Silicon Knights President: "Gameplay Isn't Everything"

[Booze Zombie]

Didn't Yahtzee have an easily quotable all-purpose, anti-smug quote for this type of person?

"Anyone who sacrifices gameplay for art has their head so far up their ass that they're in danger of swallowing their own head."

Also, anyone who was involved in Too Human doesn't get an opinion, especially the higher ups.

 

[JWAN]

It's not EVERYTHING, but it's pretty darn important.

The reason why I consider it everything because gameplay is what makes a game good or what makes a game shit.

If Halo 1 had everything it has now, only you scrubbed dishes in feces instead of shot stuff it would be called the worst game ever.

 

[ErGo]

I agree that gameplay isn't everything, back in the old days it was, but games have evolved. I have played many games with great gameplay, that never got boring, but I didn't finish them because there was no story to keep me interested in it. If the game doesn't have a good story and atmosphere I get bored of it.

do you get bored of tetris

Yes I do actually, I haven't played it for a few years already. Besides tetris is a puzzle game. Its like asking windows calculator to have a awesome story full of epic adventures. And yeah it depends on the genre, puzzle games don't need a story.

 

[murphy7801]

I agree that gameplay isn't everything, back in the old days it was, but games have evolved. I have played many games with great gameplay, that never got boring, but I didn't finish them because there was no story to keep me interested in it. If the game doesn't have a good story and atmosphere I get bored of it.

do you get bored of tetris

Yes I do actually, I haven't played it for a few years already. Besides tetris is a puzzle game. Its like asking windows calculator to have a awesome story full of epic adventures. And yeah it depends on the genre, puzzle games don't need a story.

Fair enf

 

[Outamyhead]

A very important part of games, artistically and otherwise, is their gameplay. That is more important to the art of gaming than graphics or sound, as opposed to his advocacy for basically making interactive movies.

Maybe the simplest explanation is the right one and he just made Too Human.

I just thought of something, didn't game developers try craploads of movie content and bring you along for the ride routine already, I vaguely remember the mid to late 90's, PC games (and a few console games) tried this method with titles such as Star Wars Rebel Assault, and it's sequel...that I have forgotten the name of, or that zombie house thingy that was on the genesis CD.

Basically his idea of what a game should be, has already been tried...and dropped rather promptly for the sack of shit it really is.

 

[timmytom1]

"gameplay is not everything."

Me begs to differ, GAMES need good GAMEplay.

Very much this,and sillicon knights star is fadeing fast after the too-human fiasco ,wonder how long they`ll last??

 

[murphy7801]

Also make eternal darkness 2 please!

 

[mhitman]

so being able to play a game is not the most important part of a game? thats called a movie <_<

 

[Gerazzi]

Gameplay is absolutely the most important thing in the gaming world.

This is why I'm playing Playstation One Games on a Modded PSP instead of all the latest bullshit.

They look like crap, they sound like crap, sometimes the story is terrible, but the gameplay is so spot on almost every goddamn time that I'm left being extremely pleased.

You can polish a turd, indeed it'll be a pretty shiny turd...but it is still a goddamn turd.

This, except I thought Spyro the Dragon was a damn good release.
For the PSOne, that is.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

First things first, I instantly hate you from looking at your picture, are you trying to look cool, you boring-looking middle-aged balding person?

At least he's consistent, Too Human was lacking in gameplay, it wasn't bad, but it could have been so much better.

GAMES don't need GAMEplay? Are you stupid? Some games are good without great gameplay, but if you start throwing this crap out it's like your excuse to be lazy.

Too Human wasn't good enough that you can decide what games do or don't need.

 

[InvisibleSeal]

Well, this guy apparently made Too Human.

It's hilarious how smug he looks in his photo.

I'm not completely against what he says, but he generalised waaaaaaay too much. I suppose some people will value plot and graphics more, and it depends completely on the type of game... then again personally I disagree.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

I don't understand...where does Eternal Darkness 2 come in?

 

[TheFacelessOne]

Well, this guy made Too Human.

Enough said.

Gameplay is important in GAMES.

 

[Easykill]

That seems ridiculous, and dumb to me. However, if it actually works and makes good games, I won't argue. I just won't play it if it sucks. Let him waste money.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

He makes some good points, but the problem I see there is the fact that 1. The only narratives and filmic techniques that are actually used in games are the scraps from Hollywood, or the ones that are actually becoming quite stale.

2. Whatever he is planning, this is not the generation for it. This generation is far too deeply rooted in first person shooters and competitive play, bringing out games where the storytelling comes first won't rake in the cash. I am pretty convinced that The Last Guardian won't sell incredibly well.

I think that really, considering games are a completely different medium, that developers should perhaps transcend the Filmic techniques that are commonly used, or maybe skew them.

But to be honest, this is the age of the grizzled space marine or the one man army, this isn't the generation for his vision. And all in all, whatever techniques are incorporated, I think it should be incorporated after the gameplay component is solid and playable. Heavy Rain might be the best story in a game this generation, but if it moves like a 16 wheeler with 8 wheels missing, it's not going to work.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Well, this guy apparently made Too Human.

Trust me, gameplay is IMPORTANT.

I think he is just saying that because Too Human was a MASIVE screw up.

 

[Seydaman]

can i hear a fail??

 

[Annoying Turd]

The guy has a point.

For games to stand out these days they need a perfect combination of all this along with the fun gameplay. He prolly didn't mean to say that any game without Crysis graphics and MGS4 cutscenes/dialogue would suck.

Sure, excessive dialogue and cutscenes can wear down your gameplay though. Same thing with graphics, these days people present stale gameplay in photorealistic graphics.

 

[Baby Tea]

He sounds like a proper art snob.

No joke.
Gameplay is important, and this guy needs to take a lesson from the fact that his game sucked.

Really? A game is a sum of many parts? Then your game, Too Human, sucked on all of those levels.
Bad story, bad dialog, bad gameplay, bad bad bad.

Get this guy out of this business.

 

[Leroy Frederick]

It's comments like this that make indie developers like me happy! Hmm, I smell more future customers...

Of course, he's right, if your making something like a metal gear solid or indigo prophecy which are debatable interactive movies rather then games 80% of the time, otherwise, no, gameplay is veeeery important! (if not most important!)