do you like complex stories in your video games?

for me i would say definatly not. i was recenetly playing all the metal gear solids, and i was so fustrated. even after watching videos about the games and reading summaries i have only a basic idea whats going on. i guess i just like games with easy or no stories to follow.

 

Complex stories =/= poor, confusing writing

I don't know where the idea entered modern culture that complex is inherently hard to understand. Something can be complex with many different angles but it doesn't have to be intentionally obfuscatory.

 

Absolutely agree with you.

The MGS games are soo confusing and anybody that says they completely understand them and you don't understand them because your stupid are themselves, idiots (I've had people say this to me)....the only way to really get the story down is to play through two or three times and read the online wiki searches of them.

 

have you ever taken a look at the MGS plot line? i doubt even the devolpers fully understand whats the story and characthers all mean.

 

What annoys me most is the times when I can't figure out how to open a door or something similar and has to try for hours to get it done.

 

Personally, I hate those games. In fact, even when short movies or sequences are playing, I go and get a drink or take a bathroom break. I would hate those long sequences even more. I think most gamers don't want to sit around and watch movies; they want to interact!

 

No I know the MGS series is overcomplicated, which is why I made my distinction. They're not so much complex as they are intentionally complicated--another matter entirely.

 

lol. I remember many of those places when I was playing Half-Life. I tried to find a freakin' way around in those tunnels on that strange alien planet, but I got lost every time and wound up going in circles. I still don't understand how I got past that level.

 

I guess you weren't a fan of Wolfenstein 3D then.

 

I guess games with some historical significance prove to be interesting....at least to some (me )....i.e. Prince of Persia or Assassins Creed....God of War nd stuff lyk that....although Halo did quite a good job at boring me....!!
however never played metal gear....

 

Hah, I love grand stories in games. It makes it a lot easier for me to lose myself in them.

 

MGS has one of the most ridiculously complicated storylines in any PC or console franchise, so it's not surprising that even fans of decent storylines in games will get frustrated.

Personally I like games with storylines that are not that difficult to follow and are well told. The Witcher storyline I found very enjoyable through my 3 playthroughs.

 

I like the MGS, well the gameplay only but truth to be told even after playing 2 or 3 times still hard to understand why something happens that way or why shouldnt they just do something about it... The idea is great, they wanted to put in government conspiracy with some patriot feelings and add in a little secrets here and there with some nice background setting and good VA in fact the way they present the game was good not using so much CG but real image or vids kinda make it feel like the event happen for real.

BUT the way they represent the plot story are ridiculous, like suddenly there's a Nano-suit ninja . Mgs 2 is the most confusing one i ever played!! You gotta be really insane to know the story and understand the ending However for MGS 3 i understand the story after playing it for the first time, they dont make it that confusing at all. It has some good references.

And to answer the TOPIC, Hell no i dont like complex stories in my game... TOO COMPLEX if its involve some psychotic mind game or they make the story sooo complex that you go; "WTF!?!?" usually this happen at mid-game, where the opening was good and understandable but as you go along it makes much more nonsense in the game or the CLIMAX of the game was rather stupid... kinda sad really and that's what bring some gamer back to ye olde school gaming

 

i like stunning stories and twists, just like Bioshock

 

HELL YEA, it`s what matters the most for me in a game.
That`s why Crysis was crap imo.

 

Plot? Serious Sam rulz but yeah sometimes is good to play a game with a good storyline.

 

I don't like unnecessarily complex stories, but instead deep involving stories.

Bioshock for example... there's an example of a great and involving story. Even after playing the game twice I still don't feel like I know everything.

Halo also has a surprisingly good story, but its a shame that they decided to only tell you the most important bits in Halo 3. They could have easily fleshed the story out much more in that game, but decided to dumb it down for the general audience, which made it even HARDER to understand. Most people that I know that have played the campaign didn't even know that *spoilers* there was a new Halo being constructed on the Ark. They don't even know what the Ark is or does or where it is. *end spoilers*.

Other games.. like, say, Counter-Strike, really don't need a story. It would ruin it.

 

I almost only play jrpgs so yeah

 

Yeah I love the mgs stories but they really are convoluted. I think I've the plot down (the major points anyways). WEll this is of course not by only reading the game but reading wikis and such but I have a firm grasp on it now. While it is confusing it is also genius.

Its fantastic because they talk about a range of topics not just your typical story. Genetics and of course politics. I really love the "meme, gene, scene" concept.

 

I think it depends on the game. And also the genre of the game.

With exceptions of the Halo series, and Gears of War, most FPS story lines (SLs) are, hastily thrown together as mostly just kind of introductions to the next level, or just poorly written filler that annoys people before you get to more shooting.

However, in RTS games, I enjoy a good SL both to set up the mission, and to understand the overview of what is going on. Still very few games that rival what Blizzard Entertainment (exception: WoW which is more FPS than RTS) did with their SLs for most of their gaming series.

And of course, a good story is ESSENTIAL to puzzle, logic, and action-based games (Myst series, Full Throttle, Sam and Max, the Dig, Return to Mysterious Island, GTA series, etc. etc.)

I think it all depends on the type of game. As mostly an RTS gamer, I think a story is essential. Especially in-mission cutscenes when important objectives have been completed. I want to get to the next one and see what happens next!

 

I like stories that are good, but at the same time stories that don't require you to know whats going on to play. I hate when I'm in the middle of an intense shooter and I'm running around frantically only to have to slow down just to pay attention to the story in order to know what comes next. Half-Life 2 is the best fps I have ever played, I loved the story and the action combined. It created a very immersing and fun experience at the same time and I couldn't pull myself away from the comp. If it wasn't for the homework i have to get done I'd still be playing Ep. 2. Bioshock is also very similar to half life but I haven't beaten it yet. WoW is an example of when you don't need the story to enjoy it. I've played it for a good amount of time with no real understanding of the "lore" and what not except for the conflicts introduced when you start a character, although I have heard from friends the lore is pretty good. I'm playing through WC3 right now as well to get more background.

Honestly MGS 3 annoyed the heck out of me, I couldn't get to far because i just didn't have the attention span (or patience for all the sneaking around and such) to follow what was going on, that was more my brothers thing which is why he completed it.

 

While I had fun playing supreme commander solo campaign I found the scenario particularly crappy... Not the overall one but the events unfolding where, I think it have been could definetely better.

 

The first Halo game actually was the most enjoyable story I have ever played through.

I was engulfed. Metal gear solid 2 was great, but got completely ruined for me when you had to run around naked and the commander guy turned out to be a robot or something.

MGS2 was like 99% "Oh I get it!" and 1% "What just happened? Was this twist an afterthought?"

I loved it at the time. So I guess it was cool.

 

That`s why I love puzzle games too :
-Syberia
-Sanitarium
-Longest Journey + dreamfall
-Sam and Max
etc...

 

doom anyone? LOL

 

Doom is a pretty interesting one. Of course, you must include Quake while you`re at it...

 

Technically, 'story' in games is absolutely terrible unless you make liberal use of cutscenes. What you really want is great 'narrative', like you see in HL2. Either way, videogames are one of the worst vehicles for story...and it takes writers with considerable talent to make it work well.

That said, a great narrative takes a good game and makes it great. I generally prefer my games with strong narrative (ala Beyond Good & Evil, HL2, Halo + books, Warcraft/Starcraft).

 

Depends on the game. I love the starcraft movie scenes, for example, because they were kick-ass. but if its boring rendered stuff then yeah, annoying.

 

I like when there's a great plot that is unravelled as you play the game. Half-Life and Half-Life 2 are grand examples. No cut scenes, just non-stop interactive gameplay. Characters are introduced as you go along with more of the story being revealed.

Whenever you have tons of FMV sequences, to me its just a lazy way to tell a story in a game. It's a game, not a movie.

RTS games are a littel different and its good to have some informative cut-scenes, and I think C&C 3 did a great job with that.