How Video Games Are Changing

 

 

Throughout the last few decades we have seen video games change in graphics, controls, genres, and many other areas to improve peoples entertainment. However, a not so noticeable change has occurred in recent years that could change the way video games are seen. Based on an article on popmatters.com, titled "Never Ending Story: The Role of Gameplay In Modern Adventure Games" they point out how gameplay is becoming less vital to the success in adventure games and being heavily focused on the story in the game. This is also something I've noticed and found particularly interesting in recent years.
This article describes how gameplay has been the importance or the vital part in what makes a game successful and unique. However, it tells how the constant struggle of puzzle solving in most adventure games has made them less successful and less interesting. Today we are seeing more success in games that focus more on the story of the adventure game compared to the actual gameplay that the game actually involves. This article does a good job at explaining different examples of video games that have seen success due to the focus in a story as well as the downfall of games that have too much puzzle solving.

While reading this article I found myself agreeing that I personally do become bored with the repetition and disinteresting puzzle solving that is found in most adventure games throughout time. I've found myself more interested in the story of the game and what is going to happen at the end. Games that have shown me an intriguing story line have kept me more interested and actually capable of finishing the game compared to games that have the same tedious repetition puzzle solving that gets old pretty quickly.

The article then tells of some recent successful video games that have spent time focusing more on an entire story line rather than gameplay. The article lists a few games like this and the one that caught my eye was The Walking Dead Game by Telltale. This is personally one of my favorite video games of all time because of the incredible story behind it and how the gameplay is myself interacting with the story. The games central focus is choosing dialogue and interacting with characters that will affect what happens in the story. Its gameplay focuses on the relationships you have with the characters, quick time events, and major decision choices that effect the entire outcome of the story. Having my choices actually matter and see what impact it has on the game is a really interesting concept that has kept me wanting more. By interacting with the story this provides a more entertaining experience compared to the same puzzle solving found in most video games. The Walking Dead Game has had a huge success from this and is starting to change how adventure video games might be made. This game has been described as "The game that is the game changer."

However, this article points out that being too focused on the story might not appeal to those that enjoy repetitive puzzle solving to advance the game. I myself enjoy games that focus on the story more than the gameplay but when it comes to global success it really depends on a game that appeals to all adventure game fans. So where is the right balance of story interacting and gameplay interacting? While I myself like story based games it is important to find a common middle ground that will lead to success. Games like The Last of Us and Grand Theft Auto I feel have done well at finding that middle ground because the games show an interesting story as well as repetitive and large variety of gameplay. So based on this and what I have come to enjoy, I expect to see adventure games focus more on the story of the game, but should also keep the notion of the importance of the actual gameplay. Games that succeed in that I feel will have great success.

Article: http://www.popmatters.com/post/190591-never-ending-story-the-role-of-gameplay-in-modern-adventure-games/