Poll: Overused Settings

[Fappy]

I noticed recently just how many games are stuffed into these film/literature cliches (i.e. fantasy, post-apocalypse, etc.) and how few of these games actually make the setting they adopt their own. Many of these games are starting to run together and in many cases the differences aren't really that noticeable. What recent games do you guys think are some of the biggest violators of this and what settings get this treatment the most. Are there any games recently that you think believe took a genre setting and actually made something unique? Any great games that have completely unique settings that have come recently? Discuss!

 

[Daystar Clarion]

All those genres can be open to interpretation. World War 2 actually happened, so it's rather hard to come up with anything original.

 

[Fappy]

All those genres can be open to interpretation. World War 2 actually happened, so it's rather hard to come up with anything original.

Take Morrowind as an example for fantasy. It was so unlike any other fantasy setting we had ever seen and had a feeling about it that has never been replicated in any other game. Not even its successor.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

I really want to see no more WWII games. Doesn't mean I won't play and enjoy them, But I enjoy every other setting a lot more.

 

[Babrook]

All those genres can be open to interpretation. World War 2 actually happened, so it's rather hard to come up with anything original.

Agreed. There are so many different directions you could take all the other settings, but WW2 is a pretty confined thing.

 

[Fappy]

Although WW2 has been done to death, I still feel the fantasy world is more beaten to death. I mean come'n its fanatsy ANYTHING can happen but the same shit always happens. That in my opinion is worse than remaking the same real life event over and over.

I agree. It seems every fantasy game has the exact same plot... seriously... its fantasy... so many more things are possible. Same goes for Sci Fi.

 

[reg42]

WWII, no contest

 

[B4D 9R4MM3R]

The thing with fantasy and science fiction is that there are so many varied environments for the taking. Heck, you can get some universes that almost bridge that gap.

I'd say the post-apocalypse has gained a lot of publicity recently, but not yet enough to out-welcome its stay. This also sees frequent crossing-over with science fiction.

World War II, however, has been overdone for a long while now. It doesn't help that it was a real event, so those wishing to retain a semblence of realism must conform to history.

 

[TPiddy]

"Science Fiction" is a pretty fucking broad setting... that could encompass everything...

besides... familiar settings are used because it's easier for someone to get into something if they're familiar with the Canon.

If you're doing a fantasy setting and you model it after middle-earth then the rules of the world, like gravity, indigenous species and the like have already been set up for you. Something like Borderlands on the other hand, was set on a distant planet, meaning the writers could make up their own rules and their own creatures.

Halo is another universe that is varied and creative. Everything is all based on *some* established standard, because if you eschew all accepted norms then people will say that the game is too 'weird' and offbeat....

In fact, I dare you to come up with a game that has a completely original setting not based on any previously established environments.

 

[FretfulGnome]

With FPS's it's WWII. With RPG's it's Tolkienesque fantasy.

 

[Fappy]

"Science Fiction" is a pretty fucking broad setting... that could encompass everything...

besides... familiar settings are used because it's easier for someone to get into something if they're familiar with the Canon.

If you're doing a fantasy setting and you model it after middle-earth then the rules of the world, like gravity, indigenous species and the like have already been set up for you. Something like Borderlands on the other hand, was set on a distant planet, meaning the writers could make up their own rules and their own creatures.

Halo is another universe that is varied and creative. Everything is all based on *some* established standard, because if you eschew all accepted norms then people will say that the game is too 'weird' and offbeat....

In fact, I dare you to come up with a game that has a completely original setting not based on any previously established environments.

Even though I never really cared for the game, Bio Shock is candidate for that. I wasn't trying to say that if "this game has x because this setting always has x then it is not original". I'm just talking about taking a pre-existing genre setting and doing something with it that sets it apart from everything else. Many games have accomplished this and more games have failed.

I should have been more specific with Sci-Fi though. Think Sci-Fi war settings like Halo or Gears of War or space odyssey settings like Mass Effect, which is a prime example of how to do it right.

 

[OtherSideofSky]

I really wish that we could have actual fantasy settings instead of the same Tolkein rip-off over and over. I also wish that WWII would go away until some has an original idea for what to do with it. As far as the post apocalypse goes, Violence Jack (the comic, not the OAVs) did everything before Mad Max even came out.

 

[Terramax]

Wish there was an 'all' option. But I chose fantasy, as in LotR fantasy. I can't stand it. Who's idea was it that living in mud & stick houses alongside axe welding dwarfs, etc, was fantasy? At least Japanese fantasy looks more comfortable than earth.

 

[Prof.Wood]

WW2, but they could always use another war and most things would still be the same, it just seems like the whole world can agree that the good team won but any other war is more controversial and therefor would be badmouthed by the country who lost it.

 

[Fappy]

WW2, but they could always use another war and most things would still be the same, it just seems like the whole world can agree that the good team won but any other war is more controversial and therefor would be badmouthed by the country who lost it.

I seriously want to play a Korean War game. Rated M... That would be so brutal.

 

[Pingieking]

WW2. The only WW2 game where the setting didn't hurt it was Hearts of Iron. That's because you can take history and mold it as you wish in Hearts of Iron (the Red Flag WILL fly over the White House!).

Fantasy is so-so. Mostly because I dabble a lot in Asian games, and that does a lot to keep things fresh for the fantasy side. If taken with just the western games, then there's a little too much of the "Medieval Weaponry + Fireballs + Kill Orcs and Goblins" thing going on.

 

[FretfulGnome]

Although WW2 has been done to death, I still feel the fantasy world is more beaten to death. I mean come'n its fanatsy ANYTHING can happen but the same shit always happens. That in my opinion is worse than remaking the same real life event over and over.

I agree. WWII has been done to death, sure, but it's WWII so there's not much you can do other than your basic military combat in Europe or the Pacific theater. But fantasy is such a huge genre you can come up with almost anything, whatever your imagination can think of, yet they keep coming back to Tolkien. WHY!!!

 

[Fappy]

Although WW2 has been done to death, I still feel the fantasy world is more beaten to death. I mean come'n its fanatsy ANYTHING can happen but the same shit always happens. That in my opinion is worse than remaking the same real life event over and over.

I agree. WWII has been done to death, sure, but it's WWII so there's not much you can do other than your basic military combat in Europe or the Pacific theater. But fantasy is such a huge genre you can come up with almost anything, whatever your imagination can think of, yet they keep coming back to Tolkien. WHY!!!

Because people by the games. Damn you game innovation rut!

 

[Hiphophippo]

Going with the obvious, WWII. That doesn't mean interesting things can't be done with it though. I personally enjoyed The Saboteur's take on it. At this point, with any of those settings we're going to get something bland and old unless the designer's have real inspiration.

Which, before I get off on a rant, is what's missing from modern and mainstream gaming.

 

[Sir Kemper]

Those games with the futuristic past style, by that i mean the style prominint in games like Darksiders, Damnation, etc. Mayby it's just me, but if it's not done right, this type of setting really annoys me.