Immersion in Video Games

BreakABone · 09-08-2009, 05:02 PM

I guess it all depends on how you feel about stories in gaming.

For the most part, even the most elaborate video game plots boil down to a save the world type deal because of the simple nature, they make more compelling games than many other genres.

And to me, its takes me out of the experience... especially if it undergoes.. what I call those unplayable moments, which are moments that look so awesome... that you can't replicate at all in the game.

To go to an analogy since we love them here on GT, its like if you were watching a movie that paused in the middle to ask you to describe how you think the rest of the movie will play out... and then cut forward to continue the movie.

Angrist · 09-09-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakABone

To go to an analogy since we love them here on GT, its like if you were watching a movie that paused in the middle to ask you to describe how you think the rest of the movie will play out... and then cut forward to continue the movie.

Uh I don't see what you mean. Is it a good or a bad thing?

BreakABone · 09-09-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrist

Uh I don't see what you mean. Is it a good or a bad thing?

Its a bad thing if I wasn't clear.

When I'm watching a movie, I'm watching a movie. And for someone or something to take me out of the element of the movie through any means would just shatter it for me.

Here's a bit more subtle and recent example I guess, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is in 3D for the beginning of the movie, which is all well and good, but then a giant sign comes up about 10 minutes into the movie telling you to take off your glasses. Coming into this, I didn't know if 3D was select scenes or what so for the rest of the movie, I was semi-focused on any warning telling me to put back on the glasses, which in essence took away my enjoyment of the movie.

It would be IMO the same as if I'm playing a game and all of a sudden there is a 10 minute stop gap, it kills the momentum and generally is the time I turn off the game for a bit because it kills my own flow.

TheGame · 09-09-2009, 04:28 PM

I don't think the movie pausing to ask you where to go next is the same thing. If you really hate cutscenes in games that much though, that's unfortunate. haha

I think cutscenes add life to a game that is impossible to achive through smashing buttons. It gives the world life, gives the characters personality, and gives the player motivation to keep moving.

If you don't understand the cutscenes I can see how it can kill the flow, but if you like the story it adds so much more to the game. If you like the story it doesn't even feel like the cutscene is something unnessicary or extra in the game.

I'm sure when you played Zelda OoT you didn't stop to question how long the scene where you first met the princess was, or the part where you move through time. The way I see it, as long as you're only watching dialouge and not actual fights your main character is involed in, in cutscenes.. then there shouldn't be an issue. It would only feel long if you could care less about the story.