Sony Smash Bros

[Thor]

There are two types of silent protagonists. Ones made that way so you could superimpose your own personality onto them (Chrono Trigger, Half Life), and ones that just don't need one because they only exist so the game can be played (Mario in the first few games, Call of Duty characters). They're both perfectly valid character designs and just as good for an iconic videogame character as a deep personality.

I am strongly of the opinion that the only thing that matters in a game is it's gameplay mechanics like level design and combat system. I really couldn't care less if the game even HAS a story at all. So in that sense, I'm fine with silent protagonists in videogames. If they DID have a personality I wouldn't give a fuck anyway.

[NintendrCkolc]

I haven't seen a video game thread spark up this much debate in forever. We need to do this more often.

[BluezombieClock]

I agree, thor. However, some characters would just flat-out SUCK without their superimposed personality traits.

Drake again is a prime example. If he didn't talk, he'd just look like a regular, pretty boring guy. What makes him interesting is the fact that he reacts to his surroundings, makes witty comments, grunts in pain when he trips with the 'Ah crap' ( his favorite words ), and his general legitimate humanlike behaviour.

What makes Drake great is that you feel like you could practically become friends with the guy. Characters like Mario and Link are fine to me, but they feel like an 'icon' to me more than a person I can get attached to. That being said, Link and Mario don't NEED those traits because the games they partake in don't typically need much ( if any at all ) character development.

[Thor]

I haven't seen a video game thread spark up this much debate in forever. We need to do this more often.

This thread was dangerously close to turning into a troll yelling match a few times though

[buttplug]

This thread was dangerously close to turning into a troll yelling match a few times though

That is when we flourish.

[ProqagandaClock]

Man I miss Medevil, such a prodigiously epic game...

[Munglai]

I am strongly of the opinion that the only thing that matters in a game is it's gameplay mechanics like level design and combat system. I really couldn't care less if the game even HAS a story at all. So in that sense, I'm fine with silent protagonists in videogames. If they DID have a personality I wouldn't give a fuck anyway.

Ur dum.

Completely disregarding story because it's not strictly necessary is like disregarding cinematography in film or colour theory in painting. There's no point in just ignoring any particular aspect of any art form, it's up to the artist to decide how much or how little to utilize it. Story is just one of many tools that can be used to make a game better or worse.

[AstronautClock]

Ur dum.

Completely disregarding story because it's not strictly necessary is like disregarding cinematography in film or colour theory in painting. There's no point in just ignoring any particular aspect of any art form, it's up to the artist to decide how much or how little to utilize it. Story is just one of many tools that can be used to make a game better or worse.

I love me some delicious munglai popsts that I can agree with completely

[WessexClock]

As long as that cat guy with the weird array of guns is in it, I'll buy it.

[Thor]

Ur dum.

Completely disregarding story because it's not strictly necessary is like disregarding cinematography in film or colour theory in painting. There's no point in just ignoring any particular aspect of any art form, it's up to the artist to decide how much or how little to utilize it. Story is just one of many tools that can be used to make a game better or worse.

But most video games aren't art. There are a few exceptions of course, but most are just games like basketball or poker are. Art and story can be nice little extras to make a game better, but they're certainly not necessary.

[Kombucha]

But most video games aren't art.

What is/isn't art is never a thing that should be brought up.

[AmberArachnidClock]

But most video games aren't art. There are a few exceptions of course, but most are just games like basketball or poker are. Art and story can be nice little extras to make a game better, but they're certainly not necessary.

I'd recommend broadening what your idea of a story is. Stories play a different role in games than they do movies, books and other entertainment.

For instance, any good story has characters with conflicting goals, which is followed by a resolution, aka someone gets what they want. In a game of basketball, there are two teams with conflicting goals: They both want to win, but only one team can. This is obviously followed by a resolution. See the connection?

Any good game you've every played, even if there is no dialogue, backstory, or reason for anything to be there, still has stories. A lot of games have multiple stories that don't fit together (Uncharted alternates between Indiana Jones and murder spree stories). Some games, like Portal, have one strong consistent narrative reinforced by game mechanics AND dialogue, and would most definitely be a weaker game without one of those components.

[AstronautClock]

But most video games aren't art. There are a few exceptions of course, but most are just games like basketball or poker are. Art and story can be nice little extras to make a game better, but they're certainly not necessary.

All I read was: I decide what art is not anyone else wah wah wah.

[buttplug]

All I read was: I decide what art is not anyone else wah wah wah.

most games have more in common with blockbuster films than art. I think he's right. Would you call the Transformers movies art?

[GearBoxClock]

It's like how film is an artform but not every movie is art. The Call of Duty games are about as artistic as say, Battleship.

[Kombucha]

It's like how film is an artform but not every movie is art.

most games have more in common with blockbuster films than art. I think he's right. Would you call the Transformers movies art?

Stop stop stop

Stop

[AmberArachnidClock]

hey guys...















































art

[buttplug]

Stop stop stop

Stop

Are we wrong?

[Kombucha]

Are we wrong?

Yes because pretty much any time someone tries to say something isn't art, they're wrong, because the umbrella of art is incalculably huge.

Just don't go there. It's fucking pointless and not half as intellectually stimulating to discuss as you think it is. It's like asking whether or not God exists.

[FLOUNDERMAN_CLOCK]

It's only art if I like it.