Silicon Knights President: "Gameplay Isn't Everything"

[SharedProphet]

Of course he gets bashed for this statement. People don't like you saying stuff like this.

Well, this guy apparently made Too Human.

As well as the original Blood Omen and Eternal Darkness.

Trust me, gameplay is IMPORTANT.

Did he say it isn't?

Saying games don't need gameplay is like saying paintings don't need paint.

Did he say they don't?


You guys need to teach me how to not read.

Edit:

Games are only art if they involve user interaction. The moment you remove that interaction and focus more on the look of it, the music, etc. it becomes a film.

You, too.

Funny how no one who posted before the above actually read the article... and many who posted after didn't, either.

He's right. Gameplay isn't everything, especially in the sense that it is not really the primary reason people buy games (an assertion which is borne out by sales numbers).

 

[shaltir]

Of course he gets bashed for this statement. People don't like you saying stuff like this.

Well, this guy apparently made Too Human.

As well as the original Blood Omen and Eternal Darkness.

Trust me, gameplay is IMPORTANT.

Did he say it isn't?

Saying games don't need gameplay is like saying paintings don't need paint.

Did he say they don't?


You guys need to teach me how to not read.

Edit:

Games are only art if they involve user interaction. The moment you remove that interaction and focus more on the look of it, the music, etc. it becomes a film.

You, too.

Funny how no one who posted before the above actually read the article... and many who posted after didn't, either.

He's right. Gameplay isn't everything, especially in the sense that it is not really the primary reason people buy games (an assertion which is borne out by sales numbers).

wrongo cap'

i've already stated i buy games to have fun. i don't care if it has pretty graphics or a good storyline. this might be why i actually liked wolverinerigins.

 

[Fumbles]

"Denis Dyack, founder and president of Too Human developer Silicon Knights"
Need I say more?
Idiot.

Yes because Eternal Darkness was such a bad game... asshole.

I actually agree with him. People are merely taking his comments out of context. He never said gameplay was not important.

Also making games/movies for the sake of money, completely negates it as art. He at least has the balls to create games the way he wants to, and not as a corporate money maker.

 

[murphy7801]

"Denis Dyack, founder and president of Too Human developer Silicon Knights"
Need I say more?
Idiot.

Yes because Eternal Darkness was such a bad game... asshole.

I actually agree with him. People are merely taking his comments out of context. He never said gameplay was not important.

Also making games/movies for the sake of money, completely negates it as art. He at least has the balls to create games the way he wants to, and not as a corporate money maker.

just because its "art" doesn't mean its good there some really shit art out there and I prefer more artys games.

 

[AmrasCalmacil]

Isn't it nice when people read the Original Post instead of just yelling about a very vague overview while flailing their arms wildly and saying that he's wrong because he made a game they didn't like.

Silicon Knights did make Eternal Darkness as well, y'know.

And just to clarify for the people who didn't read it before voicing their opinions - He said that the different aspects of the game are equally important.

 

[Fumbles]

Isn't it nice when people read the Original Post instead of just yelling about a very vague overview while flailing their arms wildly and saying that he's wrong because he made a game they didn't like.

Silicon Knights did make Eternal Darkness as well, y'know.

And just to clarify for the people who didn't read it before voicing their opinions - He said that the different aspects of the game are equally important.

Thank you

 

[murphy7801]

Isn't it nice when people read the Original Post instead of just yelling about a very vague overview while flailing their arms wildly and saying that he's wrong because he made a game they didn't like.

Silicon Knights did make Eternal Darkness as well, y'know.

And just to clarify for the people who didn't read it before voicing their opinions - He said that the different aspects of the game are equally important.

And I think Game play should always be at the top of the list because people arnt going to bother playing the rest of the game.

 

[Doug]

And THIS explains why Too Human was so god damn awful. I vaguely agree with the notion that its not "Just" gameplay, as graphics and sound and anything else do play a part in making a game fun and different. But gameplay is pretty much a necessary keystone.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Isn't it nice when people read the Original Post instead of just yelling about a very vague overview while flailing their arms wildly and saying that he's wrong because he made a game they didn't like.

Indeed.

I disagree with him partially, gameplay is the most important. There must be some fun or satisfaction involved to motivate playing a game. However strength in certain aspects can make up for flaws in others. I put forth Mass Effect and BioShock as great titles that are lacking in gameplay but make up for it with story and atmosphere (respectively).

 

[Fumbles]

Spoken like a true non-gamer.

Indeed. So we weren't meant to enjoy the gameplay of too human, that's a relief... What were we meant to enjoy about it then, the deep artistic sentiment of bastardising Norse mythology into a cliché somewhere between the Matrix and 300. He seems to be more defending his work (albeit badly), that actually advancing any points on the artistry of gaming, which is a shame because its an interesting subject.

300 was Greek mythology, The Matrix was an allegory to Alice... am I missing something?

***EDIT, Nevermind... I get it...

 

[murphy7801]

Spoken like a true non-gamer.

Indeed. So we weren't meant to enjoy the gameplay of too human, that's a relief... What were we meant to enjoy about it then, the deep artistic sentiment of bastardising Norse mythology into a cliché somewhere between the Matrix and 300. He seems to be more defending his work (albeit badly), that actually advancing any points on the artistry of gaming, which is a shame because its an interesting subject.

300 was Greek mythology, The Matrix was an allegory to Alice... am I missing something?

It was done badly the mythology part that is (well and the rest). I'm so glad no one is defending too human as a good game.

 

[JackrabbitSlim]

No, gameplay isn't important, but it's not asking too much for said gameplay to be at least functional *coughTooHumancough*.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

And just to clarify for the people who didn't read it before voicing their opinions - He said that the different aspects of the game are equally important.

i did read it and sorry gameplay IS the most important part of a game, if the game isn't fun to play, it will suck. case in point is tetris, it's a REALLY fun game to play, it's looks like crap and has bad music and frankly horrible graphic. there is also a game called rogue/nethack that is all ascii graphics

the other things in a game are just added bonuses, graphics aren't needed for the game to be good, sound isn't needed for the game to be fun and neither does the game need a story. there's tons of games that have one of those things missing and are top selling and overly popular games.

frankly a comment like that makes me want to drive down to St Catherine's and smack Dennis before driving back home

 

[SharedProphet]

Of course he gets bashed for this statement. People don't like you saying stuff like this.

Well, this guy apparently made Too Human.

As well as the original Blood Omen and Eternal Darkness.

Trust me, gameplay is IMPORTANT.

Did he say it isn't?

Saying games don't need gameplay is like saying paintings don't need paint.

Did he say they don't?


You guys need to teach me how to not read.

Edit:

Games are only art if they involve user interaction. The moment you remove that interaction and focus more on the look of it, the music, etc. it becomes a film.

You, too.

Funny how no one who posted before the above actually read the article... and many who posted after didn't, either.

He's right. Gameplay isn't everything, especially in the sense that it is not really the primary reason people buy games (an assertion which is borne out by sales numbers).

wrongo cap'

i've already stated i buy games to have fun. i don't care if it has pretty graphics or a good storyline. this might be why i actually liked wolverinerigins.

My mistake, I didn't realize that everyone who buys games is a clone of you. I was under the impression that most people buy games for content, and yes for "fun" but that not everyone defines "fun" the same way. I thought gameplay played a part, but that all the other things Dyack mentioned did, too. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Gladion]

Of course he gets bashed for this statement. People don't like you saying stuff like this.

Well, this guy apparently made Too Human.

As well as the original Blood Omen and Eternal Darkness.

Trust me, gameplay is IMPORTANT.

Did he say it isn't?

Saying games don't need gameplay is like saying paintings don't need paint.

Did he say they don't?


You guys need to teach me how to not read.

Edit:

Games are only art if they involve user interaction. The moment you remove that interaction and focus more on the look of it, the music, etc. it becomes a film.

You, too.

Funny how no one who posted before the above actually read the article... and many who posted after didn't, either.

He's right. Gameplay isn't everything, especially in the sense that it is not really the primary reason people buy games (an assertion which is borne out by sales numbers).

Wow... I actually thought I would have gotten my entire family verbally killed after stating that this guy may have a point, and that you cannot make his point invalid by making an entirely different point invalid.

But: I get a pretty friendly answer. Thanks.

Anyways, let's expand a little:
He does have a point - it's why there is a difference between AAA titles and All-Time Classics. A AAA+ title would be Resident Evil 4: Great gameplay, very addictive, well designed, not boring at any time. Story? Scariness/Atmosphere? Characters? Music? Hmpf. Now the game is dead.

An All-Time Classic on the other hand would be (okay, kill me for this statement) Metal Gear Solid. Well designed, very varied (rocket launcher, climbing down a building while being attacked by a helicopter, getting captured + torture, and of course, stealth), memorable boss fights (I don't need to name any, you know them), great characters, dialouges, monolouges, a story that makes people debate to this day.
I know I named many aspects that fall under 'gameplay' but nobody ever said gameplay was not important. It's just that you must not forget other things.

Of course, everyone has his own All-Time Classics, but I'm trying to say that the games you really get attached to are the ones that deliver the best overall-experience, even though it might not be the best game ever gameplay-wise.
One of my personal All-Time favs would be Silent Hill 1-4. Seriously, the gameplay is broken to no point (except for maybe the riddles - but I don't consider them gameplay), but the experience is one I hardly got from any other game.

Now I bet you're trying to convince me: "But Mario, Sonic etc., the good ol' classics, are you saying those games are dead, too, even if they ARE All-Time Classics, though they only provide gameplay, nothing else?" Of course not. They're not dead because
a) They've been copied a gazillion times and showed other developers how to do it right, so their 'legacy' still lives on
b) You played them as a kid, and because of that, you still like them - called nostalgia. I have that, too. Example: I love Mario Bros. 1-3 + lost levels, as well as Super Mario World. But Yoshi's Island - which I had not played 15 - 20 years ago (Don't know when it came out) I cannot enjoy as much as the games I did play 15 - 20 years ago. And I don't believe it's because the game is worse than the others, because it's actually pretty similar.
The only drawback, I thought, was Baby Mario's fucking ANNOYING crying whenever you lose him. I don't know whether it is the same on an '80s TV - But on a Wii that's hooked up to a 5.1 surround system it's seriously hurting the ears.

Look at how fuckin much I wrote. I've got too much time on my hands.

 

[murphy7801]

No, gameplay isn't important, but it's not asking too much for said gameplay to be at least functional *coughTooHumancough*.

Game play has to be to a good level before you work on the rest of the aspects though storyline does define what sort of game you make quite heavily.

 

[shaltir]

Spoken like a true non-gamer.

Indeed. So we weren't meant to enjoy the gameplay of too human, that's a relief... What were we meant to enjoy about it then, the deep artistic sentiment of bastardising Norse mythology into a cliché somewhere between the Matrix and 300. He seems to be more defending his work (albeit badly), that actually advancing any points on the artistry of gaming, which is a shame because its an interesting subject.

300 was Greek mythology, The Matrix was an allegory to Alice... am I missing something?

It was done badly the mythology part that is (well and the rest). I'm so glad no one is defending too human as a good game.

300 was based on a comic book i do believe...i..um...kinda liked it...

 

[ShoryukenDude]

Games can exist without storyline not the reverse

Sure the game can Exist, but without some kind of decent storyline, it isnt any Good. Same goes in reverse.

 

[shaltir]

glad you get it now...people want fun.

EDIT: nice insulting me though, it makes me take your arguments more seriously in the future...no really

 

[BillNyeTheColonelGuy]

Why bother making exquisite art design of levels and cutscenes when people will just "ooh" and "ahh" at them for a few seconds before continuing onwards.

Indeed, a few real peaks of extremely breathtaking or eye-catching art/scenery design can be much more effective. Take the Half Life 2 Citadel, for instance. Now, you've just been wandering around a train station, everything looks really normal (Albeit drab); you step outside and WHAM! Huge bloody great metal tower right in front of you. You can't help stop and stare for a while.