Problems with Modern Game Stories: Part I

Problems with Modern Game Stories is a three part series arguing that today’s video game narratives are ineffective. Note: Only single-player, AAA first/third person games apply to this argument. The article contains SPOILERS for Red Dead Redemption.  

Publisher Overview: Electronic Arts, FY 2013 - Q2 2014

Publisher Overview attempts to analyze the businesses of major video game publishers in a visual, easy-to-digest format. Statistics and other information are largely retrieved from annual reports, quarterly conference calls, and other publically available sources. Publisher Overview aims to provide a snapshot of an organization’s current performance with accessibility in mind.

Five Signs Halo 5 is Headed in the Right Direction

Barely anything is known about the next Halo installment and it will most likely be a while before 343 Industries leaves Halo 4 behind and starts talking about its next title. Until then, one can only speculate how the game will play, what the story will be, and what new ideas it will bring. There are, however, positive signs scattered throughout the internet, perhaps hinting at Halo 5's progress. Below are five of these signs that may show Halo 5’s promising direction.

Publisher Overview: Activision Blizzard, FY 2012

Publisher Overview attempts to analyze the businesses of major video game publishers in a visual, easy-to-digest format. Statistics and other information are largely retrieved from annual reports, quarterly conference calls, and other publically available sources. Publisher Overview aims to provide a snapshot of an organization’s current performance with accessibility in mind.

Publisher Overview: Take-Two Interactive, FY 2013

Publisher Overview attempts to analyze the businesses of major video game publishers in a visual, easy-to-digest format. Statistics and other information are largely retrieved from annual reports, quarterly conference calls, and other publically available sources. Publisher Overview aims to provide a snapshot of an organization’s current performance with accessibility in mind.

Prediction Roundup: Volume III

Prediction Roundup attempts to rationalize and provide insight to some of the gaming industry's most pressing questions by using deductive reasoning and supporting facts. The following are predictions based on existing information and should not be treated as fact.

Endgame: BioShock Infinite

Endgame explores topical videogames through an in-depth analysis of its major components. Games are broken down into five categories and accompanied by a numerical score: Atmosphere, Sound, Gameplay, Story, and Engagement. A verdict is presented followed by the game’s overall rating (out of 5). This article contains major spoilers.

Next Generation: The Rise of AA Games?

2012 wasn't a pretty year for the video game industry. Hardware and software sales slumped 22% year-over-year and retail sales declined for the thirteenth consecutive month in December, according to NPD. Free-to-play models, cheap mobile games, and the recovering economy are among those responsible for the AAA industry's woes according to industry analysts. Though the next generation of consoles will most likely reinvigorate excitement surrounding core games, I doubt that'll be enough to offset its current problems.

Critiquing the Narrative of Halo 4

When videogames mimic film, it's only fair that they be held to the same standards as the medium they've taken inspiration from. Plot structure, exposition, coherency, and overall narrative quality are hardly exclusive to film, but I feel videogames aren't held to similar standards in these areas when they should be. For example, how critics barely touched upon Darksiders' cringe-inducing, confusing, and cluttered story is deflating. At many points throughout the game, Darksiders made me stop and critically think why I enjoy playing games. Its narrative was so juvenile and so poorly executed that I questioned whether I was too old to be playing videogames at all. In a time where narratives are becoming increasingly important to the videogame experience, I think it's imperative that reviewers be more critical, and place a greater value on, narrative execution.  

The Top 5 Cinematic Trailers

*CLICK. A grizzled dwarf blasts his blunderbuss at a raging Tauren as his pet bear charges to defend his master. An army of infernals charge into battle as a bleak storm brews overhead. A night elf struggles to defend herself from an orc warrior on a lush open plain. Atop a crumbling castle, a crazed wizard struggles to stun enemy advances. The hulking Tuaren smashes his totem on the ground and the title "World of Warcraft" assembles on screen.

Halo 4 Has a Descent Shot At Outselling Black Ops II

It's that time of year again. A time where gamers speculate whether Game X can overthrow the latest Call of Duty. Last year, CoD was up against Battlefield 3, and the year before that, was matched against Medal of Honor and Halo: Reach. But it seems that no matter what it's paired up against, Call of Duty continues to smash sales records and shatter the expectations of gamers everywhere. However, I'm convinced that's going to change in 2012. Well, at least for the Xbox 360.

State of the Franchise: BioShock

In this State of the Franchise, the BioShock brand is explored as well as its long term viability. Bioshock Infinite is also profiled and how its performance may impact the future of the series.

When BioShock Infinite was announced in August 2010, it was met with puzzlement and, in some cases, anger by many fans. This uproar wasn't so much about Infinite's premise, setting, or art style, which was marvellously showcased in its reveal cinematic trailer. The controversy surrounding Infinite stemmed from having "BioShock" in the title. Infinite is such a drastic departure from the original, many questioned why it shared the BioShock name. Whatever your stance on the subject, one thing is very clear: BioShock doesn't pertain to specific settings or characters anymore; BioShock is a brand.

Modern Gaming: Is It Evolving?

It's a pretty common question among gamers and industry experts alike; when will this medium evolve into a respectable past time? It's an important question, since stereotypes and negative stigmas still run rampant throughout mainstream culture. I personally believe that yes, gaming will one day be a respected medium. However, exactly when it will happen is a different question entirely.

Will it be 5, 10, or 50 years until gaming completely assimilates into modern culture? I guess it depends on how fast this medium is evolving. However, this implies that the industry is progressing in the first place. And sadly, I couldn't find convincing evidence that this medium is on a positive trajectory. Sure, there are promising signs here and there, but nothing overwhelming to suggest its evolving for the better. So naturally, I've come to the conclusion that no, the industry isn't evolving. In fact, I'd like to make the case that it's actually going in the other direction. Here are 7 reasons the gaming industry, specifically the hardcore, won't be respected anytime soon.

Prediction Roundup: Volume II

 Prediction Roundup attempts to rationalize and provide insight to some of the gaming industry's most pressing questions by using deductive reasoning and supporting facts. Following each prediction is a handy "confidence meter" displaying how Game Nook views the prediction's probability.

Prediction Roundup: Volume I

Prediction Roundup attempts to rationalize and provide insight to some of the gaming industry's most pressing questions by using deductive reasoning and supporting facts. Following each prediction is a handy "confidence meter" displaying how Game Nook views the prediction's probability.

Why Mass Effect 3's Ending Could Be Genius

 WARNING: Mass Effect 3 spoilers ahead

Going into Mass Effect 3, I'd already heard of the controversies surrounding the ending, so I wasn't too surprised of the lack of closure and how little my choices mattered. However, what I wasn't expecting was how nonsensical and confusing the ending was to me. "How did Garrus, who accompanied me on my race to the Conduit and supposedly died, get on the jungle planet?" I said to myself, as the credits rolled by to The Faunt's catchy new tune. "W-who exactly is the Catalyst and why is it in the form of the child Shepard saw on Earth?" I further pondered. Some sort of symbolism perhaps? I really didn't have a strong opinion of the ending because I assumed it went over my head and I just missed something. As it turns out, that could potentially be the case.

Prediction: The Future of the FPS

In an earlier article, Game Nook discussed where the FPS genre stood today, however its future has yet to be given the same attention. Call of Duty 4 is arguably the most influential FPS of this generation because of its integration of RPG elements and fast, accessible gameplay. Countless studios have incorporated infinity ward's formula to the point where it has become standard across the genre. However, very little innovation has occurred since Modern Warfare launched in 2007, until only recently. Perhaps in response to a stagnating market, some developers are iterating and morphing CoD's formula, into -what I think- is the next big revolution in the genre.

Storytelling: Why Games Aren't Inferior to Film

Compared to movies, games are absolute crap at telling stories. They are horrid, absolutely horrid. Sometimes, when  in the middle of an intense firefight, completely oblivious to the jarhead chatter of my fellow marines, I ponder as to why games seem to be incapable of telling tales a notch above B-list action movies. Now, some games aren't like this (and I'll get to those rare cases in a second), but most are and it's becoming a little embarrassing. Through narrative, film can create incredible emotional experiences like The Hurt Locker, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Cast Away. Why are games completely incapable of even touching stories of this level? Never, in the history of playing video games have I experienced a game that has even touched on what film achieves countless times every year.

Video games and Art

Before you let out that sigh, know that this isn't one of those overly long essays on why games are definitely, totally art. It may be long, but don't expect to see the words Braid, BioShock, and Shadow of the Colossus being constantly referenced in every paragraph. Rather than trying to argue that videogames are art, I found analysing the question "are videogames art?" provided more solid, satisfying answers. This article attempts to accomplish three goals: explore the idea of art, examine what this question is really asking, and to determine a solution to the question. This debate has made little progress lately so I hope this new angle will breathe new life into this discussion.

Where's The Graphic Novel of Video Games?

I hate the term "videogames." Its banner spans too far and its definition too narrow. To be a little elitist for a second, I dislike how works like Red Dead Redemption share the same label as social games like Angry Birds. When I say, "I play video games," it could mean literally dozens of different activities. It could mean I play Wii Fit, FarmVille, or Shadow of the Colossus. This term has such a massive umbrella, encompassing such a wide variety of interactive activities, that anything electronically interactive is considered a video game. It's a shame, because as long as titles like Mass Effect, L.A. Noire, and LIMBO continue to be referred to as games, this art form will continue to be less credible in the eyes of the mainstream. The term "videogames" is too broad for such a diverse range of activates, yet it does not effectively define all areas of the medium.