3 ms·

I'm not a games developer, but I can relate to what Daniel wrote about game forms, after playing Bioshock Infinite. I love the game, but I did so mostly for el

by iMark 14y ago

I'm not a games developer, but I can relate to what Daniel wrote about game forms, after playing Bioshock Infinite. I love the game, but I did so mostly for elements of the design and story, rather than the game play. That it was an FPS connecting the story rather than a puzzle game, for example, was almost incidental to my enjoyment of it, and given the story, I think a series of Myst-style puzzles would have been a better fit. Wouldn't have sold nearly as well, of course, and there's the rub.

kenshi 14y ago
The reason I am not going to buy Bioshock Infinite is precisely because it seems like a pretty mediocre FPS, married to an interesting narrative and/or exploration game. Don't get me wrong, I love FPS shooters. So when I want to play one, I want it to be good. I also enjoy exploration games, and from what I have seen of Bioshock Infinite (I watched the ending and playthroughs on Youtube), it seems like it would have made for a great Myst style game. If anything the gameplay looks like the weakest part of Bioshock Infinite. I actually thing Irrational missed a big opportunity by making the game a FPS. Wasn't Myst a big commercial success back in the day? Wouldn't they have been able to appeal to a wider audience if they had tied the narrative to a something other than a FPS?
- baby 14y ago
  This is exactly why I'm not in a rush to play this game. I will at some point try it but the first Bioshock lacked so much feeling and the gunfights were so boring that I'm really not into this new episode. I'm still glad that they use a First-Person perspective because I strongly believe that it's the best way to get immersed in a game.
- Gigablah 14y ago
  Eh, there's a history behind the franchise. It's not like Irrational started out with a story and turned it into an FPS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2
- msabalau 14y ago
  For what it's worth, I'm generally indifferent to the FPS genre, play them very badly, and still managed to gulp down this game in four evenings (on the least challenging setting). Approached this way, the gameplay simply becomes part of the emotional texture of the narrative. Of course, a FPS connoisseur might find that their more refined knowledge of what makes a good game of that type breaks their immersion, in the way that (some) lovers of classical music find that they can't enjoy (some) popular music. Bioshock Infinite does have exploration elements, you can hunt around for recordings and other evidence that reveal more about the background of what's going on. Oddly enough, for me, rushing in guns blazing seemed more in character, as opposed to carefully checking behind a store counter, seeing if there is something more I could learn.
arrrg 14y ago
You do know that Booker's brutal violence is an important plot point, righty? It wouldn't have worked as a puzzle game. You are supposed to dislike the brutality of it.

by iMark 14y ago

kenshi 14y ago

The reason I am not going to buy Bioshock Infinite is precisely because it seems like a pretty mediocre FPS, married to an interesting narrative and/or exploration game. Don't get me wrong, I love FPS shooters. So when I want to play one, I want it to be good. I also enjoy exploration games, and from what I have seen of Bioshock Infinite (I watched the ending and playthroughs on Youtube), it seems like it would have made for a great Myst style game. If anything the gameplay looks like the weakest part of Bioshock Infinite. I actually thing Irrational missed a big opportunity by making the game a FPS. Wasn't Myst a big commercial success back in the day? Wouldn't they have been able to appeal to a wider audience if they had tied the narrative to a something other than a FPS?

baby 14y ago
This is exactly why I'm not in a rush to play this game. I will at some point try it but the first Bioshock lacked so much feeling and the gunfights were so boring that I'm really not into this new episode. I'm still glad that they use a First-Person perspective because I strongly believe that it's the best way to get immersed in a game.
Gigablah 14y ago
Eh, there's a history behind the franchise. It's not like Irrational started out with a story and turned it into an FPS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2
msabalau 14y ago
For what it's worth, I'm generally indifferent to the FPS genre, play them very badly, and still managed to gulp down this game in four evenings (on the least challenging setting). Approached this way, the gameplay simply becomes part of the emotional texture of the narrative. Of course, a FPS connoisseur might find that their more refined knowledge of what makes a good game of that type breaks their immersion, in the way that (some) lovers of classical music find that they can't enjoy (some) popular music. Bioshock Infinite does have exploration elements, you can hunt around for recordings and other evidence that reveal more about the background of what's going on. Oddly enough, for me, rushing in guns blazing seemed more in character, as opposed to carefully checking behind a store counter, seeing if there is something more I could learn.

arrrg 14y ago

You do know that Booker's brutal violence is an important plot point, righty? It wouldn't have worked as a puzzle game. You are supposed to dislike the brutality of it.