Poll: what do you prefer: arstyism or simulatorism?

[alwaysrockon]

I have played many games in my time. Some are praised for being very realistic (or simulator-like), while others are praised for being very "artsy".

Artsy games however sometimes sacrifice realism for art. While many simulators don?t have an ounce of art in them.

Both types of games are able to do what they intend to do sometimes and I am not arguing which one is better. I simply want to see which one of the two the community prefers.

Some of the better examples of both are:

Artsy:
Flower
Braid
Linger in the shadows
Noby noby boy
Okami

Semi-artsy:
Most platformers (I'm looking at you prince)
Bioshock
Myst
Shadow of the colossus
Ico

Simulator like:
Dead rising(simulator like because it is very fantisy-like, but it funcions very really.)


Simulator:
Tom Clancy games
Any sports/racing game
Mostly all shooters
Civilization
Total war



Ps: this has been done before but so long ago I can?t even remember. Yes i did search button it.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I like to see games being simulated becuase it adds immersion, but when you pull off a game that fucks over any sense of reality you have and makes it seem real, well that cant be beat.

 

[SimuLord]

I like my simulations pure and realistic. Artsy games bore the crap out of me, I want more data, more nuts, more bolts, and more chances for me to tinker with the machinery within the game itself. Even games with unrealistic things (like magic, alchemy, sorcery, that sort of thing) should be consistent within their in-game universe and have some well-thought-out science behind the fiction (or fantasy). Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is an example of sci-fi that's heavy on the "sci".

Total War does realism well, Morrowind was the best example of "consistent unreality", and games like Capitalism II and a good tycoon game also ratchet up the realism.

 

[NeutralDrow]

You know, sometimes all you need is Pong.

 

[Lusperus]

You forgot Okami. Its probably one of the artsiest games I know.

 

[alwaysrockon]

hey LADIES! stop arguing and start discussng the topic...if your going 2 argue do it somewhere else.

 

[Woe Is You]

Street Fighter 4 isn't even a good game. Assassin's Creed is.

Most people would disagree. Assassin's Creed felt more like a tech demo than a game.

As for the artsy games argument, I'm not really as against them as SimuLord is but I do think that games should be games first and the artsy part is secondary. A lot of the art games today I've played have a lot in common with those silly edutainment games of the nineties. Games like Braid are delightful exceptions because they concentrate on being a game as much as it does do the art perspective.

 

[minoes]

simulator like:
dead rising

A simulator of what?

 

[Yegargeburble]

I kind of like semi-artsy games, but I have yet to be able to play a truly artsy game...

 

[Woe Is You]

Street Fighter 4 isn't even a good game. Assassin's Creed is.

Most people would disagree. Assassin's Creed felt more like a tech demo than a game.

Did you play AC for the achievements? I played it for about half way through the game, then I just went to town on having fun and seeing the beautiful citiesss

I played it on my PC, hence no achievements (if there's a better PC version out, I'll usually get that instead).

The thing is, there isn't a lot in the way of having fun in that game. Not a lot of missions, not a lot of mission variety and especially little assassinating going. Climbing around just to see the view gets old in about 15 minutes. The tech is nice but the game just isn't there. I was done with that game in around 8 hours.

There are games around that do that angle better: Crackdown, Morrowind, Oblivion and Fallout 3 for starters.

For a comparsion, I've played a good 70h of SF4 and counting (with a BP score of 3200+). I have my problems with it but a game I've played for that long is definitely what I'd call a good game. And for the record, I haven't really gone after the achievements. Once I unlocked Seth, it's been all online matches, really.

 

[Woe Is You]

Right, so you are trolling.

 

[Tech Team FTW!]

It is possible for a game to be art and still a good "simulatorist"...

Edit:

hey LADIES! stop arguing and start discussng the topic...if your going 2 argue do it somewhere else.

Grammar fail. Do you have something against women?

 

[Kyouran]

I voted for leaning toward art, mostly because one of the cardinal rules of gaming design is that 99% of the time, if it makes the game less fun to play, don't do it, no matter what it is.

Also, like many - including Yahtzee - have said, if I want a life simulator, I'll put the headset down and go the hell outside. I already pay 40 hours a week for the privilege, I don't need an additional fee tacked onto that.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

simulator like:
dead rising

A simulator of what?

The inevitable zombie apocalypse. Duh.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

i have played many games in my time. some are praised for being very realistic ( or simulator-like), while others are praised for being very "artsy".

arsty games however sometimes sacrifice gameplay for art. while many simulators dont have an ounce of art in them.

both types of games are able to do what they inted to do sometimes and i am not argueing which one is better. i simply want to see which one of the two the community prefers.

some of the better examples of both are :

Artsy:
flower
braid
linger in the shadows
noby noy boy
okami

semi-artsy:
most platformers(im looking at you prince)
bioshock
myst
shadow of the collosus
ico

simulator like:
dead rising


simulator:
tom clancy games
any sports/racing game
mostly all shooters
civilization
total war



ps: this has been done before but so long ago i cant even remember. yes i did search button it. and so what if my spelling is terrible im american.

First of all, if you want me to take you seriously, learn to spell believe. Second, being American does not mean you get a free pass to write like a moron. You're the reason for the stereotype you're referencing and it makes me want to punch you. It's like some sort of awful feedback loop.

 

[minoes]

simulator like:
dead rising

A simulator of what?

The inevitable zombie apocalypse. Duh.

Right, how did I forget about the zombie apocalypse?

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

simulator like:
dead rising

A simulator of what?

The inevitable zombie apocalypse. Duh.

Right, how did I forget about the zombie apocalypse?

It could also be seen as a 'dismembering people with everyday objects' simulator. I'm not really sure what the OP is talking about, but I'll make fun of it for days.

 

[phar]

Street Fighter 4 isn't even a good game. Assassin's Creed is.

Most people would disagree. Assassin's Creed felt more like a tech demo than a game.

Did you play AC for the achievements? I played it for about half way through the game, then I just went to town on having fun and seeing the beautiful citiesss

I played it on my PC, hence no achievements (if there's a better PC version out, I'll usually get that instead).

The thing is, there isn't a lot in the way of having fun in that game. Not a lot of missions, not a lot of mission variety and especially little assassinating going. Climbing around just to see the view gets old in about 15 minutes. The tech is nice but the game just isn't there.

There are games around that do that angle better: Crackdown, Morrowind, Oblivion and Fallout 3 for starters.

I see. I played it on my 48 inch HDTV, Xbox 360. It's a really nice game, I like how it's not really softcore but almost, because it can be played every two weeks or so, the game doesn't rape you up ass(socially) like some of the MMO's you mentioned

yep... mmo's

hurray to woe is you.. someone else who shares my opinions on Assassins Creed.

As for the topic I went slightly artsy or artsy. but there is no option where you dont sacrifice gameplay so the poll is kind of biased. I like unrealistic games.. most tom clancy simulators and stuff get old quickly with me.

 

[Alex_P]

Take a look at the options:

i beleive games should be very artsy, sometimes to the point where gameplay is sacrificed for the sake of the art.
i beleive that games should never sacrifice gameplay but should have a strong sense of "artsyism"
i beleive that games should be more like simulators where they sacrifice art for gameplay
i beleive that games should be extremly simulator-like with complete focus on gameplay and no artsyism

You seem to be equating simulation with "gameplay". The two aren't necessarily aligned. Adding more "realistic" elements or additional detail can hurt a game's pacing, balance, or support for meaningful choices just as much as they can help.

-- Alex

 

[BonsaiK]

I don't believe that Tom Clancy games belong in any sort of "simulation" category these days. The old games did, but Ubisoft has completely dumbed down the Tom Clancy games from tactical sim to simple run-and-gun action. Every Clancy game made since Raven Shield AKA Rainbow Six 3 has been a victim of Ubi striving to appeal to the run-and-gun crowd.

Back on topic though, and I think art is good. Games should have as much artsiness as possible. But then there's a place for the "hardcore sim" type of game as well, because there are always people out there who are into that sort of thing. I don't think one size fits all. But then I also think ultra-realism can be artsy too - for instance I would say that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has a very unique artistic style even though it's striving for ultra-realism for the most part. The two things aren't always mutually exclusive.