and agree with me. All the writing in there is pure garbage. I don't understand how you can call that "good" other then if you have a preference for simple sentences.
    - morelisp 3y ago
      Simple sentences are great for simple ideas. Most video games, including most RPGs, only have simple ideas. You appear to have linked to an anime. We’re discussing video games.
      - corethree 3y ago
        >You appear to have linked to an anime. We’re discussing video games. The anime is called Pokemon. This is the source material for which all the Pokemon games are derived from and strive to imitate in style. Any writing in a video game on Pokemon is equivalent (or worse) in quality and style to the original anime which all Pokemon games are based on. >Simple sentences are great for simple ideas. Most video games, including most RPGs, only have simple ideas. Writing isn't only about ideas. That's what research is about. Presenting facts, figures, results and ideas. For stories there needs to more irrational fluff. The writing needs to be immersive, emotive and vivid, eloquent, etc. Most people would agree with me on this matter. I would say you're the one who has a different preference here.

deleted 3y ago

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