Hello whatever you are and wherever you are. So, I've been building an idea about what defines video games, or at least, modern video games. I think my idea is something like.. "extremes don't really matter," or maybe "extremes aren't as important."
I want to try this theory out though so if you think it's interesting please if you have an answer I am curious..
how about games with a great story and a great gameplay?
That was a difficult question and I really had to think about it for a couple of moments.
I love a good story, I love them so much.
That said, if I had to give up one or the other (I wouldn't want a game to be average, I'd want it to excel at something) I'd throw story off a cliff and into a spike pit for the best gameplay experience ever!109!1! (okay, just an excellent experience).
The reason why is because video games are about interactivity, gameplay. They are called video games, not video stories.
Also, I've been gaming since the NES and video games back then worked without stories, I'd even argue that storytelling in video games weren't necessarily an expected thing until the Gamecube/PS2/Xbox, so if video games could do well all that time with below par stories then I see no reason for a story to take precedence over gameplay.
how about games with a great story and a great gameplay?
UMPOSSIBLE.
UMPOSSIBLE.
That test is almost impossible to read on the default background.
Hurry up and fix the dark theme BioWare techs!!!
A good story would probably keep me more engaged in the moment to moment action, but good gameplay would keep me playing much longer. I can play Grand Strategies endlessly if I find the gameplay fun enough, as with certain types of sandbox games (M& 
. And they don't have particularly strong stories.
That said, I think there are games that take an approach to design that bypasses the typical gameplay vs story paradigm in the sense that plots and/or game mechanics in a game might be mediocre on their own, but the holistic nature of it's design, combined with a strong attention to detail makes the experience greater than the sum of it's parts.
Games like Morrowind, Fallout, Arcanum, Deus Ex, STALKER and Witcher 1 come to mind (for me).
I think there's room for all types.
Whenever the topic comes up, I've been pretty open that I think BioWare's older games have fairly bad and clunky combat mechanics for the most part but I still really enjoyed the games because the story carries it.
At the same time I can still play something like grand strategy or a number of MP focused titles that have virtually no story and still enjoy them because the gameplay is very well done.
I'd also say there's another type which is the game that lets you make your own story. The main example of this of course being the Elder Scrolls series which, despite having an actual main quest, the real story is your own personal adventures in the world they have crafted as opposed to something like a BioWare story where you're playing along BioWare's story and have influence over certain things.
I'll take the fifth option and wait for a game with above average story AND gameplay.
I would say a well realized game world is what I enjoy the most. Not necessarily defining it as the gameplay was good and the story was not or vice versa.
(Main) Story and gameplay aren't the only strengths a game can have. Sometimes the player just enjoys being immersed.
Morrowind had a decent story but its chief strength was the world itself. After killing the 567th cliff racer, it's fun reflecting on how taxing your journey and its sights were. You might as well rename the game to Vvardenfell Trail.
I find the Zelda series' gameplay (puzzles and combat) to be a bit repetitive but I also enjoy the atmosphere created by the locations and music. This is especially true of Wind Waker.
In other words, choice #4?
None of the above.
Sometimes a game can be complete garbage.
However I might personally get a kick out of said game.
Heck I like the Final Fantasy games. XIII was not the best game of the series but I enjoyed it.
The most important factor for me is am I having fun playing this game?
Sometimes I can enjoy a game for no apparent logical reason.
I don't go into a game with a check list of things I want.
There is nothing wrong with the check list. It's just isn't me.
I tend to go for RPGs as this genre provides hours of content and allows me to create my character.
Okay I guess there is a check list.
The point I'm trying to make is a game can have a terrible story and terrible game play.
I kinda want to say it depends on both the story or the gameplay whether I can enjoy one where the other is lacking.
Like a good story can't save some bad gameplay every time, but it can in some ways, same with gameplay.
I suppose if I had to pick one I'd much rather have a game with a great story and sub par gameplay. A good story can carry me through below average gameplay, but a bad story is much more likely to make me put down a mechanically good game. Also, I tend to gravitate more towards games that are story focused over games that are built purely on mechanics.
I think it's hard to have a game where both aspects are average because then it doesn't really have anything to be memorable by. A good recent example of that I think is The Evil Within.
I don't care sh** for a told story!
I consider the experienced story to be part of "gameplay", i.e. the story should be gameplay.
...So at least from my perspective, this poll is not so black and white. But I would vote for gameplay anyway.
Gameplay > all
I love my games complicated, my RPG's with alot of abilities and possible builds (thats why I played DA2 alot more than Witcher 2 even though it is a much superior game), my RTS with speed, responsiveness and strategical depth. And my FPS called Unreal Tournament 99. Thats why I played SC2 on and off for more than 4 years even though university sucked most of my time (Look at the Korean pro players skill, it's awe inspiring).
Why I play Bioware games? For the experience, the magically crafted worlds, and because I have enough toys to play around in those games.
I love a good story, even if the gameplay is a little poopy. Think Spec Ops: The Line, or ME1 even.
Then you've got games like Left 4 Dead. Barely any story, but fun as hell.
It all depends.
Guest_mikeucrazy_*
Story, its all bout that immersion.gameplay can be little weak(like ME1.TBH i thought it wasnt that bad actually)
Guest_EntropicAngel_*
Story is by far the most important, gameplay takes a definite back seat. There are games where I just am not good at the gameplay that I'll play for the story.
Though as far as "above" or "below" average gameplay, i can play pretty much most games if the story intrigues me. There's very little gameplay I don't or can't enjoy, it just isn't enough without story (barring a couple of examples, like FF XIII, or city builders/simulation types of games).
Edit: really, I say a good story, but as long as it's a story focus, I can enjoy it. I'm the kind of guy who can enjoy trash stories as well as the good ones. A poorer story means the gameplay will have to be better, but I can still do it.
Edit: Please expound on your theory, Kefka. "Extremes aren't important" is awfully vague.
That test is almost impossible to read on the default background.
Hurry up and fix the dark theme BioWare techs!!!
It works fine for me.
Conversely, Mario 3 has a near non-existent story with a very lame end, but most won't playing Mario 3 for the story. The vast majority of the enjoyment is due to strong level design, open-world design, and the miscellaneous bells and whistles that come with it.
Mario 3 is open world? What?
Guest_EntropicAngel_*
I'd also say there's another type which is the game that lets you make your own story. The main example of this of course being the Elder Scrolls series which, despite having an actual main quest, the real story is your own personal adventures in the world they have crafted as opposed to something like a BioWare story where you're playing along BioWare's story and have influence over certain things.
Relative to its previous incarnations - Not unless you're counting Warp Pipes. Instead of being railroaded along the same levels, you can still move around, pick optional spots like fortresses o mini-games, and flatout skip others. Even as a verbal perfectionist, I'm gonna screw up now and then.Mario 3 is open world? What?
Guest_EntropicAngel_*
Relative to its previous incarnations - Not unless you're counting Warp Pipes. Instead of being railroaded along the same levels, you can still move around, pick optional spots like fortresses o mini-games, and flatout skip others. Even as a verbal perfectionist, I'm gonna screw up now and then.
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